StarCraft VPN (Hamachi) LAN UDP Network Game Issue

[Black.Ice]

So I booted up SC after a very long time, and turned on Hamachi and got a few of my good friends to play. However, we're experiencing an odd problem.

We're all able to connect, but one person is having problems with the communication. He can't see anyone but myself type, and the others beside me can't see him type. When I start the game, it works fine, with a little lag.

Here's how our network is set up.

Me and the person who is having communication issues are on one LAN. We're at the same location, with the same network using a router. We both have Hamachi installed. He has Vista. When he joins the game via UDP, he sees two listings -- presumably one through my LAN and one through the VPN. I removed him from our LAN (made him go join another workgroup in Vista), and that problem disappeared. I figure everyone is connecting through the VPN now.

The other two people are at another location, on the same lan. They both have hamachi networked and configured.


Now, I'm guessing that this is networking issue on our side. I've disabled all firewalls and all that fun stuff, and I'm sure it's not related to any type of firewall.

I've set up port-forwarding, removed port-forwarding, set up a DMZ, removed that, and they all yield the same results. My guess is that he's dropping some UDP packets somewhere, or all the communication for our LAN is being forwarded to me for some odd reason. I'm the one hosting games. When he hosts games, he gets all the communication and I don't get to chat.

Via Hamachi, he's able to ping and chat with them, so I'm pretty sure the VPN is working fine, and it makes me think this is some type of networking issue related to our actual network, not Hamachi.

I know you guys probably don't have an exact solution, but can anyone point out something I should look into? I'm not sure what else I can double check, because the network settings look fine, and all that stuff. I mean, the people we are playing with have the exact same setup (2 computers over on a router) and it's working fine. Something is messed up with our network and I don't know where to begin. I've tried everything I can think of, and if you guys can think of anything more, please let me know.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Neo]

Ugh. Well first make sure the router isn't actually forwarding any battle.net (starcrafT) specific ports to your computer, which might interfere with his.

And second, this sounds like an awesome idea, I forgot about Hamachi. Since I can't play SC on battle.net (it lags if more then 1 person is in the game) i bet i could jiggle Hamachi <3

Does Hamachi have any docs on the issue at all? Remember that Starcraft wasn't exactly made for Broadband/Routers and such.

-Neo

[GroG]

What happens when your friend just connects to the LAN version of the game instead of the VPN/Hamachi version (ie: let him rejoin your workgroup).

[Black.Ice]

@Neo: I removed all the port forwarding for my battle.net settings. That was one of the first things I tried, but it didn't work.

Hamachi works great. Especially since you can't have 2 people on a router playing in the same battle.net game. Playing on a LAN works much better. You get much less latency and incredibly fast response time.

@GroG: It fails miserably when you connect to the LAN game. I end up seeing all of them, but the two can't see each other. They don't even see each other join or each other in the game. I can surprisingly start the game, but it ends up dropping everyone as soon as the game starts.

[Neo]

What kind of router is it and/or is their any firewalls on the computer and/or are all starcraft's up to date (patched to the latest version), uhhm...

Peergaurdian?

Does Hamachi have anything on this? I could've sworn I read a couple starcraft-specific hamachi things awhile back :/

Have you also jiggled the Hamachi connection thing under network connection -> advanced -> advanced settings and making sure it's on top?

-Neo

[Black.Ice]

It's a US Robotics router. I've read through the various sites. I couldn't find anyone that was having trouble with it. It's a pretty expensive router, and it's been upgraded to the latest firmware. All the SC's have been patched.

I had no idea what Peer Guardian was, so I googled it... it looks like an IP Blocker of sorts. I'm not sure what it does, and any insight would be appreciated.

I've read that there are issues with newer versions of Hamachi. I was going to try having everyone roll back to an older build and see if it worked. But I still think the issue is router side, not really Hamachi based.


What is this jiggling of Hamachi settings?? :) I looked under advanced, but saw no advanced settings that could be jiggled! Any more info would be appreciated on that as well.

Danke, Neo, mucho <3

[Neo]

I think it was Hamachi. Back when Aqo forced me on that with War3, I had to adjust the Hamachi Connection to be above my default one in the Network Connections -> Advanced menu thingy.

Not sure if that would really help though, kind of theory crafting here.

Maybe I should pop on and reinstall hamachi and see if I can get starcraft going.

-Neo

[Black.Ice]

I just found out what you were talking about, and Hamachi was on top. I'll post how my next trial goes, which should be this weekend. So far, we've all downgraded to an older version of Hamachi. Everything on our network side, router, etc. has been reset to factory settings.

I'll post an update then.

[Neo]

Heh sorry.

But my experience with Hamachi amounts to being pissed at aqo for making me use it.

-Neo

[Black.Ice]

Here's an update everyone.

We did a combination of 2 things.

1. We all downgraded to an earlier version of Hamachi.

2. We all put Hamachi on the "top" of the Network adapters. Or alternatively, we used a nifty program called ForceBindIP that intercepts winsock calls and reroutes them to a particular IP. You can read about it by searching google for ForceBindIP.

The result was that it worked flawlessly and we were able to enjoy a lag-free game and everyone was able to see each other type and trash talk. Yay.

:)

[U-238]

Yea, one thing people may want to know. Latest versions of hamachi (particularly since "Log-Me-In" took them over) don't work well with starcraft. (Usually the most common issue is just not being able to see/join a LAN game however your (B.I.) issue is another one. (though it's not so common)

Wish I'd seen this thread sooner.

[Neo]

Awesome. I'd love to get in on some sc playing :(

-Neo

[Basan]

Just out of curiosity B.I which Hamachi version you ended up using? ;)

[Black.Ice]

I don't think the version of Hamachi was the problem.

My two friends on the other end are using 1.0.1.1 and refuse to update.

Me and the other computer on my network upgraded the other day without any ill effects. We're at 1.0.2.5.

[Ahzz]

This might have something do with it...

Personally, I've experienced a huge lot of cases who I can't play with AT ALL.
we talk fine on lobby and so on, but he cant join my games, I cant join his games, if someone else makes for us, we cant see what we type to each other, however, the person who made can see both of our replies etc. If we start the game the game lags like mad, and even in game we cant see what we type to each other etc.

I don't know how to fix it, but the case seems exactly like mine. The reason why you guys didnt experience so much lag was probably because it was hamachi. on battle.net you guys wouldnt be able to play at all. (too laggy to even enjoy the game)

your hamachi network? :) I might be interested too if you guys let me in. I'm not forcing you or anything, just if you want extra company.

[Basan]

I've asked for the version B.I since in later versions couldn't use it properly. :P So when using it I must install an older app' version. ;)

[Black.Ice]

I'm sorry Basan, I didn't get that last post... Can you clarify?

@Ahzz, it's just a family network. I don't think you'd be interested, but maybe we should start a Warboards Hamachi network... Hmm.

[Basan]

I was asking you which version you've used since Hamachi's latest versions don't connect me to their networks (plus their login concept that is horrid to me :P). And therefore am wishing to know which version to look for if willing to play through Hamachi again. :)

[Black.Ice]

Oh, I already noted that in the above post. I guess I wasn't clear. Here it is again:

1.0.1.1 is what my friends are using.

We are using version 1.0.2.5 of Hamachi. :)

[Basan]

Duly noted. :) I was expecting that it was a previous v1.* one since it was the last one that I recall working for me. Hopefully it'll allow to connect us if we're up for a few games even being far away on the version scale. ;)

[Black.Ice]

We always thought it was a Hamachi issue as well, and that's why we thought about downgrading. But now that it's working on the latest version, it has me thinking that it was something else than the other things.

Double check your network settings and use the program called ForceBindIP that I used earlier. It works like a charm.

Here's a tutorial: http://teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=63997

[Basan]

Thanks for the tut' link. ;) But to be honest last time I checked my router enbabled me to connect to B.Net. Now I don't recall if it lagged or not for SC-BW but I'll try to check that one out in the next days to come.