Want to host my own campaign server with 1 friend, direct connect not working

[Legacy_Dr. Doakes]

               

My friend and I have been trying to create a server for just the two of us to play together on. We both have copies from GOG. Couple of things: 

 

1) I have tried direct connecting with both regular and the community NWNCX launcher, we are unable to find our servers using the browser or direct connect option 

 

2) We have also used the nwserver.exe program to set up a dedicated server. Neither of us can connect with this option either through direct connection, however I am able to join a server that I made without issue as a test (but he cannot hop in) 

 

3)Neither of us have requested a CD key through GOG, but as i understand it using nwserver.exe doesnt require a cd key check. Neither of us have encountered a CD key error using any of these steps, so I dont think this could be the problem, but some clarification would help 

 

I realize this might be a really noobish question, but we've been banging our heads for too long trying to get this to work lol, it seems like a direct connect should be the simplest way but we both keep getting timed out errors. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_MrZork]

               

I am not anything like an expert on this, but I will throw this possibility out there since it is an easy error to make... Have you checked that the IP address for your server is the external one for your PC? In other words, use the one that shows up when you google "What is my IP address?" from that computer. If you are using something like 192.168.X.Y, then that's not the right one.

 

That's the easiest thing I can think of and an easy one to fix (just give your friend the right IP). There are other guides online with more details, but you might start at http://www.neverwint...catedserver.htmto make sure your ports are set up properly and so on.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Squatting Monk]

               

If you've made sure you're using the correct IP address, the next thing to check is port-forwarding. Your home router needs to know to send incoming requests to your server machine. For a tutorial on this specific to your router, check this guide out.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Dr. Doakes]

               

Thanks for the quick replies! I did indeed use the IP that was formatted 192.168.X.Y because thats what was listed in the nwserver program. I'll look into port forwarding and try the public IP also and see if either of those fixes helps. Does port forwarding need to be done on both ends, or just for my router if I am hosting the server?

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Squatting Monk]

               

Port forwarding only needs to be done on the server's end.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Dr. Doakes]

               

Alright after looking into port forwarding for my router using this guide heres what im seeing 

http://portforward.c...nter_Nights.htm

 

"The F9K1002v5 will not allow you to forward enough ports, to run Neverwinter Nights. You should try using the DMZ portion of this router if it is available."

 

And heres a sample screen shot of the DMZ router page from their site http://screenshots.p...1002v5/DMZ.htm 

 

Not entirely sure how to proceed from here

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_The Mad Poet]

               

Why are you running this thread in two different places?

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Dr. Doakes]

               

For visibility, I didn't realize how quickly I would get a response

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Dr. Doakes]

               

Sorted everything out, it was a port forwarding problem, thanks everyone!