ZoneAlarm blocking port 6260?

[kipley]

I am unable to host Mule games.  I don't think it's the router/port forwarding issue, as I don't use a router.  I believe my firewall, ZoneAlarm, is preventing the connection on port 6260.  (The odd thing is, I can run my own custom Java programs that use socket communication over arbitrary ports, and they can make it through ZoneAlarm both as client and server with no problems.)

Within ZoneAlarm, I've given Access (including Server Access) in both the Trusted and Internet zones to mule.exe, and all versions of Java.  Still no luck hosting.

While I've read that the paid version of ZoneAlarm does have the ability to program exceptions for specific ports to let traffic through them without interference, the free version of ZoneAlarm that I'm using does NOT have that option.

Questions:

1.)  Has anyone else managed to host Mule games while running the free version of ZoneAlarm?  If so, how did you configure it?

2.)  Does anyone know of an alternative, free firewall program that allows the hosting of Mule games?  I'm using Windows XP.

Thanks!

[Mega Byte]

I suggest first, turn off ZoneAlarm and see if it works.  If it doesn't then ZoneAlarm isn't your problem.  (Or, at least not all of the problem).  Rather than "guess" about it being ZoneAlarm, turn it off first, and give that a test.  Otherwise, you haven't proved that it IS a ZA issue, and if it's not, all the tweaking on ZA will never solve your problem.
-S

[Intergalactic Mole]

Just disable Zonealarm and use the firewall that is built in to Windows XP while you play MULE.  It will allow you to configure the ports you need.

[kipley]

I suggest first, turn off ZoneAlarm and see if it works.

Good suggestion.  I did just that:  Created a game, had people try to join (unsuccessfully).  Then I turned off ZoneAlarm and had them try again, and they were then able to.  And then I immediately shut down the (unstarted) game and my computer, as I didn't want to be running without a firewall!

So the test confirms my suspicions, that the free version of ZoneAlarm for Windows XP does indeed prevent you from hosting Mule games.  If anyone has a workaround the enables one to host Mule games through the free version of ZoneAlarm, I'd love to hear about it.

I suppose I could just use the Windows Firewall instead of ZoneAlarm.  But I'm of the impression (justified or not) that ZoneAlarm is "better".

[Mega Byte]

What do you fear someone will "discover" on your PC?  Not like they are going to take your bandwidth, and if you're not running a web site from home, you really have very little to fear.  Especially if you have a hardware router in front of you, with DHCP, and changing your public IP to a private IP.  ZoneAlarm is an abomination.  Windows Firewall is fine.
Spend $65 and get a hardware router if you don't have one, and then all these problems are resolved.
-S

[Cyclone]

i can host through zone alarm fine.  i need to run zone alarm on medium settings to correctly use all my online programs, if your security settings are on 'high' chances are zone alarm isn't letting your computer send or receive resources correctly, so try putting it on medium first, before disabling zone alarm.

[kipley]

so try putting it on medium first, before disabling zone alarm.

Cyclone,

You were right... setting ZoneAlarm to "medium" did the trick.  I successfully hosted my first game.  Thanks for your assistance!

[Govt Mule]

If I remember right, I believe there is also a 'game mode' for Zone Alarm.   Not entirely sure what it does though (whether it's less secure or more secure than 'medium' mode)

[Mega Byte]

Might I point out that doing any one of those things to ZoneAlarm fundamentally negates the reason you are using it to start with...
I stand by my previous statement.  Spend $80 and get a real hardware router.
-S

[kipley]

While buying a router may be the best way to host MULE games and still maintain security, I'm not interested in spending money for a router and incorporating it into my system, just to host games.  Working through ZoneAlarm seems to be a cheaper, easier solution for me.  While it may be less secure than a router, I fairly regularly revert my system to a previously saved ghost image anyways, so I don't require "perfect" security.  Just "reasonable" security.

[piete]

Yesterday I had a chance to play with my multi-boot "hobby" laptop. Had been playing only with "family laptop's" Vista where everything had worked out of the box. Went to my workplace, tried over there on XP - couldn't host. Opened the port 6260 on Windows firewall - no change, so gathered it was the company firewall. Then tested Debian Lenny - installed java, downloaded the game and everything worked perfectly except hosting (I have a "legacy" ATI video card with proprietary drivers, old enough to support my card but still good enough to support Planetmule).

This morning tried both at home, hosting worked. Also tried on Windows 2000 - everything worked there, too. W2K doesn't have a firewall yet, so I will try that Zonealarm and see if it blocks hosting.

So anyway, from my experience the hosting problem seems to be hardware problem, I have a humble Motorola cable modem with default settings, Windows firewall on XP and Vista, no virus problems (if I have some other problems am not aware of those...). Security is greatly dependent on one's browsing behaviour, you don't need hardware firewalls to change that...

[Pif]

I tried all i could but I can't host any game.
Sorry, but I play so many Online-Games and I don't think it's my hardware problem.
It's so bad, I love MULE but I can't play it.
I think there would be much more players without this prob.
So sad..........