Several troubleshooting steps addressing these issues are listed below, with solutions to the most common problems listed first.
OMake sure that the rest of your network is functioning correctly. Verify that you can access the Internet from other computers on your network. If other computers also cannot access the Internet, the problem might be with your base station, modem, or Internet service provider (ISP). See the following troubleshooting steps for more information.
If this network does not have an Internet connection, verify that all computers are in the same workgroup and can see each other on the network. You can use the Broadband Network Utility to view all the computers in your workgroup and check your workgroup name. For more information about the Broadband Network Utility, see Chapter 4, “Network Activities.”
If there are problems accessing the Internet or other computers on your network, check the cables between your computers and the base station or modem for loose or disconnected wires. Check the cables between the base station and the broadband modem. Verify that you are using the correct cables, that all cables are firmly attached, and that all status lights on the other network devices are functioning correctly.
If you are still having network problems, you should troubleshoot that issue before configuring a multiplayer network game.
OCheck your base station network settings. If other computers on your network are also having problems accessing the network and the Internet, you might have incorrect base station network settings. Verify that you are using the correct Internet settings required by your ISP, and that any wireless settings are correctly configured to allow all wireless computers to communicate.
If you are using a Microsoft base station, you can use the Broadband Network Utility and the Base Station Management Tool to check and manually configure your network settings. For more information, see Chapter 5, “Network Management.” If you are using a base station or router from another manufacturer, see the documentation for that device.
OCheck if your game or application has any special network requirements for multiplayer play. Some programs communicate between computers by using specific network ports. Most base stations include a firewall that prevents unauthorized communication on nearly all ports.
If your application or game requires special settings on your base station, such as forwarding a port for multiplayer play or setting up a virtual DMZ (demilitarized zone) to host a game server, you will be able to find this information in the program manual or on the software publisher’s Web site.
For a list of specific programs and the ports necessary to run them, see the Support section of the Broadband Networking Web site at www.microsoft.com/hardware.