Linksys Routers...gotta Love Them

Boris · February 2003

<div class="IPBDescription">has ANYONE setup a server SUCCESSFULLY?</div> This goes along with an earlier post I made, but received no valuable results....

LINKSYS routers seem to be from the devil when it comes to HLDS servers. Has anyone setup a working(and stable) NS server that works on a linksys router with DHCP and DMZ host to that computer?

Is there any other way to configure the router to work (I have the 4 port one)? If I disable DHCP, set ip forwarding...would that do anything?

Any responses with helpful hints or alternative setups would be helpful. I know some of you will suggest getting a better router...but this is what I have to work with...maybe we can solve the issue

Any info AT ALL would be awesome.

The first post I did was here:

<a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=8&t=18114' target='_blank'>http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/in...=ST&f=8&t=18114</a>

Thanks,

- Matt <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'>

cracker_jackmac · February 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Matt(Canada) @ Feb 9 2003, 08:23 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> This goes along with an earlier post I made, but received no valuable results....

LINKSYS routers seem to be from the devil when it comes to HLDS servers. Has anyone setup a working(and stable) NS server that works on a linksys router with DHCP and DMZ host to that computer?

Is there any other way to configure the router to work (I have the 4 port one)? If I disable DHCP, set ip forwarding...would that do anything?

Any responses with helpful hints or alternative setups would be helpful. I know some of you will suggest getting a better router...but this is what I have to work with...maybe we can solve the issue

Any info AT ALL would be awesome.

The first post I did was here:

<a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=8&t=18114' target='_blank'>http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/in...=ST&f=8&t=18114</a>

Thanks,

- Matt <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'>  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
mine works awsome.

TCP ports 6002 - 7003
UDP 270010-27015

thats it....dont' use MTU tuning.

Boris · February 2003

Can you inform me as to what each of those values is for? I see that the UDP is in the range of 27001-27015 which is the range HL uses, what's the TCP 6002-7003 for?
also, is your DHCP still enabled? and is the computer running the server still the DMZ host computer?

- Matt <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'>

death1 · February 2003

its not the DMZ if he has port forwarding... the DMZ opens everything up.

those other ports are for the logaddress port (i think... usually for transfer to a psychostats streamer or sql db).

you can leave dhcp enabled but it doesnt hurt to manually assign an internal IP to the server so it never changes... the router will only give out unused IPs, whether it DHCP's them or not

hope that helps

-d$

ps - a firewall on the server itself could be messin with you

cracker_jackmac · February 2003

6002-7003 TCP are VAC auth ports.
u need them...thats all u need to know.

DMZ = off
DHCP 192.168.1.100-192.168.1.150

server IP : 192.168.1.3

Boris · February 2003

So...
1. Static IP the server (I guess that's wise...)
2. I don't need a DMZ host (If I forward the ports...)
3. Forward those Ports to the server

Can I forward ports and still run the DHCP? I was always wondering that and never tried it. As I understand, the linksys manual says you have to disable DHCP. Is setting 1 computer to static IP enough, or do I have to disable DHCP and set up every computer as static?(there is 6)

Also, I don't need to touch the filter settings, right?

Thanks for all the help,

- Matt <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'>

PS. I gathered this somewhere...for those who care to know... <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'>
Half-Life Authenticating Server: TCP 7002 -> half-life.east.won.net:7002 // I'm assuming there is the
Half-Life WON Server: TCP 6003 -> half-life.east.won.net:6003 // west side to this...
Half-Life Server Master: UDP 27010 -> half-life.east.won.net:27010
Half-Life Game Server (default): UDP 27015 -> ip.address.of.game.server:27015

Bytor · February 2003

I'm curious about this too, but I'm not the type to be satisfied with a "that's all u need to know" response. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'>

What are the VAC ports used for? I run a server on my linux box and only opened up 27015 UDP, works fine. However, I use stateful connection tracking, so if these VAC connections are initiated from the server to clients, then I don't need to open any inbound ports.

Boris · February 2003

I was a second too late with my post for ya...

Question to go along with Bytor's question...
Is the only incoming port the server port (ie. 27015)? are the rest outgoing?

- Matt <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'>

CaseK · February 2003

Matt,

I made some adjustments to the router. However, Im not sure it has made a difference. I need some people to go in and play, then report back.

Here's what I did...

UDP - open ports 27005~27020
TCP - open 7003, 6001

All are set from the external ip, to the server box 192.168.1.XXX
When you do this, it indicated to me in the help section that DHCP need to be disabled, so I did.

I fired the server back up with DMZ off. My client had no problem locating the server.
Now, whether or not I will get those error messages again is another story. I will need some people to go in and report back, as I said above...

Team Kindred Server 2
Matt, I sent you the IP in a pm.

CaseK · February 2003

Well, Matt and I gave it a run on my server. No such luck. We probably got about 5 minutes in before Matt dropped, same host_error Illegal user blah blah....

I did make the adjustments above, perhaps I didnt get them quite right?

I believe CJ mentioned TCP 6002-7003. Im assuming you dont mean to individualize those ports? Basically cover the range.

Cheers,
and thanks for coming in to try Matt.

cracker_jackmac · February 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Case[K] @ Feb 10 2003, 12:29 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Well, Matt and I gave it a run on my server. No such luck. We probably got about 5 minutes in before Matt dropped, same host_error Illegal user blah blah....

I did make the adjustments above, perhaps I didnt get them quite right?

I believe CJ mentioned TCP 6002-7003. Im assuming you dont mean to individualize those ports? Basically cover the range.

Cheers,
and thanks for coming in to try Matt.  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
i said F it and i just opened up the range 6002-7003. just easier.

have u guys tried hosted the server directly connected to the DSL line and testing it?

that would be a good debugging step.

now only if i could spell.....

Boris · February 2003

individual ports, those ARE NOT RANGES... repeat, use INDIVIDUAL ports

CaseK · February 2003

Absolutely CJ, the best way to eliminate the router as the issue. I will do that tomorrow if the adjustments dont make a difference.
And I did open the indivdual tcp ports: 6002, 7003

I'll report back tomorrow.

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'>

cracker_jackmac · February 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Matt(Canada) @ Feb 10 2003, 12:39 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> individual ports, those ARE NOT RANGES... repeat, use INDIVIDUAL ports  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
yeah, they are individual ports but instead of having 2 seperate entries (being as limited as they are) i just opened the range because i have no services running in that range.

Boris · February 2003

I see 6001, 6002, 6003, what is it?

and 7002, 7003? can someone please VERIFY the exact number.... <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'>

Thanks,

Matt <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'>

Bigtoy · February 2003

I currently use my Linksys router on the other side of a cable modem. So far so good. Just a few comments:

1) Make sure you have the LATEST firmware installed. I used to have a hell of a time with my Counter-Strike server running through the Linksys. Dropped connections, et. al. With the latest firmware I have not had any of those problems.

2) You can have static IP and DHCP working. It is pretty simple. Just provision the server you want to have a static IP address with the an IP in the range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.99. Those IP addresses are not provided by the Linksys router DHCP server and will not conflict.

3) I am not DMZ, I do not know the exact ports I have forwarded, but the ones in this posted from others above look correct. (Of course you have to forward 20715 or whatever port you are running your server from.)

cracker_jackmac · February 2003

the exact ports are
TCP 6002
TCP 7003

CheesyPeteza · February 2003

I used to have this problem even with the latest firmware. I don't use it anymore but I remember reading on the CS forums a few months ago that it was because DHCP was enabled.

CaseK · February 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (CheesyPeteza @ Feb 10 2003, 10:44 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> I used to have this problem even with the latest firmware. I don't use it anymore but I remember reading on the CS forums a few months ago that it was because DHCP was enabled. </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
I wish that were the case. I disabled it and Im still getting the errors. I am going to attempt the server without the router today, only problem is I wont be able to use my client.

I also heard something about shutting off the force consistency. Anyone know anything about this?
Im starting to get the feeling that an adjustment or two in the server.cfg or the adminmod.cfg might make a difference when using the Linksys router.

Those of you who are have success with the Linksys, did you make any alterations to your config?

Bigtoy · February 2003

Nope. I did not make any "special" changes to the server configuration tailored to my Linksys router.

PetitMorte · February 2003

I've had a server running very happily behind a linksys router for a very long time now.

the BIGGEST #1 MOST IMPORTANT thing I can tell you, is to go and get the latest firmware and install it! Even if you bought the router yesterday, even if it CLAIMS to be running the latest version (these routers... THEY LIE!!!!!!)

<a href='http://www.linksys.com/download/' target='_blank'>Linksys download page</a>

I have DHCP turned off, as I like picking my IP addresses .

I also have the DMZ pointed at 192.168.0.254. I don't have any computers running on that IP, so when anyone tries to scan my network, they get nothing. It effectively "stealths" my router/network to the hacky folks/virii/worms.

I have forwarded the following ports to my server:
6003-6003
7002-7002
27005-27005
27010-27015
8767-8767 (for roger wilco base station)

Have Fun!

CaseK · February 2003

Whoa, firmware date is Nov of 2002. I guess I had better update, as others have mentioned in the thread, to include yourself.

Ive tried everything else, cept running it direct to cable. So, perhaps this will be the saving grace.

Thanks, will report back. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'>

mathyou · February 2003

Honestly, setting up a router isn't that hard. DHCP should not cause any problems. The only way it would happen is if the computer is changing IP addresses. That would be really stupid. Get a newer firmware. Manually assigning an IP on the computer will not mess up DHCP as long as you don't set it to give out that IP. I have a friend running that router, and everything works correctly with DHCP enabled.

Just forward the correct ports to the server's IP. Make sure any software firewalls running on the server are set to accept incoming connections on the specified ports. Be sure to allow outgoing traffic. Only forward the ports you need. Don't use DMZ unless you need to. It is really stupid to DMZ a non-existant IP address. The router won't respond to incoming transmissions unless you specifically tell it to do so anyway. In other words, it will be stealth already. All you're doing is making the router do pointless work. The processors in these things are only so fast, you know.

If you install the newest firmware and are doing everything right, the problem most likely is not your router. But to make sure test without the router.

Boris · February 2003

I know it's not supposed to be hard... but for some reason the linksys has to have it a certain way.

Technically, I believe DMZ host should work because it opens all ports to that computer, but I guess the router just messes up the traffic sometimes. I've set up my router with the following, but have not had a chance to test it...

Static IP of 192.168.1.2, rest use DHCP 192.168.1.100 and above.
Forwarded ports to 192.168.1.2 are:
6003-6003
7002-7002 // all are set to TCP and UDP just because I
27010-27010 // was a little unsure, is this ok?
27016-27016

Does everything look ok?
I have the latest firmware 1.44.2, Dec 13 2002 I downloaded yesterday...

Thanks,

- Matt <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'>

CaseK · February 2003

Matt, you are golden man. Aside from the lag everything went as planned. Now we have to figure out my problem. Got to do with the router settings, if thats all you played with.

I have the new firmware.

Boris · February 2003

I think I got mine working properly...server ran for 60+ minutes with players reaching 5 at max, and constant 4 guys played entire 20min+ game. no problems...

Anyways, here is what I have setup:

-->DHCP is ENABLED on my router, and set to 192.168.1.100 and above
-->Server computer is static IP set to 192.168.1.2
-->DMZ host is set to 0 (ie. 192.168.1.0) <--- so no DMZ host
-->IP forwarding as follows:
****port 6003-6003 TCP UDP set to 192.168.1.2
****port 7002-7002 TCP UDP set to 192.168.1.2
****port 27010-27010 TCP UDP set to 192.168.1.2
****port 27016-27016 TCP UDP set to 192.168.1.2 (change this to your appropriate server port)
NOTE: The above ports of 6003, 7002 are just TCP I think; and 27010,27016 are UDP, but to be safe, I selected both...

That's all I have setup. NO firewall, or extra protections offered by the router, just DEFAULT settings and the above.

My firmware version is: 1.44.2, Dec 13 2002

Hope this helps all who have linksys routers (and couldn't figure it out like me <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'>)

- Matt <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'>

gamingfort_com · February 2003

for anyone still looking for help, these guys have a good FAQ and helpful staff
<a href='http://digitalferret.com/sections.php?name=Guides&rop=showcontent&id=1' target='_blank'>Digital Ferret</a>

CaseK · August 2003

Ok, here we go again. I made the fatal mistake of upgrading to the latest firmware. I have all the settings back to what I had when I was running my server behind the router. Now Im getting those same error messages, ie...

host_error: cl_parse_version: Server protocol is etc etc, among other similar ones.

Server setting behind the router...

port forwarding:
27005~27020
6002
7003
all to 192.168.1.2 (where the server is located).

I have a feeling with all these additional options in the new firmware, that these settings are obsolete now, anyone have the newest Linksys firmware and running a NS server successfully? If so, how do you have it setup?

Quick follow-up, when I set my internet protocol should I be using the router ip as the default gateway or the WAN gateway?

Silicon · August 2003

I just have udp port 27015 open and works fine.

MasterEvilAce · August 2003

I have the same problem stated by some guy earlier in this old old thread.

No matter what game server i host, Half life related, Serious Sam... etc. People either
1) can't join
2) get kicked randomly within 5 minutes, usually

they get kicked with a message about illegal msg...

i seriously think my router is CORRUPTING packets.
because over aol instant messenger, sometimse when i direct connect to someone, and send images over
they'll get corrupted to HELL AND BACK

This was NOT a problem with older firmware that I had (like two years ago) because i would run a CS server back in the day, and it works perfect. (This was when CS 1.1 was out)

so, something in the firmware is causing it.

i have DHCP off, and i set each computer's ip manually...
i have DMZ'd my computer (server)

CaseK · August 2003

Ya, it appears this newest firmware for the Linksys routers is causing the problem. Boris had it figured when this thread was circulating a few months back. I had it tweaked and the server has been running great since, until now.

My clients are getting the same error messages as before, illegal usr msg and the likes. Typically happens after being in the server for a few minutes.

I wonder if anyone else here is running the latest firmware and NOT having any issues. Apparantly Silicon doesnt have any problems with it..<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'>

Linksys Routers...gotta Love Them

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