Beta 8...A problem??

[Jochi Khan]

M2TW communicates over a different port than does MTW. The port is a number that's included in each data packet, and it's used to direct incoming packets to the appropriate program. Firewalls block data packets that originate a request from outside the firewall unless the firewall has been configured to pass the included port number. As I recall, MTW uses port 18321 and MTW/VI uses port 18322, and these ports have to be open for both UDP and TCP. GameSpy also requires about 10 additional ports to be opened, but I don't know if they affect visibility of hosted games. I don't know what port or ports M2TW uses or if it requires both UDP and TCP. So, it's possible that a firewall could block MTW/VI hosting and not M2TW hosting, and that would be consistent with all the MTW/VI installs working.

So, why have I not had a problem hosting before? All I have ever had to do with my firewalls is set them to 'Allow' or 'Not block' the servers that I am connecting to.

Right now we only have 6 people playing Samurai Wars MP regularly. We all have MSN and can arrange games over that, and CBR hosts a teamspeak server on Sunday for those who have a headset and microphone. I think just about everyone can host, so it's not actually necessary to be able to host during this session.

No, but it would be necessary for one of us to be able to host at other times that suit us.

[Puzz3D]

So, why have I not had a problem hosting before? All I have ever had to do with my firewalls is set them to 'Allow' or 'Not block' the servers that I am connecting to.

Is Windows Firewall turned on and Windows Automatic Updates enabled? If so, maybe an automatic update changed the Windows Firewall configuration. I have Windows Firewall turned on, but Windows Automatic Updates turned off. If you go to Control Panel then Security Center, you'll see if it's turned on. Access the Windows Firewall under Manage Security Settings, and check under the Exceptions tab to see if Medieval_TW is checked as an exception. There is also a check box there to display a message when Windows Firewall blocks a program. In Windows Firewall, you can't allow or block servers. You allow ports or programs.

I don't know anything about Zone Alarm, but if it has an automatic update feature, the configuration could have changed or the program could have become incompatible with MTW/VI. We'd have to hear from someone who can host and is running the same version of Zone Alarm on the same version of Windows to rule out incompatibility.

[Jochi Khan]

All I have ever had to do with my firewalls is set them to 'Allow' or 'Not block' the servers that I am connecting to.

That should have read.. Programs ...and not Servers.

I am aware of how windows XP sets the Exceptions. Have been using it for a number of years now. Checked and double checked, all the programs I need 'not blocked' are not blocked (all the necessary boxes are ticked). The windows updates do not change your Exceptions.

Zone Alarm works differently in as much as you set your levels of security each time you want to play online. This you then change when you log off the games. Again, do not get changed when Zone Alarm does auto update.

[Puzz3D]

That should have read.. Programs ...and not Servers.

I see in Windows Firewall that there is an option to make a list of ip addresses that are allowed access a program. So I was incorrect about not being able to specify servers. This setting defaults to "allow all ip addresses access".

Since you already tried disabling the firewalls, that should be enough eliminate them as the cause of the hosting problem. At the moment, I don't have any other ideas about what could be causing the problem.