Hells Kitchen

New VPN client available!

2011-04-27T21:20:00.003+02:00

Arrr Matey's!
I'ts been a long time since i posted here.

i have been using n2n for the past years with great pleasure, i wrote some crappy GUI and threw in online on a blog ( http://virtualmultiplayerlan.blogspot.com/2009/03/playing-lan-games-online.html ) Last week i decided to check back here, and as soon as i noted that there was a new N2N version, i started replacing my old nodes.

Immedeatly, i started to build a new GUI for windows in visual basic since i always wanted to learn VB.
After 3 evenings fiddling with VB, i think its ready for preview.

The package contains the Following.

hellskitchenVPNGUI.exe --> GUI for both Supernode.exe as Edge.exe
edge.exe
supernode.exe

The gui has example data in it.
All example data is 'working' as well as the supernode which is for your testing purposes.

the GUI needs to be started as ADMIN otherwise edge will fail. ( UAC )

Download : http://www.toscani-online.nl/hk_vpn.7z

My goal is to create a 'php' backend that will provide the edges with unique ip-adresses & mac adresses for each community.

Communities can be created by anyone ( just like hamachi ) The whole package is released under the "free for all and for ever" licence ( which i just made up )

The Source of the GUI is available on request, coz i like to fiddle a bit more before i throw it on sourceforge.

NOTICE :
The GUI doesnt work 100%
The GUI supports only passwords for security.
After closing the GUI, the Edge.exe or Supernode.exe keeps running!

Any suggestions are welcome.

ps: The new Flashpoint game (LAN multiplayer) is quite fun, and working via vpn ;)

Th Awakening..

2011-04-24T13:30:00.001+02:00

Since the old Multiplayer-tool has quite a bit of problems, i resurected this blog.

At this time, im compiling a new version, which should work a lot better than the old version.
stay tuned!

small blog update

2009-04-26T14:39:00.002+02:00

Ahoy mateys!

I have been away for a while coz i have some problems with sickness in my family.

I'll promise to do some updates later today or monday.

Arrr!

No! No! No! this is NOT about food!

2009-03-31T15:02:00.003+02:00

Why do people always associate shit with TV?

It seems that the term 'Hells Kitchen' is only known as that TV-Cook's television program.
For instance.... google can tell you about only 2 things : The Tvshow, and the neighbourhood in NYC.
And even Wikipedia doesnt really know what these word's original meaning was.

For the people who ask : "wtf has hell's kitchen to do with pirates"
here is a little history lesson.....

In the golden age, when people sailed in wooden ships there were only 2 fears. #1 Pirates and #2 death at sea. The term 'Hells Kitchen' comes from that time and age.

At the south-west coast of australia there is a place called 'wreck beach' which is close to 'Hell's Kitchen'
The place 'Hell's Kitchen' was a dangerous place to be as an sailor. Dangerous currents, Cliffs and hard winds made this one of the spookiest places to be as an sailor.

Hell's Kitchen pic #1 #2 or have a look at google maps ( dont forget to turn on images )

And there you have it.... everyday you learn something new.

Lan over internet - hamachi replacements.

2009-03-31T12:59:00.006+02:00

Every once in a while, i get a tip about a new VPN Tool.

Today is such a day, and i thought it might be nice to create a list of VPN tools which are available today.

The criterium for the tools to be listed is : It must create a VPN connection between 2 pc's.

Here is the preliminary list.

hamachi ( http://www.hamachi.cc/ )
n2n ( www.ntop.org/n2n/ )
LANoi (http://www.lanoverinternet.com/)
Leaf (http://www.leafnetworks.net )
Wippien (http://www.wippien.com/)
Garena (http://www.garena.com/ )
tinc (http://www.tinc-vpn.org/ )
openvpn ( http://www.openvpn.net/ )
teamviewer ( http://www.teamviewer.com/ )
natnix ( http://burton-krahn.com/)
kaboodle ( http://www.kaboodle.org/)
TUNNGLE ( https://www.tunngle.net/en)
Remobo ( http://www.remobo.com/ )
SocialVPN (http://socialvpn.wordpress.com/)
VNN (http://www.bizvnn.com/)
NioNet (http://www.maintech.de/products/nionet/)

If you have a suggestion for this list, please let me know in the comments.

Toolbox update!

2009-03-31T12:00:00.004+02:00

Use Hell's Kitchens Toolbox and Join & Play on the biggest GAME-LAN on the internet!
Play 99% of all games with your friends without a hassle!

*** UPDATE 30-9-2009 ***

updated installer & gui released.this version has a more stabile connection due to use of 'unique' mac adress & outgoing upd port.

Added :
Auto macadress setting (clones the mac from a real network adapter to the vpn mac)
Preferences screen
Extra options to the connection log ( verbose logging and used edge cmdline options )

New Games tested : Dark Sector, Empire Total War, Monsters vs. Aliens,Stormrise

Hell's Kitchen Toolbox released

2009-03-29T21:05:00.009+02:00

Ahoy matey's

It's an honor to announce the new 'Hell's Kitchen Toolbox' (screenshot)
The old client is completely overhauled, which should make life easier.

I have added a gui for ForceBindIP ( http://www.r1ch.net/ )
And a connection log is added which should help out in case of bugs.

There is a investigation on the 'connection lost' errors in H.A.W.X. as the connection is completely gone in some cases. ( ping timouts )
The problems are not consequent, and do not affect everybody.

Yesterday i have played H.A.W.X. via lan with 3 people, where one player lost connection during game.
To find a proper solution, i need more people who could test H.A.W.X. over lan.

If there are people out there that are trying out new games on a daily bases, please consider testing multiplayer LAN with our toolbox and report your findings.

Here is a General FAQ on the tools :

Q. What does the toolbox do?
A. It connects to a VPN, on which you can play LAN games with your friends.

Q. What utilities are in the toolbox?
A. ForceBindIP from http://www.r1ch.net/, which allows a program/game bind with a specifice network adapter.

Q. Are there more tools than vpn and ForceBindIP?
A. yes, but in development

Q. I have problems with the network what do i do?
A. Post your problem, along with the connection log in this forum.

Q. Can i help?
A. yea, by giving me feedback on this tool! ( the comments box is a good start!)

Now grab that new toolbox and start gaming!
Dont forget to check back here for more news and updates on the toolbox.

Your feedback is greatly appreceated!

[resources]
Toolbox screenshot
Toolbox release binaries

Tom Clancy H.A.W.X. timeout's

2009-03-27T00:28:00.009+01:00

Arrrr!

Some of you pirates reported timeout's in the lan lobby of Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.
This problem is confirmed, and under investigation.

While checking where the timeouts come from, network dumps indicate traffic to the following external ip's.
216.98.48.53 - lb-gconnect.ubisoft.com ( only tcp traffic )
216.98.48.18 - gatorservice.ubi.com ( only udp traffic )
216.98.48.57 - lb-stun-prod.ubisoft.com ( mostly stats queries (http) )
Blocking the above ip/hostnames's is not yet tested, but could be a good start!

Tomorrow i will do some serious testing on this game, and report back.

If you have any idea's or suggestions let me know via the comments.

* Update *
H.A.W.X. s very picky about bandwidth. If hosting fails, let someone else host. ( dont forget to open ports for hawx in firewall )
I have been playing with 3 players total for 2 hrs

Supported games

2009-03-26T00:49:00.005+01:00

Here is the list of supported games which will be continuesly updated.

Battlefield 1942
Battlefield Vietnam
Battlefield 2
Joint Operations
Silent Hunter III
Silent Hunter IV
Act of War: Direct Action
Age of Empires
Age of Empires 2
Age of Empires 3
Age of Empires - Conquerors
Age of Mythology
Age of Wonders 2
Alien vs. Predator 2
America's Army
ArmedAssault
Armies of Exigo
Baldur's Gate
Battlefield 1942
Battlefield 2
Battlefield 2: Special Forces
Battlezone II
Brothers In Arms
Call of Duty
Call of Duty 2
Call Of Duty: United Offensive
Cilviziation 3: Play the World
Civilization 3: Conquests
Codename Panzer: Phase One
Colin McRae Rally 02
Colin McRae Rally 03
Colin McRae Rally 04
Colin McRae Rally 2005
Command & Conquer: Generals
Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour
Command & Conquer: Red Alert
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2-Yuri's Revenge
Command & Conquer: Renegade
Counter-StrikeCounter-Strike 1.6 Non-Steam
Counter Strike: Source
Crashday
Crimson Skies
Deus Ex
Devastation
Diablo
Diablo II
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
Doom
Doom 3
Duke Nukem 3D
Dungeon Siege 2
Earth 2160
Empire Earth
Empire Earth 2
Endwar ( Tom Clancy )
European Air War
F.E.A.R.
F1 2002
Falcon 4: Allied Force
Far Cry
FIFA 2005
FIFA 06
FlatOut
Ghost Recon
Ghost Recon Advance Warfighter
Ghost Recon Advance Warfighter 2
Grand Theft Auto 2
Ground Control II
GT Legends
GTR - FIA
GT Racing Simulation
Half-Life
Half-Life 2 Deathmatch
HaloHearts of Iron 2
Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Complete
Heroes of Might and Magic 4: Winds of War
Hexen
Hidden and Dangerous 2
Homeworld 2
Icewind Dale II
Imperial Glory
Insane Isle of Four Winds - Runewars
Jazz Jackrabbit 2
Joint Operations
Juiced
Liero Xtreme
Live for Speed S2 demo
Locomotion
LOTR - Battle For Middle Earth
Mechwarrior 2
Medal Of Honor: Pacific Assault
Mercedes Benz World Racing
Microsoft RalliSport Challenge
Multi Theft Auto
MX vs. ATV Unleashed
NASCAR SimRacing 2005
NBA Live 2005
Need For Kill
Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
Need For Speed: Porsche unleashed
Need For Speed: Underground
Need For Speed: Underground 2
Need For Speed: Most Wanted
Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide
Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark
NHL 2002
NHL 2004
NHL 2005
NHL 2006
Original War
Outpost 2: Divided Destiny
Overkill
Painkiller
Postal 2: Share the Pain
Powerslide
Pro Evolution Soccer 3
Pro Evolution Soccer 4
Project Snowblind
Quake
Quake 2
Quake 3 Arena
Quake 4
Raven Shield
Re-Volt
rFactor
Rig n Roll
Rollcage
Rome Total War
Sacred
Scrapland
Serious Sam
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter
Serious Sam 2
Settlers 5
Sid Meiers Alpha Centauri
Silent Hunter III
Silent Hunter IV
Soldat
Soldner
Splinter Cell 3: Chaos Theory
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Star Wars Battlefront
Star Wars: Jedi Academy
Star Wars Rebellion
Starcraft (UDP)
Starcraft: Broodwar (UDP)
Stronghold
Stronghold: Crusader
Stronghold 2
Sudden Strike: Resource War
SWAT 3
SWAT 4
System Shock 2
Toca Race Driver
Toca Race Driver 2
Toca Race Driver 3
Tony Hawk Underground 2
Top SpinTrackmania
Trackmania Nations
Unreal Tournament 2003
Unreal Tournament 2004
V8 Supercars
Vietcong
Warcraft
Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos
Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne
Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War
Warhammer: Dark Omen
World in Conflict
World of Warcraft
Worms World Party
Worms 2 (TCP/IP)
X-Wing Alliance
Xpand Rally

Windows Vista 64bit is not supported! ( unless you can get a Tap adapter running like in Openvpn)

Playing Lan games online.

2009-03-25T12:04:00.011+01:00

Arrrr! welcome matey's!

As an retired pirate, i have been playing loads of old games over LAN, Games like battlefield-vietnam, Joint Operations, Silent Hunter, ghostrecon and the rainbow six series..

Unfortunatly, not all games worked initially with hamachi so i went and find out about why some games work, and some dont.

After sailing the seven sea's of VPN, this pirate returned and started "Recepies from Hell's Kitchen" a Blog that informs you about the easiest way to play lan-games online, and what games are supported.

Virtual private networking.
Today, with VPN (Virtual Private Networking) you can setup your own LAN over the internet. But as you probably know, Some games are picky when it comes to LAN.

Lets take Hamachi as an example.

Like many vpn tools Hamachi peers usually do not have the same class C ips.
This means that the IPs must match the first 3 octets.
(5.444.111).333 You
(5.444.222).222 Peer

Since hamachi is serving you an ip-adress, its very rare that all your friends have the same class c ipadress.
Another downside of Hamachi is that the free version has some limitations like : small number of participants in a network, networks can become 'full' and need administrative tasks and above all, Hamachi has slow relaying.

Ofcourse, there are alternatives to Hamachi. for example :"Garena, Leaf, Wippien, openvpn and n2n. While some of the names sound familiar, the last one is quite new and unknown.

n2n is a layer-two peer-to-peer virtual private network developed by the guys at NTOP.org
N2n is a real basic VPN tool. It's only task is to create a VPN, nothing more.
N2N needs a 'Supernode' to connect to. At this time, there are 2 public supernodes available - but you could setup your own.

EPC gaming preconfigured client

When it comes to information about playing pirated games online, my main source was epc-gaming.com . And to give something back, created these guide/tools for people who want to play lan-games online. i provide you a free preconfigured set of windows tools.
A custom compiled n2n and the n2ngui from vpnhosting.cz

The tool is very simple and straightforward to use.
Install, start and your VPN is ready.

Download the VPN Client here :
http://www.xs4all.nl/~igrabo/epc-virtual.multiplayer.lan.exe

Once installed, start the client and start your game.
Choose Multiplayer - LAN, and start hosting/playing.

For more info & support visit : http://www.epcgaming.com/smf/index.php/topic,13681.0.html