Cannot connect to host

[Beemanpat]

i can't connect to the host. I've disabled my firewalls on my computer and I've done port forwarding on my router and i still can't seem to connect to the host. I've searched on the internet for help and have tried everything possible that I've found to try and still nothing.

[Trenloe]

Welcome to the forums!

As a player you don't need port forwarding - only the GM needs to do this.

Some things to check:
1) Make sure the GM has FG up and running and is waiting for you to connect. You can only connect to the GM when they have FG up and running and waiting for connections.
2) Has the GM had other players connect?

[Beemanpat]

Yes and yes. He was helping me set up my character to play but i couldn't connect and he had another player see if they could connect and they connected with no problems.

[Trenloe]

Other things to check:
1) Make sure the network on your computer is set to private, not public.
2) Make sure your security application on your computer allows FantasyGrounds.exe to access the Internet.

If the above are OK, then please post the console.log file from you <FG app data> directory here. You can get to <FG app data> by clicking on the folder icon in the top right corner of the main FG launch screen.

[Beemanpat]

[22.05.2018 21:44:53] Runtime Notice: Initializing DirectX
[22.05.2018 21:44:53] Runtime Notice: Initializing COM
[22.05.2018 21:44:54] Runtime Notice: Fantasy Grounds starting
[22.05.2018 21:44:55] Runtime Notice: Fantasy Grounds starting
[22.05.2018 21:45:12] Runtime Notice: Fantasy Grounds exiting
[22.05.2018 21:46:19] Runtime Notice: User 'beeman' attempting connection to '172.31.10.70:1802'
[22.05.2018 21:46:40] Network Notice: Client unable to connect to host - Could not connect to the host. Check your network settings and verify the host address, then try again.

[Zacchaeus]

Make sure that you are entering the correct alias or IP address if that is what you are using.

[Beemanpat]

I have been in contact with my GM and was told that was the correct IP. The GM has had several players log on to confirm that it was not an issue on his end. Wish there was another with an Ultimate License that could host just to further test my connection.

[Gwydion]

I have been in contact with my GM and was told that was the correct IP. The GM has had several players log on to confirm that it was not an issue on his end. Wish there was another with an Ultimate License that could host just to further test my connection.

I've you're still needing someone I will PM you my table alias. Give me a minute.

[Gwydion]

Alias sent and table is up if you want to try and get on my table.

[Gwydion]

We got this worked out. His DM was using a password on his table so he needed to connect with the external ip and not the alias.

[Beemanpat]

thank you everyone, that helped. happy gaming now

[Trenloe]

We got this worked out. His DM was using a password on his table so he needed to connect with the external ip and not the alias.
That really shouldn’t make a difference. And, from the log in post #5, they weren’t using an alias.

Anyway, glad they got connected.

[Gwydion]

Hmmm.. I'll admit I didn't look at the log he posted, I just chatted with him in discord and asked questions. Once he connected to my table fine with the alias, I asked him if his DM used a password for his table and he said yes. The reason I asked is that for the Wednesday night game I play in the DM uses a password (I don't for my table) and we can't access his table with the alias, only the external ip address. When we try to use his alias it just gives us a connection error. I guess I thought that might just be the way it works with a password protected table. It comes up so rarely, I've never known if that is standard operating procedure or not.

[Andraax]

I connect to one of my games for which the GM has a password using an alias all the time. Works fine.

[Gwydion]

I connect to one of my games for which the GM has a password using an alias all the time. Works fine.

Weird. Must just be something strange that we are doing.. lol. Learn something new all the time..

[KILLGORE]

I am having the same issue now. Cant connect after the update (btw x64! awesome!) anyway I have done everything! Networks private, firewall is only through windows and not router. Port is forwarded (for incoming connections), etc. I played in a game the other day too. I tried connecting to 2 different hosts to play in a game today and could not connect to either. Does not look good so I could use some help!

[01.08.2018 17:12:27] Runtime Notice: Initializing DirectX
[01.08.2018 17:12:27] Runtime Notice: Initializing COM
[01.08.2018 17:12:28] Runtime Notice: Fantasy Grounds starting

Is there some new issues going around?

[LordEntrails]

I am having the same issue now. Cant connect after the update (btw x64! awesome!) anyway I have done everything! Networks private, firewall is only through windows and not router. Port is forwarded (for incoming connections), etc. I played in a game the other day too. I tried connecting to 2 different hosts to play in a game today and could not connect to either. Does not look good so I could use some help!

[01.08.2018 17:12:27] Runtime Notice: Initializing DirectX
[01.08.2018 17:12:27] Runtime Notice: Initializing COM
[01.08.2018 17:12:28] Runtime Notice: Fantasy Grounds starting

Is there some new issues going around?
Is this with the 64 bit version? Does it reproduce with 32 bit? Be aware 64 bit is not really released and has known problems.

Anti-virus?

[KILLGORE]

Is this with the 64 bit version? Does it reproduce with 32 bit? Be aware 64 bit is not really released and has known problems.

Anti-virus?

Anti-virus is windows 10 defender. Brand new version of windows came out last week. Wondering if thats it. I tried both x64 and x86 and both wont connect.

[Gwydion]

Anti-virus is windows 10 defender. Brand new version of windows came out last week. Wondering if thats it. I tried both x64 and x86 and both wont connect.

Wait a sec. So in addition to not being able to host a game, you can't connect to other games as a player? That most definitely sounds like something with windows 10 defender. Did you check to make sure you still have the rule in windows defender to allow fantasygrounds.exe? That could be the culprit.

[Moon Wizard]

If you can't host or connect, it sounds like something is blocking network access for FG, as Gwydion mentioned.

The usual culprits:
* Double check to make sure your network connection on Windows is set to Private.
* Check all your security software to make sure FantasyGrounds is allowed/ignored (including Windows Firewall, McAfee, Norton, Bitdefender, MalwareBytes, and so on).

Regards,
JPG

[KILLGORE]

I can host guys. The test says successful. My post says connect to others games. I was trying to play in a game and I cannot connect.

[Gwydion]

Ok, I know you run games, but just trying to start with the basics. When you try to join a game, I'm assuming the "host" is outside your home network and you are either trying to connect using their alias or external ip, right? And they don't have password enabled. Also, have you all updated to the same version of FG given the new release yesterday?

[Moon Wizard]

That is unusual. I'm not sure what the issue is, but I'll try asking some questions that come to mind. One of the users who is more of a networking expert may have more ideas.

* Can other people connect to the game you were trying to connect to?
* Do you have more than one network connection set up on your machine?
* Is the GM using a VPN solution?
* What countries are you and GM located in?

Regards,
JPG

[Zacchaeus]

Usually not being able to connect is an issue on the DMs end. Check you are using the correct alias or IP address.

If that isn't the issue then it sounds like an issue with your Antivirus. I have seen Windows Defender create several rules for FG (usually when windows gets updated a new rule gets created). If you have multiple rules delete them all and create a new one.

[KILLGORE]

Ok, I know you run games, but just trying to start with the basics. When you try to join a game, I'm assuming the "host" is outside your home network and you are either trying to connect using their alias or external ip, right? And they don't have password enabled. Also, have you all updated to the same version of FG given the new release yesterday?

The host does not have a password, and we tried both alias and his IP. They are all updated because I asked and we were all trying to solve it.

I even went so far as to install a new copy of FG in a new data and app folder just to see if thats the issue. No. I restarted the computer, cause I'm old school also. Neither exe or x64 or x86 on either install. I even have 2 accounts, tried logging into the other, still cant connect.

I tried everything guys.

[KILLGORE]

Usually not being able to connect is an issue on the DMs end. Check you are using the correct alias or IP address.

If that isn't the issue then it sounds like an issue with your Antivirus. I have seen Windows Defender create several rules for FG (usually when windows gets updated a new rule gets created). If you have multiple rules delete them all and create a new one.

The others were all connected. Why could not I?

[Zacchaeus]

The others were all connected. Why could not I?

Well if they were using the correct alias or IP and you weren't then that could explain that. Obviously we are shooting in the dark somewhat and pointing to possibilities rather than certainties.

[Gwydion]

Darnit!!! Ok.. Did you check windows firewall and see if there is only one rule for fantasygrounds.exe that allows the program? Like you said, windows updates always make me nervous. And just to triple-check, you have no other adware programs running like malwarebytes, right? I feel like there is something simple we are missing. I can try and launch my table and see if you can connect to it if you want. Also, does it just time out or do you get an error? I saw the post you made above. Is that what you see when trying to connect or does it give the red stopsign and tell you connection failed to the host?

[Gwydion]

Let me know if you want me to open my table and I can give you the alias and we can see if you can connect to me as a test.

[KILLGORE]

Darnit!!! Ok.. Did you check windows firewall and see if there is only one rule for fantasygrounds.exe that allows the program? Like you said, windows updates always make me nervous. And just to triple-check, you have no other adware programs running like malwarebytes, right? I feel like there is something simple we are missing. I can try and launch my table and see if you can connect to it if you want. Also, does it just time out or do you get an error? I saw the post you made above. Is that what you see when trying to connect or does it give the red stopsign and tell you connection failed to the host?

I checked the rules for all 4 entries and they are all allowed. It gives me the red stop sign.

[Gwydion]

I checked the rules for all 4 entries and they are all allowed. It gives me the red stop sign.

Well, if you can, try and connect with mine. I have it up now. Just for grins...

[KILLGORE]

Sure thanks! Do you use discord? If you do my Id is KILLGORE#5939 Send me the alias or IP

[Gwydion]

Just pm'd you. in discord.

[Gwydion]

Hey, guys. So, KILLGORE and I need some help. We were able to get me connected to his FG table, but he was not able to connect to mine. Given I have not had any issues with my table I'm 99% sure my table is working fine. So, to summarize what we discovered:

At first I wasn't able to connect to his table. However, we figured out that he currently has two active FG licenses (both standard) and it appeared that there was an issue on how he was logging on. He made sure he had the correct license key and account and then I was able to connect to him.

He is only running windows defender and his rules seemed fine to me. His network is set to private. He isn't using any adware programs or anything like that.

We did determine he had two different networks active (wifi and a nic card), but even after he turned off the nic card in his bios and rebooted, still no joy connecting to my table.

It still feels to me like some sort of license conflict issue but I can't verify that and I'm not sure what else to suggest to him now. Never had someone that can host a game but can't connect to anyone else.

If any of the experts have ideas, we are all ears!

[Zacchaeus]

Two active licenses on the same computer will certainly cause conflicts. You say also that he has 'rules' in Windows Defender; There should only be one - to rule them all.

So I'd suggest a combination of two instances of FG conflicting and multiple rules causing his antivirus to get confused (easily done with WD).

[Moon Wizard]

Perhaps the security software is only set up to allow incoming connections, and not outgoing connections, for Fantasy Grounds?

JPG

[Gwydion]

Perhaps the security software is only set up to allow incoming connections, and not outgoing connections, for Fantasy Grounds?

JPG

Great point but we did look at that specifically and it was set to allow all connections. I'll ask him to try what Zacchaeus suggested. One thing that seemed different for me now, perhaps with the new update. He set up a rule for fantasygrounds.exe AND fantasygrounds_x64.exe. I don't recall (until the udpate) seeing fantasygrounds_x64.exe and I know I don't have a firewall rule set for it. Should we only need to worry about the fantasygrounds.exe as far as setting firewall rules? Is the _x64.exe for those who want to try the 64-bit version (I know that is not supported).

[Zacchaeus]

I would set one rule for the entire FG install folder. Having said that I don’t use WD so it may need a rule for each .exe file, it might not be possible to exclude a folder but it should be.

[Gwydion]

Got it. Thanks Zacchaeus.

[Gwydion]

Hey, guys. This has been bugging me all night... So, I asked KILLGORE to delete all his firewall rules and keep only one for fantasygrounds.exe that accepts all connections for private and public networks. Once he does that we will test again. Second question, are their "best practices" for when you have two separate FG licenses? I didn't ask him why he has this. I actually have an Ultimate license tied to my Gwydion profile and I set up a completely separate profile for adodge24 with a std license. I'm using the std license just to test some things and I always run it on a separate computer. I guess what I'm concerned about is if I have one FG file structure on my hard drive and access it with different licenses (from the same computer), won't that jack things up? Seems confusing.

If the firewall thing doesn't work, maybe we need to make sure KILLGORE separates the licenses, makes sure they are under separate id's, and doesn't use them both on the same computer? Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!

[damned]

Gwydion Im happy to look at it with KILLGORE.

[Zacchaeus]

I'm not sure that you can have two installs of FG, because AFAIK it will have one entry on the registry no matter how many installs you have. Additionally only one instance of FG can use Port1802 at a time and then there is the confusion that might be caused by Antivirus. I think in this case I would start by completely uninstalling both versions of FG that he has and then making a fresh install of one instance of FG. If this solves the issue then you have identified the problem.

[Gwydion]

Gwydion Im happy to look at it with KILLGORE.

Thanks, damned. I think I will suggest he pm you directly as I've reached the limit of my admittedly limited knowledge....

[Gwydion]

I'm not sure that you can have two installs of FG, because AFAIK it will have one entry on the registry no matter how many installs you have. Additionally only one instance of FG can use Port1802 at a time and then there is the confusion that might be caused by Antivirus. I think in this case I would start by completely uninstalling both versions of FG that he has and then making a fresh install of one instance of FG. If this solves the issue then you have identified the problem.

Thanks Zacchaeus. That makes sense. I think I'll take damned up on his suggestion and have KILLGORE reach out to him directly.

[LordEntrails]

Be aware, there are other reports of firewall rles looking correct, but once they are deleted and re-created they work. So that's worth a try too.

[Gwydion]

Be aware, there are other reports of firewall rles looking correct, but once they are deleted and re-created they work. So that's worth a try too.

Excellent. What keeps throwing me off is that he can host a game just fine. He just can't connect to other games as a player.......

[KILLGORE]

Hey guys nothing seems to be working although I thank you all for trying to help! I have a few minutes later today I will give it another shot! I'll delete all the firewall rules and start over.

[Gwydion]

I'm happy to say we got this sorted! As we went back through everything again, KILLGORE went into his router and noticed that one of his roommates had created a port filtering rule (yes "filtering" and not "forwarding") for port 1802. There was also a port forwarding rule. (At least I think I have this right). Once he deleted the port filtering rule he connected to my table just fine. Never seen that one before! Nonetheless he is ready to game now! Thanks everyone for the assistance as always.

[chikininabizkit]

Does anyone still watch this and is willing to help?

I've been hosting on FGC for ~3 years without issue (after initial setup). We moved in January so we had to update the IP, but otherwise everyone has connected just fine. I just got a new desktop. There are no ad blockers or virus software: I am only using Windows Defender, specifically to avoid these kinds of issues. FG reinstalled without trouble. Networks (mine and theirs) are all set to Private. I deleted and recreated the 1802 Port Forwarding and made an exception in Defender Firewall identical to the one I had before. I get "Success" when I run the test myself, but players get the red stop sign and "Could not connect to the host. Check your settings..." error message. I have a demo of FGC on my laptop (on the same network) to test game stuff and I get the same error on there. My wife's computer is also on the same network. No settings, hardware, software, or networks have changed except my new PC. I deleted the program exception and tried creating separate TCP and UDP exceptions - I still get a successful test, but I still can't connect as a player. I've read and tried every suggestion I could find in these forums and can't figure out what's causing the problem.

I'd appreciate any help.

[Zacchaeus]

If you are connecting locally then you should use the host computers IP address rather than connecting normally - which would possibly explain why you can't connect locally.

There's a good write up here https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?47051-Fantasy-Grounds-Classic-Connections-Explained of the things you'll need to check. If you are getting a successful check then the problem might be at the players end. But there's a lot of other stuff it could be.

[damned]

If you get a SUCCESS try changing your ALIAS to something new - possibly the ALIAS caching isnt working properly. Also have the players try and connect via your PUBLLIC/EXTERNAL IP.
Also who is your provider? Cox and a few others were doing some additional firewalling and you ay have to once a month whitelist your players IP addresses.

Best bet - move to Unity!

[chikininabizkit]

Connecting locally with the internal IP works, but that doesn't fix anything for my players.

As for the problem being on the player-end: I think this is incredibly unlikely. We all just connected yesterday and none of them have changed anything on their end. Meanwhile, I'm using a brand new desktop (like I literally opened the box last night and set it up today). I'm very skeptical that the problem is all of my players changing their settings in unison and keeping it secret, rather than it being the brand-new PC from which I'm trying to host.

The linked article is where I started, but I didn't want to post all the question information if the forums weren't still being watched. I hope these help.

1. Your LAN IP Address: 10.0.0.167
2. The first two sets (octects) of your WAN IP as displayed by Fantasy Grounds and as displayed by your Router: 24.62.38.127
3. Whether you are using Wired or Wireless (and not both): Wired
4. Confirmation that you have set your Adapter in Network and Sharing Centre to Private: Confirmed
5. Confirmation of what AV you are running and whether you have set any exceptions: Windows Defender, full exceptions for Fantasy Grounds
6. Post the results of the tracert 8.8.8.8 command (if you have security concerns you can remove this bit once its been responded to):
C:\Windows\System32>tracert 8.8.8.8

Tracing route to dns.google [8.8.8.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms Docsis-Gateway.hsd1.ma.comcast.net [10.0.0.1]
2 24 ms 19 ms 40 ms 10.61.193.195
3 15 ms 11 ms 11 ms 68.87.183.49
4 15 ms 15 ms 11 ms 96.110.116.113
5 12 ms 15 ms 15 ms 96.108.46.113
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 14 ms 16 ms 11 ms 162.151.52.34
8 20 ms 19 ms 17 ms be-32031-cs03.newyork.ny.ibone.comcast.net [96.110.42.9]
9 18 ms 18 ms 20 ms be-3311-pe11.111eighthave.ny.ibone.comcast.net [96.110.34.26]
10 18 ms 20 ms 20 ms as26769-1.1950stemmons.tx.ibone.comcast.net [75.149.229.30]
11 20 ms 20 ms 21 ms 142.250.234.185
12 22 ms 23 ms 18 ms 142.251.53.149
13 21 ms 20 ms 16 ms dns.google [8.8.8.8]

Trace complete.

7. Confirmation as to what you have setup in your Router if changes have been made: No changes have been made since yesterday when it was working properly on the old PC, except for a couple of power cycles as part of the troubleshooting.
8. Confirmation you do or do not have any Virtualisation NICs: None

It asks for screenshots, but it doesn't say of what. I can post pics of the Success message on my computer and the error on the other computers, but that seems unnecessary.

[chikininabizkit]

If you get a SUCCESS try changing your ALIAS to something new - possibly the ALIAS caching isnt working properly. Also have the players try and connect via your PUBLLIC/EXTERNAL IP.
Also who is your provider? Cox and a few others were doing some additional firewalling and you ay have to once a month whitelist your players IP addresses.

Best bet - move to Unity!

We've never used the alias before - we've always used my external IP. I've never even enabled it. I enabled it and tried two or three aliases just now and they all produced the same Could not connect error.

My ISP is Comcast. We've never had problems with them. They allow very easy Port Forwarding and they don't have extra ISP-side firewalls.

Unity is pretty, but the Star Wars FFG ruleset is a WIP and we like the one in Classic. And if something on my new PC is preventing external connections, that's unlikely to change just by using Unity.

[damned]

Ok login to your router and change the Port Forward from your Old PC LAN address to your New PC LAN address.
If there is no manual/static port forward then power cycle the device and try again.

[chikininabizkit]

Ok login to your router and change the Port Forward from your Old PC LAN address to your New PC LAN address.
If there is no manual/static port forward then power cycle the device and try again.

That was one of the first things I did when I got a Failure on the Run Test. I deleted the old Port Forward for 1802 and recreated it on the new PC. I got a Success, but then remote connections all got errors.

I took a moment to delete it, power cycle everything, and set the Port Forwarding up again. I get Success, but remote connections still fail.

[damned]

On your new PC

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?47051-Fantasy-Grounds-Classic-Connections-Explained

Go into your Windows Firewall or other Software Firewall and create a new Rule - Accept ANY/ALL connections from ANY/ALL computer/address on specific ports TCP 1802 and then retest