This won't work for every internet connection, but for the majority of them it'll work. Some people simply can't port forward and this may allow them to host a server for free.
You don't have to buy a server to play on one. Just find your network's IP address, open your world to LAN, and tell your friend to enter the IP address where they would usually enter a server's IP address. You can also do the same with Mojang's server software, just instead of opening to LAN, run the server.
You don't have to buy a server to play on one. Just find your network's IP address, open your world to LAN, and tell your friend to enter the IP address where they would usually enter a server's IP address. You can also do the same with Mojang's server software, just instead of opening to LAN, run the server.
what if that person is not on the same lan as you? what if you cant portforward?
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I'm back from my hibernation. Most likely gone so don't pm me.
For those that cant port forward, there is Hamachi, or some other VPN software. These are the only 2 methods that should be considered, any other is just wrong.
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Cast aside your festive doylaks: dragon stuff is about to happen.
Multiplayer is lonely once you understand how it actually works.
For those that cant port forward, there is Hamachi, or some other VPN software. These are the only 2 methods that should be considered, any other is just wrong.
Why's that? It's a hassle to get your friends to install a VPN. Portal 2 actually does what I'm describing for the co-op mode.
I see port-forwarding as a simple enough thing to do. I know lots of people have issues with it but its relatively simple.
They could simply buy a cheap minecraft 8 slot server for £0.50 per month and play on that with maps etc.
The issue is that microsoft would not want to implement this feature they see hosting servers as a way of making money think about it, if they had this feature it would kill small hosting companies that gain most of their money on smaller player based servers. The way i see it you might aswell just pay for a cheap minecraft server their are lots of cheap hosts on here!
There are some people who's ISPs blocks all incoming ports. There are also people who don't have access to their router (people who live in dorms, etc). Yes, it is true that less people would buy real servers. It also means that more people would get to play with their friends, and they'd save money. It's still a possibility that Mojang would like this idea though, not every decision has to be based on money. If Mojang doesn't do it, there's a possibility that someone could make a mod that does it.
You don't have to buy a server to play on one. Just find your network's IP address, open your world to LAN, and tell your friend to enter the IP address where they would usually enter a server's IP address. You can also do the same with Mojang's server software, just instead of opening to LAN, run the server.
I believe you're confused. I'm talking about when you aren't on the same LAN at all.
Its easier, more secure, more stable, and the proper way to do it. There is no reason for this to be added.
I respectfully disagree; I don't believe it'd be easier to install a VPN rather than simply logging into Minecraft and directly connecting to the server just as you would a LAN server. I do agree that it wouldn't be quite as secure, however it's just as secure as port forwarding a single port. The only security risk would be either a vulnerability in Minecraft or one in the TCP/IP stack of the computer acting as a server. It's as secure as running Skype used to be. Skype used to use this same technology for its entire network. EDIT: Skype still does this.
I agree that it works great as it is, I also believe that it could be even better. EDIT: I was mistaken. Skype still does use this exact same P2P technique, they just changed how the clients find each other.
Could be better? A system that could just not work because of your router, your ISP, or any number of other reasons? NAT isn't a standardized system, so such a feature in the game would probably be useless to a large chunk of people.
Just take a few minutes and install a VPN and call it a day.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Cast aside your festive doylaks: dragon stuff is about to happen.
Multiplayer is lonely once you understand how it actually works.
Could be better? A system that could just not work because of your router, your ISP, or any number of other reasons? NAT isn't a standardized system, so such a feature in the game would probably be useless to a large chunk of people.
Just take a few minutes and install a VPN and call it a day.
Nearly every home router in the world uses some form of NAT. It's the whole reason you have to forward ports in the first place. NAT punchthrough should work for most people.
All it takes is a simple email explaining the problem and they will fix it. Not a big deal.
If they don't have access to their router, then they probably shouldn't run a server.
I'm really tired of people saying microsoft is the boss. THAT'S NOT TRUE. Microsoft bought Mojang, and therefore, Mojang is still making decisions, just as a entity of Microsoft.
Finally,
It's not free. Having a computer that can reliably run a server, and play Minecraft is gonna cost a lot of money to get. Most likely more than the cheap price of server hosting these days.
No support.
I'm not saying you'd host a server that would hold 10+ players. It'd be more like you wanna invite 1 or 2 other people to play with you. Anyone who can use open to LAN could use this.
For my ISP, it costs an extra $10 per month just to be able to port forward, they require you to get a static IP.
Additionally, for people who already can port forward, it's a matter of convenience. Instead of teaching someone to forward their ports, they just invite their friend and it'll "magically work".
I'm not saying you'd host a server that would hold 10+ players. It'd be more like you wanna invite 1 or 2 other people to play with you. Anyone who can use open to LAN could use this.
For my ISP, it costs an extra $10 per month just to be able to port forward, they require you to get a static IP.
Additionally, for people who already can port forward, it's a matter of convenience. Instead of teaching someone to forward their ports, they just invite their friend and it'll "magically work".
1. Then set up Hamachi and take advantage of the existing LAN functionality.
2. Then you have a really **** poor ISP. Port forwarding should be controlled your home router, not what your ISP says. Forwarding a port does not impact them in any way.
3. Perpetuating ignorance. Understanding how networking actually works is immensely beneficial to everyone. Because people thing networking is "magical", they fail to understand why things do or do not work. On the plus side, however, it grants me job security. But this is so trivial. If you can't be botered to learn some simple basics, then running a server is probably not a good idea in the first place.
Nearly every home router in the world uses some form of NAT. It's the whole reason you have to forward ports in the first place. NAT punchthrough should work for most people.
NAT protocols are not standardized. Different companies do it differently.It is impossible to tell who it will and won't work for. It would be a complete waste of time to work on something that MAY work vs sticking with what they have that DOES work.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Cast aside your festive doylaks: dragon stuff is about to happen.
Multiplayer is lonely once you understand how it actually works.
1. Then set up Hamachi and take advantage of the existing LAN functionality.
2. Then you have a really **** poor ISP. Port forwarding should be controlled your home router, not what your ISP says. Forwarding a port does not impact them in any way.
3. Perpetuating ignorance. Understanding how networking actually works is immensely beneficial to everyone. Because people thing networking is "magical", they fail to understand why things do or do not work. On the plus side, however, it grants me job security. But this is so trivial. If you can't be botered to learn some simple basics, then running a server is probably not a good idea in the first place.
NAT protocols are not standardized. Different companies do it differently.It is impossible to tell who it will and won't work for. It would be a complete waste of time to work on something that MAY work vs sticking with what they have that DOES work.
Yes, I hate my ISP. They have a monopoly where I am. They put multiple customers behind a single public IP.
Yes, I hate my ISP. They have a monopoly where I am. They put multiple customers behind a single public IP.
That is just... poopy? Honestly, that is extremely poor design.
But still not reason enough for a feature like this. A VPN would work just fine. Plus, I don't think your ISP would care for a NAT Punch-through since it sounds like they control the NAT service themselves if they are splitting a single IP to multiple customers.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Cast aside your festive doylaks: dragon stuff is about to happen.
Multiplayer is lonely once you understand how it actually works.
Well then even NAT punchthrough wouldn't help. Other people not on LAN would have to connect to your public IP, and if anyone else was running a server on that port, bad things would happen. You can't have two servers running on the same IP and same port.
Theoretically, as long as they aren't using symmetric NAT, there's a good chance it may work. You can use a random port number, just like LAN does.
Well, Minecraft could solve this with NAT punchthrough. It would make connecting to another person's server as easy as it is on a LAN.
NAT punchthrough works similarly to how P2P networks create connections.
If you don't know much about NAT punchthrough, there are many articles on the web.
This won't work for every internet connection, but for the majority of them it'll work. Some people simply can't port forward and this may allow them to host a server for free.
what if that person is not on the same lan as you? what if you cant portforward?
I'm back from my hibernation. Most likely gone so don't pm me.
Cast aside your festive doylaks: dragon stuff is about to happen.
Multiplayer is lonely once you understand how it actually works.
Alpha 1.0.4
Why's that? It's a hassle to get your friends to install a VPN. Portal 2 actually does what I'm describing for the co-op mode.
There are some people who's ISPs blocks all incoming ports. There are also people who don't have access to their router (people who live in dorms, etc). Yes, it is true that less people would buy real servers. It also means that more people would get to play with their friends, and they'd save money. It's still a possibility that Mojang would like this idea though, not every decision has to be based on money. If Mojang doesn't do it, there's a possibility that someone could make a mod that does it.
I believe you're confused. I'm talking about when you aren't on the same LAN at all.
Its easier, more secure, more stable, and the proper way to do it. There is no reason for this to be added.
Cast aside your festive doylaks: dragon stuff is about to happen.
Multiplayer is lonely once you understand how it actually works.
Alpha 1.0.4
I respectfully disagree; I don't believe it'd be easier to install a VPN rather than simply logging into Minecraft and directly connecting to the server just as you would a LAN server. I do agree that it wouldn't be quite as secure, however it's just as secure as port forwarding a single port. The only security risk would be either a vulnerability in Minecraft or one in the TCP/IP stack of the computer acting as a server. It's as secure as running Skype used to be. Skype used to use this same technology for its entire network. EDIT: Skype still does this.
The system is fine as is.
Cast aside your festive doylaks: dragon stuff is about to happen.
Multiplayer is lonely once you understand how it actually works.
Alpha 1.0.4
I agree that it works great as it is, I also believe that it could be even better.
EDIT: I was mistaken. Skype still does use this exact same P2P technique, they just changed how the clients find each other.
Just take a few minutes and install a VPN and call it a day.
Cast aside your festive doylaks: dragon stuff is about to happen.
Multiplayer is lonely once you understand how it actually works.
Alpha 1.0.4
Nearly every home router in the world uses some form of NAT. It's the whole reason you have to forward ports in the first place. NAT punchthrough should work for most people.
I'm not saying you'd host a server that would hold 10+ players. It'd be more like you wanna invite 1 or 2 other people to play with you. Anyone who can use open to LAN could use this.
For my ISP, it costs an extra $10 per month just to be able to port forward, they require you to get a static IP.
Additionally, for people who already can port forward, it's a matter of convenience. Instead of teaching someone to forward their ports, they just invite their friend and it'll "magically work".
1. Then set up Hamachi and take advantage of the existing LAN functionality.
2. Then you have a really **** poor ISP. Port forwarding should be controlled your home router, not what your ISP says. Forwarding a port does not impact them in any way.
3. Perpetuating ignorance. Understanding how networking actually works is immensely beneficial to everyone. Because people thing networking is "magical", they fail to understand why things do or do not work. On the plus side, however, it grants me job security. But this is so trivial. If you can't be botered to learn some simple basics, then running a server is probably not a good idea in the first place.
NAT protocols are not standardized. Different companies do it differently.It is impossible to tell who it will and won't work for. It would be a complete waste of time to work on something that MAY work vs sticking with what they have that DOES work.
Cast aside your festive doylaks: dragon stuff is about to happen.
Multiplayer is lonely once you understand how it actually works.
Alpha 1.0.4
Yes, I hate my ISP. They have a monopoly where I am. They put multiple customers behind a single public IP.
That is just... poopy? Honestly, that is extremely poor design.
But still not reason enough for a feature like this. A VPN would work just fine. Plus, I don't think your ISP would care for a NAT Punch-through since it sounds like they control the NAT service themselves if they are splitting a single IP to multiple customers.
Cast aside your festive doylaks: dragon stuff is about to happen.
Multiplayer is lonely once you understand how it actually works.
Alpha 1.0.4
Theoretically, as long as they aren't using symmetric NAT, there's a good chance it may work. You can use a random port number, just like LAN does.