Zugg Software :: Cannot connect to server

If you cannot connect to the remote MUD server, there are several possible solutions.

1) First, open a Command Prompt window in Windows and then type:

ping hostname

where "hostname" is the name of your MUD server. This will attempt to contact the remote server and see if it is available. Not all servers or networks support the ping command, but if the ping is successful, then you'll know that the server is up and running and that your network connection is working.

If the "ping" fails, then you can also try the "tracert" command in Windows. In the same Command Prompt window, type:

tracert hostname

This will show the step-by-step route that is used to connect to the server. When it starts giving timeout errors (or printing * characters indicating a timeout), that will show you where the network problem is. It is possible for a router or network to deny the ping/tracert protocol and cause an error, but usually this is a good way to see if the problem is somewhere on the network that you can control (like your local home network, or your ISP).

2) If you are using Windows Vista, there is a new setting that might cause some network connection problems. To fix this, you need to open a Command Prompt window in Administrator mode. To do this, go to "All Programs/Accessories" and right-click the Command Prompt icon. Then select "Run as Administrator". Once you have the Admin Command Prompt window open, type:

netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disable

See if this fixes the network connection problem. You can always change it back by using "enable" instead of "disable" in the above command.

3) Many network problems can be caused by firewalls, proxy servers, or network security software. Be sure that CMUD is in your "white-list" of programs allowed to make network connections. Be sure your firewalls or proxy servers allow Telnet socket connections. If you are behind a proxy server, use the Proxy Preferences in CMUD to enter your proxy information.

Note that you typically cannot play a MUD via a web-only or HTTP proxy. The proxy server must support Telnet or the SOCKS proxy protocol to work properly with CMUD.