A Frequently asked question in these forums is “How do I connect to a Multiplayer session?”

Usually followed by “I managed to connect but A. Couldn’t see other players or B. Was kicked off shortly after connecting.” or the other main one “I just couldn’t connect!! HELP!!”. (more about these in another posting)

Hopefully this posting will answer  the question of how to connect , or at least eliminate some of the more frequent stumbling blocks.
All the information below is from my own experiences and therefore might not be the exact way that others have told you.
Feel free to contact me and I will add to this posting anything which will enhance it.
I am always open to suggestions.

To answer the first Question “How do I connect to a Multiplayer game?” Mainly for FS2002/4 unless indicated.


First step
A RECOMENDATION ONLY!!…
Shut down any firewall and anti virus software before attempting to connect. This is just to reduce any variables that could interfere.
I personally leave my anti virus running at all times whilst online.
However firewalls are a tricky point to be disgussed in another posting. SEE BOTTOM OF POSTING FOR FIREWALL/ROUTER PORTS

There are three main options for connecting to a game and I will outline them below.

1.The Zone.
This method is easy enough but involves downloading “The Zone” software, setting it up and having a free Net Passport (if you have a hotmail or msn email address then you have a Net Passport if not then sign up for a hotmail address at www.hotmail.com ).
Do not start your flight sim yet!!
Go to http://zone.msn.com and click on the CD Rom games tab. Choose the Flight sim button (don’t worry that it says FS2004) if you are not signed in you will be asked to (this is the NET Passport bit).
Once signed in you will have a page which displays all the flight sims available. Click on your choice. At this point if you don’t have “The Zone” software you will be prompted to Download and Install it. (This is a one off unless you have to uninstall it. For any problems relating to this software check the FAQs on “The Zone”)
Once downloaded and installed you will be taken to the “Lobby” from which all the games are hosted simply choose a game and follow the instructions.DO NOT  have your flight sim started at this point it will start automatically once you click on  the join tab in the game’s room. (These instructions relate to CFS1+2 also. I have not tried CFS3 multiplayer but I suspect it will be the same.) Once in the game a chat box will appear and you may get instructions or ask questions there.

Follow any instructions given by the host and play away.

2. Direct IP games.
To connect to a game via a direct IP then obviously you need an IP to connect to. This is a quicker and easier way than “The Zone”. “How do we find the IP’s ?” I hear you cry.
Here are the two methods I use.

A. If you have managed to connect via “The Zone” you will see that some of the games have an IP in their description and "no zone start" in the comments. These are IP games.
Simply start your sim and choose the multiplayer section (there is no need once you have the IP to continue running any zone software) …
Place the IP in the box for IP’s and click Search… your sim will stall whilst it finds the game and then in the session box the game should appear. If there are any specific instructions to follow then they should be in the description box.
Highlight the game in the session box and click join.
Set up your flight according to any instructions in the normal way. Then start your flight. Once again the chat box will appear.

B.      Use a program such as FSHostSpy (available here http://www.chocolatesoftware.com/fshostspy/ )  this lists all the sessions available on FSHost which is as its name suggests a Flight Sim hosting program. (There are others ask around in this forum and I’m sure that others will come up with other options.) Simply copy the IP of the session you are interested in and follow the instructions for using the IP contained in Part A. Remember in these sessions ... factors such as Weather and time could be altered by the host.

3.Host your own session on “The Zone” or using FSHost which can be found  from the link  to FSHostSpy  in 2B. To go further into hosting would take another long posting so I will leave it to just that.

REMEMBER ….. all hosted games are subject to the rules and whims of the host so any disconnections may be down to them.
WARNING
If you can’t see other players aircraft as they should be (e.g. wrong type or livery) then its probably because you haven’t the same aircraft in your inventory. Also if you see a Cessna travelling at Mach1 or a Boeing 747 hovering then don’t panic your FS is just compensating by using a default.

ROUTER/FIREWALL PORT REQUIREMENTS FOR FS2002 & FS9

See the following page for required ports.

DX7 ports for FS2002 - DX8 ports for FS9.*

Microsoft Support
* Add UDP 23456 for FS9

Some specific help for "THE ZONE".
ZONE HELP

Hey Eno

Thanks alot for all this info that you have posted, I have been tring to find out how to get in a multi-player game but cannot never get a reply on my posted messaged.
You given alot of info and I hope other people will do the same.

8)
Thanks alot FIshman2004

Hmmmm......does the host set realism options, or are they determined locally for each person. I would assume the host is responsible for everything, but I don't know. I'm just wondering  if everyone one could potentially have a different set of options selected. Very curious......

Hiya JW1011 you dont need anything apart from both having flightsim installed on your computers.

After that its up to you how you connect.

eno

Hi all...!

Help...!
...my memory's fading... ...!
I've forgotten... ...!
How do I find my ISP's IP Address, to type into the Multiplayer box...?
It's buried somewhere in my Windows Directory... ...!
LOL...!
I also have an idea that it changes each time I log on, or re-connect,  to the Internet.... ...!
(Which affects the Multiplayer Game)...!

Many thanks... ...!

Cheers all... ...!

Paul.

Quote:


Hi eno...!

FS 2002 Multi-player via FS Host

When Ozzy and I used to fly on line using FS Host I always had to type in my IP address, (He used to do the same for his), so that we could connect to one-anothers computer via our seperate Service Providers.
My IP address I used to obtain from a location somewhere in my Windows directory, but I've forgotten what method I used to locate it...!
The number, eg: is similar to, 123 456
This number changes for each connection/re-connection.

Cheers eno.... ...!

Paul.

This is the window where the IP address must be inserted....>>>

Hi eno...!
Thanks for the reply.... ...!
...sorted... 8)...!

I tried running "ipconfig", and a DOS window pops up but quickly dissappears again before I can read the address..... ...!
Buggar... ...!

But...

http://www.ipchicken.com/

Works fine, and displays my current IP Address... ...!

Thanks eno...!

Paul.

I've got an idea that running "ipconfig" on my Win '98 used to do the trick at one time, but for some reason it's stopped working... ...!
...but I still like Win '98.... .... ...!
LOL...!

I have a question.  I am retarded when it comes to computer talk. I don't know what to use in multiplayer.  I try using the zone method and joining a game that way but I always receive an error message and am unable to play.  I understand the IPX method a little but don't know when to use that.  Also I am not sure if I am connected with a TCP/IP protocol.  I would really like to play multiplayer and any advice would be greatly appreciated.  To give you some background, I am currecntly at in college residents and I think I am connected in a LAN.  I hope this will give u enough information to help me.  Thanx

Hey thanx for the help.  Eventhough it is bad news, at least now I know what is wrong.

Hiya Vohy ..... You say you have a permanent connection ... is that DSL/Cable?
Is this connection through a router/LAN?
Do you have a firewall running?

If any of these is the case  then you need to make sure that the relevant ports are opened. Those ports are listed at the end of the initial post.

You'll need to follow any instructions for any hard/software to   as to how to open any ports.

Let me know how you get on
cheers
eno

Ok ........... for a start ....close your firewall .... you will get some protection from your Cable modem/router.

Try that as a first step.......  if that still doesnt work then you may have to take the drastic measure of opening all ports whilst your firewall is off. Not recommended but you will get a connection

I can't believe this. My firewall is turned off and i still can't connect. This is crazy.
By the way is it right to type in the IP address of a server and then click search?

Well....... guess what i have Direct X 9.0c.

One thing which i did not understand is after clicking on 'save all information' in the Dxdiag and then searching for 'DirectPlay Lobbyable Apps' i find these two things
First -----   LauncherFile:  (<File Missing>)
Second -----  Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 (DX7)

Is this usual?? Then what is that launcherFile: file missing and why is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 showing DX7 when you told it requires DX8?

Hey eno,
Still no luck man. I have opened all the required ports but still can search in the multiplayer section after typing in the IP address. I'm enclosing this pic which shows the port opened and other ports in the background (MSF2004-2,3,4,5) also opened.

Hey eno,

I don't think i'll be able to buy the zonealarm. But thank you man.

Anyway, if you figure out anything else which i may be missing (or doing wrong) inorder to connect to the multiplayer please do let me know.

As you mentioned i disabled the whole XP firewall and then tried to connect to the multiplayer but it was still not possible. Disabling the firewall means having no firewall and under this circumstances flight sim 2004 must be able to connect. Then where's the problem?

Nevermind, i'll keep trying something or the other and please keep suggestions coming.

Thank Q.

Quote:


There is a warning about  leaving yourself vulnerable if you switch your firewall off,  but sometimes in order to eliminate that as the problem you need to switch it off. If you are behind a router then a firewall is only really necessary to prevent unauthorised outgoing traffic. NAT firewalls are extremely good at keeping out unwanted casual visitors but not so good at keeping in escapees. Any serious hacker will get through most publically available firewalls. However serious hackers are more interested in getting through the firewalls of large institutions and companys.

Switch your firewall off at your own risk!!! but if you want to eliminate a possible problem that's what you need to do.

Quote:


Eno,

I have my setup with Xp that lets FS2004 communicate "thru" the windows firewall.  It works fine.  I just had to add it to the list of "permitted" programs for the necessary ports.

I've tested it online on servers with port scanning....... works great.

As always..... your mileage my vary...... not available in all locations... and so on........

best,

.......................john

For blokes like your old Mate Fozzer, who hasn't got Windows Service Pack 2 installed, the particular route below, to gain access to the Firewall options is not available, eg:
---------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Guide:

Note Never open a port for a program that you do not recognize.
1.    Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2.    Click Security Center.
3.    Click Windows Firewall.
4.    Click the Exceptions tab.
5.    Click Add Program.
6.    Click Browse.
7.    Locate the game's executable file, and then click Open. By default, this game is installed in the following folder:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9\fs9.exe
8.    Click OK two times.
------------------------------------------------------
"Security Centre" does not appear in the Control Panel to gain access to the Exceptions tab/Add Program/etc.

In this case, where is the "Exceptions" tab located...?

Cheers all...!

Paul... 8)...!

Note: I just use a simple Dial-Up Modem connected direct to the land-line...no Routers, Cable, etc...!

Hi John...!
SP 2 is a definite no-no for all sorts of reasons!, apart from the fact that it is too large to download in 2 hour 56K dial-up... ...!

I have no real problems with multi-player on dial-up, due to my processor and graphics card...(Frame rates 30+ locked).
The only probs were due to tracing Multiplayer hosts on the 'Net...!

Norton and Zone Alarm take care of my visitors....
...and last night's flight had them both active as well as my Windows Firewall being on...!
No problemo...!
So port 23456 on WSP worked OK...!

My system crash was due to pressing too many keys at the same time in flight...!!

Cheers...!

Paul.

...(don't ask about SP 2)...!

Eno, is it possible if i know my own IP adress to give this to everyone who i want to multiplayer with and then they can connect to my computer or is this not possible.

Not sure if this question belongs here or not as im a n00b to the site but have been playing FS as long as i can remember.  Anyways My brother and I play multiplayer through our own router and i host the game seeing as i have the better of the two computers.  Everything is fine but the only problem is when we switch to aircraft other then FS a/c. 

For instance we want to fly F-16s from the keys to palm beach and we switch but it shows one another in cessna's.  How can i fix this?  Please help.

Hagar wrote on Jan 10^th, 2007 at 2:42pm:


it does make sense and i even made sure we had the same aircraft and it still doesn't work

and a good time was had by all.

Hi Dan and welcome to Simviation,

There are several other flightsim servers. One of them is Sam's server which we often use for the tours that are being organized or just for a free flight. Details: http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1148901173

Have fun,

Crash

Dan,

Welcome to SimV.

Go get a program called FSHostSpy.  It looks on the web and finds all of the FSHost flightservers that are active.  It is freeware.  A typical day shows about 150+ possible places to fly multiplayer.

You can also check out "vurtual reality" places like VATSIM....... but be prepared for a steep learning curve........and the need to use real world level skills.

Then there are some places like ESkyWorld.

Hope this helps gets you started.

best,

......................john

Hi im very very new to Mulitplayer

Could somebody please give ma some info on this zone.com please!!

Thanks

StatusQuo1991

Ok could someone give me help here, i havent had this problem before, well didnt know about it before possibly, cause it always seemed right. Why am I now seeing people in different spots then what they see me, say im flying on someones right wing, they see me on the left wing, or if im in trail they see me on their left or right wing.  Anyone know how to fix this or what is going on?