Server not visible in list - SOLVED (firewall rules)

[bo1210]

Now clicking the Host Server button on the launcher launches this:

What a joke!

 

[Akela_DE]

steam file check ?

As it was working in dec, could this problem be a windows updates problem ? double check the local (windows) FW

 

[JimmyT]

I'm now having the same problem running dedi server and have been for a while but just got connected to NBN and reset the modem.
Did the port forwarding and rechecked 3 times can see the server on the LAN (PC next to server) but can't see it on line from external PC. Also get this error when trying to connect via LAN

I've tried changing the ports from the standard to the ones mentioned above by @Goanna with no joy.
Re checked firewall settings for the server and the client (local) and the ports and programs are cleared.

I thought at one stage I had to have a port open for steam, is that the case and if so does anyone know which?

Thanks in advance

PS: just noticed that TS3 is not visible to the external client either.

 

[Goanna]

@JimmyT check how many dedicated server processes you have running via Ctrl Alt Del. Any extras kill them off.

 

[JimmyT]

Thanks mate no other dedi serv process running. It might be my ISP causing the trouble they have a system that makes it difficult to host (apparently) will have to wait till the call centre is open again tomorrow.

Edit: Have spoken to my ISP and it IS their CGNAT system blocking the server. I have opted out and will be testing my server's visibility later. Thanks for the feedback though, appreciated.

 

[bo1210]

Thanks, @Akela_DE yes, Steam integrity has been performed at least 10-15 times since December. Not sure about Windows updates. I'm sure there have been 3 or 4. Doesn't matter at this point. The Discord league I host in and one other have taken note of all the problems (not just mine) beginning to pile up, and we will be moving to other current and upcoming sims.

 

[ADSTA]

All I can recommend trying is a Dedicated server using Steam CMD, the link is a guide to set it up.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=553088396
You can host and play on the same computer if need be. No Windows loopback adaptor needed.

 

[bo1210]

Thanks, @ADSTA I tried that earlier this week.

 

[Akela_DE]

thats weird
A few days ago i have updated my TP-LINK router with last openwrt. Created new port forwarding rules with the standard ports from mulitplayer.json and started the dedi. WAN connect works at once. No problem. And no loopback adaptor

perhaps you could show your rules here ? and your local FW - rules ? and your network setup

 

[bo1210]

Thanks @Akela_DE all that was explained in my original post.

 

[ADSTA]

Have you tried removing the player, multiplayer and CustomPluginVariables.JSONs and then verify game files and restart rF2.
Clutching at air now, the straws ran out.

 

[bo1210]

HAHA! Thanks @ADSTA ! Have NOT tried that. Will not be home for another several hours, but could be done before end of the evening.

 

[bo1210]

@ADSTA Removed the 3 json files, but when validating, Steam found nothing wrong...LOL! Clicking the Host button still brings up the command window with < chat >: in it. Restored the 3 json files manually, and same thing happened. Again, no worries. My league has decided to phase out rF2 for other current and upcoming sims. I have yet to NOT be in an rF2 race where multiple other racers come at me with multiple other problems, be they seeing the server, logging in, Package Not Available, or a plethora of other pre-game and in-game problems. Thanks to everyone who selflessly devoted their time to helping me! Good luck going forward in whatever sim you do it in!!

 

[Lazza]

@ADSTA Removed the 3 json files, but when validating, Steam found nothing wrong...LOL!

Those config files are generated by the game, so they don't come under the steam validation. (which means only removing those files is no reason to run steam file validation, they're really separate troubleshooting steps)

 

[Akela_DE]

Thanks @Akela_DE all that was explained in my original post.

What i see in 1. post, is you "saying" you have done everything right.
What i want to see, are screenshots. sometimes we make errors and are to blind to see it.
And remove/backup your userfolder, let it rebuild, try again. Perhaps remove also the dedicated.exe files or bin64/32 because your chat message looks so funny

 

[bo1210]

That's all been done. Sorry if it looks "funny" to you.

 

[bo1210]

Reinstalling the game did get the server setup page to come back (instead of the chat window), but it still wasn't showing a server. I finally decided that it HAD to be a firewall issue, even though turning the firewall off did not help (which it SHOULD have). I went to Defender and Incoming Rules and just deleted every rule that had "rFactor 2" in it. Everyone of them had green check marks, which is why I originally thought the firewall rules weren't the problem. Then I restarted the server and the usual firewall notice comes up saying the sim wants to access the internet. I said yes to both public and private networks, and hosting from my machine is now possible again and others can see it AND log into it.

Strangely enough, there were originally 10 rFactor 2 "rules" listed in the firewall configuration. After the forced reconfiguration, there are now 4. Hmmmmm.....

Thanks, @Bernd @Goanna @ADSTA @KostasGR and @Akela_DE

@Brent and @JimmyT - ^^^you may want to try that.

 

[ADSTA]

Hoots mon.

Could you add the Solved tag to the title please. I'm sure it will help others.

 

[bo1210]

Hoots mon.

Could you add the Solved tag to the title please. I'm sure it will help others.

Done.

 

[JimmyT]

@Brent and @JimmyT - ^^^you may want to try that.

Thanks for the heads up but it was my new ISP's CGNAT system stopping my server.

Have spoken to my ISP and it IS their CGNAT system blocking the server. I have opted out and will be testing my server's visibility later. Thanks for the feedback though, appreciated.

Have tested and it works fine (along with TS3)