Linux server won't post on Gamespy but players can connect

[Legacy_Caven_Colt]

               Hey all, I'm hoping someone can help me as I have seriously exhausted all options, have digged and read all messages regarding similar problems people have had with this in the past.

Players can connect to the linux server I have set up, using their history (I was running it on Windows previously).  However the server does not show on gamespy.  I have an SMCD3GN Cable Modem-Router combo, I have opened the ports to the server and configured the firewall correctly.  I have another machine which runs windows server and it works fine (posts to Gamespy, players can connect), I switch the IP in the NAT rules on the cable router to the linux server and it doesn't post on Gamespy, but players can connect.  I have installed CentOS with the firewall DISABLED just for kicks and still no go.  Disabled the firewall on the Cable-modem-router.  If your wondering the ports I opened where:

5120-5300 UDP & TCP
6500 UDP & TCP
6667 UDP & TCP
27900 UDP & TCP
28900 UDP & TCP

I know you only need UDP but for kicks I opened them for TCP as well.  If anyone knows a solution and it resolves my problem I will give you a free really nice looking tavern I built-no hak.  Will post a screenshot later today.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Caven_Colt, 14 avril 2011 - 07:28 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Caven_Colt]

               Thanks in advance to anyone whom can help me.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Caven_Colt, 14 avril 2011 - 07:29 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Calvinthesneak]

               First off: Port Forward Instructions

Are you switching which IP the ports are forwarded to? IE is the static IP on the windows box different from that of the Linux box?

EDIT:  I do much the same thing.  (I have a different router mind you).  The Windows box is 192.x.x.170 and the linux box is 192.x.x.169.  For each port forward rule I have to adjust the LAN IP that I want those ports to forward to if I switch boxes.  My Linux server showed up fine (I am running Ubuntu 10.10).
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Calvinthesneak, 15 avril 2011 - 09:45 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Caven_Colt]

               Thanks for replying, yes, I have forwarded the correct ports to the correct IP.  I have actually been thinking about using Windows Server 2003 (couldn't get nwnx to work under linux) as I want to use the nwnx for windows monitoring software for crashes and I like the regular checks it does with gamespy..  Not to mention first come support for windows nwnx additions.  I may try a different linux distro if I do decide to stick with Linux.  If I streamline windows server 2003 will it be as fast as Linux for nwserver?  I'm concerned about speed and being able to handle more players.  I'm not the original author of the mod, I have my hands tied behind my back in terms of improving the mod for speed (lag busting techniques) as the original author wants things a certain way.  There are A LOT of heartbeat scripts, every monster has one 0.o
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Caven_Colt]

               Ya, gonna stick with Linux...  I read on the old forums that Linux can handle more players.   Need that, I'm gonna try and get the Cable Modem/Router replaced with a different one as I think that might be the source of the problem.  Will try after I install a different distro of Linux.  I learned how to use monit for monitoring nwserver for hang ups or crashes, not as good as nwnx for windows but will have to do..
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Calvinthesneak]

               Linux is the way to go in my opinion.  However you'll want to ensure your heartbeats are minimized no matter what.  Use pseudo heartbeats where possible.  Anyhow I'm sure you know all that.

Linux is more robust and has a smaller footprint than win2k3.  I am wondering if your ISP is blocking ports that you need to forward?

You may have to check with your ISP to ensure the ports aren't blocked off.

What distro of Linux are you using at the moment?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Caven_Colt]

               Yeah, I'm definitely going to go with Linux, do you know of any good programs for monitoring nwserver and restarting it if a crash occurs that will work with nwnx?  I found a program called NWRestarter, but not sure if it will work with nwnx.

The ports are not being blocked as the server is listed on GameSpy with the Windows machine.  I think it may be the fact that my router's NAT handles the packets a certain way which nwserver on Linux may not handle well when responding to GameSpy queries..  I am using CentOS 5.5 64bit, I am going to try Debian as I heard on another forum it may run nwserver faster, or maybe Ubuntu.

What Linux distro will run nwserver the fastest, handle the most players?  Without compiling and optimizing the kernel as I'm a Linux newb and am not at that level to compile and optimize the Linux kernel yet.

Thank you very much for your response.  I'm gonna give you the tavern I built cause you've been kind and the only person to respond.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Calvinthesneak]

               The beauty of linux is you can write shell scripts to monitor processes.

See this thread http://social.biowar...7/index/6262791.  It's a pretty good example of what can be done with shell scripts.

There are lots of ways to automate the scripts, but that should be a good starting place and a fairly robust system.

As for distros, I don't know that one is better than the other.  I've used Fedora, Red Hat, Ubuntu, can't pick off one as better than the other.  Small minimalistic footprint is ideal.  64 bit distros may cause you issues with a dinasour app like NWN and nwnX which are designed for 32 bit systems.
My recommendation is Ubuntu, it's the most user friendly and widely used distro these days.

As a note I did manage to compile nwnx and all plugins on a 64 bit ubuntu distro, but it took a lot of fiddling.