Multiplayer LAN always disconnects us

[leonnesilvertear]

I think I've done this request correctly. My husband and I have matching (almost) Dell computers. We've now tried to play 3 LAN games, and each time we get disconnected. I can play a single player game by myself fine, as can he. We both play MMORPGs with high end graphics and I updated my driver earlier this year.

After we get disconnected, we load the saved and it still disconnects.

We've tried reducing the size of the playing board.

Ideas?

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System Information
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Time of this report: 6/22/2011, 21:33:01
Machine name: SILVERTEAR-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.110408-1631)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Inspiron 580
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU 650 @ 3.20GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 8120MB RAM
Page File: 1968MB used, 14268MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GT 220
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GT 220
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A20&SUBSYS_069A10DE&REV_A2
Display Memory: 4058 MB
Dedicated Memory: 986 MB
Shared Memory: 3071 MB
Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: LCM-19w4
Monitor Id: WDE1904
Native Mode: 1440 x 900(p) (59.887Hz)
Output Type: DVI
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,n vwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 8.17.0012.6658 (English)
Driver Version: 8.17.12.6658
DDI Version: 10.1
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 1/7/2011 21:27:00, 12859496 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4960-11CF-6C69-96261CC2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0A20
SubSys ID: 0x069A10DE
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Driver Strong Name: oem69.inf:NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1:Section0 05:8.17.12.6658ci\ven_10de&dev_0a20
Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C
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D3D9 Overlay: Supported
DXVA-HD: Supported
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled

[QuantumTarantino]

Ok, your drivers are 6 months old, but shouldnt be the cause of this

Updated ones are here
http://www.nvidia.com/object/win7-wi...ql-driver.html

Now, for the disconnects, they can be impossible to diagnose remotely, so let me start by gathering information.

Are both PCs using seperate steam accounts.
Are you in the same house while playing?
If so, what is the Brand of your Router?
What Firmware revision is it running?
What is the Brand of your modem?
What company provides your internet service?
What security software is running on each PC?
Are either PC's connecting Wirelessly?
If so, are they on the same floor as the router?
If so, do you have any cordless phones?

[leonnesilvertear]

Thank you for your response. Here are your answers

Are both PCs using seperate steam accounts. Yes, we have separate accounts.
Are you in the same house while playing? Yes, within 10 feet (brick wall in the way)
If so, what is the Brand of your Router? Netgear wgr 614v9
What Firmware revision is it running? 1.2.30_41.0.44 na
What is the Brand of your modem? RCA (provided by Comcast)
What company provides your internet service? Comcast
What security software is running on each PC? Norton
Are either PC's connecting Wirelessly? Yes
If so, are they on the same floor as the router? Yes, within 10 feet (it's in the living room between our computers)
If so, do you have any cordless phones? no, only cell phones (no land line at all)

[QuantumTarantino]

Ok, good, that sounds like a good setup, (its hard to tell always over the internet though)

Now, with the disconnects, if i read your post right, the game works, until whatever turn it stops working, is that right?

And once its reached that point, reloading that game, disconnects again at the same point?

[leonnesilvertear]

Yes. It just disconnects after it "corrupts" at some point. When we reload, even if we do different things, or back up several saves, it still disconnects (and not always on that same turn).

[QuantumTarantino]

Ok, this sounds like a Data throughput issue, for lack of a better term.

Is there any way to hardwire both PCs to the Router, to see if that helps at all?

If possible, can you set up the DMZ in the router, and add both PCs to it for a SHORT period of time, to see if that helps.

What appears to be happening, is too much data is being transferred, and causing one piece of your network to refuse the connections.

[QuantumTarantino]

Also, i found this in regards to the router, and it may not have anything to do with it, but its worth noting

Known Issues:

FVS114 VPN sometimes cannot pass through the router. To work around the problem, please make sure there is only one VPN client active on the LAN. If that still does not work, reboot the router and create the VPN connection right after the router boots up and before running any other application.

[PsyBeats]

Hey There!

My friend and I have the same problem. We also have tried multiple Multiplyer matches via LAN and have similar issues. And we are both IT (Infrastructure & a programmer). I have gone through a large variety of possible solutions to only be defeated again.

We think it is the network protocols that Civ uses to communicate between turns. Possibly a Time-to-Live (TTL) related issue, but I'm actually running out of suggestions.

We manage to get a game started, play for about 300 turns before the 1st disconnect. Then it can be every turn, or 2nd turn. And then equally as random, we could play another 300 turns before it drops connection again.

As a list attempts at fixes I have done the following :

I discovered that disabling wireless on your PCs and connecting via cable is the best way. Civs will use wireless before it uses LAN cable.

I have gone through the lan hardware config and ensured that both machines are identical.

Disabled firewall and virus scanner. If firewall is left on, I ensured that civ executables are inputted with inbound and outbound communication enabled on all network adaptors. But with wireless disabled, who needs AV/Firewall?

As we discovered that one machine may start lagging with turn processing, and each turn will progressively take longer. Era Changes will make the turns lag even more until finally it disconnects. Reconnect and play a couple more turns.. Disconnect.. . Repeat until Patience runs out.

Once a trend of disconnects begins, there is usually no stopping it.

[Justin007]

My wife and I have the same problem. Random disconnects and extremely laggy game play when playing multiplayer. Multiplayer is practically un-playable... So when is FireAxis/2KGames/Steam going to start fixing problems with Civ5???