The Port Forwarding thread: Minimizing multiplayer connection issues

[Esteban]

You can still browse the internet correct?

This of any use?: https://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/hide-computer-from-network-windows-10/

Since these port-forwarding settings are rather explicit (ip addresses to the computer, etc.), I figured that Network Discovery doesn't need to be turned ON. Am I mistaken? Perhaps I'll try that.

It's interesting that the referenced article also states that you'll be unable to interact with network devices such as printers and storage if Network Discovery is OFF. That's not my experience at all.. I have no trouble interacting with my network printer or with my network storage with ND turned OFF.
Edit: Just discoverd that ND has been turned ON, so I struck the comment above until I can try it for myself.

 

[CMDR Sophie Joanne]

Since these port-forwarding settings are rather explicit (ip addresses to the computer, etc.), I figured that Network Discovery doesn't need to be turned ON. Am I mistaken? Perhaps I'll try that.

It's interesting that the referenced article also states that you'll be unable to interact with network devices such as printers and storage if Network Discovery is OFF. That's not my experience at all.. I have no trouble interacting with my network printer or with my network storage with ND turned OFF.
Edit: Just discoverd that ND has been turned ON, so I struck the comment above until I can try it for myself.

I've been playing about alot trying to get PF'ing to work... If I turn Net Disco off, my PC becomes invisible to the network; with it on i can see it as connected - if that's any help to you (I don't have any printers etc, so can't tell you anything about if that still works or not#

 

[Morbad]

Since these port-forwarding settings are rather explicit (ip addresses to the computer, etc.), I figured that Network Discovery doesn't need to be turned ON. Am I mistaken? Perhaps I'll try that.

In general, the Windows network stuff, aside from ports being blocked by the firewall, doesn't have anything to do with, or any impact on, port forwarding or game connectivity.

 

[Esteban]

In general, the Windows network stuff, aside from ports being blocked by the firewall, doesn't have anything to do with, or any impact on, port forwarding or game connectivity.

Many thanks; this is kinda what I expected.

Point of clarification about Windows Firewall & port-blocking then:
If I 'allow' an application in the Windows Firewall, is this all that's necessary to ensure that the ports needed by that application are allowed through the firewall?

 

[Ettanin]

Make sure the Windows Firewall is set to allow incoming connections if the application is listed as allowed [That's called Blocked (Default)]. If the client (EliteDangerous64.exe), not the launcher, is not in the list or if the firewall is set to "block all incoming connections", port forwarding is senseless.

 

[Esteban]

Yes, after study of the Windows Firewall settings, I see that it does allow for specifying Ports, however in my case this is set to "Any" * so that should be fine.
I see only inbound entries/rules for Elite Dangerous, no outbound ones.
There are entries for both elitedangerous32.exe and elitedangerous64.exe - four total (includes entries for TCP and for UDP protocols)

* I see a couple of entries for the launcher (one for TCP & one for UDP protocol, the latter specifying the port range explicitly) but I'm largely ignoring that for now.

 

[Tori Yamazaki]

My wingmate and I thank you! Several of our issues were resolved by setting up this port forwarding.

This should be made more popular and encouraged by Frontier somehow. I played thousands of hours without it, in Horizons, without issue. But Odyssey had so many problems when teamed up and mission sharing... until we set this up. There are still a few that are probably just bugs, but this guide has certainly helped us.

 

[CMDR James Northstar]

So, guys, FYI:

A workaround was suggested to me, to fix Multicrew disconnects when changing zones. The fix was to have your team members look at the Navigation Panel when the zone change was about to take place.

This, seemed ridiculous.

But I tried it.

It seems to work.

...????????

 

[taniwha-qf]

Sounds like snake oil and placebo to me

And cargo-cultism.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

Unfortunately my router is provided by my ISP and i dont have access to the settings. I did try default username/password, but they've changed it.

 

[Viajero]

Unfortunately my router is provided by my ISP and i dont have access to the settings. I did try default username/password, but they've changed it.

Some of the ISP that keep full control on their routers sometimes can do the port forwarding for you upon request. Worth a try.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

Some of the ISP that keep full control on their routers sometimes can do the port forwarding for you upon request. Worth a try.

Could give it a try. But not necessary. I have no problem seeing and winging up with friends in systems to date. Although if there are any issues with it going forward, then i'll consider it.

 

[Viajero]

Could give it a try. But not necessary. I have no problem seeing and winging up with friends in systems to date. Although if there are any issues with it going forward, then i'll consider it.

Yeah, if you don’t have frequent connectivity issues there is no need indeed.

 

[fennster]

Unfortunately my router is provided by my ISP and i dont have access to the settings. I did try default username/password, but they've changed it.

Surely you could just factory reset the box, if you needed to that is.

 

[Ettanin]

Surely you could just factory reset the box, if you needed to that is.

at the risk of losing access to the internet until support fixes the router for you. There are still countries where the ISP is not legally required to give you the internet access credentials nor the credentials for the connecting device.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

Surely you could just factory reset the box, if you needed to that is.

I don't think my ISP would be happy with that and i'm not sure if the router would still work after that. I have a second router from another ISP (but its much slower) which I do have the password to. It provides our TV as well as backup internet, and if I were to factory reset that, we'd lose the settings for the TV and then i'd have to call support for them to set it up again. I don't know what settings are in place on the main router, and i can't see, so don't know if its safe to do a factory reset.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

at the risk of losing access to the internet until support fixes the router for you. There are still countries where the ISP is not legally required to give you the internet access credentials nor the credentials for the connecting device.

Yeah, our backup router also has a username/password that enables the connection to the internet. I do think we actually have that password written down somewhere.

 

[Tyy'sun Eson]

Is this why ED has such poor quality multiplayer features? Why arent these lack of server/connections at the top of the issues list. We get what we put up with I guess..

 

[Straker]

With IPv4 address exhaustion and the increasing use of Carrier Grade NAT to help alleviate this issue, peer-to-peer networking for a computer game is just not a workable option. It's a big pity that Frontier went down this route as it excludes a lot of people from multiplayer content, including myself for that matter.

I play a few Internet based multiplayer games and ED is the only one that I have problems with because I'm behind Carrier Grade NAT.

 

[Ettanin]

With IPv4 address exhaustion and the increasing use of Carrier Grade NAT to help alleviate this issue, peer-to-peer networking for a computer game is just not a workable option. It's a big pity that Frontier went down this route as it excludes a lot of people from multiplayer content, including myself for that matter.

I play a few Internet based multiplayer games and ED is the only one that I have problems with because I'm behind Carrier Grade NAT.

Your only options are to either use IPv6 (if available), rent a VPN offering a dedicated/public IPv4 address (or configure a VPS to work as a VPN and forward ports from it) or change the ISP as you can't rely on the availability of TURN servers because they seem to be in constant scarcity.

Peer to Peer is the most cost-efficient implementation for Frontier unfortunately.