Hi Ashley,
I have some suggestions for you (in fact all of RAS for that matter).
These suggestion transcend F12001 and actually apply to all Online ***.
The short of it:
Goto: Start Menu>Settings>Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs
Then remove that forsaken crippleware called Zone Alarm immediately, and all
remnants thereof.
I'm serious here...
Then follow the same procedure above and apply it to that *yet another*
forsaken program called Sygate. Be careful here... she (Sygate) doesn't like
to be uninstalled... so give her an*** (close the program and the program
engine before uninstalling)...
I'm being serious again....
Ok... now mosey on over to: http://www.racesimcentral.net/
First order of business is to pick yourself up the 100% Free Firewall
Software (this is a fully functional version BTW... no hidden "Pay me for
more *needed* features). We'll use this to replace Zone Alarm. At first
glance it will operate (user interface and wizard wise) like Zone Alarm. In
fact (much to my dismay over the whole concept of these types of firewalls)
it operates in pretty much the exact same way. However, the BIG difference
is that you can:
1) Just disable it... and *actually* have it disable as you expect it to
(unlike the rings of fire you need to go through to make sure ZA is properly
disabled).
2) Map Ports without having to associate a particular program to those ports
(just have to leave it as "Any Program" in the port mappings). This comes
without having to "buy" the full version... the free version IS the full
version. Not to mention that you can also preset the UDP/TCP packet types,
etc.
It will still popup (like ZA) if you haven't mapped them... and unlike ZA...
that popup will still be there if you happened to miss it if it occurred
while in the game itself and out of sight. It'll be waiting there for you
when you exit.
Now... you have a *fully Functional ZA hybrid* protecting you... rest easy
:)
Ok... so lets get that Gamebox online for yas...
At Tiny software... grab "Winroute Lite". You can grab the Pro Version, but
the Lite Version has all the features you'll need for the online ***
application, and any other basic port mapping schemes. The Lite is just half
the price (should you not know where to get a serial number for it that is).
Install Winroute, and marvel at the performance increases, instantly
reflected port mapping changes (without having to reset the proxy
machine)... enjoy infinitely more stability and reliability, and have the
whole process be done in a nice and neat interface that makes sense. I use
it on my home LAN personally, and never have had ANY problems getting it to
do what I want it to do in less than a minute of quick-config.
Then head on over to: http://www.racesimcentral.net/
follow the screen-shot instructions for Winroute port mappings.
You should be up and running in minutes mate :)
Come to think of it... I should prolly cram some late-night time to do a
proxy/firewall config paper and post it. Once you get the basic principles
of how they work, and how they are structured... you can grab practically
any firewall/proxy package and make it work with little or no knowledge of
the software itself. Guess we'll have to see what the time brings...
Give that a whack, and give me a holler on Relay if you have trubs.
Oh... BTW... give me a ring when you are in Vancouver. Maybe go for a Wobbly
Pop when you arrive. Might even be enough incentive for Don to come out for
a drink with me after the Indy party 2 races past ;)
Cheers,
Schumi
