Joining lobby maps not possible anymore

[DUI]

I am not sure if this issue is already known - at least I have not found it in the bugtracker and the forum's search also did not deliver any results:

Since TFS 4.5 (or was it 4.53?) with exception of the host player, players cannot join "lobby servers" anymore.
Might someone know of a fix maybe? Would help us with our weekly flight school sessions a lot.

Regards
DUI

[RAF74_Buzzsaw]

We are working on a fix for this.

Thanks for your notice... you can put it in the Bugtracker if you want.

[ATAG_Freya]

Wow we just went through this tonight too! Ok, so good to know (in a way) that lobby is just not working... No need to rip my unibrow out then.

[♣_Spiritus_♣]

Yes it was the steam update. It worked with Blitz on release.

[DUI]

Thanks for the information!

Added to the bugtracker as well.

[ATAG_Torian]

Why not just host it as a multiplayer server with a password in the meantime ?

[ATAG_Freya]

Why not just host it as a multiplayer server with a password in the meantime ?

I couldn't get that to work, I need to get you on TS one day and figure that out

[vranac]

Strange. Are you sure DUI?

That bug existed in previous versions, sometime other players couldn't join a lobby server.

I hosted a lobby server in Blitz a couple of times and it was working.

[ATAG_Torian]

I couldn't get that to work, I need to get you on TS one day and figure that out

Well, I know how to do it on my internet set up. All bets are off on on anybody else's but happy to share what I do know.

[Artist]

I hosted a lobby server in Blitz a couple of times and it was working.

The Steam Client Update from March 21st, 2018, broke the older Steam API for games.

https://tfbt.nuvturais.de/issues/1081

[ATAG_Flare]

I've always just hosted my own server if I need to do something online (usually it's been for making movies). I think you need to forward a port but then it just works fine.

[vranac]

The Steam Client Update from March 21st, 2018, broke the older Steam API for games.

https://tfbt.nuvturais.de/issues/1081

Well Artist, you probably know better but I can assure you that I was hosting a lobby server in April with two other pilots there with me. I'm sure about the date because I have some correspondence saved about that.

"I think you need to forward a port but then it just works fine."

That's correct.

[DUI]

Hi Vranac, I have just tried it again. After disabling my firewall, opening the port (27015) in my router and starting a lobby two mates were not able to connect. They were able to send chat messages but were not able to succeed any further than the "Waiting for server" message.

Any more details to your possible solution?

[ATAG_Oskar]

Hi Vranac, I have just tried it again. After disabling my firewall, opening the port (27015) in my router and starting a lobby two mates were not able to connect. They were able to send chat messages but were not able to succeed any further than the "Waiting for server" message.

Any more details to your possible solution?

I'm seeing more ports opened up in this posting but I haven't tried it myself.

https://theairtacticalassaultgroup.c...ad.php?t=22587

[Tibsun]

Theres a workaround for this issue.

Your mates need to use "direct IP" from the normal multiplayer to join you in the lobby server.

[vranac]

Hi Vranac, I have just tried it again. After disabling my firewall, opening the port (27015) in my router and starting a lobby two mates were not able to connect. They were able to send chat messages but were not able to succeed any further than the "Waiting for server" message.

Any more details to your possible solution?

Hey Dui, I'm far from an expert but I think it's got to be something with the ports. Try to forward 27016 also. I think you can see what port is your lobby server using in your conf.ini file, [NET] section.
Mine is using 27016.
Also, you have to click 'start battle' or something like that, so they would be able to see the map and the flags.

But like I have said, there is a bug, it was always there but very rare.

[Tibsun]

Theres a workaround for this issue.

Your mates need to use "direct IP" from the normal multiplayer to join you in the lobby server.

Oh btw, this fixes the issue of "waiting for server" too, no need to forward anything unless windows asks you to unblock the game while its trying to connect.

[ATAG_Torian]

U must make sure the port (27016 or whatever u make it and both TCP and UDP) is mapped to the internal IP of the host PC.

[Artist]

Well Artist, you probably know better but I can assure you that I was hosting a lobby server in April with two other pilots there with me. I'm sure about the date because I have some correspondence saved about that.

I am never sure to know better - not in this industry with so many variables... Are you sure you had that Steam Update installed then? It would only really install on the next (re)start of Steam Client after download ... We had several people never shutting down their machines (just hibernate) to be able to keep on flying.

[vranac]

Yes, I'm sure.

[Artist]

Strange ...

[Deciman]

It's getting even stranger....

Didn't try creating a Lobby for about 2 weeks,
but 2 weeks ago it worked (even if joining from other players won't)
so I was able to play multiplayer missions on my local PC.

Today I tried that again.
Whenever I tried to start a lobby 'Connection to Steam lost'...
Connecting to servers -> OK
Single Player -> OK

Maybe there was an update making it even worse,
maybe the new problem is located on my PC...

So can anybody confirm loosing steam connection when trying to start a lobby?

Deci

[DD_FT]

Just tested it, can create a Lobby without problems, without the error you mentioned...

I have no idea what you could try or what to check to fix the issue though, maybe you could check what security related software you are running, firewalls/anti virus may decide to kick in?

[Deciman]

Just tested it, can create a Lobby without problems, without the error you mentioned...

I have no idea what you could try or what to check to fix the issue though, maybe you could check what security related software you are running, firewalls/anti virus may decide to kick in?

Problem located and fixed...
It was neither firewall nor antivir software.

Mircosoft VM created an additional network card for my virtual pc.
And for unknown reason cliffs wants to use this network card for lobby/server.

In the network settings the corrent network is present
in both files (conf.ini and confs.ini)
and both directories (documents and steam)
but cliffs doesn't care about these settings.
Also reselecting the correct network in the network settings makes no changes.

But after disabeling the virtual network cards all went as it should...
So I think any user with more than one network might become the same problems sooner or later...

Deci

PS: Added to the bugtracker

[Karaya]

Yes, having multiple network cards, even if some of them are just virtual, will cause connection issues in Cliffs. So if you have something like Hamachi installed, make sure you deactivate or outright uninstall the program and its virtual network card!

[Deciman]

I am not sure if this issue is already known - at least I have not found it in the bugtracker and the forum's search also did not deliver any results:

Since TFS 4.5 (or was it 4.53?) with exception of the host player, players cannot join "lobby servers" anymore.
Might someone know of a fix maybe? Would help us with our weekly flight school sessions a lot.

Regards
DUI

Workaround...

Enable port forwarding (router)
Create a lobby

And it will be visible as 'lobby' (not working) AND as 'server' (working)

Deci

[varrattu]

Concerning Bug #1081 TF_xoriguer wrote:

This bug is solved, waiting for release in the next patch.
There will be no need to change the router configuration.

~V~