How do I establish a multiplayer game in Z Dos?

[Zen]

Hello

I noticed that a lot of people are still using hamachi to play multiplayer games with the DOS version of Z. Since there is a little helpful server application, it is no more necessary to use this old fashioned method. Hosting a Z server has three major advantages:

1. Connections meaning pings are much faster which is good for 3/4 player maps as well as games over longer distances (for instance Russia/Center Europe)
2. Games are established must faster because a server must not be opened every time in dosbox.
3. It is also possible to play with opponents that use Linux (or maybe MacOS, never tried that out so far sorry)

So here is my little tutorial: How do I establish a multiplayer game in Z Dos without Hamachi?





Case 1: You are the host of the game

Step 1: Download the Standalone Tunneling Server. You can get it here:

http://home.arcor.de/h-a-l-9000/dosbox_ ... ver_11.zip (Mirror1; Mirror2)

Step2: Unpack the "DosboxIPXServer" folder wherever you like to. Start the app by clicking on the start.bat Should look like this:



Step3: Default UDP Port is 2300. You can change this by opening the start.bat with an editor. Just replace the 2300 with the port you prefer. In my case 10000.

Step4: In order to get the IPX connections to the right computer in your home network, you must configure the so called "port forwarding" in your router's portal. I cannot tell you how to do this because every model is different. But as many programs, above all filesharing apps, need "port forwarding" you will find a description for sure. Just "forward" the port you chose in Step 3.

Step 5: Go the Dosbox directory and oben the dosbox.conf file. Scroll down to the bottom.

Switch-on ipx:

Code: Select all

ipx=true

Write under [autoexec]

Code: Select all

IPXNET CONNECT localhost 10000

The number at the end is, of course, the port you chose before Save the file and close the editor.

Step 6: Click on the start.bat to open the IPX Server. Now start dosbox as usual. An IPX Connection should appear in the server window:



Step 7: find out your internet ip adress. For example here:

http://www.ip-adress.com/

Hand it out the your teammates as well as the port number you chose before. You must do this every time, because IP's are likely to change every 24 hours.

Case 2: You are not the host of the game and want to join

Step 1: You received the ip adress and port. Now go to the dosbox directory and open the dosbox.conf file. Scroll down to the bottom:

Switch-on ipx:

Code: Select all

ipx=true

Write under [autoexec]

IPXNET CONNECT IP PORT

Of course replace IP and PORT with the numbers you got from the host player

Step 2: start dosbox.exe and open the status window and check the connection. Should look like this:





>>For all players the same:

Open the game, go to the multiplayer area and chose Link Type: Network. Fill out the rest and click connect! Have a nice game!

[XStrategy]

you are THE MAN!!! We are playing and it is as fast as never before!!!

thanks a lot Zen!! you are a hero !!! really great contribution!!

[rom102]

Hi, very nice guide.

But I got a problem, I've done everything correcly, but about the IP and PORT

how to type them in dosbox.conf ?

I tryed :

IPXNET CONNECT "ip given by your ip website with dots":10000
IPXNET CONNECT "ip given by your ip website with dots" 10000
IPXNET CONNECT "ip given by your ip website with dots".10000

192.168.0.1 is my ip (host,192.168.0.2 is the 2nd pc ip -> joiner), this is how i setup my local network to play LAN games.

then I tryed also :

IPXNET CONNECT 192.168.0.1:10000
IPXNET CONNECT 192.168.0.1.10000
IPXNET CONNECT 192.168.0.1 10000

Also tryed to use the ip given from dosbox (on pc1 host).

Like xxxxxxx

or same with dots and ports


Failed to connect.

Of course, port is 10000 on both pc..


Hope you can help me.


Regards

[Zen]

Hello rom102

On the PC that is host:

Code: Select all

IPXNET CONNECT localhost 10000

On the PC that joins:

Code: Select all

IPXNET CONNECT 192.168.0.1 10000

Without a dot between IP and port

best,
Zen

[rom102]

Hello rom102

On the PC that is host:

Code: Select all

IPXNET CONNECT localhost 10000

On the PC that joins:

Code: Select all

IPXNET CONNECT 192.168.0.1 10000

Without a dot between IP and port

best,
Zen

Thanks for the answer

I can't try right now (haven't got my 2nd pc), but I'll try this, and I'll post again or edit to say if it works, or not



Edit : Works ! Insane game, many thanks

[murderer]

Yes i did everything like Zen describes, IPX Tunneling Server works like in picture up, BUT my brother cannt join to me. When he tried to connect (ipxnet connect myIP 10000) just "conection failed".

[Creator]

Aloha everyone!

It is my first post in your forum, so I am gone try to offer my knowledge to help others who try to make a connection through Dos Box with the Zen way (Ipxnet Connect with Tunneling Server).

1) Go to the “Start” button and type cmd inside the Search box.
2) Then type in the Cmd: Ipconfig.
3) Now you must be able to see your Default gateway IP number. (For example 192.168.5.1)
4) Copy - paste that number to your browser without any http & www in front of that number.
5) Now you must put your ID username and password to get inside your Router.
6) Because there are many deferent kinds of routers you can check that link http://portforward.com/ to find your router method or you can see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJABo8fXeXg that video for more details.
7) Then you can follow the step 3 of Zen’s post.

By the way good work mate for your post it is very useful!!!