static or dynamic ip address

[zaphod]

Just upgrading to broadband and was wondering whether you need a static ip address to host MP games - I suspect it is. It would be preferable to have a dynamic ip address since it is a bit more secure. However in the blurb on port forwarding etc i haven't seen this mentioned.

Thanks

[Gregoshi]

Greeting zaphod. Welcome to the Org at the End of the Universe. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

I don't think dynamic or static matters. Firewalls seem to be the biggest culprit in MP online.

[TosaInu]

Hello zaphod,

Static or dynamic IP doesn't matter for hosting TW games. A static IP is handy (not required) when you want to run a webserver or a dedicated gameserver (like used with First Person Shooters).

The dynamic IP is more than fine for normal playing and hosting of games. A stable connection, bandwidth and latency are important.

Does your broadband provider offer the choice between static and dynamic?

[zaphod]

Hi,
Yep, my first post, well second now.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif

I've gone with plus.net. They allow you to use either a static or a dynamic ip address. I think they give you 4 static ip addresses - presumably so you can cycle through them if you want. Haven't got v. far though since still waiting for ADSL activation, however I think they have an option in the control panel to flick between static and dynamic ip addresses, which is nice. If true, it sort of makes my original post mute http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-blush.gif .

If the firewall is going to be a problem, then it might just have to stay as one. I did have VI running on a Windows 98 machine without any anti-virus or firewall sw. Heck, I only used it to connect to the TW servers, so I figured it would be safe enough. How wrong can you be By the time I virus scanned it it had 200+ viruses and trojans

ps: Got a droid goin' cheap. Excellent morale builder and tactician. Works especially well with clans. Open to any offers.

[TosaInu]

That's a great deal your ISP offers, very nice.

Firewalls can be funny, you at least have to open some ports to allow the game to connect (the firewall can do some autoconfiguration for the game if you allow it). You can then enter the online foyer and join hosted games and play.

You'ld think you can host then as well, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I haven't tried in MTW yet, but I could never make my firewall to work with hosting games myself in STW. Software firewalls can be quicly disabled in the systemtray if you want to host. If your computer is clean from trojans and file-/printersharing is off, you should be ok during a gamingsession.

200+ virusses is a lot. But finding a worm or even a virus in an e-mail attachment doesn't mean you're a victim yet. Usually it requires opening/clicking/running of the attachment first. You can have serious problems if you have activated a virus/worm.

[zaphod]

Well, I've had a bit more of a fiddle with the control panel and it would appear that static ip address support is a bit more limited. There's an icon saying static ip. You click it and then it says you are now using a static ip address. No option to confirm or cancel, or change back to a dynamic ip I would imagine an e-mail to admin is necessary. So it looks like I'm stuck with a static ip address for the immediate future. I shall have to see if it's really necessary.

I have only ever tried briefly to host an mp game of mtw, but since i have (not for long) a 56k modem it was only to see whether it was possible. It wasn't but then I didn't want to turn off the xp firewall. I will make a better effort with the router.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-smile.gif

The 200+ viruses were a lot - I wasn't expecting ANY - perhaps a little naive. No e-mails were sent or received from the machine, and it was only really used to connect to the MTW server. However, file and print serving was on, and the drive may have been writable at some time - which is probably not a good idea. I am fairly certain however that I disabled the TCP protocol for the file and print server so nothing should have got in. Ha ha.

PS: I have a laptop which most internet stuff and work gets done on - this has a virus scanner and firewall. The 98 desktop, although a little old is a bit better at games. It now routes through the laptop for a bit of firewall protection.