Multiplayer on WinXP SP2 Home Network

[wbc2]

My son and I used to play D3 multiplayer on our home machines on a home network. Somewhere along the way it quit allowing us multiplayer ability. I'm not sure but I believe it started some time after I installed Win XP SP2 on the machines, got DSL and replaced the standard network router with a Netgear DSL/Network/Hardware-Firewall router.

Symptoms are when I start a multiplayer game on my machine ( IPX or TCP/IP; client/server or peer-to-peer; same results for all combinations ) and my son tries to join the game, he sees no game to join in the games list area, as if the machine does not see the broadcast over the network. I tried adding D3.exe to the WinXP firewall exceptions list on both machines. Even tried turning the firewalls temporarily off on both machines and no difference. I smell a network issue but have no idea what it is.

Machines are WinXP Pro and WinXP Home, SP2 on both, typical Windows network.

Does anyone know what the problem can be and/or a resolution to it?

Thanks,
Bill

[DCrazy]

Before launching D3 on the game server, run Start > Run > cmd and type "ipconfig" to get your IP address. Then start the D3 game and try putting that IP in directly on the client. That'll determine whether it's a broadcast issue or an actual connectivity issue.

[wbc2]

Many thanks for the reply. Good idea, I'll try this at my first opportunity and see what happens.

[CDN_Merlin]

Also, try this, if you start a game using TCP, have your son try selecting IPX in D3. I've seen it where you see TCP games in the IPX listing.

[wbc2]

Ok, great and thanks. I'll try that too.

Also, try this, if you start a game using TCP, have your son try selecting IPX in D3. I've seen it where you see TCP games in the IPX listing.

[wbc2]

Ok, I tried this and got the same result. I also tried the other offerred suggestion about looking in the IPX games list and it too was blank.

I also tried starting a game from the second PC and got the same results. Very frustrating. I'm confident I have basic network connectivity since I can see files on the second machine from the first machine in Windows Explorer. For some reason I feel it's a SP2 issue since I believe we ran multiplayer between the machines before it was applied. It was a long time ago though so I can't be sure. However, D3 is in the firewall excpetions list on both machines.

Do you have other suggestions on what to try?

Many thanks.

Before launching D3 on the game server, run Start > Run > cmd and type "ipconfig" to get your IP address. Then start the D3 game and try putting that IP in directly on the client. That'll determine whether it's a broadcast issue or an actual connectivity issue.

[Krom]

You put main.exe in the firewall exceptions not descent3.exe correct?

[BUBBALOU]

enable file and printer sharing and enable a share, also make sure you are both on the same workgroup(default for xp is MSHOME -- use networking wizard). Then check firewall settings(ie nortons internet security) choose firewall/networking allow network ip range(ie 192.168.1.0 subnet 255.255.255.0) as trusted

no need for IPX unless you are running D1/D2

for online play so you both can play if need be:

in the misc section of d3;

machine one -useport 2092
machine two -useport 2093

in router forward ports;

2092-2092 to machine one ip
2093-2093 to machine two ip

Note this thread should be in the Multiplayer Forum

[wbc2]

Actually no. I put Descent3.exe in the exceptions list. Is there just one ( main.exe ) or both or even more required in the exceptions list? On the other hand, I tried it with the WinXP firewall disabled and got the same result.

You put main.exe in the firewall exceptions not descent3.exe correct?

[wbc2]

Ok, thanks. I will try these things too. I am only using the WinXP firewall plus the hardware firewall in the router. For a local network game, I assume nothing has to be additionally set in the hardware router settings.

enable file and printer sharing and make sure you are both on the same workgroup (use networking wizard). check firewall settings (ie nortons internet security) choose firewall/networking allow network ip range(ie 192.168.1.0) as trusted

no need for IPX unless you are running D1/D2

for online play so you both can play if need be:

in the misc section of d3;

machine one -useport 2092
machine two -useport 2093

in router forward ports;

2092-2092 to machine one ip
2093-2093 to machine two ip

[Krom]

Actually no. I put Descent3.exe in the exceptions list. Is there just one ( main.exe ) or both or even more required in the exceptions list? On the other hand, I tried it with the WinXP firewall disabled and got the same result.

You put main.exe in the firewall exceptions not descent3.exe correct?

You only need main.exe, descent3.exe is the launcher not the main game executable, this has to be done for both computers.

[wbc2]

Ok, good, thanks. I will definitely that also.

[wbc2]

Well, I tried all the things mentioned in your and the other's posts but still come up with no connectivity in multiplayer. It just doesn't see the game started on the other machine. The only thing I was not able to try was your following advice:

in the misc section of d3;

machine one -useport 2092
machine two -useport 2093

in router forward ports;

2092-2092 to machine one ip
2093-2093 to machine two ip

I was not able to find a location in D3 to try to make these settings. Any info on where to do this in D3, and any other things to try will be appreciated.

enable file and printer sharing and enable a share, also make sure you are both on the same workgroup(default for xp is MSHOME -- use networking wizard). Then check firewall settings(ie nortons internet security) choose firewall/networking allow network ip range(ie 192.168.1.0 subnet 255.255.255.0) as trusted

no need for IPX unless you are running D1/D2

for online play so you both can play if need be:

in the misc section of d3;

machine one -useport 2092
machine two -useport 2093

in router forward ports;

2092-2092 to machine one ip
2093-2093 to machine two ip

Note this thread should be in the Multiplayer Forum