masoftheund Report post Posted December 12, 2006 I posted once on someone else's post about my disconnections and I have been suffering since. I've spoken to newbies, guild members, experts, mods..... and still no solution. I get disconnected constantly (mostly less than 1 minute). After a while of reconnecting numerous times, the connection time sometimes increases a bit but eventually it happens again. I switched from Ubuntu to Windows XP SP2 (same problem in both) and used different PC's as well. I use a satellite connection through an IDirect 3000 satellite router to a Cisco 1700 router and then to our switch . I have no problems with any other programs and have tried some other games with no problems, so I doubt if it's just my connection. Does Eternal Lands need a port forwarded if it's run through a router? Or is there some kind of time-out from the Eternal Lands server? Please help me!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LabRat Report post Posted December 12, 2006 Satellite links are notoriously laggy Yes, EL has a timeout - that is when the Grue gets hungry. The timeout is somewhere around a minute, I forget offhand the exact number (someone will know), I usually send keepalive packets at 25 seconds. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masoftheund Report post Posted December 12, 2006 But how come it's only Eternal Lands that has a problem? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Derin Report post Posted December 12, 2006 I guess it wouldn't hurt to forward port 2000 for EL, but that will depend on your router. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masoftheund Report post Posted December 12, 2006 OK. I'll try that. I'll let you know how it goes..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Entropy Report post Posted December 12, 2006 You have problems in EL because unlike other applications, EL enforces a timeout rule (if no reply from the client is less than 45 seconds). We do this to prevent stuff such as a player being still there minutes after being disconnected. One other problem might be that the server is in France, so you have some additional lag, especially for a satellite connection. Did you try to do a ping to the server? If so, what's the roundtrip? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masoftheund Report post Posted December 12, 2006 Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]© Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp. C:\Documents and Settings\FsD>ping game.eternal-lands.com Pinging game.eternal-lands.com [62.93.225.47] with 32 bytes of data: Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=810ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=799ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=681ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=684ms TTL=56 Ping statistics for 62.93.225.47: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 681ms, Maximum = 810ms, Average = 743ms C:\Documents and Settings\FsD> Port forwarding also seems to help, but I've not played that much after to be sure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masoftheund Report post Posted December 14, 2006 From the silence, I'm guessing my situation is hopeless and I should just stop playing EL, right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LabRat Report post Posted December 14, 2006 Port forwarding also seems to help, but I've not played that much after to be sure.I for one took that to mean it was fixed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masoftheund Report post Posted December 14, 2006 Tried it and i'm still gettin disconnected. The port forwarding made game play smoother (faster response and no lagging) but it keeps disconnecting for no reason (while i'm walking, moving from one map to another, doing nothing...).............Help Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The_Piper Report post Posted December 14, 2006 Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]© Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp. C:\Documents and Settings\FsD>ping game.eternal-lands.com Pinging game.eternal-lands.com [62.93.225.47] with 32 bytes of data: Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=810ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=799ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=681ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=684ms TTL=56 Ping statistics for 62.93.225.47: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 681ms, Maximum = 810ms, Average = 743ms C:\Documents and Settings\FsD> Port forwarding also seems to help, but I've not played that much after to be sure. Let ping run a little bit longer, 4 results show nothing. Or, under Unbuntu try if /usr/sbin/mtr is installed and run it. /usr/sbin/mtr game.eternal-lands.com and watch whats wrong on the route to the game server. If you dont have mtr installed, heres a link with some infos + links to download it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt's_Trace_Route Watch for some minutes, if there are some ebul spikes on the route to the game server, thats it then when the grue gets you (disconnect). Piper Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masoftheund Report post Posted December 15, 2006 Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]© Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp. C:\Documents and Settings\FsD>tracert game.eternal-lands.com Tracing route to game.eternal-lands.com [62.93.225.47] over a maximum of 30 hops: 1 1 ms 2 ms 1 ms 192.168.202.254 2 4 ms 3 ms 2 ms 81-9-62-86.digitalskys.com [86.62.9.81] 3 579 ms 616 ms 595 ms 192.168.120.4 4 577 ms 571 ms 556 ms 192.168.120.1 5 705 ms 691 ms 678 ms ser6-0.ar04.ldn01.pccwbtn.net [63.218.52.21] 6 849 ms 698 ms 689 ms pos11-1.br02.ldn01.pccwbtn.net [63.218.12.182] 7 651 ms 636 ms 648 ms ge9-0.mpr2.lhr1.uk.above.net [195.66.226.76] 8 788 ms 712 ms 717 ms pos9-1.mpr2.cdg2.fr.above.net [64.125.23.10] 9 786 ms 719 ms 728 ms te1-4.er2b.cdg2.fr.above.net [64.125.23.33] 10 804 ms 692 ms 706 ms game.eternal-lands.com [62.93.225.47] Trace complete. C:\Documents and Settings\FsD> C:\Documents and Settings\FsD>ping -n 50 game.eternal-lands.com Pinging game.eternal-lands.com [62.93.225.47] with 32 bytes of data: Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=693ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=642ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=700ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=800ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=636ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=722ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=648ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=698ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=718ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=727ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=676ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=732ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=691ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=689ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=753ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=710ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=666ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=697ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=740ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=697ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=667ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=673ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=644ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=706ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=681ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=692ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=721ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=733ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=640ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=727ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=668ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=676ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=666ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=790ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=645ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=682ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=683ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=640ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=761ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=770ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=717ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=676ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=750ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=715ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=716ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=643ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=764ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=663ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=734ms TTL=56 Reply from 62.93.225.47: bytes=32 time=750ms TTL=56 Ping statistics for 62.93.225.47: Packets: Sent = 50, Received = 50, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 636ms, Maximum = 800ms, Average = 700ms C:\Documents and Settings\FsD> I'm not sure if 50 is enough. I could do more if this still doesn't help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The_Piper Report post Posted December 15, 2006 Yes, do more and watch. Somewhere must be a spike, thats when you get disconnected. My thought right now is that i would blame your satellite connection for the problems with EL. Somewhere on your route from you to the game server in france must be a server which has a big hickup from time to time. And that causes the disconnects. Try to install mtr under Unbuntu Linux and watch for a longer time. Hopefully you will see a huge delay every 10-20 minutes or whatever, and thats the problem. No heartbeat is send to the server, you get disconnnected. And i fear, thats nothing we can fix for you Piper Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masoftheund Report post Posted December 17, 2006 Ok, so I did a few tests. First, I run a 1000 pings; Ping statistics for 62.93.225.47: Packets: Sent = 1000, Received = 999, Lost = 1 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 631ms, Maximum = 1326ms, Average = 707ms The 1 lost was a time-out which came after like 5 seconds of that particular ping. Second, I fooled around on the test server for about 30 minutes and not a single disconnection!! I went back to the main server and it starts again. Help!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Derin Report post Posted December 17, 2006 What kind of firewall and antivirus software do you have (if any)? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masoftheund Report post Posted December 19, 2006 Panda 7.0(antivirus and firewall). EL is allowed through the firewall and windows firewall is off. Tried playing without panda and still gettin disconnections. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arthur_Dent Report post Posted December 20, 2006 If it works fine on port 2001 and not 2000 and you have a router or switches installed try directly connecting to the modem. Some routers have firewalls in them and may need some settings changed in the router as well. If a direct connection fixes the problem you can start looking at the hardware you have on the way to the computer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masoftheund Report post Posted December 21, 2006 If it works fine on port 2001 and not 2000 and you have a router or switches installed try directly connecting to the modem. Some routers have firewalls in them and may need some settings changed in the router as well. I already forwarded port 2000 to my PC. If the port is opened for incoming and outgoing connections then it's as good as the router not been there, right? I really can't do the direct connection. Although I have access, this thing is on a University campus and provides the connection for everyone. Second, I fooled around on the test server for about 30 minutes and not a single disconnection!! I went back to the main server and it starts again. Can you guys explain why this happens. If the test server works well (without port forwarding even), Then whats up with the main server? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Learner Report post Posted December 21, 2006 If it works fine on port 2001 and not 2000 and you have a router or switches installed try directly connecting to the modem. Some routers have firewalls in them and may need some settings changed in the router as well. I already forwarded port 2000 to my PC. If the port is opened for incoming and outgoing connections then it's as good as the router not been there, right? I really can't do the direct connection. Although I have access, this thing is on a University campus and provides the connection for everyone. Second, I fooled around on the test server for about 30 minutes and not a single disconnection!! I went back to the main server and it starts again. Can you guys explain why this happens. If the test server works well (without port forwarding even), Then whats up with the main server? When the test server works, and the live one does, that usually means that firewall or AntiVirus software thinks the EL is a known trojan that uses port 2000. Norton AV is known for doing that all the time and lately there has been a report of F-Secure doing it, so others might follow. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The_Piper Report post Posted December 21, 2006 To find that out, do this: Open a dos box in windows or use Linux and type telnet the-green-leaf.de 2000 (theres a crappy MUD server listening on port 2000) make an account and play, well stay there, for 30 minutes or more. If you get disconnected too very often, then you have a problem with port 2000 somehow. If not, learners idea is right and an anti-virus tool *THINKS* that the data stream the EL server sends/recieves, is from a trojan or whatever which is phoning home. In this case you should talk to your admins at the university, if they use something like Norton antivirus in their network. And replace it by another tool maybe. Piper Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masoftheund Report post Posted December 22, 2006 First of, thanks for all the help you guys are giving. When the test server works, and the live one does, that usually means that firewall or AntiVirus software thinks the EL is a known trojan that uses port 2000. Norton AV is known for doing that all the time and lately there has been a report of F-Secure doing it, so others might follow. We don't use Norton. Infact, the gateway is not a server but is the router (do routers use antiviruses?) so there's basically no antivirus. I use Panda and as I already said, I tried playing without it and there was no difference. Open a dos box in windows or use Linux and type telnet the-green-leaf.de 2000 (theres a crappy MUD server listening on port 2000) make an account and play, well stay there, for 30 minutes or more. If you get disconnected too very often, then you have a problem with port 2000 somehow. If not, learners idea is right and an anti-virus tool *THINKS* that the data stream the EL server sends/recieves, is from a trojan or whatever which is phoning home. In this case you should talk to your admins at the university, if they use something like Norton antivirus in their network. And replace it by another tool maybe. No problems at The Green Leaf. And as I've mentioned no antiviruses either. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masoftheund Report post Posted December 22, 2006 Just sent an email to CISCO. I hope they'll be of help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masoftheund Report post Posted January 1, 2007 CISCO is no help. Crappy customer support. Any help?!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misery_Machine Report post Posted January 3, 2007 i know of another instance of this happening, but not satellite provider. A friend of mine uses Cable Modem, internet, same provider as me, i have no problems but he is "Disconnected" from the server all the time, or sometimes gets an error message popping up. he has No router, directly connected to Modem, everything else runs ok, BUT el drops him sometimes 20 times a night. Seems if has has more things open in the game it drops him more frequently, he is running an AMD 64 bit PC, which is not shabby, better than mine, and we have tried everything under the sun as well. Just wondering if you have come up with anything yet? i have got him to shut off norton, all firewalls, and re-installed program, and nothing.... pc is up to date with updates, just constantly gets disconnected as well.... an info would be great. I am posting on his behalf, because he can't seem to get on the forums. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masoftheund Report post Posted January 12, 2007 (edited) Ok, now it's gettin worse. It stops responding altogether but will not show the disconnect message and nothing works until I close the game and restart it. Secondly, I looked at my NAT on the router and realized that EL doesn't connect on port 2000 on the client side and it doesn't even have a specific port (kinda random). Is there a range so I could forward all those ports? I got kicked out of my guild because I've been offline for too long. Help!!! P.S. Misery_Machine could you post your friend's PC specs so we can compare to see if there's something we have in common that might be the problem? Mine is; Processor - Intel Pentium 4, 3.0Ghz, Hyper Threading MotherBoard - Intel Desktop Board RAM - 384MB Graphics Card - ATI CONNECT 3D Radeon 9600, 256MB Hard drive space - 240GB Version of Eternal Lands - 1.3.3 Operating System and version - Windows XP SP2 Contents of error_log.txt* - Log started at 2007-01-12 11:31:12 localtime (GMT Standard Time) [11:31:14] Error: Can't open file "quest.log" [11:31:14] Downloading http://www.eternal-lands.com/updates133/files.lst from www.eternal-lands.com [11:31:15] Error: Can't open file "commands.lst" Internet connection speed - About 700kbit/s tops Edited January 12, 2007 by masoftheund Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
