Help with networking over TCP/IP

[jakershaker]

Need help - Virtual Network over TCP/IP

So I'm trying to get my computer connected to 4 computers in my friends apartment and I thought this 'VPN' could solve it but i cant get it to work properly...

Or does anyone else have any ideas???

We basicly just want to play LAN games and share files in a closed network...

Shouldn't be that hard...

 

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

Why would you need a VPN for that? You've given almost no details, but if I assume you are both on broadband, this would be the simplest way:

One machine on your friend's LAN is run as a private (passworded) server. Your friend forwards the relevent ports to the game server through his firewall/NAT Router and gives you his public IP address.

You then open your game's server browser on your PC, enter your friend's IP address and password, and you should just connect right up.

 

[jakershaker]

Hmmmm but you cant enter a specific ip, the game just searches the LAN for games...

 

[Saem]

Look on sf.net. There are many free VPN tools there. A friend and I were thinking of doing this -- we could get lionheart, at first.

 

[jakershaker]

yeah but most of them are very hard to use...you wouldn't want to link to the best/easiest???

 

[jakershaker]

for WinXP i might add

 

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

Hmmmm but you cant enter a specific ip, the game just searches the LAN for games...

If you are not on the same LAN, it is much easier use the internet, rather than pretending to be on the same LAN when you are not. VPN at each end will also create lag, so if you are playing something like a FPS, you will get slaughtered.

If you tell us what game you are trying to play, and what connects you and your friend's LAN are on, someone might be able to offer more help.

 

[jakershaker]

no specific games really...

i'm on dsl and so are they...

 

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

no specific games really...

i'm on dsl and so are they...

Then the simplest and most effective way is what I suggested. Forget VPN as that can get complicated if all you've got to work with is some machines and a home DSL router. Even if it works, the overhead will really hurt the performance on anything that plays fast.

For sharing files just set up a secure private FTP machine, or use "Waste".

 

[Sabastian]

no specific games really...

i'm on dsl and so are they...

I have run into this before. I am not absolutely sure of the cause of the problem though. I suspect that it has to do with some sort of internal dsl security. Even when myself and my brother both having static IPs with the same ISP we could not make it work. heh, I never fought with the problem for that long. For some reason you simply cannot file share or network this way. There was a time when I might have known better what to point at but this information is graying. Good luck. Just one point on one hand you say that "you cant enter a specific ip, the game just searches the LAN for games" on the other you say "no specific games really". This is not helpfull.

Out of curiousity though are you with the same ISP as your frends?

 

[Althornin]

you can easily set up a VPN using windows XP on each side.
As for the "lag" created, in my experience, its not awful. It will be a disadvantage in fast paced FPS, but all other games will be fine.

thread at Rage3D where this was discussed

 

[jandar]

Easiest way?

Set each computer to the same workgroup. (just create a name, or leave default)

set IPs of each:

10.0.0.1-10.0.0.4
subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

reboot all computers. Share a folder on each drive (not a whole drive, just a folder) and have the share allow guests.


thats about as difficult as it comes with windows.

 

[ByteMe]

Easiest way?

thats about as difficult as it comes with windows.

I take it you have not worked with windows much. You would be correct if windows always was consistant.

 

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

Easiest way?

Set each computer to the same workgroup. (just create a name, or leave default)

set IPs of each:

10.0.0.1-10.0.0.4
subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

reboot all computers. Share a folder on each drive (not a whole drive, just a folder) and have the share allow guests.


thats about as difficult as it comes with windows.

I'd be really surprised if that works between two computers on individual DSL lines. A lot of ISPs block NetBIOS because it can be used by hackers or viruses, and can generate a lot of idle chatter.

Changing the IP address wihout adjustments at the router will break the network at the LAN end, and that same change at the other end (with the individual machine without the router) will probably break all network connectivity.

 

[Althornin]

Easiest way?

Set each computer to the same workgroup. (just create a name, or leave default)

set IPs of each:

10.0.0.1-10.0.0.4
subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

reboot all computers. Share a folder on each drive (not a whole drive, just a folder) and have the share allow guests.


thats about as difficult as it comes with windows.

I'd be really surprised if that works between two computers on individual DSL lines. A lot of ISPs block NetBIOS because it can be used by hackers or viruses, and can generate a lot of idle chatter.

Changing the IP address wihout adjustments at the router will break the network at the LAN end, and that same change at the other end (with the individual machine without the router) will probably break all network connectivity.

agreed.

 

[jandar]

I answered in response to playing LAN games not WAN games.

his original post is LAN related.

So I'm trying to get my computer connected to 4 computers in my friends apartment and I thought this 'VPN' could solve it but i cant get it to work properly...

having read through the other posts, he is on DSL trying to connect with another DSL user who has 4+ computers on it's connection.

VPN is not the answer needed and is too complicated for the task, unless his friend has a good network setup and not just 4 computers plugged into a router.

A simple FTP setup would work:
Friends router:
DSL IP with port 21 forwards to computer #1
DSL IP with port 1000 forwards to computer #2
DSL IP with port 1001 forwards to computer #3
DSL IP with port 1002 forwards to computer #4

Computer #1 hosts the game, he then connects to that. So long as his friends firewall/router rules are correct, it will work flawlessly.

 

[Althornin]

having read through the other posts, he is on DSL trying to connect with another DSL user who has 4+ computers on it's connection.

VPN is not the answer needed and is too complicated for the task, unless his friend has a good network setup and not just 4 computers plugged into a router.

why not?
Its easy, it will let him play games, etc - the answer is in the thread i linked - given by me, tested by me - i do know what i am doing.

A simple FTP setup would work:
Friends router:
DSL IP with port 21 forwards to computer #1
DSL IP with port 1000 forwards to computer #2
DSL IP with port 1001 forwards to computer #3
DSL IP with port 1002 forwards to computer #4

Computer #1 hosts the game, he then connects to that. So long as his friends firewall/router rules are correct, it will work flawlessly.

um, i dont know what you are smoking, but most games have certain ports that they want to use. All you are suggesting is some port forwarding,w hich will certainly work, but involves finding out which ports are needed for which games - and some games ONLY let you search within the game for "LAN games" - they wont let you specify an IP address, and port forwarding WONT WORK.. This situation screams VPN.

 

[hey69]

the easyst would be that you lease a pack of public ip adresses (8 for example ) and let the isp route it to your routers fixed ip adres (so you would put it inside your LAN) that way you can easily make a vpn connection from > to vice versa between 2 differents LANS over the internet

but then again.. you don't have a fixed ip don't you? i don't know how the DSL providers work at your country

 

[jandar]

Althornin

VPN is not the answer needed and is too complicated for the task, unless his friend has a good network setup and not just 4 computers plugged into a router.

odds are, its 4 computers plugged into a router. VPN will connect to one, not all 4 unless they are properly networked. This is why i recommended against VPN.

He wants to be able to share files, etc and game across all 5 computers. Works fine for gaming, but without a proper network, he is not going to see the other computers shared folders or drives. This is just basic networking. He will only see the computer he is using VPN to connect to.

He will need either a deidcated server or something like this:
http://www.sygate.ca/son.htm


Your solution will work fine with just ONE to ONE computers.