AH on networked systems

[J_A_B21]

I run WIN 98 SE.   I have my computer networked with my girlfriend's computer.  Here's the deal:

When her computer is turned off, AH is fine.   When her computer is ON, I CTD (crash to desktop) in 30 minutes or less about 50% of the time.  It will CTD both from flight and from the tower.  

It does not matter whether she is doing anything on her computer or not; it can be sitting there idle and I will still CTD from AH.   Obviously I can (and do) play AH just fine by keeping her computer turned off when I play, but this issue is annoying me to no end.

I would like to know if there are any known conflicts with AH and WINDOWS networking that would disappear when the other computer in the network is turned off.  

I am trying to figure this out on my own, but any insights would be greatly appreciated--I am very open to suggestions, either from HTC or from other players.  If you have an idea, let me know and I'll try it.

Thanks.

J_A_B

[Flossy]

Originally posted by J_A_B21
When her computer is turned off, AH is fine.   When her computer is ON, I CTD (crash to desktop) in 30 minutes or less about 50% of the time.  It will CTD both from flight and from the tower.  

J_A_B - I can't answer your question as such, but your girlfriend's computer being on or off should not make any difference to your gameplay.... what might affect it though is if she is downloading at the same time, though that is more likely to cause delay than CTD.

The situation we have here is three of us have computers networked together and use a fourth one as a 'server' which handles the connection to the internet - last night, myself and our son (Cloudy) were playing in AH, and my husband (Zeb) was playing in WW2OL, all at the same time over the network, with absolutely no problems at all.  

I can only think there must be a conflict with the network itself which you need to look at.  I would suggest posting more details of your actual network, and your system specs, so that somebody more technical than myself can get a better idea of what the problem might be.  

Sorry I have not been able to help, and I hope you get it sorted soon.  

[Aurelius]

Yes more information on the network would be nice. Is the network connected to the internet and how. Just being connected should not cause this. It is either other software or setup.

[Eagler]

depending on ur internet connection and how youhave it wired, you may need an additional IP address.

Road Runner here is by IP. With a basic hub and only one IP only one computer is allowed online at a time. If one is on and the other is booted up, that one gets access and boots the other off the net. Maybe thats causing your problem though I havent seen it crash a computer, just take it offline.

[AKIron]

I've seen bad network cards cause problems for other computers on the network. Also, do you have current antivirus software on both the PCs?

[qts]

Attacking this from another angle, make sure that only one computer is set to be a Master Browser - this is in the Properties for Client for MS Networks or File & Printer Sharing.

[rounder]

How are you sharing the internet connection and what kind of connection is it? Also try these
1. If you have 2 nics in a machine make sure that only the protocols you need are bound to the nic.
2. If you have given any nic's internal ip's like 192.168.x.x make sure that it's not on the same subnet as your internet connection.
3. Try pinging your machine from your girlfriends while in AH and see if that boots you.

If you give a little more information I can help you out.

[GunnerCAF]

I think I may be having the same problem.  This has only started in the last week.  My PC will lock up, screen, sound and keyboard when I am playing AH.  There are no problems if I am not running AH.  I have had it set up this way for at least a year with no problems.

I am running Win ME and using MS internet sharing.  My PC has 2 nic cards, one for the home network, and one connected to my cable modem.  

At first I thought it was a problem with my memory manager, Cashman.  But I am finding it only locks up when the other computer is in use.  When it locks up, the other computer (using my PC for the internet) will not loose connection to the internet as long as I leave my PC on.

One thing different I notice in AH when I log in.  I used to get that message about not being able to use ??? switching to ???.  It has to do with the type connection.  I found that I would get this when I had internet sharing on, but I wouldn't get it with internet sharing turned off.  Now I don't get that message.  Did something change in the way the server connects?  I have also noticed some bad lags right before locking up.  Tonight I was following a plane that was flying sideways for about 30 seconds.  Each time I am expecting a message I lost connection to the host, but it just locks up.
 
-- Rounder--

I only have the protocols and bindings needed (tcp/ip and internet connection sharing (protocol).

I am using a 192. 168. xxx.xxx number, and the subnet mask is the same number.  I am not sure what is meant by same subnet.

I will try pinging from the other machine when I have AH running to see what happens.

-- qts --

I don't see anything about a "Master Browser" under Properties for Client for MS Networks or File & Printer Sharing.

-- AKIron --

I have the latest AV on both computers.

-- Eagler --

I don't have problems accessing the internet when not using AH, so I don't think my provider changed anything.

---

Thanks everyone!

Gunner

[rounder]

Try removing the ICS protocol and just use tcp/ip with a proxy server. You can find a good proxy at http://www.analogx.com it is a full featured proxy with socks4-5 and e-mail support.  ICS is perhaps the least desireable way to share an internet connection as it is notoriously unstable.
Hope this helps, let me know
Rounder

[GunnerCAF]

Thanks for the help Rounder.  I got rid of ICS totaly and bought a router.   It may not help, but at least I don't have to drop my wifes internet connection when I reboot.  

I played for a bit last night with no lock-ups, but I will see if it continues to work.

Gunner

[DDT]

If you are using a HUB to connect the 2 cpu"s that could be the problem. Try using a switch instead may work!!!

[GunnerCAF]

DDT,

Why would there be a problem using a hub?  

Gunner

[DDT]

Hub combines the 2 cpu"s. If you have DSL .5mb and gettins 500kbp. With 1 cpu you get full service but with both cpu's it cuts service in half. Hence you get .5mb and 300kbps.    But with a switch it seperates the two cpu's both of them get full service and do not interfer with each orther.  These figures are not mean to be accuate but i hope you get the idea.    :} DDT

[rounder]

On a network with 2 clients a switch or hub will make absolutely no difference, in fact you will see no gain in overall throughput unless you really put a load onto the network. The connection speed for any dsl or cable modem is far below that of a 10mbs hub. The bandwith available on a network with a hub is NOT a function of the number of clients but rather the amount of data being sent and received by the clients. Switches are for larger or more data intensive networks, they allow "wire speed" communication by caching the addys of the clients and associating them with a port on the switch thus allowing a more direct connection. This is a very simple definition, for a more complete definition check out the link at the bottom. Web browsing, playing Aces High and e-mail require almost no bandwidth, unless of course you are transferring large files, so a switch in this case would be an absolute waste of moneySwitch

[DDT]

sometime try using hub and run speed test on your cpu @speakeasy or someplace like that. Next try running same test using a switch ,then maybe you won't be so quick to throw in your @ cents!!!!!!.