Soren's Advice on MP Connection Issues

[snoopy369]

Soren Johnson, lead designer of Civilization IV, sent the following suggestions for people who are having connectivity issues with Civ4 :
[q=Soren]

Troubleshooting Connectivity:



If you are encountering problems when connecting to multiplayer games over the internet, chances are strong that you are not the cause of the problem. It is likely that players running firewall software that rejects incoming connection attempts may have already joined the game. Since these players do not have their firewall configured correctly, their computers are rejecting your attempt to connect. Therefore, it is vital that all players who wish to play multiplayer games ensure that their firewall is set up to allow Civilization IV to construct the necessary peer-to-peer network.



If you are running firewall software, please verify that CivilizationIV.exe is listed on the "Exception List" of your firewall, and that incoming messages will be accepted for this process. If your firewall software does not offer an exception list, please open port 2056 for UDP traffic on your firewall. This will allow the required traffic through.



Although Civilization IV contains logic to negotiate around many firewalls and NAT devices (routers), it can run into trouble under certain circumstances. The solution Civilization IV employs works with a vast majority of routers, but does not work with all brands. Very old
models may have more problems than newer ones. Additionally, Civilization IV will have problems negotiating through 2 levels of network address translation (ie. a router behind a router). Also, negotiation may fail if you or an existing peer is running the game on a very large and busy LAN.



Thanks
[/q]

[Gyathaar]

He also posted the following here:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showth...72#post3587172

one bit of news... we have confirmed that there is a bug involving some uncleared data. Basically, sometimes (not always, but a reasonable amount of time) if you try to join a game and fail or abort (by backing out or timing out), you will no longer be able to connect to any other game, ever. This can be fixed by restarting the app. (backing out of the GameSpy lobby and coming back doesn't fix it - you need to exit out of the game entirely...) At any rate, sorry about this problem... it'll be fixed in the next patch.

[CanuckSoldier]

We are still really looking for confirmed cases of a set group of people that reliably always have problems with connecting to peers/hosts consistantly(with each other), and have no firewall/router/NAT problems(or have them properly configured so they aren't probblems). If you are in such a group please contact myself and I'll walk you threw the process we need to help us track down this possible issue and fix it.

CS

[iSkratch]

Great.

Why won't he comment on the MASSIVE WIDESPREAD FATAL BUGS.

Edit:

Firaxis has qa testers? Coulda fooled me.

[DanielZKlein]

One quick question: I've noticed out of synch errors only while playing with a mod (grave's megamod in this case); am I imagining things or can a mod really introduce OOS? I thought the mod only changed interface and scripting things, nothing on a netcode level?

[CanuckSoldier]

Originally posted by DanielZKlein
One quick question: I've noticed out of synch errors only while playing with a mod (grave's megamod in this case); am I imagining things or can a mod really introduce OOS? I thought the mod only changed interface and scripting things, nothing on a netcode level?

Mod's have to be loaded by every player in the game, but if that is happening it shouldn't OOS, but then it might be a bug in that mod, have you tried other mod's to see if it's all mods you play or just that one?

CS

[CanuckSoldier]

Originally posted by iSkratch
Great.

Why won't he comment on the MASSIVE WIDESPREAD FATAL BUGS.

Edit:

Firaxis has qa testers? Coulda fooled me.

I'd refute your post with a detailed reply but I've already addressed many similar broad and inaccurate states here.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showth...=153626&page=2

CS

[deity]

Additionally, Civilization IV will have problems negotiating through 2 levels of network address translation (ie. a router behind a router).

So this is my situation. I have an ADSL modem with an address of 10.0.0.1; which is connected via its one ethernet port to a router that assigns addresses on my home network in the 192.168.1.1...99 range.

This explains why I can't host but I can usually play. Sometimes I have to join last.

[CanuckSoldier]

You likely will have a higher probability of problems but if you do properly forward port 2056(or other ports if you've changed it) threw both routers you should still be able to play with most people, although in my experience you'l have issues with others with unconfigured routers as well.

CS

[marvinkosh]

This is sound advice. I was out of luck trying to play Civ 4 multiplayer before setting the port forwarding.

While it seems highly technical, the actual steps required to set it up are not that difficult to achieve.

1. Check your router manual to determine how to actually configure it.

2. Check which IP address you have assigned to your computer (ideally, have a static IP). You can find this out by getting details on your current connection, or by running ipconfig at the command prompt.

3. The configuration will vary from one router to another, and in my case the manufacturer has skimped on a detailed user manual. However if you try a Google search with terms like the model of your router plus 'port forwarding' you may come up with something that looks like what you need.

4. Obviously, you want to forward port 2056

[jonp]

CS,

Can you contact me about the problems I am having with mplayer?

I have a machine at my house that is set up as a pitboss server with port 2056 open.

I have 2 guys that I am playing with and all 3 have no problem logging on and playing but when I try to log in (from my girlfriends house) we have all kinds of sync problems and contacting peer problems. Both of the guys only have a cable modem and have turned off the windows firewall. They can play fine as long as I dont try to log in so I just kicked myself from the game.

Please contact me at : jonp at tampabay dot rr dot com

Thx
jonp

[CanuckSoldier]

Originally posted by jonp
CS,

Can you contact me about the problems I am having with mplayer?

I have a machine at my house that is set up as a pitboss server with port 2056 open.

I have 2 guys that I am playing with and all 3 have no problem logging on and playing but when I try to log in (from my girlfriends house) we have all kinds of sync problems and contacting peer problems. Both of the guys only have a cable modem and have turned off the windows firewall. They can play fine as long as I dont try to log in so I just kicked myself from the game.

Please contact me at : jonp at tampabay dot rr dot com

Thx
jonp

You have mail.

CS

[SorvinoBackhand]

So how do I open port 2056 ?

(I have no idea what that means.)

[CanuckSoldier]

Well you have to know if and what firewall or router you are using, then opening port 2056 is dependant on that info.

CS

[SorvinoBackhand]

I have a Linksys Router, and I use Norton Antivirus 2005, with Windows Firewall. Pretty basic stuff.

Any ideas ?

[CanuckSoldier]

Well I would disable windows firewall completely as having a firewall within a firewall is asking for trouble. Your router has a builtin firewall, but you will have access the software configuration utility and forword port 2056 to your computers internal IP, and that should allow Civ4 to work fine. If you don't have your router's manual post your model and I'll try and find a pdf version of it online.

CS

[SorvinoBackhand]

I have a Linksys WRT54GS.

In the setup, its asks for a port range: start to finish. I also asks for a protocol: TCP or UDP. Finally it asks for an ISP address.

The directions also include this line:

"The Port Range Forwarding screen sets up public services on your network, such as web servers, ftp servers, e-mail servers, or other specialized Internet applications. (Specialized Internet applications are any applications that use Internet access to perform functions such as videoconferencing or online gaming. Some Internet applications may not require any forwarding.)

When users send this type of request to your network via the Internet, the Router will forward those requests to the appropriate PC. Any PC whose port is being forwarded must have its DHCP client function disabled and must have a new static IP address assigned to it because its IP address may change when using the DHCP function.



Customized Applications
Enter the name of the public service or other Internet application in the field provided.

External Port
Enter the numbers of the External Ports (the port numbers seen by users on the Internet).

TCP Protocol
Click this checkbox if the application requires TCP.

UDP Protocol
Click this checkbox if the application requires UDP.

IP Address
Enter the IP Address of the PC running the application.

Enable
Click the Enable checkbox to enable port forwarding for the application."

A lot that is above me. I would appreciate any help.

[Knave]

The Wife and I enjoy playing CIV over our LAN. However we seem to be having connectivity issues later in the game. Windows firewall has been disabled. Patched to 1.61. We run P4 3.0 1gig ram ati 9800. Linksys Broadband wireless router, however we are hard wired. We will be well into the modern age when we become disconnected. Each of our computers say the other one has become disconnected. The vote screen . If we both vote to wait, then we can wait till the cows come home. We are open to suggestions. Thank you

[jonta]

When you both have the wait, one off you quit to desktop, and then reenter the game, should be able too
continue

[snoopy369]

By the way, since this thread is still topped, I'd like to comment on Knave's problem: I had some serious connection problems with a Linksys router, that were fixed by simply replacing it with a Netgear one. Now, it's possible I had some setting wrong and changing routers just started me afresh, but I don't think so, and I've heard of other problems with Linksys routers.

So if you have a Linksys router, try changing routers if you have MP problems

[jasker]

I was wondering. My friend and I live in a dorm building, we can't seem to get Ip direct connection to work at all. I'm not sure what the deal is. Both have antivirus and Firewall's turned off. Anyone else have any ideas? Getting bored playing myself. Our Ip's are the same with just the last 2 digits being different. Not sure if our entire building is being routered somewhere or not, not sure if that even means anything. Any help would be appreciated.

P.S. I have no way of changing the router settings because I don't know it's net location or even what kind it is.

[skybear]

Originally posted by jasker
I was wondering. My friend and I live in a dorm building, we can't seem to get Ip direct connection to work at all. I'm not sure what the deal is. Both have antivirus and Firewall's turned off. Anyone else have any ideas? Getting bored playing myself. Our Ip's are the same with just the last 2 digits being different. Not sure if our entire building is being routered somewhere or not, not sure if that even means anything. Any help would be appreciated.

P.S. I have no way of changing the router settings because I don't know it's net location or even what kind it is.

Most likely there is some sort of Layer 2 switch that connects all of the dorm rooms within the network, and most network admins, if they were smart, are going to completely block udp traffic to increase network security and decrease network traffic. In otherwords, I think you are fubar.

[swezwakov]

I know it's been a long time since this thread was visited, but I've been having some problems with the MP. I'm running Windows XP and have no problems playing the game alone. However, anytime I try to run any multiplayer game, the system freezes and locks up on me after I click on the "OK" button to start the game (following the introduction).

I've tried LAN, Direct IP, and Internet Games and they all do this. I've updated the game, my network card, and have done all of the mentioned port forwarding. Still, the game freezes. Any help would be tremendously appreciated.

[Chivethan]

Hi, I am playing with my brother. We played once by direct Ip and everything was alright. We saved the game and went to bed. After a few days, we wanted to continue the game, but we weren't able to connect ether by direct ip or by internet connexion.

We retry an other day, and the game give me this error message: erreur socket réseau. déconnexion et fermeture (sorry I'm playing in french so if I translate it, it will give approximately this) error network port or socket. Deconnexion and closing or shut down.

I am using a D-Link router and I have a cable modem. My brother have only a modem.

So if someone can help me. What can we do.

Thanks for the help, sincerely Chivethan.

[EricLeDespote]

Hi, and thank you for your help and website.

Still problems with the OOS

The config :
2 computers with Vista, DirectX 10 and all update
Kaspersky Internet Security (KIS) on both
UPD 2056 open in send/receved in KIS
All exe files of civ4, beyond and warlord allowed to send/receved TCP & UDP.
Civ 4 BTS with 3.13fr patch installed on both computers

Even if I switch off KIS, at the begenning of the game, in 4000 BC... an OOS error :'(

Tested with Internet and LAN.

Do you have any other idea ? Sometimes after many reboot OOS is not shawn, but after few minutes playing it come back

[snoopy369]

OOS generally indicates different files on one machine than the other. Often you can get this unintentionally, as many things control the different files - even running the install or the updates in a different order makes a difference.

If you are playing BtS, try turning off random events (one of the options). Random events under 3.13 do not seem to work well in MP in many situations without a particular install order, and most of us find it easier to simply turn them off.

[bantams]

OSS can be caused by a Badly Installed 3.13 Patch maybe remove patch folder completly and reinstall the patch version 3.13 you can get it here somewhere

[brandonjm8]

alright ive had civ 4 for over a few months now, ive always played the computer, i havent tried slower speeds yet but i will, but i would like to play real people online but i cant. im using windows vista w/ service pack 1, i hate vista nothing but problems, but anyways whenever i downloaded patch 1.74 the latest and probably last patch they will release i cant unistall the game, a tech with firaxis fixed that problem for me but i still cant play online. everytime i goto the lan games options in multiplayer the manual that comes with civ4 says a lobby screen should pop up but never does for me, then it says the game is having internet socket errors and wont connect. then i try the internet games option and it prompts you to login, i am registered with xfire and gamespy but the game wont let me login, what the hell is going on. i have put civ4 on the exceptions list, i gave civ4 full access but still i cant play online. ive sent emails to firaxis and the civ4 website and am awaiting there response but who knows how long that will take. please somebody tell me what do i have to do to play online, i would really like to play real people and not just the ai(they suck anyways, unless i give them the advantage i win everytime, its getting old). any help will be most appreciated, thank you brandon.

[OzzyKP]

Well don't pick Lan, Internet games is the one you want. If you can't get past the login screen then the problem isn't with your internet, (i'm guessing) but perhaps with the login. Try creating a new one and see if that works.

[brandonjm8]

nope ive tried making another user but that didnt work either. somebody said that i cant because i dont have the expansion packs, i only got the original civ 4 game with the 1.74 patch, but i doubt that because im sure im not the only one who still plays the original and wants to play online you know, almost 15,000 people playing online you think everybodys only playing civ 4 bts, i doubt it i hope. anybody reading these messages please; IF AT ANYTIME YOU HAD A PROBLEM SIMILIAR TO MINE PLEASE HELP!!! everything else checks out, my computer is not the cause you can rule that out, i have a cable modem for my high-speed internet connection that has no separate firewall that would block the game, my firewalls are set to allow full access to civ 4 and the port 2056 UDP is open in my firewall as well so you can rule that out as well, everyother game i play online like battlefield which i still play from time to time plays perfectly online, every god damn fu##ing time i goto the internet games option and sign in using my two sn's nothing happens, it will not proceed after signing in, the game doesnt crash i can exit afterwards it just freezes momentarily but still nothing happens, please help ANYBODY!