Server problems...

[imported_Chuckd]

Hi there. I got CoD last night and ran home and installed it on my two computers with the intent of creating a dedicated server on my secondary machine. The problem is, whenever anyone logged in from the internet they could play for a minute or two then the server would lag and/or boot them. Including my other clan mates who were in the next town using the same ISP as me.

I am running CoD on my server machine which is an AMD Athlon 1.6ghz, 1 Gig of DDR Ram, Radeon 8500 (not that it matters for a ded server, but hey.), running WinXP Pro. This is running into a linksys router then out the net.

I have routed port 28960 (going from memory here... whatever it says in the readme file) to my server box with both UDP and TCP protocols enabled. I have disabled windows firewall on the server machine and have no other firewalls running. My connection is a DSL with 768k download and 128k upload. According to a recent test at dslreports.com I'm getting actual speeds VERY close thereto. I've run Il-2 servers for days on end on the same machine and never had any problems, so I'm a bit stumped by this one. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Jerseysax]

Are you sharing your internet from the first pc to the second or do both pc's plug into the router? It almost sounds like a routing problem or maybe address translation between your router and your server pc. Maybe the are lagging out then disconnecting because of a high ping. The lagging may be caused by the packets bouncing back and forth before they find their way. I run both my pc's directly to the router (4-port) to cut down one hop to the second pc and decrease any extra strain on the first. I've made my server pc the dmz host and relied on a software firewall.

[imported_Chuckd]

Thanks, Jersey. Both computers run directly into my 4 port router, like yours. I had my DMZ hosting routed (for some reason) to my gaming rig and not to the server. I will try running a server here in a minute or two and see what the result is. More later.

[imported_Chuckd]

No such luck. I just tried it. One guy joined, fired a few shots at me then lagged out. I already tried resetting the router. Would having both UDP and TCP protocols enabled on that port be a problem?

[Cobra]

How many people do you have in the server when it starts to lag ?

Your dsl connection is not abel to use for more than 2 to 4 players max.

[Jerseysax]

You shouldn't have to make any extra configurations inside the router once you set your dmz host to your server. That will basically turn off your hardware firewall for that machine. Like I said, I just reley on my software firewall for my server machine. I would try taking out the extra settings in the router. It can't hurt. Any other software running on the server?

[imported_Chuckd]

It doesn't matter how many people are in the server. Happens with only one, and it happened when I had about 6 people in it. I would suspect my DSL connection not being able to handle the upload requirements if I hadn't successfully run an Il-2 server for so long. That game ran like a charm. Mohaa, did this same sort of thing, and I couldn't figure out why then either.

Jersey, there's no other software running on my computer. No Norton stuff, no firewalls, antivirus or anything. I'm VERY picky about what programs execute and stay resident on startup and I've disabled just about everything on that machine. I'll try disabling the other port forwarding stuff, just for kicks, but I don't think that'll do it. I've already updated the firmware for the router itself and reset the router as well. Still baffled at this one.

[Jerseysax]

This is interesting chuckd. Tonight I was running a dedicated on one pc and playing on a second and every once and a while (15 minutes or so) everyones ping would go through the roof. Sometimes they would clear and go back down, sometimes changing the map would bring them back down. Regardless, it was a pain in the ass. Maybe there is something to the linksys router. Keep your eye on this thread because now I'm on a mission to figure out the answer. I'll post as I get info.

1 question... does it effect you? Mine does not so it tells me it has something to with the hops after the lan side of my router. Maybe in the translation from 192.168.0.xxx to my isp provided address or the routing afterwards.

[imported_Chuckd]

No, Jersey. It doesn't affect my connection. Anything on the LAN side of the router seems to work fine. It was the same scenario for MOH:AA too. I would have no problems but when anybody connected thru the net they'd get lagged & booted, but always, I would have no problems at all. I've got this thread going on several forums and if I come across an answer or suggestion, I'll pass along the info to you, man.

[Jerseysax]

Chuckd, there is a good thread stuck at the top of this forum regarding which router ports to open, if you perfer not to make your server the dmz host since you are not running a software firewall.

Still searching for answers...

[imported_Chuckd]

All over it, Jersey.

Good luck, man. I've fiddled with so damned many settings that I can't even think straight and have had zero in the way of luck.

If I do run across a solution, I'll be sure to post it.