CoH: UDP Port Changes
June 8, 2010 - 8:43pm
The UDP port range was recently modified and we recommend you check your ports if you are encountering connectivity issues with the game such as not being able to move your character or hanging while zoning for instance.
City of Heroes requires the following ports to be open TCP: 6994, 2104, and 2106 and now UDP: 7000-7200.
You will need to check with the network administrator if these ports can be opened. If you are on a campus, military, or business network, their security measures may be preventing you from connecting. If you are at home then the issue is probably caused by a router or security software you may have installed. Disable any security software that may be running. If you do have a router you can try opening and forwarding the ports above on the router to see if that has any effect. However, the quickest way to eliminate the router as a possible cause is to remove it and plug your computer directly into your modem. If you can connect to the game while directly connected to your Internet connection then either the ports on the router need to be opened or there may be an issue with the router. If you are not sure you have a router or not please contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or the person who set up your Internet connection.
City of Heroes requires the following ports to be open TCP: 6994, 2104, and 2106 and now UDP: 7000-7200.
You will need to check with the network administrator if these ports can be opened. If you are on a campus, military, or business network, their security measures may be preventing you from connecting. If you are at home then the issue is probably caused by a router or security software you may have installed. Disable any security software that may be running. If you do have a router you can try opening and forwarding the ports above on the router to see if that has any effect. However, the quickest way to eliminate the router as a possible cause is to remove it and plug your computer directly into your modem. If you can connect to the game while directly connected to your Internet connection then either the ports on the router need to be opened or there may be an issue with the router. If you are not sure you have a router or not please contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or the person who set up your Internet connection.
June 9, 2010 - 8:41am
#2
Sounds like NCSoft figures that everyone playing COH is comfortable making these changes or configuring their home network just to play COH.
Do you mean comfortable from a computer knowledge standpoint, or from a network security standpoint?
June 9, 2010 - 8:58am
#3
I don't think most casual gamers would know how to open up the ports - I honestly don't know what opening them up means from a security standpoint.
June 9, 2010 - 9:37am
#4
I don't think most casual gamers would know how to open up the ports - I honestly don't know what opening them up means from a security standpoint.
I agree that most casual gamers wouldn't know about this stuff, and my opinion is that (in a perfect world) they shouldn't have to. With that said it's a sad but true story that anyone gaming on a PC needs to know the basics about this stuff. Many of the problems some of our "connectivity-challenged" members face every day would be easily solved by opening (or forwarding) the right ports. The best analogy might be to describe a modern PC gamer who doesn't inform him or herself about port forwarding as an amateur race car driver who doesn't bother to see an optometrist for that chronic blurriness. It's just not safe. PC gaming isn't a plug&play venture any longer, literally or figuratively. Without the right ports open your network traffic may not get to and from where it needs to go. Picture those ports to be like real world ports. You can sit in an airport with a ticket all day long but if there are no runways available you aren't going anywhere. To make matters even more confusing, if you were to leave those ports open without the right security terrorists would be able to come and go with impunity.
There's a great website for learning a little more, with resources for the specific network equip you may be using at home. It's called portforwarding.com. Folks interested in this stuff will find plain-language guides from the most basic level to advanced and a quick search of your router/firewall will turn up info specific to your equipment.
June 9, 2010 - 7:57pm
#5
campus, military, or business network is really only where this would be an issue, and in most cases where you can legally play a MMO from these networks, you can easily have the network admin open them up.
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