rec.autos.simulators

I am using NE-2000 compatible ethernet cards on four P.C.'s at my
office.  But for some unknown reason, all machines freeze(randomly)
while playing just about any network game.  This usually happens in
bursts, i.e. machine will freeze for 1 sec, then go for 1 sec, then
freeze, etc.  This will happen about 4-5 times, then things continue as
normal.  It is probably important to note that this does not happen
sychronously on the network, and that it will even happen with only two
machines running in a game.  I've seen it with DukeNukem, Descent,
MonsterTruck, Big Red, TerminalVelocity.  The only full-time software
using the LAN is Microsoft Schedule.  I am of course running Win95, and
run all of these games in a DOS window.

                  Any Help Would Be Appreciated...

You, as most people, dont realize that the IPX games Do NOT run on a
network.  

In order to play, your systems must be shut down and booted with a
different configuration.

Make a boot disk.  In the autoexec.bat put the lines:
LSL.COM
NE2000.COM
IPXODI.COM

or something VERY similar to that.  As an example, I use the Genius
GE-2000-III Ethernet cards.
 The commands I use are
LSL.COM
GE3ODI.COM
IPXODI.COM

These files are found under the NETWARE directory on the install disk for
my Enet card.  Mine are in the DOSODI directory under Netware.  In any case
look for the ODI Files.  If you use Win95's network, You are most likely
asking for problems.  For those of you out there running Win3.1 and novell
, you may most times simply do an F8 boot, respond yes to all commands
except the NET START and final network command in your autoexec.bat.  The
LSL and the rest of that ***gets run anyhow.  Just say NO  to the final
shell layer command that connects you to your server. IE NETX.COM or
NETX.EXE.

I haven't tried to run 2 players on the IPX WITH another network running
but I can say I've heard of VERY HIGH network traffic being tracked down on
systems where people play net games at work and KILLING network speed with
em.  (Doom played at AT&T)  Remember to be courteous to others on the
network trying to get real work done.

This is a classic case of Windows looking for a TCP/IP connection and it's not
there. You need to go into the network properties and either diasable all
TCP/IP connections (which you probably shouldn't if your using them
regularly). You have the setting for OBTAIN ADDRESS, you need to SPECIFY a
fake address. I use 1.1.1.1, 2.2.2.2, 3.3.3.3, 4.4.4.4 for each computer.
You'll need to reboot then and wala no more pauses anymore. To go back to your
normal netowork connections you simply click OBTAIN and then reboot. Sorta of
a hassle but worth the time no doubt.

Q.B.M.

Yes!  Don't forget the net.cfg file!

Yes!

For the Genius (http://www.racesimcentral.net/) NE2000-II board, I load

LSL.COM
GE2000.COM
IPXODI.COM

For my IBM 8235 remote LAN dial in
(http://www.racesimcentral.net/), I load

LSL.COM
DIALODI.EXE

IPXODI.COM

Some great info on setting up simple LAN's can be found at
http://www.racesimcentral.net/~nkingham/ipx.html

I am not sure that LSL.COM and IPXODI.COM are available on most lan
card "driver" diskettes.  I remember downloading them from the web
somewhere.  http://www.racesimcentral.net/~nkingham/ipx.html has some
pointers.

Don't worry, be happy!  Nascar2 only puts a light load on the network.
I've only had 4 players in ONE race on the same LAN segment, but the
load was less than 1% of the 10M ethernet.  (Even with commodity
priced ISA bus ethernet cards like Genius.)

No warping at all!  Latency is often 0.03.  Someone posted in this
news group a few days ago that they saw latency of 0.01?  This migh be
possible with high end PCI, EISA, or MCA bus cards from IBM or 3Com?  

A shared network/workgroup printer being turned off, or several other
things could cause this in a Windows environment.  The Microsoft
knowledge base has several articles about this.

Running a real-time simulation (Nascar2) in a networked office
environment using Windows'95 is asking alot.  Re-boot and use the
skinny IPX network stack described above and you will get much better
performance.

--
Best Wishes!!!
Robert Huggins
Raleigh, NC