Network Settings

Revision as of 09:51, 15 January 2008

Network settings

OpenSim/Grid can be pretty tricky when it comes to setting it up on a private network this document covers what OpenSim needs in terms of network resources.

Ports used by OpenSim

OGS1 Grid Modes - Standard Port List

• TCP/8000 - Reserved
• TCP/8001 - Grid Server
• TCP/8002 - User Server and Login Services
• TCP/8003 - Asset Services
• TCP/8004 - Inventory Services
• TCP/8005 - Reserved (Dispatch Services)

Simulators

• UDP+TCP/9000 - Default First Simulator
• UDP+TCP/9001 - Default Second Simulator

etc.

Note: If you use your simulator in standalone mode, it is enough to open the UDP+TCP/9000 on your firewall.

Issues with NAT and Port Forwarding

If your host does not have a public IP address (eg it is hidden behind a home router) you will have issues hosting grid and region servers if you plan on connecting clients to it on both sides of the router, however this can be worked around through very careful application of port forwarding and use of DNS host files. Please note this is not guarunteed to work (and is most likely to fail), it is highly recommended to have a internet accessible public static IP for the server which is hosting the regions.

Method:

• Set the simulator listening IP address to your public facing IP address (that of the router concerned)
• Port forward the above ports through to the simulator on both UDP and TCP.
• Use an “ExternalAddress” of “somesimulator.somedomain.com” where you control the DNS for somedomain.com and can enter a “A Record” for ‘somesimulator.’ to your routers IP address.
• Create a “hosts” file (on windows, this is C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts and on Unix-type systems, this is /etc/hosts) entry on your internal client machines, for somesimulator.somedomain.com to your local LAN address for the simulator.

A solution for local connections if you have a ZyXEL DSL modem/router with NAT and Port Forwarding

This solution works with the ZyXEL Prestige 660ME-61 DSL Router. It may work with other models made by ZyXEL.

Method:

• Connect by TELNET to your ZyXEL DSL modem. Use the same IP address that you would if you were using the web interface. For example, the default ip on most Embarq ZyXEL DSL modems is 192.168.2.1.

telnet 192.168.2.1

• Enter your password. If you do not know it, try just pressing <ENTER> or ask your ISP for the password. They may or may not give it to you.

• Select menu option "24. System Maintenance" from the menu.

                   Copyright (c) 1994 - 2004 ZyXEL Communications Corp.
                             Prestige 660ME-61 Main Menu
    Getting Started                      Advanced Management
      1. General Setup                     21. Filter Set Configuration
      2. WAN Backup Setup                  22. SNMP Configuration
      3. LAN Setup                         23. System Password
      4. Internet Access Setup             24. System Maintenance
                                           25. IP Routing Policy Setup
    Advanced Applications                  26. Schedule Setup
      11. Remote Node Setup
      12. Static Routing Setup
      15. NAT Setup                        99. Exit
                         Enter Menu Selection Number:

• Select menu option "8. Command Interpreter Mode" from the menu

                         Menu 24 - System Maintenance
                        1.  System Status
                        2.  System Information and Console Port Speed
                        3.  Log and Trace
                        4.  Diagnostic
                        5.  Backup Configuration
                        6.  Restore Configuration
                        7.  Upload Firmware
                        8.  Command Interpreter Mode
                        9.  Call Control
                        10. Time and Date Setting
                        11. Remote Management
                         Enter Menu Selection Number:

• At the prompt type "ip nat loopback on".

Copyright (c) 1994 - 2004 ZyXEL Communications Corp.
Sprint > ip nat loopback on 

• At the prompt type "exit".

Sprint> exit

• Select menu option "99. Exit"

• Follow all other steps for configuring and starting your server as outlined in Getting Started.

A Solution for local connections if you have the DLink GamerLounge Extreme N router

Networking and router configurations have been responsible for 98% of all trouble I have had setting up and operating OpenSimulator region server software. Insuring that you have a capable router properly configured should be the first thing on the list of configuration checkpoints for a smooth and trouble-free path to OpenSimulator software operations in GridMode.

Below is a series of screen snapshots with the key pages of my router configuration interface with proper settings displayed.

The settings below assume that you have an otherwise working connection and do not touch on such subjects as port conflicts or logging your network onto your ISP's provider network.

** your status page should resemble this except for embedded site-specific details **

** Clicking the 'Advanced' tab, follwed by the 'Gaming' menu item, you should match what is shown here **

** Proceeding to Routing menu item, make sure it looks like this: **

** Now on to the firewall menu item **

** and lastly but equally important, the advanced network settings menu item **

• provided that all information supplied in ~opensim/bin/OpenSim.ini and in your ~opensim/Regions/*.xml are properly configured, this should have you up and running.

NOTE: Contrary to what is displayed above, DHCP services are not required to operate OpenSimulator server software.