#Red Alert 3 Co-op Connection error

89 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

sullen siren
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Hello,

Thanks for supporting the old games 🙂

I am trying to get red alert 3 working on LAN for the co-op campaign. We are able to get a multiplayer game working through versus no problem, with or without tacitus (by using local network)

However, once I try to start the co-op game through tacitus, I am getting the error "Connections are in progress, or connection problem dtected. Please wait for the connection to finish, or kick the player who has the connection problem.
Failed connection:
1-2"

System info:
Windows 10, using RA3 from the ultimate edition on Steam
friend is on Windows 11, using the same
router is xfinity

Things I've tried:
-Downloaded tacitus from cnconline here : https://cnc-online.net/en/download/ and installing it
-Checking "Send Delay" in RA3 built-in settings
-Port-forwarding these ports to my machine on my router, which is hosting:
-TCP (3783, 29900-29901, 4321, 6660-6669, 28910, 29920, 28900)
-UDP (27900, 4321, 13139, 6515)
-TCP/UDP (16001, 25565)
-(some may be left over from other games...)
-Deleting firewall from options.ini
-Disabling windows firewall on both computers
-Restarting computers
-Restarting game on computers.
-Checking the box in "network" in the tacitus overlay
-"Swapping patches" to the old version in the Tacitus overlay (default was 1.13, switched both to 1.12 and back)
-disable windows defender on both machines
-change nicknames

Things not tried
-VPN on my friend's computer. They are afraid of technology (I suspect tiberium trauma)
-Looking at the logs. I can't find them. If someone could share where to find logs I would love to debug. I see an entry in this post : https://forums.revora.net/topic/118680-connection-issues-after-latest-cc-online-update-tacitus/ that looks very helpful.
-Reinstalling RA3 (I just don't see this working, maybe I am wrong, but seems like a network issue)

Thanks so much for the help. I see other posts with the same problem, tried without success to emulate their solutions.

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I am also new to discord, so apologies if I've done something wrong.

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Red Alert 3 Co-op Connection error

foggy cargoBOT
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You are encountering network-related issues. Please provide the following info so we can help you in the very best way possible (feel free to ignore any question you have already clearly answered):

  • Do you have Tacitus/C&C:Online installed?
  • What country do you live in?
  • What anti-virus do you have installed?
  • Do you know how to login into your router?
    • If so, do you know how to do port-forwarding?
  • Are you on a network that is outside of your own control like a network from university/work, hotspot etc.?
sullen siren
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Do you have Tacitus/C&C:Online installed?
-yes
What country do you live in?
-USA
What anti-virus do you have installed?
-None on my machine, McAfee on friend's machine but I have disabled it (I think)
Do you know how to login into your router?
-yes
If so, do you know how to do port-forwarding?
-yes
Are you on a network that is outside of your own control like a network from university/work, hotspot etc.?
-no, home router.

tall mica
sullen siren
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Believe me I know 🙁

tall mica
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Very misleading and spammy towards users

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use Windows Security instead

sullen siren
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malware in disguise. I managed to shut it down for now

tall mica
sullen siren
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I tried to disable windows security as well. That is also malware (so is windows)

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but alas I am stuck with windows

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unfortunately cannot nuke, since I am in USA, not soviets.

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and it is RA3, so worst I could do is vacuum implode it

tall mica
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But that is just opinion of course

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Which differs per person

sullen siren
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just uninstalled mcafee. Convinced them it was garbage 🙂

vapid merlinBOT
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GG @sullen siren, you just advanced to level 1!

sullen siren
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BTW would it be best to edit the original post with more things as I try them? I have already hit the char limit, so I am trimming things each time I edit.

tall mica
tall mica
sullen siren
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Great. Much appreciated. I am in PST so will probably log off soon, but would love the help. Will add a reminder to myself to check back on here.

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tried a hamachi setup on both computers. Did not work either.

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I am assuming the error is in port forwarding on the router. Logs from tacitus would be helpful in debugging, but I don't know where theya re

tall mica
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but, can you show me the port forwarding setup in your router through a screenshot?

sullen siren
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Done. Unfortunately it's Xfinity so it's a MESS. app access only. Sorry

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They're in reverse order there

tall mica
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@cedar night Aren't 10.xxxxxx IP-addresses likely behind a cg-NAT?

sullen siren
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That's the local ip just to be clear. The external IP is something else

tall mica
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Yeah, but thought a local IP like that would cause issues, just wanted to check

tall mica
cedar night
tall mica
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then show me a screenshot of the interface where you can enter a new port forwarding rule

sullen siren
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Done

sullen siren
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Is there any way to view logs to see the failed connection and set the ports from that?

tall mica
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Sorry, been very busy with moving places

tall mica
# sullen siren

can you show me what it looks like when you click on "add port range"?

sullen siren
vapid merlinBOT
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GG @sullen siren, you just advanced to level 2!

sullen siren
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It just makes a new forwarding range like the last one

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Defaulting to 1 I guess

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The options are tcp/UDP, TCP, and UDP

tall mica
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UDP only

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Port forward to your own laptop/pc's IP-address

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Port range for RA3: 6500-65535

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Please show me a screenshot after you are done, I mean of the port forwarding in the router so I can check if it was really set up correctly

sullen siren
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Thanks! Here's the screenies:

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Second is the port forwarding homepage, first is what happens when one clicks edit.

Just tried, and still have the same original error btw

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Confirmed the ipv4 is 10.0.0.241 with ipconfig btw

sullen siren
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okay, I tried something else, and I believe it will solve the problem for anybody who ever comes to this forum in the future with a windows computer 🙂

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the solution is to look at the incoming/outgoing traffic in the resource monitor, and use that information, combined with the ports mentioned online (on links such as https://www.purevpn.com/blog/how-to-port-forward-command-and-conquer-red-alert-3/#Command_and_Conquer_Red_Alert_3_ports_needed_to_run_the_game).

basically, those links have all the major porrts from some version of RA3 I'm guessing, and you can add the others, as well as some larger ranges, from observing the ports yourself in the resource monitor.,

PUREVPN
Sameed
How to Port Forward Command and Conquer Red Alert 3

In this guide, we'll show you how to open up the correct ports for this game so that you can play it online without any trouble. Port forwarding can be a

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I can write a short guide on how to do this for future users if it would be useful for your group. I believe it should solve these networking issues for everyone who has this problem going forward, regardless of what game or setup they have, as long as the problem is related to port forwarding (and let's be honest, it always is I bet 🙂 )

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FWIW, these are the final ports forwards I ended up with:

TCP : 28900-29901, 3783, 4321, 6660-6669, 16667, 18840
UDP: 6500-10000, 60000-65535

I suspect a few of these are unnecessary, or the ranges could be reduced. It's also possible that these aren't permanent solutions; the game might try larger port ranges than this and fail sometimes.

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the best way to check it permanently would be to break open the game's hex code and inspect it. I could do that some other day if it's worth writing up a full guide.

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but key takeaway: SUCCESS

tall mica
tall mica
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Because I admit that, to my memory, I have noticed that port forwarding hasn't worked for anyone since I started using your advise 😅

fossil nymph
tall mica
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@sullen siren this worked for you without the use of a VPN right?

fossil nymph
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If it worked for him the IP he gave is probably his local IP. I know lot of ips start with 100 are behind cg-nat

sullen siren
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Yeah I didn't use a VPN.

vapid merlinBOT
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GG @sullen siren, you just advanced to level 3!

sullen siren
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It's because some of the posts require TCP and some UDP I guess

sullen siren
fossil nymph
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I was pinged, didnt read everything.
Just answered a question.
The peer2peer connection is UDP only. No tpc, tcp is never used for peer2peer connection.
What i mean is that public ips start with 100 99% is behind cg-nat but in your case that irrelevant.
Not opening the ports wide enough will cause problems sooner or later i know out of experience.

sullen siren
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Well if there's any issues with ports later, they can always be opened wider to fix it. The key thing is using the resource monitor to view the used ports and adjusting the forwarding accordingly.

tall mica
# sullen siren

He port forwarded the full range @fossil nymph and it still didn't work, then he opened additional ports and it worked

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That was what my question was about; does the range we started recommending a while ago actually cover all ports the game is using?

fossil nymph
sullen siren
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I think you need the TCP for however I was doing it. Not sure what p2p connections are tbh.

solid spade
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I too have been unable to play co-op on my LAN. Tried several VPNs etc, no dice. Gave up after a few weeks of disappointment. Is these a new/final guide on how to set things up for RA3 coop?

sullen siren
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Try what I said above if you're on Windows. No VPN needed.

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Are you getting the same error as above?

tall mica
foggy cargoBOT
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Please create a new post/topic within #1070422965239423046

Make sure not to post a message in a pre-existing post/topic, that is considered rude. Even though you might see a post with a similar issue, we've seen in practice that separate posts works out much better for everyone.

Please include the following information in your new post within #1070422965239423046:

  • A tag of the game(s) in question.
  • A tag of the storefront(s) where the game was acquired from.
  • A detailed description of the issue.
  • A good screenshot of the issue in question. If you are encountering an error, make sure to include an image showing this error.
  • Any usage of mods/tweaks/patches/map packs.
  • What you've tried yourself so far.
tall mica
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@sullen siren Please do the following:

foggy cargoBOT
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Privado VPN Instructions
​
Getting the VPN and setting it up:

  1. Go to https://signup.privadovpn.com/free
  2. Select the "10 GB limit" plan
  3. Enter the E-Mail address you want to use with your account
  4. Click "Create Your Free Account"
  5. Verify your account with the link sent to your email
  6. The website will now display you your password for the love of god save these credentials
  7. Click the "Download PrivadoVPN for Windows" button beneath your login credentials (in case you cant find it)
  8. Install the program and run the set-up
  9. Now you can choose between taking the tour or just starting the app, up to you
    ​
    Setting the app up correctly:
  10. Select the "Settings" button (bottom left of the window that opened)
  11. Select the "Bypass" option (NOT the tunnel option!)
  12. Now add all applications on your device that you know are eating much of your internet data, like browsers and Steam. This way, you will prevent going over your 10 GB limit too fast. Make sure NOT to add any of the Command & Conquer games to this list, otherwise they won't work
  13. Set the location the VPN connects to, to "The Netherlands" to assure its functionality
  14. Exit the settings
  15. Enable the VPN by clicking on *"Click to Connect" * within Privado

What to do in game:

  1. Open "Settings/Options"
  2. Go to "Network"
  3. You will find alternative IP-addresses in a drop down menu. Select a different one. Know that these IP-addresses are NOT the same as the one shown within Privado
  4. Now try to connect to multiplayer
  5. If it still doesn't work: go back to step 1 of this section and try any alternative IP-addresses that are still left in the dropdown menu.
  6. Let us know whether any of them worked.

Let us know whether this worked for you or not. If you encounter any issues, also please say so.

C&C:Online isn't affiliated with any of these VPN services nor do we receive money or any other form of compensation for recommending them

tall mica
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Other VPNs likely won't work and Surfshark even breaks Tacitus, even when disabled, so Surfshark has to be uninstalled

sullen siren
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I don't need a VPN? I already fixed everything with the debugging I described above