How can I troubleshoot server disconnects?

grifvindh

In the relatively short time I've had playing the game, this has proven to be a persistent problem. I suspect it's not a widespread one, and I need to figure out what I need to do to troubleshoot and fix it. Here's hoping y'all can help...

The problem: I frequently get a message that I've lost connection to the server in game. This is when the red text appears in the middle of the top of the screen, then starts counting up the seconds that server connection has been lost.

This server disconnect problem has occurred:

1. When I try to log in for the first time.

2. When I try to log in from character creation.

3. When I zone between maps.

4. In the middle of combat. I get this a lot in the middle of combat.

This problem is occasionally, but not always, accompanied by "rubber banding" in game just before it occurs. When rubber banding occurs its more likely that I'll get disconnected and booted from the game during a server disconnect.

I'm pretty sure this isn't a firewall issue. I have the executable exempted from firewall rules in Windows 7. I'm not sure about my router, though. I still need to check into that. However, there are other online games I've played (CoH and DCUO are the best examples) where this isn't an issue.

A few things I noticed when I first started playing. The auto-patching feature would frequently cause me to stall out when zoning, because it would be in the middle of patching 10 files and the download speed would alternate between 2-4k and 0... which seems a little on the slow side... I should note that while it was doing this, it would affect everyone who was using our internet connection. I wound up turning auto patching off and downloading everything to my machine to make that problem go away, but it doesn't seem to have stopped the server disconnects at all.

I should also note that we have a DSL connection. Has anyone else had issues with using DSL to play the game? It shouldn't matter, but who knows?

I've yet to actually ping the game server. I actually hadn't thought to try that until immediately before I typed it. That may provide a few clues.

Is CO just a more network-intensive game than other online games? DSL isn't the most high bandwidth connection available, but it ought to be fast enough after everything is downloaded...

fudgemonsta

While you are on the Launcher press the 'Options' choice at the top right of the launcher.

Then check the box that says 'Disable on-demand patching'. That should help out a bit, as then the game isn't trying to download while playing.

You'll have to wait a while for the game to patch all of the current files, but after that it should be running a bit better.

grifvindh

Sorry I wasn't clear about that -- I've already done that part. When I noticed the patching thing I posted about that here, and someone suggested that, so I disabled on-demand patching. It helped a little, but I still get a lot of disconnects.

I mentioned the patching thing because I thought maybe the download times it was reporting described a symptom that was contributing to the overall problem.

gammabreaker

CO is pretty network sensitive. It also doesn't handle wireless connections very well. It's pretty intolerant of wireless errors that most other games and applications would show no sign of interference from.

You could certainly try a tracert to patchserver.crypticstudios.com and see what that brings up. There's Nettest as well, which can reveal blocked ports/filtering from your ISP.

stellariodragon

I'm also having server disconnects since the last patch. I asked zone chat and it seems some other people are having problems as well.

bioshrike

You can do /netgraph 1 in game to see a graph of your current connection, to at least give you some idea of what's going on...

secksegai

Port-forwarding is highly suggested for any on-line gaming. Being that firewalls block data, and you're currently having issues receiving data, the easiest way to test is to eliminate firewalls from the equation.

Disabling any software firewalls and connecting directly to a cable/dsl modem (to bypass router) is the standard troubleshooting step when a connection is erratic.

grifvindh

Ah... it may be wireless then. Unfortunately there's no practical way to have a wired connection in our house, unless I want to game while standing up next to the television in our living room.

Perhaps the server maintenance they did this morning will help some. Or perhaps if I can get the game running under linux the wireless connection will be more stable. I generally have better luck with wireless on linux than I do in windows.

I'll try some of the other troubleshooting suggestions as well, of course. Thanks for the help all.