turning my windows PC into a game server?

[DarkGizmo]

Hey guys, I'm trying to set up my router so that I can accept incoming connections to it and use my PC as a game server for the game Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst. I had it set up like this awhile back but a hurricane wiped out my fiber optics and I neeed the box replaced, which then in turn caused the server part of my computer to die. I'm trying to set it up again but my friend did it for me the first time....I'd like to learn to do it myself so I can get it back up and running. I have the game source files and such but the game is written in C and there was a way to get it to run on Linux as well which I was thinking of doing since I have another older computer that would work as a server in which I could slap linux on it and run that as the server...but can anyone help with this?

[CHiLL]

You need to find out what ports the game requires, and setup port forwarding for those ports on your router. Or, you could put the computer in the router's DMZ, but that's a big security risk.

[Victor Leigh]

I have no idea about Phantasy Star because I don't play it. However if the private servers for World of Warcraft are anything to go by, then I am sure there must be a forum with a lot of gamers who have made their own private servers for Phantasy Star and are willing to give a hand.

[bryce12]

I'm sure you can find a guide on how to do that. My bigger concern would be the specs needed to turn a computer into a game server. I think you would need a pretty powerful computer to be able to do that. One of my friends used to do all this stuff, sadly I am no longer in touch with him.

[Nathan]

You need to find out what ports the game requires, and setup port forwarding for those ports on your router. Or, you could put the computer in the router's DMZ, but that's a big security risk.

Make sure you set this computers IP to be static and not automatically assigned or it could possibly change after reboots.

[CHiLL]

Make sure you set this computers IP to be static and not automatically assigned or it could possibly change after reboots.

Good point, I hadn't thought about that.

[Marc]

Good point, I hadn't thought about that.

 

Alternatavly use something like no-ip.org with there service app. You can get something like yourprefix.no-ip.org and that will be updated to your IP every time your IP changes. Just saves messing with setting up statics.

 

www.no-ip.org

[Nathan]

Alternatavly use something like no-ip.org with there service app. You can get something like yourprefix.no-ip.org and that will be updated to your IP every time your IP changes. Just saves messing with setting up statics.

 

www.no-ip.org

 

Ah I meant his internal ip of 192.168.1.xxx

[Marc]

Ah I meant his internal ip of 192.168.1.xxx

 

I knew that ... was just ... er.... testing LOL Honest

[redinit]

First and foremost you need to make sure your ISP allows hosting. You said you had it setup a while ago, so I'm assuming they allow it, If they don't, and they find out, which they will, they can terminate your service and/or charge more money.

 

Also, I would be careful as starting a server could potentially lead you you getting hacked or DDOS attacked.

[Victor Leigh]

As to whether the isp allows hosting on a home connection, I think it would have to do with the bandwidth that you have paid for. If you keep within your limits, they cannot stop you from using it. Unless someone lodges a complaint about you using it for illegal purposes. Then it's a different matter.

[redinit]

As to whether the isp allows hosting on a home connection, I think it would have to do with the bandwidth that you have paid for. If you keep within your limits, they cannot stop you from using it. Unless someone lodges a complaint about you using it for illegal purposes. Then it's a different matter.

In some cases you are correct, but in other case you aren't. In the US we don't normally pay for bandwidth, we pay for speed limits. They can ban whatever they want, certain ports, constantly bursting high speeds, etc..

 

To prove my point, look at Comcast's AUP

http://www.comcast.com/corporate/customers/policies/highspeedinternetaup.html

 

I. Prohibited Uses and Activities

 

 

What uses and activities does Comcast prohibit?

 

- use or run dedicated, stand-alone equipment or servers from the Premises that provide network

content or any other services to anyone outside of your Premises local area network (“Premises

LAN”), also commonly referred to as public services or servers. Examples of prohibited

equipment and servers include, but are not limited to, email, Web hosting, file sharing, and proxy

services and servers;

[Marc]

As to whether the isp allows hosting on a home connection, I think it would have to do with the bandwidth that you have paid for. If you keep within your limits, they cannot stop you from using it. Unless someone lodges a complaint about you using it for illegal purposes. Then it's a different matter.

 

I know in the UK it is actually part of contracts not to use your connection as a server in most cases.

[mikelouis]

First and foremost you need to make sure your ISP allows hosting. You said you had it setup a while ago, so I'm assuming they allow it, If they don't, and they find out, which they will, they can terminate your service and/or charge more money.

 

Also, I would be careful as starting a server could potentially lead you you getting hacked or DDOS attacked.

 

In addition to this, make sure the PC has enough processing power to handle many users connected to it. It can be so bad if you play a game and it starts hanging.