>>--- error: server_thread: A connection attempt failed because the connected party did not properly respond after a period of time, or established connection failed because connected host has failed to respond.

This is a Lich error message, I believe. Do not interpret that to mean I believe Lich is your problem, I'm simply pointing it out.

When you see this message, does everything stop working completely? Or can you still get a response from EXP (for example)?

Most providers will block ICMP (ping) requests. I believe the best traceroute response is from host ping.play.net which at one time allowed for ICMP requests to be returned. Try that?

Doug

Tracing route to router.play.net [63.246.20.29]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 4 ms 2 ms 2 ms 10.0.0.1
2 14 ms 24 ms 14 ms 96.120.41.225
3 12 ms 18 ms 18 ms 68.85.85.81
4 15 ms 14 ms 14 ms xe-0-0-0-0-sur01.stclairshors.mi.michigan.comcast.net [68.87.189.38]
5 13 ms 21 ms 18 ms te-0-3-0-15-ar02.pontiac.mi.michigan.comcast.net [68.85.235.249]
6 18 ms 18 ms 26 ms ae2.bar1.Detroit1.Level3.net [4.68.71.33]
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 41 ms 129 ms 67 ms XIOLINK-LLC.bear1.StLouis1.Level3.net [4.53.160.186]
9 40 ms 35 ms 38 ms cosl04core01.cosentry.net [63.246.15.71]
10 34 ms 42 ms 33 ms 63-246-15-62.xiolink.com [63.246.15.62]
11 36 ms 35 ms 31 ms 63-246-20-29.xiolink.com [63.246.20.29]

I just tried using SF by itself, launching it from the website with no lich... and couldn't even stay logged in for three minutes

The very last thing that ever displays is this --


*
* Connection to the game has been lost. You will need to login again to continue playing.
*

I did find the following in the debug folder in lich

2017-01-14 14:52:45: info: Lich 4.6.36
2017-01-14 14:52:45: info: Ruby 2.0.0
2017-01-14 14:52:45: info: i386-mingw32
2017-01-14 14:52:45: info: no force-mode info given
2017-01-14 14:52:47: info: gamehost: storm.gs4.game.play.net
2017-01-14 14:52:47: info: gameport: 10024
2017-01-14 14:52:47: info: game: STORM
2017-01-14 14:52:47: info: launcher_cmd: Win32.ShellExecute(:lpOperation => "open", :lpFile => "C:\\Users\\Jason\\Desktop\\lich\\temp\\lich7700.sal", :lpDirectory => "C:\\Users\\Jason\\Desktop\\lich\\temp")
2017-01-14 14:52:47: info: waiting for client to connect...
2017-01-14 14:52:48: info: connected
2017-01-14 14:52:48: info: connecting to game server (storm.gs4.game.play.net:10024)
2017-01-14 14:52:48: info: connected
2017-01-14 15:46:05: error: server_thread: A connection attempt failed because the connected party did not properly respond after a period of time, or established connection failed because connected host has failed to respond.
C:/Users/Jason/Desktop/lich/lich.rbw:7073:in `gets'
C:/Users/Jason/Desktop/lich/lich.rbw:7073:in `block in open'
2017-01-14 15:49:55: 2017-01-14 15:49:55 -0500: error: nothing recieved from game server in 5 minutes


I tried to see if there was anything showing up in the SIMU folder itself, from when I have tried running just SF without Lich, but there isn't a place for error logs or such that I could find.

I'm not surprised, actually - St Louis is getting hammered by DDoS all the time. One of the ways DDoS (from the first days of such attacks) work is by ICMP packets. That's a bit old school, nowadays, but an oldie is a goodie. That's why - as I suggested, unless you own the network you're tracing through and the network you're tracing to, you don't really know if trace or ping will work correctly.

Instead, let's check something else - you use Stormfront. Did you ever (or do you now) save your highlights and SF scripts on the Simu server, or did you / do you save them local?

Doug

When I first came back to the game, I had my settings in SF to the default of saving things to the server location. Then I started having a problem where it would freeze when it loaded and someone said change everything to be local for location for all characters and I haven't had that problem since.

I can stay logged in on the web-client sort of. It will be fine for a moment and then suddenly if I try even a simple look command the screen just sits there for a minute or two and then suddenly spits out the result. Also, not sure if this matters at all, but when I click on links in the browser version, sometimes it works and sometimes it just opens a new window to play.net (for example if I click on the word east to go east).

Unless Doug can think of something that might affect all three clients used to connect (maybe something related to XML parsing?) I suspect that the hop ae-1-11.bear1.StLouis1.Level3.net is having issues talking with XIOLINK-LLC.bear1.StLouis1.Level3.net on your way into the host/servers of play.net.
Do you have any access to any other internet access? Could you, if only for a few minutes or an hour or two of testing, use a smartphone in hotspot mode to A) see if your connection stabilizes B) a tracert provides a different hop into 63-246-15-62.xiolink.com?

>> suspect that the hop ae-1-11.bear1.StLouis1.Level3.net is having issues talking with XIOLINK-LLC.bear1.StLouis1.Level3.net on your way into the host/servers of play.net.

I like this concept, except. . . I'll bet 90% or more of us go through that path. And I suspect 90% or more of us aren't having this experience presently. Still, it's worth Simu pursuing upstream.

I'm working the Lich XML stream concept. Didn't see three clients mentioned, but it feels like it might be that mal-formed response at least in concept.

In the meantime, do me a favor - and let's take the Stormfront config out of play. Export all your settings (see Export XML), and then - torch it all. Everything, highlights, squelches, scripts. We can reload from the XML if we need to (but I suspect you'll probably not have anything of note that you can't survive without - highlights being the possible exception).

Then, exit the game and if on a MS platform do me a favor and reboot - garbage collection and memory release is problematic on all MS platforms - I just don't trust it. Then - give the game a go, and see if it's any better.

I'm still looking.

Doug

Heh, took me all of two minutes to get disconnected again. Ok, I am calling it for a night or I might end up throwing my laptop through a window! Thanks for all of your help, I will check back later to see if you have any more suggestions. I really appreciate it.

Those two new hops are the ones that I hit on my way in from the east coast. That pretty much seals it that there is something on your laptop causing the issue. If it is causing lich, SF proper AND the web client to disconnect you may be looking at something that is doing any form of packet shaping or inspection. What antivirus software are you using? If you temporary fully disable it do you get a more stable connection? Did you install any third party firewall softwares? Can you think of any software that might have been installed right before your connection got worse? Do you regularly scan for malware/spyware/rootkits/virii and other malicious muffin stealing softwares?
I'm kinda interested in what ends up fixing this now. I'd love to see it brought to a happy ending for you.

I'm going to be traveling today. Apologies for being 'not here' most of the time today.

So far, I'm not finding anything suspicious on my side. I'll see if I can cobble together an alias that will dump the last 10 lines received to a file so you can look at it / share it.

I think I'd like to suggest looking over the laptop and drivers, in particular the drivers for the network card. Whatcha got? Or, at the very least, check to be sure you have the current latest and greatest.

I'm not really feeling the AV these days, but doesn't hurt to check.

Doug

Ok, so it is still happening. I have not had a chance yet to test it on my desktop but I will as soon as possible. What really confuses me though is why I can have two accounts open at the same time.. both using the exact same SF/Lich and have only one quit. Sometimes both do, sometimes only one. Makes no sense. At first I thought it was something to do with having two at once, but even if I only have one it happens. bah

I do have inv open so I will close that window and see if that helps. It happens on all of my characters. The only class I don't play is ranger.

There was a character who had this problem a few months back. If I recall they had to get the GMs to look into it (probably had the onsite people double check it as well). I'd assist in game as well.

So to update.. I heard from tech support and explained to them everything already covered here. They said they would kick it over to their ISP people to look into. Have heard nothing since then and I am still having the same problem. Anyone have any other ideas or am I just stuck only being able to connect for a few moments at a time most of the day. I just bought a brand new, custom built, $3000 desktop.. and it is STILL happening. So it is pretty clearly not on my end unless something is happening with the Comcast modem, but I am thinking it is just something between me and Simu.

I am connected directly to my modem, but.. it is comcast so it is one of those modems with a router/firewall built into it. I will play around with that and see if I can't stumble on anything that helps. Worst comes I can shudder talk to Comcast and attempt to get someone who knows what they are talking about (I haven't managed that yet on any conversations with them, ever, but there is always a first time right?).

As for my new beast of a computer lol - other than GS I play Archage, WoW, Paragonn, Hero's of the Storm, Path of Exile, ESO, plus I teach programming and web development as well as graphic design. So I also spend a lot of time with programs like Photoshop, Daz3d, and other art/design programs. My poor computers get a workout.

>I am connected directly to my modem, but.. it is comcast so it is one of those modems with a router/firewall built into it. I will play around with that and see if I can't stumble on anything that helps. Worst comes I can shudder talk to Comcast and attempt to get someone who knows what they are talking about (I haven't managed that yet on any conversations with them, ever, but there is always a first time right?).

I haven't had issues with Comcast. Only had to utilize their customer service once when my internet went down sometime very early one morning and it wasn't back up when I got home from work later that day (so it was down 12+ hours).

I know my way around a network well enough to do all the necessary troubleshooting and I pinpointed the problem was either with the modem or the external connection was down.

I called into Comcast and told the tier 1 tech that I need to speak to a Tier II technician or someone that's capable of reprovisioning my modem. The lady insisted for the first few minutes that I had to go through all the basic TSing steps. So I told her what I did, nothing worked and I needed my modem reprovisioned. She passed me along to a senior tech and they told me they couldn't connect to the modem. They scheduled a tech to come out and replace the modem for the next business day.

Tech comes out. He checks the modem, he can't get communication to the internet so he installs a new modem. He's on his phone with Comcast for nearly 2 hours trying to figure out why they can't get a connection to the modem. He went to the hub/junction box on the street and he tested the internet connection to the house and it's working, the cable is good, but information wasn't making it past the modem to my network. He spent 3+ hours at my house trying to figure it all out and he was no further than I was.

Apparently, because when I moved into the area and I setup my cable modem service through Earthlink, they outsourced it to Comcast. Earthlink provided me (like Comcast does) and an email. XXXXXX@earthlink.com. It seems upon an internal update at Comcast and the shifting of data on new software, the earthlink email that was linked to my account was causing some kind of "problem" (or so I was told) - some kind of conflict with the comcast email I was also setup with. They had to go through the system and basically pull me out of the system (everywhere) and rebuild my account under Comcast to get everything to link up again and allow the system to acknowledge my modem was active so connectivity to it would be operational. At least, that's the story they gave me.

Long story short - I was without internet for 3 days, but we survived. Comcast, a bit slow with the resolution, they did keep me updated every day until the problem was fixed.

Hopefully you get it all figured out.

I also have Comcast and I own my own gigabit modem. As a PSA, you spend SO much money renting those things out. The modem rental fee is $10 a month. A good gigabit modem is about $150. It pays for itself after 15 months. And that's if you go gigabit. You can get one around $50 if you just connect around 25 to 40 mB/s. I also have a pricey router, but that's by choice due to wanting to always be connected with a lot of devices.

As for troubleshooting, Drumpel gave you some good advice. ISPs will always blame 2 things right away. Your equipment and the other end of the connection. Are you connecting via proxy by any chance? That's the only thing I didn't see asked.

---

Wyrom, PM

One thing that struck me out of the blue, is that you say you use Adobe products like Photoshop and such. I am going to assume you also use their Adobe Cloud software. If you are by chance, could you make sure that it is not active (or even running in the background) to eliminate a potential conflict with the cloud app.

I turn mine off unless I am specifically updating Adobe software. Otherwise, I found it to interfere with my network speed dramatically, as well as my PCs overall performance. Adobe Cloud is quite the memory hog.

I would also make sure to check any other background processes you may be running, and stop them if they aren't critical, or necessary.

While I am fairly certain it is a ISP issue with Comcast, and or the modem, but it might not hurt to slim down the PCs load to remove any other possible networking conflicts.

~Contemplar~

ARRIS - SURFboard AC1600 Dual-Band Router with DOCSIS 3.0
this should be more than capable for you, there are models without the routing/wifi you may want also. Just a heads up, when you get this setup, plugged in and call comcast, it will reboot three times. Once to get the update from comcast to get online and then twice to download and install the newest firmwares.
Good luck.