OH NO! It's the return of the lobby error!

SupSuper · Post by **SupSuper** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 9:16 pm

Windows Version (and Service Packs): Windows XP SP2
Processor Speed: AMD Athlon XP 2400+ 2.1Ghz
RAM: 512MB
Video Card (Make and Model#): ATI Radeon 9600 Pro
Sound Card (Make and Model#): Soundblaster Audigy 2
Connection Type (Dialup, Cable, DSL, other): Cable
Modem (Make and Model#): No idea
Router (Make and Model#): None
Internet Service Provider(company name): Netvisão
Location(State/Province/Locality, and Country): Setúbal, Portugal

Problem Encountered at Step #: 9
Which Program (ASGS/Allegiance): Allegiance
What Error Message: Failed to connect to lobby.
Comments (What you tried, description, etc):

Unlike most people, I don't have a router nor a firewall. My computer is part of a 3-computer-LAN, from which one of the computers is connected to the internet (that one has a firewall) and shares it with the rest. And yes, I've checked that firewall on the other computer and strictly told it to let the ports go, even though it's never bothered me before. And no, the modem isn't router-like, it's one of those age-old ethernet pieces of crap that keeps goofing off every now and then. I'll get the exact model if I can find its box.

Post by **FreeBeer** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 11:39 pm

My initial guess would be to check proxy settings... there's something about that in the knowledge base, but I'm less familiar with it. Basically, the main computer hooked directly to the modem needs to forward the data to your playing computer. This may be set up as a proxy relationship, or the main computer may actually be functioning as a router. In either case it sounds like the main machine isn't forwarding the data to your game machine.

Check how they are set up, and report back. I'm sure that will help us diagnose the problem. /mrgreen.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="mrgreen.gif" />

Post by **Tigereye** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 6:39 am

So,

There is one computer (PC-A) that is connected to the internet, and two other computers (PC-B, PC-C) that are connected to PC-A. Right? (I think)

Then PC-A needs to forward TCP and UDP packets on ports 2300-2400 from the server to PC-B (or C).

What program is running on PC-A that forwards the internet to B and C? Is it Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing? (ICS)

If so, check the knowledgebase's "Failed to connect to lobby" solution. You can tell PC-A's ICS to forward 2300-2400. There's a link to instructions in there.

Let us know,

--TE

SupSuper · Post by **SupSuper** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:35 pm

Well the host computer is my dad's, so it's hard to find time to mess with it when he's not using it. /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />

Anyways I tried going to the ICS settings and add the proper ports, but it only allows me to add one point at a time. /doh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":doh:" border="0" alt="doh.gif" /> Do I really have to add every port from 2300 to 2400 (doubling that for each TCP and UDP), or is there an easier way?

Post by **Raveen** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 7:40 pm

You can use a program called DxPort which will reduce the number of ports you need to forward. Check out the knowledgebase article on playing on 2 or more machines behind a router.

SupSuper · Post by **SupSuper** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:07 pm

Is this DxPort... um... noticable? Because if my dad finds some foreign program running on his machine, I'm pretty sure he'll kick my ass, even if I try to explain it's intent.

magmasheep · Post by **magmasheep** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:40 am

SupSuper wrote:QUOTE (SupSuper @ Jul 31 2006, 07:07 PM) Is this DxPort... um... noticable? Because if my dad finds some foreign program running on his machine, I'm pretty sure he'll kick my ass, even if I try to explain it's intent.

AFAIK, DxPort has to be installed on your machine (the one where Allegiance has been installed), not your dad's.

http://www.puffinsoft.com/

edit:

Puffinsoft wrote:What DXport does is force DirectX to the ports you specify.

SupSuper · Post by **SupSuper** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:13 pm

Ok, I found the problem. Now I have to find out how to fix it.

Apparently, I don't need any port forwarding or whatever, all that works fine. The problem is... my dad's firewall. If I disable it, the game connects. Obviously I can't keep it disabled, or my dad would kill me.

Problem is, I can't figure out how to set it up to NOT block the game. I've tried adding the game to the allowed applications, adding in the necessary ports in the Program Services, but nothing works! If anyone knows how to deal with this, please let me know. It's a Personal Firewall Plus, part of the McAfee Security Center.

SupSuper · Post by **SupSuper** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:58 pm

Sorry about the double-post, but I'd like to report that I fixed the problem. /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Looking through the firewall's Inbound Events, I found out that the game didn't use or even came close to ports 2300-2400, but something like 9900-10200. I also had to specifically allow the lobby server, or else it'd keep coming out with this: "A computer at 92.c9.5d45.static.theplanet.com has attempted an unsolicited connection to TCP port 10184 on your computer."

But yeah, it works now. Woo, time to screw up games and get everyone to hate me! /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />