Curse

lightzout · May 13, 2005, 07:22 AM // 07:22

I added an exception for arena net at tcp 6112 under windows xp firewall. So far no more lag. w00t!

Madjik · May 13, 2005, 08:17 AM // 08:17

Seems to work, thanks for the hint, i can play full graphics again with no lag. Besides poking a new hole in my firewall, any other downsides to this technique?

MaglorD · May 13, 2005, 08:35 AM // 08:35

Take a look at this message:

http://vnboards.ign.com/message.asp?...start=75526199

Apparently, you shouldn't be adding any exceptions for GW.

Principa Discordia · May 13, 2005, 09:03 AM // 09:03

Making an exception if you're sure it's safe is okay, it's disabling your entire firewall that is a bad idea.

I'm glad that Arenanet care enough to say "don't disable your firewall", I've played too many MMOs (SWG/WoW) where absolute morons in tech support suggest disabling your firewall just to play their broken game.

lightzout · May 13, 2005, 01:26 PM // 13:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaglorD

Take a look at this message:

http://vnboards.ign.com/message.asp?...start=75526199

Apparently, you shouldn't be adding any exceptions for GW.

Wrong. GaileGray doesnt know what she is talking about then. Allowing an exception for 6112 is not a security risk. Too bad GW doesnt have an official forum to clear up misinformation. Bnet uses same ports btw. Finally got to play a night of lag free fun. Awesome co-op missions!

lightzout · May 13, 2005, 01:30 PM // 13:30

Here is part of the email I got from support:

Michael,
Yes, 6112 needs to be open both inbound and outbound. In order to better assist you , we will need to test your connection from your computer to our servers. Please perform the following steps:

1. Click on Start->Run, type in cmd and click Ok.
2. In the black box that comes up, type the following command:
ipconfig /all
3. After it is done, type this command in the same box:
pathping 206.127.149.36

The last command will take awhile to complete, however once it does, we will need to copy all of the information in the black box into a text file. You can do this by following these steps:

1. Click on the C:\ icon at the top left of the window.
2. Select Edit->Select All
3. Click on the C:\ icon at the top left of the window again.
4. Select Edit->Copy

Now open up Notepad by going to Start->All Programs->Accessories->Notepad, click on the Edit menu and select Paste. This should paste all of the information in the black command box into Notepad. Save this file as gwnetinfo (or something similar) and attach it to your reply.

Regards,
The Guild Wars Support Team

***Note: I never bothered testing /ipconfig as the firewall exception solved the problem.

EnDinG · May 13, 2005, 01:36 PM // 13:36

Its just like routers, open that port up and your good to go. This has been posted in previous threads.

FYI, I'm one of those rare people who don't run any firewalls. just takes enough brain power to know what is safe and what isn't. If any virus or spamware finds its way onto my system, couple of minutes I'll find it and pretty well remove it manually via regedit. (Power to hijackthis as a very useful program to aid troubleshooting.)

Google toolbar helps to block spam pop-ups if your running IE, and of course is the best search engine out there. Two good things for one bar.

Just need common sense when it comes to "Should I visit this page? Should I download this file and open it?".

*Shrugs* After dealing with all the spam and viri that installs itself off of a fresh XP install (they seem to be attracted to brand new IP address and whatnot) theres no more problem. Ran my last computer for three years without any problem except for the msblast virus, which was removed before Mircosoft even had a patch out for it. :P Pays to know your computer and how to remove / avoid problems. LoL.

Ok, enough of me spamming and hijacking.

MaglorD · May 16, 2005, 07:35 AM // 07:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightzout

Wrong. GaileGray doesnt know what she is talking about then. Allowing an exception for 6112 is not a security risk. Too bad GW doesnt have an official forum to clear up misinformation. Bnet uses same ports btw. Finally got to play a night of lag free fun. Awesome co-op missions!

Agreed, the missions are brilliant.

As for the firewall exception, I didn't have to specifically allow 6112 and only experience the occasional rubber banding when I switch targets in the middle of battle when the first target isn't dead. Only noticed this with my melee W/Mo and not on the ranged attackers, E/Me and R/N.

I however don't ascribe this to lag but some kind of game design limitation.

MaglorD · May 16, 2005, 07:49 AM // 07:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Principa Discordia

Making an exception if you're sure it's safe is okay, it's disabling your entire firewall that is a bad idea.

I'm glad that Arenanet care enough to say "don't disable your firewall", I've played too many MMOs (SWG/WoW) where absolute morons in tech support suggest disabling your firewall just to play their broken game.

I notice for other online games I've played, whenever the game needs access through the firewall, a pop-up box comes up asking for permission to do this. For GW, I don't notice the box popping up. Could it be the game automatically enabled the port? I don't think I could even log on to the server if the port wasn't enabled.

Principa Discordia · May 16, 2005, 10:36 AM // 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaglorD

I notice for other online games I've played, whenever the game needs access through the firewall, a pop-up box comes up asking for permission to do this. For GW, I don't notice the box popping up. Could it be the game automatically enabled the port? I don't think I could even log on to the server if the port wasn't enabled.

Arenanet have said that their game was designed from the ground-up with firewalls in mind, it could just be that your firewall recognises it as safe, but not all firewalls allow it automatically so opening this port is left down to the user.

A firewalled port won't always block the connection entirely, by the way, often it allows the connection but makes playing on it a nightmare.

EnDinG · May 16, 2005, 01:15 PM // 13:15

Or... For some odd reason the port is already open. :P

Principa Discordia · May 16, 2005, 01:18 PM // 13:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnDinG

Or... For some odd reason the port is already open. :P

0MG H4X!

MaglorD · May 18, 2005, 02:43 AM // 02:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaglorD

Agreed, the missions are brilliant.

As for the firewall exception, I didn't have to specifically allow 6112 and only experience the occasional rubber banding when I switch targets in the middle of battle when the first target isn't dead. Only noticed this with my melee W/Mo and not on the ranged attackers, E/Me and R/N.

I however don't ascribe this to lag but some kind of game design limitation.

Hmmm, I've been playing a lot and my conclusion for the rubber banding is due to a lag spike and it only occurs rarely in my case. I suppose if my internet connection got worse, then I'd be seeing a lot more of it.

ZennZero · May 18, 2005, 12:13 PM // 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnDinG

FYI, I'm one of those rare people who don't run any firewalls. just takes enough brain power to know what is safe and what isn't. If any virus or spamware finds its way onto my system, couple of minutes I'll find it and pretty well remove it manually via regedit.

That's rather risky, for a number of reasons. If a new MS-blaster style virus emerged that did something really destructive (like a reformat), you would be screwed. Microsoft sometimes takes months to respond to new exploits, and anti-virus companies will at least take a day or two. You would never have the opportunity to respond.

Additionally, you are a pretty soft target if your system was for some reason singled out for cracking. There are plenty of Windows exploits in the wild. Don't trust Microsoft to keep you safe with their flawed security update model. You should minimally run a software-based firewall. They don't use a lot of resources and can be configured easily.

In fact, if you are concerned with resource usage and as careful as you say, disable/remove your antivirus. Taking the proper precautions, including a firewall, can make antivirus software unecessary. Again, however, I would only encourage this if you know what you are doing.

EnDinG · May 18, 2005, 12:31 PM // 12:31

I haven't been running firewalls for over three years. Unneeded.

I do manual checks of my registery (pretty well the entire local section) once every week or so to make sure theres nothing I don't know about thats hanging around, with the odd hijackthis every couple of days. I've not had any problems with my system except for that one virus and the few spamware programs that find their way onto newly formatted systems.

And I doubt anyone would really want to target my computer unless they are having big difficulties finding porn or music.

ZennZero · May 18, 2005, 01:24 PM // 13:24

Those viruses that "find their way onto newly formatted systems" are a series of programs that propagate by randomly generating IP addresses and taking advantage of a DCOM RPC vulnerability that went unpatched by MS for several weeks after it was discovered in the wild. MS security has historically been an afterthought. They have been getting a little better lately, but they still aren't terribly prompt in responding and you can go out on the internet right now and find a substantial number of working exploits. It is only a matter of time until another big one hits. You have been (somewhat) lucky, but a firewall is your first line of defense against something like this, and I would never reccomend someone not use one these days.

I am not concerned so much about you, personally, but I would hate to think that someone who doesn't know better sees your post and thinks firewalls are just a big hassle and are unecessary.

A properly configured Windows install run by a knowledgeable user will never have to worry about running adaware/spybot/hijackthis/antivirus/etc or manually pouring through their registry. I have had to clean up and lock down plenty of other people's systems, but I have never had an issue.

For the record, I work in a computer security-related field for the US govt. I deal with these kinds of issues on a daily basis.

EnDinG · May 18, 2005, 02:52 PM // 14:52

Oops, true. LoL, I should have mentioned that in my post, thanks. =)

Unless you consider yourself excellent at removing and keeping your computer safe without firewalls, (and I mean able to check things manually and have no fear of screwing something up) always run a firewall.

If your someone who couldn't care less and has the spare time to fix it yourself, then its optional. I'm just a fan of learning about how things work and are related to one another so I invite viri onto my computer. Gives me something to do when I'm bored.

termite · May 18, 2005, 02:52 PM // 14:52

uPNP is your friend. With it enabled in my router I have no need for opening ports for games (unless running a server).

ifuwerepbandj · Mar 24, 2006, 10:49 PM // 22:49

uPNP.....should I unlock this port or does it let other more iffy programs through?

EternalTempest · Mar 25, 2006, 05:24 AM // 05:24

For some scary stuff if you use upnp
http://www.grc.com/unpnp/unpnp.htm

I can use my firewall to attempt to restrict the port to a specific application.