Possible Network Problems

[Mehjrian]

Hey everyone! I hope everyone has had a wonderful christmas/hanukkah (sp?)! I have been reading these forums for quite some time now, just didn't really post about anything since it seems someone always has the answer needed to a question. Well unfortunately it seems I have a problem with network issues. I know a lot of people have posted about things like this, but I searched and searched and nothing really (although there have been a few suggestions that I tried from other people's threads to no avail). Main problem is frequent disconnects. And it seems to happen at random times during the day/night. Sometimes the game could be going for hours, sometimes as soon as I log in, just disconnects. Now here is what I did in terms of trying to fix the problems from my own knowledge as well as from posts on these forums and other ones:

1.) Port Forwarding
2.) Port Triggering (from one of the main admin's post that is stickied)
3.) Turning off router firewall as well as XP.
4.) Tried different firmware's for the router I have
5.) Bought a new modem to make sure mine wasn't outdated
6.) Bought a new router to test
7.) Talked to my ISP about it, and they basically said to try everything I already did.
8.) Turned off/on QoS on both computer and router.
9.) Tried a few more things too, but these are probably the most important ones (including trying different "network settings" inside the play online network button).

So, right now I am really at a loss of what to do. Short of quitting (which I really don't want to do since I love this game), I really want to figure this out and help out other people who have been having the same problems as well. A few more things for information. I have WinXP (pro) w/SP2 (firewall off), all latest updates for video drivers, network card, etc. The modem is a linksys BEFCMU10. The router is a BEFSR81 (v.3). Now there are 2 computers that have different accounts of ffxi running on the same network which my girlfriend and I use. I thought that I had it narrowed down to both us playing was messing up the network somehow, but it isn't that seeing as though one person can be playing and still be kicked (she tried logging in a few minutes ago and everytime she logged in, which was about 5 times before she gave up, it would "lag" and boot her giving the FFXI-4001 error I believe it is - The 4001 error I found is that the communication stopped between the ffxi servers and the computer). Now as I said I tried multiple things and nothing seems to work... I have to restart the router and modem and we can get a few hours of play it seems, and sometimes even then it lags and kicks you after a few minutes. Well, hopefully I have given enough information and maybe someone has some other ideas I haven't tried yet. Oh also I am on Cox for my ISP.

Also one more thing... does anyone know if there is a player.ini file anywhere that we can edit? In nwn (neverwinter nights) there was a file you could edit that would allow you to change the "player port" you used, so two people on the same network didn't share the same one... it was causing disconnects from the nwn servers (yes I thought that this may be a problem with ffxi too, but I can't find a player file to edit anywhere).

Ok well I guess that is it! Sorry for the LOOOOOONG post, but I hope this helps me out as well as other people who are having disconnect problems, . Thank you to whomever may be able to help!

[JeanRC]

Re: Possible Network Problems

when you get disconnect from ffxi, is it only ffxi disconnect while your modem and internet connection is still on ? or your modem and internet got disconnect too?
If its the later, either your modem, router, phone line to the modem or router if there is one or your isp has problem. Is quite hard to detect where is the source of this kind of problems most of the time.

Double Post Edited:
maybe your get spyware or virus on your pc? go update or get a virus,spyware scanner and scan it.

[Mehjrian]

Re: Possible Network Problems

My connection stays on yes on everything else except for ffxi. I have internet connectivity with everything else.

Ya I tested most everything... I even bought a new modem and router as well. Unfortunately neither worked, I am still having problems.

I have norton antivirus doing daily scans, and I even scanned myself to make sure. I always keep up on adaware, etc (spybot, etc.) scans everyweek (sometimes every day just to make sure).

So ya... I have no idea. Thank you very much for responding! I am going to keep looking around for possible solutions, and if I find any I will post them up here! Thanks again!

[JeanRC]

Re: Possible Network Problems

i think someone has a samilar problem not very long ago. so maybe u can scroll though the FAQ here and see it. He also has a router etc

[Mehjrian]

Re: Possible Network Problems

Ok thank you so much! I will look again and see what I can find.

[Reincarnation]

Re: Possible Network Problems

I'm having the same problem, and a friend of mine on FFXI had it too. He had told me that a GM had told him it was something with his ISP. I read one post where some one was having a quite similar problem, and it dealt with on of Earthlink's products... -.-;;; I think my friend's was an Earthlink product too. -w-;;

I forgot to add, I turned off all firewalls for the bloody thing; however, I don't see any reason to have to. FFXI has always worked with my settings, why it acts up now, I haven't the foggiest. Called ISP, yea... That was a big help.... -.-; I played charade and did the same as you. I'm running test after test after test on this puppy, it's finding minor problems though.

When I'm disconnected though, I don't get any error sign! All I get is the boot, a black screen (sometimes the computer freezes), and a window saying "would you like to send a report?"
http://img15.imgspot.com/u/05/360/15...1135717165.JPG

That would be what I get up from the the blacking out screen which occurs once I've picked a character and asks "would you blah blah blah Sakhmet?," yes I would like to play with my Saky but I can't! >.<

Last known time I was on was last Wednesday, and I was just sitting around Windurst selling Yagudo Necklaces. -.- Oh, and by the way, when I pick "Send Error Report" that's when it freezes on me.

[Mehjrian]

Re: Possible Network Problems

Ugg I hope its not the ISP's. From what I have seen there have been numerous people having problems, and no one seems to know what to do about it. Some people are having no issues at all, I just don't get it. I mean my router is one that is supported by ffxi too (BEFSR81 - linksys) so why I am having a problem I have no idea. I guess I will contact Cox (my ISP) about it and see if they can cook anything up. Up until now, I have tested almost everything I can think of. Like I said, I even bought a new router and modem too, so maybe it is Cox. Every time I get the error ffxi-4001 (which means the servers arent sending me information anymore... The R is 0), but your problem I am not sure.. that has not happened to me at all, and I hope it doesn't, it seems like a big pain in the butt. Anyway off to bed then tomorrow more trouble shooting (gah its been like 1.5 months now since I have been doing this... its REALLY annoying seeing as though I am only level 32 and I should be much higher. I am sooooo afraid to party with people and disconnect and get the party killed... I have dc'd MANY times in parties and I hate it, ). If I find anything more I will let everyone, and again thanks for posting everyone!

[Mehjrian]

Re: Possible Network Problems

Ugg... Ok well here is an update to my situation. I have found a couple more possible fixes, but all have not worked. Some were disabling MSN messenger (which I had already done), stopping norton.. stopping norton auto updates, etc. Everything doesn't work. This problem has escalated into connecting to ffxi, then being disconnected about 10 seconds later... restarting router to play for about 10 minutes then being dc'd again. Looks like I really will have to quit soon, I am not going to pay a monthly fee for something I cant even play anymore. I hope Square gets their act together and fixes the network code or whatever they need to do to get routers working with their game. Every other game I play and application I run using the internet works fine, no dc's or anything.. only ffxi. Ugg so frustrating. Anyway thank you for trying to help everyone who did, and I hope you guys are not having the same problems and forced to quit like I am. Good luck!

[Mehjrian]

Re: Possible Network Problems

Second Update:
Ok well I stumbled on a thread a few days ago saying that my specific router had many problems with it, and basically it is like its still in beta. The NAT tables crash, the internet drops out on a lot of applications, etc. So they have some beta firmware that linksys has been working on with the users (basically people who own the BEFSR81 v3 are the testers, which is my router) to get these problems fixed. If anyone is interested, here is the thread...

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/rema...9541~days=9999

I now have faith that I will be able to play ffxi again! Thanks again to people who responded before!

[JeanRC]

Re: Possible Network Problems

Good luck! Time are hard like this but if you work hard and find your way though, it will be rewarded.

[Mehjrian]

Re: Possible Network Problems

Thanks Jean . For my last update so I do not keep going on about nothing with this thread. I have played with 2 computers at the same time with ffxi, and not one dc. I am using that beta firmware for my router, and it works like a charm, of course still some bugs, but I can look past those if I can FINALLY level my thief again . Good luck, safe travels, and thanks everyone!

[Zempten]

Re: Possible Network Problems

Hey Mehjrian, I can't seem to use it ; ;

When i entere everything correctly it gives me an eerror saying . . . .

"Failed to update the data into Flash ROM, please try again"

Do you know what I should do

BTW, my problems seems that I get disconnected while browsing the internet for interesting material while looking for a PT and sometimes it just randomly DCs

[Macht]

Re: Possible Network Problems

Hey Mehjrian, I can't seem to use it ; ;

When i entere everything correctly it gives me an eerror saying . . . .

"Failed to update the data into Flash ROM, please try again"

Do you know what I should do

BTW, my problems seems that I get disconnected while browsing the internet for interesting material while looking for a PT and sometimes it just randomly DCs

Make sure that the Firmware you are trying to install is for that model brand router you are using. Firmware is not like drivers were you can just substitue any old one you come across and expect it to work. He provided the info of what model of a Linksys router it is make sure you have the same model, do not go by looks alone. Many of the Linksys brand routers will look identical to eachother but their models are completly different.

[Mehjrian]

Re: Possible Network Problems

Yes what Macht said . Also on the dc problem. That is exactly what was happening to me (obviously you know that since you read this post, )... Dc'ing just randomly, even in the first 5 minutes of playing. I couldn't level, even craft, it was sooo annoying. Now with this firmware I have stayed connected, and I am enjoying myself again! Ok enough of that...

Firstly, make sure as Macht said that your router is the same as the one I am using and the one that this beta firmware is for (BEFSR81.. the 8 port linksys). If you do and this is not working for you like you said, try updating the firmware via through connecting to the router itself, or try downloading the firmware again and using the tftp (I think its called) inside the zip file. Maybe it was corrupted (most likely not, but its possible). If you are still having problems just post again, especially if you have a different router than me .

[Dux]

Re: Possible Network Problems

I also have very similar network problems, after some digging around I found that the DNS server is no longer working. This sounds very similar to your problem but my symptoms are slightly different.

My problem is that when I load POL I am unable to access any new domains. If I have a browser open already on a domain, say Yahoo mail, I can still use that fine but if I then try and go to www.google.com it will fail with a DNS lookup failure.

For me it is POL and not FFXI that is causing the problem because I can get this bug even before I start FFXI from POL. I suspect that it is POL for you too.

Typing "ipconfig /renew" at the command line temporarily (very temporarily) solves this problem so it appears to be POL + sockets access related. I dont know if POL is opening the IP sockets in passive mode and not releasing them properly, or its a compound problem with Windows + POL on socketsor the DNS server itself but its weird for sure.

If you know about the socket server on Windows, or if you know anyone knows about the socket server on windows they might be able to advance this one.