TMNF Server Problems (EXTENSIVE)

[BeerHuntor]

OK, first, let me make it known that I am currently using the FREE version of TMNF.

I have tried setting up a dedicated server via the tutorials on tm-forum.com. I have downloaded the dedicated server files, created a "master server account". I have edited the config file shown below (*** represent private info)

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>

<dedicated>
	<authorization_levels>
		<level>
			<name>SuperAdmin</name>
			<password>***</password>
		</level>
		<level>
			<name>Admin</name>
			<password>***</password>
		</level>
		<level>
			<name>User</name>
			<password>User</password>
		</level>
	</authorization_levels>
	
 	<masterserver_account>
		<login>alloyracing</login>
		<password>***</password>
		<validation_key></validation_key>
	</masterserver_account>
	
	<server_options>
		<name>Alloy Racing</name>
		<comment>Alloy Racing Team Server</comment>
		<hide_server>0</hide_server>					<!-- value is 0 (always shown), 1 (always hidden), 2 (hidden from nations) -->

		<max_players>32</max_players>
		<password></password>
		
		<max_spectators>32</max_spectators>
		<password_spectator></password_spectator>
		
		<ladder_mode>forced</ladder_mode>				<!-- value between 'inactive', 'forced' (or '0', '1') -->
		<ladder_serverlimit_min>0</ladder_serverlimit_min>		<!-- Those values will be clamped to the limits authorized on http://official.trackmania.com/tmf-ladderserver/ -->
		<ladder_serverlimit_max>50000</ladder_serverlimit_max>		

		<enable_p2p_upload>False</enable_p2p_upload>
		<enable_p2p_download>False</enable_p2p_download>
		
		<callvote_timeout>60000</callvote_timeout>
		<callvote_ratio>0.5</callvote_ratio>				<!-- default ratio. value in [0..1], or -1 to forbid. -->
		<callvote_ratios>
			<voteratio command="Ban" ratio="0.65"/>
			<!-- commands can be "Ban", "Kick", "ChallengeRestart", "NextChallenge", ... -->
		</callvote_ratios>

		<allow_challenge_download>True</allow_challenge_download>
		<autosave_replays>False</autosave_replays>
		<autosave_validation_replays>False</autosave_validation_replays>

		<referee_password></referee_password>
		<referee_validation_mode>0</referee_validation_mode>		<!-- value is 0 (only validate top3 players),  1 (validate all players) -->

		<use_changing_validation_seed>False</use_changing_validation_seed>
	</server_options>
	
	<system_config>
		<connection_uploadrate>512</connection_uploadrate>		<!-- Kbps (kilo bits per second) -->
		<connection_downloadrate>8192</connection_downloadrate>		<!-- Kbps -->

		<force_ip_address></force_ip_address>
		<server_port>2355</server_port>
		<server_p2p_port>3455</server_p2p_port>
		<client_port>0</client_port>
		<bind_ip_address></bind_ip_address>
		<use_nat_upnp>True</use_nat_upnp>
		
		<p2p_cache_size>600</p2p_cache_size>

		<xmlrpc_port>5000</xmlrpc_port>
		<xmlrpc_allowremote>False</xmlrpc_allowremote>			<!-- If you specify an ip adress here, it'll be the only accepted adress. this will improve security. -->
		
		<blacklist_url></blacklist_url>
		<guestlist_filename></guestlist_filename>
		<blacklist_filename></blacklist_filename>
		
		<packmask>Stadium</packmask>

		<allow_spectator_relays>False</allow_spectator_relays>

		<!-- <minimum_client_build>2009-10-01</minimum_client_build> -->

		<!-- <disable_coherence_checks>laps</disable_coherence_checks> -->

		<use_proxy>False</use_proxy>
		<proxy_login></proxy_login>
		<proxy_password></proxy_password>
	</system_config>
</dedicated>

A few things to note, In the <hide_server> </hide_server> section I have changed this to both 0 and 1 and had the same outcome. I then have forwarded all the necessary ports via my router shown below. The 8002 ports are for the yet to be installed server controller.



And then assigned the application to my PC as shown below.



So with all that done, it should be good to go yes? Well in a sense it is, you see, I was talking with someone from tm-forum.com last night he was using TMU and could connect to it no problem. From my side, i took all the relative steps from a free account, I used the tmtp://#addfavourite=alloyracing in the in game explorer url bar that added no problem. I then use both the tmtp://#join=alloyracing link, and then asks me for a password which is not set if you see the config file, or it attempts to contact the server and eventually says "cannot contact the server (ip:port) disconnected from server (10050)" i think is the error message. This happens both on the tmtp link and the favorites server list.

Using this method to connect to any other server I do not have a problem. Its just connecting to my own server that gives me the issue.

I hope someone could shed some light on this, as i have been pounding my head against the wall for days over this matter.

Regards,
BeerHuntor

[broric]

I know very little about the freezone server restrictions but it sounds like to me that your server is running on the same PC as the game and your trying to join it from the net.

This is a nat loopback issue and a little googling tells me that your router "BT home hub" does not support this feature.
http://community.bt.com/t5/BB-Speed-Con ... d-p/138245
http://community.bt.com/t5/BB-Speed-Con ... 57/page/21
Have you tried joining from in game lan?
the only solution would be to buy a new router that allows nat loopback tho I seem to remember a workaround I used years ago when I ran a server on my home PC and my dlink router had no loopback.
do a search on TM forum and see if you can find it.
Hope this helps

[oliverde8]

You can't connect to you own server via internet that is normal. Can other player connect?

Here is some information about connectiong to your own server by internet :
http://www.tm-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=10262

I think <hide_server> </hide_server> at 1 will prevent it to appear in the suggestion List.

[BeerHuntor]

I know very little about the freezone server restrictions but it sounds like to me that your server is running on the same PC as the game and your trying to join it from the net.

This is a nat loopback issue and a little googling tells me that your router "BT home hub" does not support this feature.
http://community.bt.com/t5/BB-Speed-Con ... d-p/138245
http://community.bt.com/t5/BB-Speed-Con ... 57/page/21
Have you tried joining from in game lan?
the only solution would be to buy a new router that allows nat loopback tho I seem to remember a workaround I used years ago when I ran a server on my home PC and my dlink router had no loopback.
do a search on TM forum and see if you can find it.
Hope this helps

I can join via LAN no problems, But i cant see it listed if its not set to <hide_server>0</hide_server> can i? Ill try it anyway, thanks for the reply.

You can't connect to you own server via internet that is normal. Can other player connect?

Here is some information about connectiong to your own server by internet :
http://www.tm-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=10262

I think <hide_server> </hide_server> at 1 will prevent it to appear in the suggestion List.

As stated in the OP. yes others can connect no problems, He was using TrackMania United. I was hoping it was not a free version issue, but it seems as tho it is not, and just myself connecting to my own server.

Many Thanks for your reply.

BeerHuntor

[magaman]

If it ask for password then it's not a freezone server. Did you see: http://trackmaniaserver.org/wiki/index. ... er-Account

[svens]

If it ask for password then it's not a freezone server.

No, he added the server to his favourites, it's not a freezone issue.

But i cant see it listed if its not set to <hide_server>0</hide_server> can i?

Yep. If it's set to 1, no one can see the server in the list, but even free users will be able to connect through a #join=.. link. It probably won't help much in your case.

[nocturne]

Seems unresolved, so here goes..

Judging by your screenshots and the fact that a TMU player could connect, I doubt this issue has anything to do with your server configuration. As stated, the freezone restrictions require that either the player join via a join link (as long as the server is set to be hidden) or by their favorites menu. It should be stated that there's a nasty undocumented bug in the game client where players attempting to join a non-password-protected server via their favorites menu are greeted with a password prompt upon connection, so I'd say that running the server hidden and joining via a join link would be your best step forward in troubleshooting.

As far as the NAT/loopback jargon goes, I'd simply ignore it (most of these guys don't know what they're talking about here -- it's not the 90s anymore). Many are greeted with the same warning message when running a dedicated server, but it's caused by a simple check that simply doesn't work on 90% of machines. If it'll make you feel any better, though, you can install the MS 'loopback adapter' from your network adapter's properties page (sure you can figure it out).

But, this still begs the question -- if you can connect via LAN, what is the exact issue? Still, it's incredibly confusing.. Is there anything special or overly-specific in your network setup? While running a visible server, can you still see it populating the list in your configured zone? Personally, this seems like an issue with a firewall -- either on your router or on your pc (have experienced many issues in the past of this nature using the Windows Firewall or OnlineArmor).