Multiplayer - Hosting and Joining friends. (Known as ''Server not Responding'')

[Snofur]

So, me and all thoose who I know has this issue, they can host, but cannot join or have people join their servers, by steam or in-game browser, we had it ever since GameSpy went to hell. I'm about starting to have enough, I just maxed ArmA 3 out and cannot enjoy a good multiplayer game with my friends without having to use some **** software like Hamachi, Evolve or Tunngle, It is just alot of hassle.

I have an USB Net, wich means it will allow anything to get in and get out, the firewall/antivirus protections is the only wall. I've struggled around with the firewall for along time way back, and nothing worked, I've only heard thoose with routers getting an ''Hoooooray!'' and I will not waste my money on a stupid router that I don't need and will probably not work anyways on my net.


So please, if you can un-**** this problem for me, I will be god-like.

-We have tried PortFowarding.
-Steam's Own Browser.
-IP/Direct connect.
-Searching for names, hosting with pass.
-Changing Port number. (2x default to choose from?)
-Even gone as far as to search on Google for answers. (appears to only be solved for thoose with routers)
-Using server hosting softwares.



And IDK what B.I is up to, but I would count this as an important matter, because it breaks a big part of the game, to host a game flawlessly. I've seen B.I posting ''links'' to portfowarding and their so-called ''Guide Page'', I can read it 100 times over, no matter how I do it, it will simply not work. I actually tough B.I would have solved this, I also see alot of others having multiplayer problems or even the same problem, and they are probably thoose people without an ''router''.



So for the god of love, what do we do?


Unite!!

[[40-1]King_Kosher]

i do not have a simple "do X and it will work" answer but maybe we can get this cleared but i need some intel first.

How did you portforward until now? which ports and which protocoll did you use?
Are you trying to host from inside the game or do you set up a dedicated server on your machine and connect your client to the local server that still listens to the internet?

[Snofur]

I portfowarded using my firewall, and used all the recommended ports, cannot remember them right now, but it was a quite bit of them, I think i got them from the guide page ''B.I'' advised. I did open on all protocols. I'm trying to host from inside the game, from Internet, its just a temporary host, until i wanna do something else. ''and connect your client to the local server that still listens to the internet?'' I belive you mean if im connected to the net and use the ''Internet'' settings, if so, yes I do.

Basically im hosting from in-game like any other game.

[[40-1]King_Kosher]

Originally posted by Snoken:

''and connect your client to the local server that still listens to the internet?'' I belive you mean if im connected to the net and use the ''Internet'' settings, if so, yes I do.

Basically im hosting from in-game like any other game.

No,i mean using the dedicated server exe "arma3server.exe",configured with basic settings to let the server run on its own process (more control,easier to debug and usually a better performance)

If a dedicated server is used,i had success with 2300 to 2302 UDP
For a non-dedicated server you need to port forward ports: 2302, 2304, 8766, 27018
according to this post here : http://steamcommunity.com/app/33930/discussions/0/38596748563475545/


Anyways,on with the troubleshooting.Check your Ports & Mapping and see if they are really reachable from the outside,you can use this site http://www.canyouseeme.org/ for the task.
Check every port that is needed for ingame-hosting

[Mr. Spaghetti]

for me the server list freeze everytime ...

[Snofur]

I've tried that aswell, the server seems up, and I even think I went far enough to ping it, it gave response, but dosen't show up for anyone else.

That ''canyouseeme'' link dosent give me the correct IP adress, wich means it gives timeout on every port, and I cannot change it.

(I pinged it via B.I's own service I belive)

[[40-1]King_Kosher]

Originally posted by Snoken:

That ''canyouseeme'' link dosent give me the correct IP adress, wich means it gives timeout on every port, and I cannot change it.

(I pinged it via B.I's own service I belive)

then you should use a service like http://ping.eu/port-chk/ where you can specify your ip and still have full control over the portcheck.

Clarify on the "B.I`s own service" thing please,never heard of it

[Snofur]

Cannot remember it, but basically you entered the servers ip from ArmA3server.exe info panel or similar and paste it into the searchbar, as I said I cannot remember, since I dumped ArmA 3 for awhile because this, but I'm back at it. And when that page appears, it will tell you some strange things, its symbols and stuff, and if a thing from your server appears there, your server is online and visible, but still my friends could not join. I think it was B.I's own thing, or it was something else. Neitherhow that may not be relevant now, since nobody can still not join my server.

(I'll test this IP stuff when i come home, school...)

[Snofur]

So I checked with the ''recommended IP'' and with my own found via ipconfig in CMD, entered the ports, and they say closed on all of them, not sure if I have to use my NETWORK IP or Computer IP, but I used em' both to be sure, and they said close.

Going to recheck my firewall, since windows crashed awhile back.

[Snofur]

Checked my firewall settings, and It did not work anyways, I opened all the ports etc, and even had the server running while doing the port ping, but still closed, both IP's.


Could the ping site be defect?
Is there anything else I can do within the firewall setttings, found net traversal was put on blocked, should I allow it, or similar settings to allow/block?

[[40-1]King_Kosher]

Originally posted by Snoken:

Could the ping site be defect?

yeah,it returns bogus values for me,too (should stop suggesting untested things)

http://www.ipfingerprints.com/portscan.php works,use the Advance setting,scantype connect and UDP Scan on GeneralOptions

NAT can`t hurt to enable,not sure if it is needed for ArmA but the Steamworks-MP part could rely on it,no idea.

Are you 100% sure none of the devices you connect to the internet with has the ability to block communication?

[Snofur]

Yes, my Internet is an USB-Dongle, and should be allowing anything to pass and go as it pleases, it only servers to provide me with an net line or whatever you wanna call it, if the ISP has cover beyond that, IDK. But no other games have any problems of any sort.

(7 Days to Die has same ''Server Does Not Respond'' Issue, havent tested it with public players tough.... Assume its fine) I cannot be 100% sure, but im 99% sure atleast.


My friend and I have essumed one thing. ''It's Steam''. No proof tough, since both ArmA 3 and 7 Days to Die are via Steam.

[[40-1]King_Kosher]

"Should" will not help us find the problem.Does the Dongle have a web-interface you can connect to?Brand+Model name?Your ISP cool about portforwarding? (i`ve read some complains from people that state,their ISP won`t allow them to open/forward ports.while i think thats beyond dumb in terms of customer-care,i can`t rule it out.nowadays a lot is possible)

7D2D also uses UDP ports to communicate (range 25000-25003),i see a pattern here and it is not steam :P

[Snofur]

Well... That's good atleast, well I have not tested more games than that with Friends. I have an Web-Interface, I have tried it many times, change settings and stuff, but there isent any settings to change, besides from 3G-4G or how long the net will be up before it shuts down auto, have no idea what that purpose was good for. And some simple device information, reboot and profile things, nothing related to blocking or un-blocking stuff, this is why I ''Assume'' it will let anything get trough. That should could even turn into a will, because I have not read any ''pop-ups'' or warning about stuff, if it was possible, it would probably be a Screen with port-fowarding, greyed out or not. But I dont think that's an function.

Making port-fowarding options also sounds dumb to me, but its a small net, nothing much to worry about, and if they even manage to squeese protection inside it, firewall, port-fowarding options etc, I would be impressed. Its not the best net, but its good if you use it right. (Get used to it)

So basically 7D2D has the same problem as ArmA 3, we/me are unsure if it affects showing the server, or if its just the ''join friend'' info tab.

[Snofur]

I think this is an similar issue to me, besides no router for me. I have also went as far to disable all protection I own, maybe unwise, but it was driving me mad back then. (To no avail :P)

https://7daystodie.com/forums/showthread.php?21723-Friends-cannot-connect-externally-to-Dedicated-Server-not-a-Port-Forwarding-issue

(Not sure what he meant about the solution part) maybe you can elaborate it to me? My English isen't top-notch.

[[40-1]King_Kosher]

Originally posted by Snoken:

I have also went as far to disable all protection I own, maybe unwise, but it was driving me mad back then. (To no avail :P)

actually,this isn`t unwise but rather smart since it rules out the protection on your machine.turning off the firewall and test to see if it works for someone to connect is an option,you will not get attacked by a botnet the second you do that.

but wait,you are using one of those 3G broadband sticks with a SIM-card?