Servers Half-Life, Quake, Unreal

[fred]

I read that there can be problems setting up servers behind IP gateways/routers with DHCP servers such as the Linksys ADSL Router because the outside world has trouble seeing which machine has the game running on it ( Since the outside world strictly speaking can only see one IP address.). I know that this can cause terrible problems with Half-Life and Unreal, but Quake seems to work. Anyone know whether Quake really does work with any reliabilty or whether it too requires port forwarding to be set up to work 100%??? Has anyone done this? Is it possilbe to leave the DHCP enabled and just set up a static IP for the game server? Rather than have to re-configure the entire network!! ( I am tryng to set up a Quake Arena server..).

[fred]

Sorry, I used the term ADSL which most of you might not know is a local variation of DSL. I should have put Linksys Cable/DSL Router.

[Notfromthemoon]

I do not know if this helps you, but I found some information on it in a quake forum. You might want to have a look.

http://www.quake3world.com/ubb/Archi...-5-001768.html

I would also suggest that you take a look at http://forums.internet.com/WebX?PracticallyNetworked
They have a hole section dedicated too linksys routers.

You could also send an email to the guys at linksys. You might get lucky after all it would be in their best interest too solve the problem.

Good luck.

[Orcmonkey]

I run the linksys dsl router, and have set up a Counter-strike server. It is quite tricky to get the router working, and NO I don't think you can do it with the router DHCP. It's not hard at all to set up fixed IP's for each computer in the network though, as long as you know the DNS servers and other info for your ISP. I like it this way, as I always know what the IP's are for my computers, and it makes port forwarding much easier. For Half-Life, there are a few ports to forward, some settings to change etc... Checkout www.server.counter-strike.net for tons of info, there is an article on the linksys router. Also, while the server worked fine, if I ever got disconnected from my ADSL, the server would sometimes change IP addresses, because my ISP gives me a dynamic IP. Also, when you set up the server, The only IP you see is the private one (192.168.1.5 for me, as that is what I’ve set my machine to in the network properties) when you want to connect to your server (using different port addresses) you must connect to the private IP or else you will get kicked off the server after a few minutes. Other people must connect to your external or public IP number. I'm not sure about quake, as I don't play it as much as my insane Counter-strike addiction. Good luck, I hope you figure the stuff out; it got me pretty frustrated until I got everything working.

Check out the site for my server, although it's not up currently.

Orcmonkey's Dedicated C-S

[fred]

Thanks! Following your adveice and leads - Look what I found -

Linksys Games Servers

This document attempts to clear up some of the problems people are having when using the Linksys Instant Broadband Etherfast Cable/DSL Router. This file will cover Linksys part numbers BEFSR11 and BEFSR41. I own both routers and have had a large amount of experience with both the routers, cable modems, and xDSL.
I will assume that the reader is running a game server with Quake 3 Arena or Quake 3 Team Arena. I will not go into the individual setup of your server because that is not necessary. Suffice it to say that Q3 utilizes port 27960 to send and receive data. This port is essential to the functioning of Q3 with this router.

I will now take you step-by-step through the setup of your Linksys router. The setup I am recommending is the one I use. It is fast, easy, and should work for the majority of users regardless of their operating system, if it is compatible with the router. Please check your router documentation for compatibility updates. I will only describe screens necessary to setup the router for Q3 serving, so there will be some items missing. Also, be aware that this guide is written specifically for people who use Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Server, or Professional. Administrators utilizing other operating systems should consult their operating system documentation for assistance with similarities and differences.
A. SETUP
The initial screen that you see when you log in to the router is the "SETUP" screen. This screen contains all of the router's basic setup functions. Most users will be able to use the router's default settings without making any changes.
The first line on this screen is the "Host Name:" line. While this line is required by some ISP's, it is not necessary to fill this line in unless it is required by YOUR ISP. However, adding a name to this line will not adversely affect your Q3 server
The second line on this screen is the "Domain Name:" line. While this line is required by some ISP's, it is again not necessary to fill this line in unless it is required by YOUR ISP. I would suggest leaving this line blank if possible.
The third line is the "Firmware Version:" line. This is the current firmware version installed in your router. It has been my experience that staying current in this regard is best, so I would suggest checking the Linksys site frequently. I also recommend flashing your BIOS only to solve a problem. If it is not broken, do not fix it!
The fourth line is the "LAN IP Address:" line. This line starts with the MAC or Media Access Control Address. Further information on this address can be found under the IEEE 802 standards. As of this writing, the current firmware version is 1.37. This version allows the MAC address to be changed. Do not change this address unless necessary!
Right below the MAC address is the "Device IP Address". This is the IP address assigned to your Linksys router. I suggest leaving this address at the default of 192.168.1.1. As you read on, you will understand why this address is left at the default.
The next line is the "Subnet Mask". This is a number that, when compared by the computer with a network address number, will block out all but the necessary information. I suggest leaving this number at the default of 255.255.255.0. As you read on, you will understand why this address is left at the default.
Next we come to the "WAN IP Address:" line. This line starts again with the MAC Address which, in my case as I would assume in yours, is the same as the LAN IP Address.
Beneath this we come to a "radio button" that says "Obtain an IP Address Automatically" For ease of setup, I suggest you leave this radio button filled in. Read on!
The next radio button allows you to "Specify an IP Address" as well as a Subnet Mask, a Default Gateway Address and three DNS Addresses. I do not suggest Specifying an IP Address for this router.
We now see a line for "Login:". You are offered three choices, PPPoE, RAS, and Disable. Unless necessary, please leave the Disable radio button checked.
The rest of this page should be left alone and will not be covered here to save the reader from possible confusion about options not utilized by most users.
B. PASSWORD
The next available screen is the "PASSWORD" screen. This is the password you set for access to these settings pages. For security reasons, you should set a password on your router. Your password must be less than 64 characters, and it cannot contain any spaces.
You are also offered the opportunity to "Restore Factory Defaults:". Use this option only if your router malfunctions or you need to return the router to a default status. I mention this screen only because security is important so you do not get hax0red!
C. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
You can configure the router to act as a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server for your network. Consult the user guide for instructions on how to setup your operating system to work with this feature. I will describe how this is used under Windows 2000 Advanced Server. This setup will also work for Windows 2000 Professional. These settings can be easily used under Windows 95/98/Me with some minor differences in context. Please see the end of the article for this setup.
The first line you see on this page is "DHCP Server:". This line allows you to enable or disable the DHCP server that is built into the Linksys router. Please enable this line.
Beneath this you will see a line for "Starting IP Address:". This line has three fixed blocks with 192.168.1.XXX where XXX can be a three-digit number between 2 and 254. I use "100" in this block and would suggest you do too to make following this guide easier.
The next line is key. "Number of DHCP Users:" is dependant on your needs. For my BEFSR11 router, I set this number to "1". This forces the router to assign 192.168.1.100 to my computer every time I start. For my BEFSR41 router, networked to four computers, I have this number set to "5". This assigns to my computers addresses from 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.105.
For the BEFSR11 router where you are only using "1" IP address, it will obviously correspond to the address in the "Starting IP Address:" line. Be sure to write it down!
For the BEFSR41 router where, in my case, I am using multiple addresses, I must discover the address assigned to the computer I want to serve Q3 from. There will be more on this at the end of this guide.
There is nothing more you need to do on the "SETUP" page, so please proceed now by clicking on the "ADVANCED" tab.
D. FORWARDING
"Port forwarding can be used to set up public services on your network. When users from the Internet make certain requests on your router, they will be redirected to the specified IP."
Now, in English, what Linksys is trying to tell you here that, in order for the Q3 data to get out of your computer and out into the Internet, it needs to be forwarded through the built-in firewall. So here is where the IP Address assigned to the serving machine comes into play.
In the "Service Port Range" boxes, you can enter a range of ports that will send and receive data if it is meant for your network. So, in the two boxes at the top, enter 27960. If you remember, 27960 is the port utilized by Q3 to send and receive data. This box will now look something like this:
27960~27960
The next box you see is the "Protocol" box. This box can be set to TCP, UDP, or Both. Please leave this box in the default of "Both".
Lastly you will see a box for "IP Address". This is where you now fill in the address of the computer which will serve Q3.
E. NOW WHAT?
Now if you have followed these instructions, you now have a DHCP server running inside of your Linksys router, and the router will send and receive data through port 27960 and send it on to the computer specified by the IP Address that you entered into the IP Address box on the 'Forwarding" page.
I will assume that you have a Network Interface Card properly installed and configured for your network, as well as TCP/IP and your internet connection working so at this point, you should boot into Windows 2000.
Once logged in to Windows, you should click START --> SETTINGS --> NETWORK AND DIAL-UP CONNECTIONS
You should now right click on your connection to the Internet and choose "Properties". With this new box open, please highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and choose the "Properties" button below.
Please fill in the radio buttons for "Obtain an IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS server address automatically". Now, look down and click the 'Advanced..." button.
Under the "IP Settings" tab that is now opened, you should see a box telling you DHCP is enabled. Beneath this is a section for "Default Gateways:". Click the "Add" box and enter the IP Address of your router. This should be 192.168.1.1. Ensure that the "Interface Metric" box is "1". Now click "Ok.." until you are back out at the Windows desktop.
At this point I suggest that you reboot and briefly unplug your router. Simply remove the power connector from the back of the router for approximately 10 seconds and then plug it back in.
With your computer and router now ready to go, setup your server, insuring you are using port 27960 and have fun!
Those of you who are using the BEFSR41 router, you must remember that you have a possible wider range of IP addresses to use, so if suddenly your Q3 server stops reaching the internet, your address may have changed! Use the "Command Prompt" in the START --> PROGRAMS --> ACCESSORIES box and the IPCONFIG command to discover your IP address.

[fred]

Actually, although the document explains a lot, I actually think the author got it slightly wrong. He should have set the games server as a static IP, otherwise there is a severe danger that the forwarding could get lost because the DHCP server asigns a different IP to the games server.
Linksys agree with me on that one...
I am about to try that...
Thanks everyone for your help..

[Colb]

Now I have a question.

Lets say... if I have a server and two clients(playing UT), does the game "perform" better if it is dedicated on the server and played on the clients?

I know nothing about servers, so help me out.

[fred]

Most of the CPU power is taken up by graphics. What you tend to find, when you use a dedicated server and clients, is that the game is faster because the server is not doing any graphics. In particular, in Quake Team Arena, the bots are noticeably more 'aggressive'. The clients, even with the best network, the graphics will not be updating as often so the movement is slightly less smooth.