Difficulty getting friends to connect

[Slyder]

So i know this isnt the first time that this has been asked about. I have done research, done what I believe is the correct forwarding, checked my resource monitor and everything and still can not get friends to connect.

Modem

I am using a Motorola Surfboard modem/router. I have gone into the settings, enabled uPnP, setup my external ip and forwarded port 27012 to 27012, as well as my local ip address for port 27012 to 27012, with both TCP and UDP enabled.

Resource Monitor

I have checked the resource monitor for both TCP and Listening PRIOR to hosting a server, and nothing was utilizing that port number. I then launched a server, and found the FC64 utilizing that port, as ALLOWED and UN-RESTRICTED.

Windows Firewall

The Fortress Craft application is allowed both on local and public newtorks.

In Game

In game, once my server is hosted, my correct external ip shows up (the one forwarded above) and it says that uPnP has succesfully punched a hole on port 27012, and that the server is running.




HOWVER, when my friend(s) try to join, they are getting connection timed out over and over. They are trying to connect to both my External IP, and my External IP:27012. Have I missed something? A step somewhere? I didnt think THEY needed to forward to connect, just me to allow connections. This is very frustrating as we would like to play this game together...and there is no code yet to simply right click my name and join game...which would make the whole process more streamlined and hidden....but i get the coding limitations, and I know this method has been around forever.

Any help would grately be appreciated.

Thanks

[Slyder]

I have even tried opening this port as external IP address 0.0.0.0 which directly below it says "0.0.0.0 is the default value (IP Address) that allows packets from any device on the internet to be forwarded to the configured ports" on my modem/router

[steveman0]

Resource monitor can see active ports? That's interesting. Is that able to see how the firewall is treating the ports? I say this because I see you added the game but not the ports as exceptions in windows firewall. I had an issue with this once in the past where the firewall was blocking the port access directly. Can't recall exactly what I did differently with that (or if it was even FCE that I needed it for and not some other game) but looking at my firewall list of exceptions there's like 30 for FCE so there might be something in particular that needs to be accounted for.

The fact that uPnP says it was successful would indicate that something else is blocking the traffic which leads me to believe the firewall may need some other exception for it. You should be able to test this with a common internet port tester. If one of those apps can get a connection through when you have the game hosted. A simple proof could be done by temporarily disabling it to at least confirm this is the case before digging in further to identify the precise issue.

It sounds like you're hosting from in game. Maybe try the dedicated server? I don't think it is much different from a networking point of view but maybe that'll give you better luck.

[Wariat117]

You can check if port is opened there
https://www.yougetsignal.com/tools/open-ports/

also always when something doesn't work with servers it's good to totally disable firewall and antivirus (some av have additional firewalls) and try again

if you won't be able to do it in legit way then you can try hamachi/evolve

[syro]

I'd recommend you disable the Windows firewall completely just for the sake of testing.

Off and on from an elevated command prompt:

netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state off

netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state on

Beyond that, a packet sniffer such as Wireshark may not be obvious to use but it can conclusively show whether or not inbound packets are making it through your modem/router.

Edit: also anti-virus software typically has a built-in software firewall separate from the Windows firewall.

[DjArcas]

Bit confused - if your ports are forwarded, ie hardcoded into the routing table, there's no chance uPnP would work. Conversely, if uPnP is working, there should be literally no issues with anyone connecting to your server.

From your description, tho, it sounds like you've done everything right. Might be worth popping onto Discord and seeing if we can get this fixed.

[steveman0]

Originally posted by DjArcas:

Bit confused - if your ports are forwarded, ie hardcoded into the routing table, there's no chance uPnP would work. Conversely, if uPnP is working, there should be literally no issues with anyone connecting to your server.

Data can be forwarded through a router but still rejected by the computer because of firewalls. That appears to be the case here.

[Slyder]

ive gone into the windows firewall directly and added the exception for port 27012, so just waiting to see if my friend can connect now when we try today. Also, the only av i use currently is avast, and FC is marked for allowed use through it as well. We will see what happens here and ill report back :) Thanks for all of the suggestions.

[Chris]

FC ist not used for communication. It is FC_64.exe in 64bit version.
Disable All !!!!
If it is working you can then increase the security step by step.

Also do you expect a thread in your local network? Firewall is only for local network problems (WLAN in hotel, Company ect.) Or should a virus ask you to open a port that a outbound connection can work? FW is only for inbound traffic.

[Slyder]

well working on some other things. I have disabled windows firewall completely, that is the only firewall software i am using. Using all of the above settings, i went to the yougetsignal.com and did a test on my external IP for port 27012, and it still comes back as closed. I tried deleting the port forward and created a new one using the same information. I tried using just the uPnP without the forward, still blocked. I turned off the uPnP when remade the forward, still nothing. Im sort of at a loss for why my port is showing up as closed. The External ip is correct (confirmed from yougetsignal.com, whatsmyip.com, whats my ip google) as well as the local ip through ipconfig (ipv4) address. Really no idea whats going on.

[Slyder]

Originally posted by Chris:

FC ist not used for communication. It is FC_64.exe in 64bit version.
Disable All !!!!
If it is working you can then increase the security step by step.

Yes the program is FC_64.exe that is allowed unrestricted...i just said FC for reference.

[Chris]

Do you use ds light? Dualstack light
Ask provider. Kabeldeutschland is using it.

[steveman0]

You did all of the port testing with the game open and hosting correct? (If nothing is listening to the port it will appear as closed)

[Wariat117]

Originally posted by steveman0:

You did all of the port testing with the game open and hosting correct? (If nothing is listening to the port it will appear as closed)

you need to host in order to check if portforward works?

edit:
now I'm curious if this port checker works o-O
with firewall and av disabled I have hosted game, it said upnp successful but the site says that port is closed ;D (I didn't have any guy with the game to test if it works actually tho)

[Chris]

You can try to start second time the game and enter at multiplayer your public IP für testing this tool.

[steveman0]

Originally posted by Wariat117:

Originally posted by steveman0:

You did all of the port testing with the game open and hosting correct? (If nothing is listening to the port it will appear as closed)

you need to host in order to check if portforward works?

edit:
now I'm curious if this port checker works o-O
with firewall and av disabled I have hosted game, it said upnp successful but the site says that port is closed ;D (I didn't have any guy with the game to test if it works actually tho)

Yes, they're dependent on getting a response. Can't get a response if nothing is listening to the port.