Internet MP option ...help!!

[AOW]

Greetings,
I Have been trying for the last couple of days to try MP with a friend and with V-net seemingly down I am looking to try the "Internet" option on the MP method of playing screen.
The trouble is that I have not been able to find any details as to how to accomplish what I assume to be a direct computer to computer link. We both have DSL, have accessed our IP addresses and have played in a LAN previously. Does anyone have any ideas?? Are there "switches" we need to throw in our OS (XP) to allow the protocol to work??
Is V-net down frequently?? Are there other sites out there in internent land that allow players to hook up???
Thanks to all.

 

[unmerged(14249)]

The "internet" option lets you specify the IP address of the host directly. This usually works fine once you know the IP address of the host (using ipconfig or similar). What happens when you try this?

ValkyrieNet went down for a few days last weekend and is down again this weekend. I've tried contacting Paradox to get it put back up but assume that they are all on holiday. It would be good to get a back-up site and I gather that jgbaxter is trying to organize this.

Andrew

 

[AOW]

The "internet" option lets you specify the IP address of the host directly. This usually works fine once you know the IP address of the host (using ipconfig or similar). What happens when you try this?

ValkyrieNet went down for a few days last weekend and is down again this weekend. I've tried contacting Paradox to get it put back up but assume that they are all on holiday. It would be good to get a back-up site and I gather that jgbaxter is trying to organize this.

Andrew

Thank you for the quick response. We have tried connecting with IP addresses and get 'game not available' messages. After some more research, it seems (big ?'s still) that our IP addresses are in a series of addresses that are NOT for internet use ( 192 series and 172 series). I can ping my computer, my default gateway but nothing that requires the internet (i.e. not my friend's computer).
Do we need to statically assign ourselves other IP addresses?? Does the HOST need to type in anything in the IP slot when trying to start a game??
KNowing IP addresses does not seem to be enough, unfortunately, but other factors may be in play.
Thanks.
I guess even Paradox is entitled to a holiday. But I wanna playy... waaaahhhhh.... :wacko:

 

[unmerged(14249)]

it seems (big ?'s still) that our IP addresses are in a series of addresses that are NOT for internet use ( 192 series and 172 series)

That doesn't seem right. Maybe you're seeing the IP addresses allocated for your LAN card, not for your DSL connection. If I call ipconfig from the command line in Win 2000, it tells me the IP address for each comms adaptor - you need to make a note of the right one.

Andrew

 

[AOW]

That doesn't seem right. Maybe you're seeing the IP addresses allocated for your LAN card, not for your DSL connection. If I call ipconfig from the command line in Win 2000, it tells me the IP address for each comms adaptor - you need to make a note of the right one.

Andrew

Thanks again for the assistance. I am new to DSL so am no expert, but I do know that my DSL connects through my LAN card (the 10/100 nic). I did try ipconfig as you suggested (great idea btw) and got my IP, subnetmask and default gateway. Only one set of numbers was listed. I have not been in contact with my friend since to have another try. Since I can't ping him, it seemed pointless for now anyways. I just wish there was a step by step guide that explains how to connect via the internet for HOI multiplayer. sigh....

Cheers,
Mike

 

[jpd]

You have what we collectively call a NAT enabled router. This means that your WAN IP number (the one on the DSL modem side of your router) is different from the IP addresses of both your computer and it's immediate gateway. You cannot use IPCONFIG to get to the correct IP address.

Usually, DSL router modems have a build-in status page and an internal web server to return that info.

Start up your Internet Explorer, and type in the address bar the IP number IPCONFIG has returned as your default gateway IP number. That should give you access to your router's management software, from where you should be able to view your current WAN IP number.

That is the number you need your friend to connect to.

Jan Peter

 

[AOW]

"snip" Start up your Internet Explorer, and type in the address bar the IP number IPCONFIG has returned as your default gateway IP number. That should give you access to your router's management software, from where you should be able to view your current WAN IP number. "snip"

More good help .... thank you. I could not find a way to get my router's IP addr. through Internet Explorer, however, I did run a tracert command which I believe accomplished the same thing. But still no luck. We just tried it, so there must be something I haven't done to allow access to my computer. I have discovered the possibility of setting up an "incoming connections" part to my network connections, but that seems like it could open my computer up to all manner of mischief, and so I am hesitant.

With good help from HOI folks a solution now feels close ..... ah well, perhaps after dinner.

From what I've been reading it might take two of us to beat the AI in 1.06!!
Maybe we'll ge the echance one day soon.
Thank you.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[jpd]

Well, you need to setup port forwarding in your router for at least TCP ports 2300 and 47624. I suspect that those are called the 'incoming connections' in your router, but you have to check your router's documentation for that.

I assumed you already had done that, because of the

I Have been trying for the last couple of days to try MP with a friend and with V-net seemingly down I am looking to try the "Internet" option on the MP method of playing screen.

in the opening post. As far as V-net and direct internet are concerned, they use exactly the same protocols for connecting to a hosted game, and thus the same port forwarding rules in a router.

And, if you limit the port forwarding to the two ports I mentioned, no mischief will enter you PC. Do not, under any circumstance, setup your PC as the default server in your router, as that will open ALL TCP ports on your PC. At the very least, run a good software firewall (such as ZoneAlarm) on your PC when you do setup your PC as default server.

Jan Peter