LAN Configuration for Direct Connect

[Ebbenstein]

While figuring out how to set up a server to connect using Direct Connect, I found a few other topics having issues getting a connection with their coop partners. A friend and I have successfully connected and thought I should make a post. I think many want to be, and should be, able to set up servers. The coop is something I feel everyone should try at least once if they ever give the game a shot.

I'm not too savvy when it comes to networking so forgive me if my terminologies are incorrect. I was able to get a server working without issue once I realized how much like setting up a server on Minecraft and Killing Floor this game was. There is Hamachi and other third-party programs to host a server, I just like the feeling of working directly with the settings of the networking directly.

Before you start, open command prompt, type in
ipconfig /all
and get the Default Gateway and IPV4 Address.


Next you will need to access your routing firmware, usually by typing in your Default Gateway you retrieved earlier into your internet browser's address bar.




//PORT FORWARDING

The port forwarding process may vary for each firmware. I'm won't focus so much on how to use your firmware, just the settings for configuring the ports.

The 2 port ranges you're working on here are:

23243 - 23252 //Ports for game's client
23253 - 23262 //Ports for the server

The internal IP for both must be the IPV4 Address retrieved earlier. This should be the machine the server is being hosted from. You want to service both the port ranges as TCP. I have read that TCP/UDP also works.



//HOSTING SERVER

In the game, have whoever is hosting the server create a game and hold once you come to the character screen.
Your next step is to go to IPChicken[www.ipchicken.com] for your External IP. This is different from the Interal IP we retrieved from command prompt earlier.

Have the other players search for a multiplayer game to reach the server browser screen. From here, click the "Direct Connect" button and enter the IP retrieved from IPChicken.


Like I said before, I'm no expert on networking. From my experience, it seems like setting up servers is similar in most games. Port forwarding is like giving directions for other networks(your coop partners in this case) to reach you via Internal and External IP addresses. Games usually have certain port ranges for certain tasks. You can find these with a Google search.

You can also head to https://portforward.com/ to get ports and to learn anything you may need to know about port forward/networking. Not sure how many sites there are like it but I learned a lot there when setting up my first servers.

Feel free to contact me on Steam for help.

[Raze_Larian]

In most cases, the host can just provide either an IP address or a Server ID for others to be able to join, and not worry about port forwarding unless that doesn't work.
The host can get the Server ID in the 'Connectivity Menu' (from the in-game menu, default hotkey Esc), by clicking the button to the right of the 'Direct Connection' setting.

[Ebbenstein]

Originally posted by Raze_Larian:

In most cases, the host can just provide either an IP address or a Server ID for others to be able to join, and not worry about port forwarding unless that doesn't work.
The host can get the Server ID in the 'Connectivity Menu' (from the in-game menu, default hotkey Esc), by clicking the button to the right of the 'Direct Connection' setting.

I hadn't actually tried without port forwarding. I had issues connecting to my coop partner's server who hadn't forwarded ports.

Majority of the forums posts I read about having issues connecting were on GOG forums. Would old/different game versions require port forwarding? Last I checked, GOG's website requires users to redownload the game whenever a newer version is released. If players weren't using GOG Galaxy, it may be that their game versions were old or didn't match.

[Raze_Larian]

I don't think there were any networking updates in any of the patches that would make older versions more likely to need to be port forwarded.

GOG usually releases patches as well as updates to the full installer. Only the last 1 or 2 patches get listed in the game's page, though, so if you fall behind, you would need to download the latest full installer or use Galaxy to update.

There should be an error message if the game versions do not match.

[Ebbenstein]

Originally posted by Raze_Larian:

I don't think there were any networking updates in any of the patches that would make older versions more likely to need to be port forwarded.

GOG usually releases patches as well as updates to the full installer. Only the last 1 or 2 patches get listed in the game's page, though, so if you fall behind, you would need to download the latest full installer or use Galaxy to update.

There should be an error message if the game versions do not match.

Very nice. I may have solved many others' more diffucult issues, but I'm beginning to believe that my partner made a much simpler mistake while setting up his server. Port forwarding may have been irrelevant in my own scenario. When would connections be established only while ports are forwarded?

I wish to keep the post up only if this information could be useful for a Divinity player.

p.s. Thanks for the active responses.

[Raze_Larian]

It depends on the local network configuration (router and its firmware, etc) whether port forwarding would be required.
I'm sure the guide will be useful, but hopefully not necessary for most people.

[󠀡 󠀡󠀡󠀡 󠀡󠀡󠀡]

If you are playing on LAN use your ipconfig Internal IPv4 Address for any joining players not your ipchicken one and you don't need to port forward at all

[Mighty Detritus]

Originally posted by Raze_Larian:

It depends on the local network configuration (router and its firmware, etc) whether port forwarding would be required.
I'm sure the guide will be useful, but hopefully not necessary for most people.

Hey Raze, on another issue how do you pull up your server ID in controller mode or go back to controller mode once you've started the game with keyboard and mouse? It's a Sophie's choice if I have to choose between playing with a friend and playing with my preferred input

[joramil]

Ran across this while looking for some help with my load times. Haven't had a chance to try direct connect, but in short, if you are all on the same network (LAN), port forwarding is likely not required. If you are connecting remotely to someone else on the Internet, it is likely that the port forwarding would need to be set up. It often also requires assigning an IP address to your computer. This way, when the data comes in or out, they know which computer your network (vs your phone, etc.) to route the traffic to.