Learn to Host Within

[HeadHunterKC]

So, my biggest struggle in hosting recently has been setting up a static IP.
The link I am posting is going to be for windows 8, but im sure if you type in "setting up a static IP for "w/e" OS" you should get a similar video, or perhaps you can figure it out from this anyway. Also this answered my question about DNS.
Satic IP/DNS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHQzHCQhHHg

Also - this video has floated around, the how to host myth 2, but it wasn't any good for me until i fixed the static ip/dns issue. these 2 videos should have all the info you need to get your host working. Only took me roughly half an hour of minimal trial and error.

Myth 2, port forward: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY-qr95VXqM

[HeadHunterKC]

I have had complaints of lag on my host.

I am wondering how to know if this is a router or an ISP issue.

[punkUser]

If they can connect at all, it's likely not a router issue. It's either a computer issue (make sure you get consistently high FPS, ideally solid 60 or more) or internet/ISP issue. Note that lag can be on either end (host or player) and it can't always be avoided if people are geographically far apart.

[Edulus]

oh... this is really wonderful.

[adrenaline]

I have had complaints of lag on my host.

100% guarantee that it was because you were hosting on wireless. Hosting on wireless is a terrible idea, no matter how good your connection. Did you plug directly into your modem or router and try hosting like that?

[punkUser]

Yeah wireless *can* work, but it's definitely the first place to check/fix if you're having issues. The problem is not with bandwidth, it's that wireless has intermittent, unpredictable latency due to interference. 2.4Ghz networks (i.e. the majority) suffer the most, while 5Ghz networks do better but have shorter range.

I'd venture a guess that 5Ghz wireless in the same room is probably fine, but anything through walls, in noisy areas (i.e. apartments, townhouses... anywhere with many wireless devices around) or anything 2.4Ghz is probably dicey for ideal hosting.

[dac]

I have had complaints of lag on my host.

100% guarantee that it was because you were hosting on wireless. Hosting on wireless is a terrible idea, no matter how good your connection. Did you plug directly into your modem or router and try hosting like that?

i have hosted for years on wireless and for years i've had most people on myth tell me that my host is solid.

i think a lot of people have a lot of shit running on their computers honestly. mine's setup with specs that it could be used as a good web server, i'm sure that has at least something to do with it.

oh, and not sharing the wireless connection with 30 people helps. it's usually just 1-3 people, and i wont host if the gf's streaming or uploading shit

[toynbee]

I have had complaints of lag on my host.

100% guarantee that it was because you were hosting on wireless. Hosting on wireless is a terrible idea, no matter how good your connection. Did you plug directly into your modem or router and try hosting like that?

i have hosted for years on wireless and for years i've had most people on myth tell me that my host is solid.

i think a lot of people have a lot of shit running on their computers honestly. mine's setup with specs that it could be used as a good web server, i'm sure that has at least something to do with it.

oh, and not sharing the wireless connection with 30 people helps. it's usually just 1-3 people, and i wont host if the gf's streaming or uploading shit

Don't listen to dac -- he never plays. Even if he does occasionally, he is not gay enough to post on this board anyway.

[HeadHunterKC]

bump

[jason_ac]

How come you bumped?

Though I think static IPs (& the kind of advice you get from http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/) aren't the best way. Has some drawbacks, and a bit brute force/clumsy, and overly complex. And really inconvenient if your system is a laptop (mine is) that you'll be taking to various wifi networks.

After some reasearch, a much better solution is DHCP reservations, if your router supports it (my ancient one doesn't ). Something like so:
http://discussions.apple.com/message/24234320#24234320
http://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3415

Here's the easy, sketchy work-around if you have an old router like mine...I always turn on my laptop first, so it's always an internal network IP of 10.0.1.2...so I leave my laptop settings totally unchanged, and just tell the router to forward to that IP. Voila, works, instant hosting!

Now if I mess around with turning on & off other devices on my network (smartphone, PS3, etc), resetting, the router, etc, I could potentially temporarily screw this up if my laptop ends up being a different address. Though if that happens, just reset everything, putting the laptop on the network first.

[HeadHunterKC]

I bumped because we need more hosts.

[jason_ac]

I bumped because we need more hosts.

We do. I've written a guide to getting hosting working:
http://mythipedia.wikia.com/wiki/Multip ... ting_Games

[Pogue]

oh... this is really wonderful.

[Kashmir]

Example on Arris router, first assign a local IP address for your host machine on your network, this is usually done by assigning an IP address by MAC Address:

Screen Shot 2014-03-29 at 10.23.34 AM.png

192.168.0.3 is my computer.

Next, you go into your router's firewall settings and you open the necessary port/s for your application, this differs on individual routers, Arris uses Virtual Servers:

Screen Shot 2014-03-29 at 10.15.38 AM.png

Also important, if you have a software firewall on your OS you will either need to allow incoming connections for the Myth II application, open the ports on the software firewall if possible, or disable the software firewall. I recommend the third option, it's the simplest and software firewalls are junk anyway.

Just tested router with a Port Trigger setup instead of an always open port. Benefit being that all you do is define the incoming and outgoing ports, no need to assign IP address to any specific machine. If your router supports Port Triggers, set incoming and outgoing to port 3453, TCP protocol. When your computer accesses outbound port 3453, it will open inbound port 3453 automatically. When you're not using outbound port 3453, inbound port 3453 is closed.

Screen Shot 2014-03-29 at 11.00.19 AM.png

That simple.

As for the wifi/hardline options, I use both, I don't notice people complaining about lag when I host on wifi. When I host on wifi, I am usually up in my kitchen with my router in the basement at pretty much the furthest end of the house. I keep 2 backup config files for my router, one for ethernet settings and one for wifi so I can switch quickly based on how I am connected.

Yet another option if your router supports it is the DMZ, manually assign an IP address for your computer outside the normal DHCP range of your router and place that IP address in the DMZ(Demilitarized Zone), this will place that IP address outside the firewall completely. This would only be something you want to do when hosting, taking the machine out of the DMZ when finished.