multiplayer and networking

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 10:05 am

I have a tendency to play SoA/ToB in mplayer mode (even when I'm playing alone).... Over the weekend we set up a networking system with a hub, so that both my partner and I can access the net simultaneously.

I have just tried to load up my mplayer game and when I hit the load button (from the screen where you have the options of load, import a game etc.) nothing happens....
I can easily paste the game into my single player folder. However, since I enjoy playing both SoA and NWN online with friends, I would be grateful for any help in resolving this issue....

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 1:16 pm

Have you selected the correct network protocol for this? If you're set up so both machines can access the internet, then try setting the in-game network settings to use TCP/IP.

Another possibility to check is are the computers being assigned an IP address by any other device on the network, or are they static?

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 3:53 pm

Originally posted by Mr Flibble
Have you selected the correct network protocol for this? If you're set up so both machines can access the internet, then try setting the in-game network settings to use TCP/IP.

Another possibility to check is are the computers being assigned an IP address by any other device on the network, or are they static?

You might also want to install the IPX/SPX protocol on both computers that way you can play BG2 etc over your local LAN using the IPX instead of TCP/IP.

Could you give us a run down of the Network protocols for both machines, since that might also suggest if there are any problems. Cheers

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Tue Sep 17, 2002 3:52 pm

congrats on 3k posts DW.

Your problems are not uncommon but flibs and sleep are correct, more details are needed to troubleshoot the problem.

for starters, check all cables, that's 90% of the problem.

From there if you could detail as to what the configuration was and what you switched around, we'd begin to find possible problem areas.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Wed Sep 18, 2002 12:00 am

Thanks guys

, I'll take a lok at my set up and stuff. I am not well-acquainted with the more technical side of computers, so this may take some figuring out...

@Ned, thanks

*eek* I was hoping nobody would notice

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Wed Sep 18, 2002 11:07 am

What Operating systems are you running on the two machines and what kind of Internet connection do you have. Knowing the OS will help us tell you where to look for problem areas.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Wed Sep 18, 2002 9:10 pm

Originally posted by Ned Flanders
What Operating systems are you running on the two machines and what kind of Internet connection do you have. Knowing the OS will help us tell you where to look for problem areas.

The main computer is running XP Pro......the other computer is running Win 2000, we have a cable connection.....

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » Wed Sep 18, 2002 9:21 pm

Have you got compatable usernames on both machines, ie one account of user/password identical on each pc? XP and 2k require authentication to allow network connections, and it may be that due to the lack of proper authentication the application (in this case BG2) is being denied network access to the other PC.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Thu Sep 19, 2002 5:44 am

On 98 there is something called Workgroup which needs to be the same for the machines to properly work over a network, perhaps it is that?

Erm, I don't mean to sound patronising but do you need one of us to go through how to check all your network settings?

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu Sep 19, 2002 10:17 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep
On 98 there is something called Workgroup which needs to be the same for the machines to properly work over a network, perhaps it is that?

Erm, I don't mean to sound patronising but do you need one of us to go through how to check all your network settings?

Well...as I said I am not exactly skilled with the more technical aspects of computers.....

So...um....I would actually appreciate that....

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu Sep 19, 2002 10:20 am

One thing I forgot to mention in my original post that I have also noticed....

Since setting up the hub I have seen something odd with icq..... I am able to host a chatroom but my friends are not able to invite me into one. I can still, however, send and receive files via icq.

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » Thu Sep 19, 2002 12:56 pm

Glad to help.
Ok, the networking in Win2k and XP are identical, so this applies to both machines:

Click on the start button and go to the control panel. On the XP machine, you may need to change the control panel view to classic (on the top left corner of the control panel screen). Double-click on "network connections". In here you should find an option called "local area connection". Right-click on that and select properties. The only thing you need to check in here is that both PC's have TCP/IP installed (it should be by default). Double-click on TCP/IP to get to the properties and note down the IP address and subnet mask. Do this on the other machine and check that the IP addresses are the same except for the last number, so what you should have is something like this:

PC1: 192.168.1.1
PC2: 192.168.1.2
Subnet mask for each: 255.255.255.0

You may want to install another network protocol while you're here too. Click on "install", select "add" then "protocol" and select IPX/SPX. You will probably be asked to provide your istallation disks, but otherwise the setup is automatic.
You can now close all the network connection windows, and if you've made any changes you will lalso need to restart the PC.

Next, go back to the control panel and double-click on "system". In there is a tab called "computer name". This has the computer name and workgroup name for each computer. The computer name needs to be differrent on each PC, but the workgroup needs to be the same. If you need to change either name, there should be a "network ID wizard" to help with that. All you need to do here is ensure both machines are on the same workgroup, and change the workgriup name if necessary.

Finally, you need to check that each PC has a common user account for security purposes. Once again, in the control panel, double-click "user accounts". The simplest way to ensure this part works is to have each of your logons on both PC's, and with the same password. This basically means when you log onto one of the PC's with a specific username and password, you are granted access to the other PC. You don't need to have file sharing set up at all either.

Hopefully that will help.