Putting your PS3 in the DMZ

I am having some difficulty understanding NAT types on my PS3. I have NAT 2 but Modern Warfare 2 says that it is STRICT. Perhaps DMZ will help? Does anyone have any advice on this subject, does it cause any security issues on PS3 or home network?

The following information was taken from an AfterDawn forum post - http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/610541

PUTTING YOUR PS3 IN A DMZ

Firstly you may be wondering what a DMZ is, this stands for a demilitarised zone. it really means that rather than opening just one port on your routers firewall you are actually opening every single one. Port opening is another simple process, however it takes a bit of time to find exactly what ports need opening, and sometimes, the ports listed may not solve the problem you have

Putting your PS3 into a DMZ is not a bad thing, and is much easier than opening port for the reason listed above.

Now you may need to do this for some of the following reasons:

* Not being able to join rooms
* Not being able to speak over headset
* Not being able to hear over headset
* Not being able to join games which are hosted by certain people
* Any problems to do with connectivity to the PSN or game specific servers, especially if your computer will connect to the internet, but PS3 won't.
* Problems with media servers

Now on with the guide.

The Guide!

To put your PS3 into a DMZ (To be done on the PS3 Console)

Firstly, you will need to assign your PS3 a static internal Ip address. This means that everytime your PS3 connects or "talks" to your router, the router will assign it a different internal IP address. These IP addresses typically run in series. So for example, if your PS3 is the second device communicating with your router, then it will be assigned an ip address of 192.168.1.3. However, if you choose to use your PS3 without the computer being on, the assigned IP address your PS3 has will be 192.168.1.2. As this is different, and obviously will change, it would be stupid setting a DMZ up on one of the above Ip addresses, unless your PS3 was the only device that would ALWAYS connect using that specific IP.

To make sure that your PS3 is always assigned the same internal IP address by your router, you will need to go to the "Settings > Network Settings > Internet Connection Settings" option on the PS3 Cross bar menus.

You will be presented with an option which primarily asks whether you are using a Wired or Wireless connection. Obviously, you will choose the option which refers to you. If choosing the Wireless option you will need to input the security details in use on your router *If you are not currently using wireless security, i strongly reccommend you do so ASAP*

Both selections should show a page called "Address Settings". Here you will need to select "Custom". Another page will then display entitled "IP Address Setting". The option "Manual" will need to be selected.

This will display a page where customisable IP Addresses are available to be selected.

IP Address - This will need to have the Static IP address in it. Personally, i use 192.168.1.100. I use this because it is extremely unlikely my Router will ever automatically assign this IP Address to a device, as i will never have 99 other devices connected to the same system.

Subnet Mask - Is always set to 255.255.255.0

Default Router - Is the internal IP Address of your router.
To get the exact ip of your router you should go to
Start
Run
cmd [Hit Enter]
Type in ipconfig and hit enter, this should come up with all the ip addresses to do with your computer and the network. The address you will need to enter in this option is listed as "Default Gateway".

Primary DNS - Same IP Address as "Default Router"

Secondary DNS - Same IP Address as "Default Router"

After entering all of these IP Addresses, you will now click "Enter" or hit the "right" button on the D-Pad. This will take you to a screen which says "MTU" at the top. My setup has this as Automatic, solely because i haven't a clue what MTU actually means or does.This won't affect your ability to set up a DMZ.

The next steps are very simple. You do not want to use a proxy server unless you connect to the internet using one, however i can be of no help there, and you should enable UPnP if your router supports it.

To put your PS3 into a DMZ (To be done on the PC)

Now head over to your PC, and load up your internet browser. In the Address Bar, type the IP Address of your router (the one you found using the Command Prompt earlier)

This will take you to your Router Configuration Page.

Every router interface differs from an other, and depending on what router firmware update you last installed, router interfaces can differ, even on the same model routers. This means that you will need to search the router config page yourself. You are looking for any mention of "DMZ" or "DMZ Host"

When you have found this, it will ask you generally to input the IP Address of your DMZ Host, which is just the static IP address you assigned to your PS3 earlier, my example was 192.168.1.100, so we'll stick with that. Then click "apply" or similar.

You should then turn off everything running on your home network. PS3, PC, Router etc. This is solely to make sure that the changes are applied as soon as possible.

This should fix all of the problems as listed earlier in this guide, and probably some other issues.

NAT Type = Strict (MW2)

I have been trying to understand the NAT settings on my PS3 this last week or so. I have switched from NAT 3 to NAT 2, which should be good and appears to be.

I am now concerned with the fact that Modern Warfare 2 says my NAT type is STRICT, when friends have thiers as open or moderate.

Does anyone know the answer?

The following information (taken from a poster on the Playstation forums) is very useful for understanding the NAT type on the PS3.

1.) What is NAT and uPnP?

NAT is Network Address Translation. It is a technique used by routers so that many devices on your LAN (home network in this case) can share the single IP address given to your cable/dsl modem by your ISP. The IP from your ISP is called your public address (visible on the internet) and the addresses on your LAN are private addresses. Your router will hand out private IPs to the machines on your LAN (all the 192.168.x.x addresses are private). NAT routers will block all traffic from the internet to your LAN (acting as a firewall) unless you open ports specifically to allow traffic.

uPnP is Universal Plug and Play, a technique that allows devices on your LAN to dynamically open ports for games or other applications without requiring you to manually configure the router.

2.) How do I enable uPnP?

It varies a little bit depending on the router and how they present their configuration information to you. Basically, your default gateway will be the address of your router (in your case 192.168.0.1). You do not need administrative permissions on your PC to configure your router. Open your web browser to http://192.168.0.1 and you will get the configuration page of your router. The router will likely ask you for a user and password and you will need to enter them to gain access. All routers will document the default user/pw in the manual - if these don't work you'll need to get them from whomever configured the router. Once you're in then somewhere in there will be a setting for uPnP which you should set to enable.

3.) How do I get NAT 1?

The only way to get NAT type 1 is by directly connecting your PS3 to your cable/dsl modem (not what you want). NAT type 1 actually means that you are not using NAT and your PS3 has a public IP (rather than a private one).

4.) Is NAT 1 faster than NAT 3?

No, though there may be 1 or 2ms less lag because a router is not involved.


What are the NAT types on the PS3? Officailly documented here: http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/c
onnecttest.html

Type 1: Connected directly to the Internet
Type 2: Connected to the Internet via a router
Type 3: Connected to the Internet via a router. Depending on the network environment it may not be possible to connect to other PS3™ systems. Voice / video chat and the communication features of games are restricted.

What is the difference between Type 2 and 3? Type 3 means that some inbound ports to the PS3 are being blocked by the router. This will not impact web browsing or system updates. Generally online gaming will work but some features (notably voice) that require inbound connections to the PS3 will fail. If these ports are opened manually on the router or if uPnP is functioning then you will use NAT Type 2 which is the most desirable.

BTW: to the previous poster - switches do not count as hops - only routers. Further, the number of routers does not effect the NAT Type on the PS3 - only the status of ports being open or not.

If you're interested in learning more:
Wiki on NAT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_address_translation
Wiki on uPnP: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upnp

Now That's What I Call a Successful Round of Modern Warfare 2!

From Me and My PS3

This was my best round so far on Modern Warfare 2 - Most kills, best K/D ratio and longest streak!

Accolades on Modern Warfare 2 are great - they provide you with a summary of your performance other than your number of kills or deaths or what challenges you completed.

Occassionally they tell you that you spent the most time looking at the kill cam, or the most time spent crouched, most head shots etc etc They unlock the emblems and titles you can give yourself - Cloak and Dagger, Accident Prone, The Specialist etc.

Here is a list I picked up from TheModernWarfare2 website.

AFK: No kills/No deaths
Accident Prone: Most suicides
AR Specialist: Most assault rifle kills

Blindfire: Most bullet penetration kills
Bomb Blocker: Most bomb carrier kills
Bomb Expert: Most bombs planted
Boomstick: Most shotgun headshots
Buckshot: Most shotgun kills

Clutch Player: Match Winning Kill
CQB: Most SMG kills

Decimator: Killed entire enemy team without dying
Defuser: Most bombs defused
Devastation: Highest multikill
Dominator: Most points captured
Double Threat: Most kills as flag carrier

Evolver: Most classes changed
Exterminator: Most thumper kills

Flag Capturer: Most flags captured
Flag Returner: Most flags returned
Fragger: Most frag grenade kills

Genocidal: Most multikills
Grassy Knoll: Most time spent prone
Grenadier: Most grenade kills
Grudge Match: Most kills of same player

High Command: Highest average altitude
Hot Potato: Most grenades thrown back

Loaner: Most kills with enemy weapons
Lockdown: Most time spent in one place
Lock and Load: Most reloads

Marksman: Most longshots

Nomad: Longest distance travelled

Overkill: Most kills/Most headshots
Pathfinder: Most UAV's

Rescuer: Most rescues

Semtex Pro: Most semtex kills
Smoking Gun: Most pistol headshots
Sneaker: Most time spent crouched
Sniper: Most stationary kills
Sprayer: Most hipfire kills
Stunner: Most stun grenade hits
Survivalist: Most equipment kills
Switchblade: Most knife kills

Terminal: Shortest life
Top Gun: Most airstrikes

Unbreakable: Most bullets deflected
Unstoppable: Longest killstreak
Upriser: Most kills of higher rank

Vengeful: Most paybacks

Weapon Rack: Most weapon swaps

My Favorite PS3 (MW2) Trophy

Infinity Ward having a bit of fun with Trophies on Modern Warfare 2!

Picture taken and posted with My Blackberry last night to my other Blog.
Me and My Blackberry Blog - photos, links, reviews and articles

6000 More Fixes Made To MAG

Sony's MAG (Massive Action Game) has now entered it’s forth beta phase according to a post left yesterday on the Playstation Blog. The new phase has brought about 6000 more fixes.

The most noticeable changes (and coolest) include: Proximity chat, this allows players to overhear the voice communications of opposing team members as they draw closer.

The next is a thing called Shadow War Bonuses. "Depending on which Private Military Contractors (PMC's) are leading in the number of contracts owned, the entire PMC team will earn different bonuses based on gametype. Leading in Sabotage adds experience points, leading in Acquisition increases leadership aura distance, and leading in Domination decreases tactical strike cooldown time."

Other features include improvements on the following: the ranking system, character hit detection, skill tuning, level cap has been increased, and finally, abilities and experience points have been leveraged.

Expect more fixes until the beta ends on November 20^th. MAG is expected for release on January 26, 2010, for the PS3 only. Remember the date.

Source: PS3N - All The Latest European Gaming News

If Infinity Ward and Activision cannot sort out Modern Warfare 2 soon (and they will of course) MAG could see a big take up!

Modern Warfare 2: Multiplayer Maps Overview

From Me and My PS3

I have only played on line for about 90 minutes but got a good taste of the multiplayer action. The first thing you notice is that there are more vertical options in these maps, tall buildings and terrain providing some good scouting posts. Oh and they feel much bigger... They felt even bigger when the servers could only muster up 4x4 games on some occasions!

So far these are the Maps I played on Team Deathmatch on Modern Warfare 2:

Derail: This is a trainwreck in a large snowy area. The action was mainly centered around a small yard and I got a few peachy kills as the enemy team were making a run from the yard. We had them pinned down in there and I was able to get a few long shots as they were making a break for it.

Estate: A cabin set in a wodded hillside and featuring THAT greenhouse (glass house) from the trailer. I got hammered as this was my first foray! This is looks like it's going to be good map though the hillside location does make it tricky.

Favela: Takes place in the alleyways of Brazil, with lots of buildings. Close quarter battles and roof top sniping!

Highrise: This is a good medium sized map set on a Rooftop skyscraper. There are a couple of floors to explore - reminded me of a KillZone2 map - can't think which one!

Afghan: Medium sized desert map with a crashed plane in the middle and a few caves.

Karachi: Great city map. Classic street fighting action, watch the corners and keep you head up too.

Terminal: A medium sized airport terminal complete with escalators and a book shop!

Wasteland: Open map with a tunnel system in the middle and a few cabins. Got my first knife kills here!

Skidrow: Great name for a map and one that I think is going to be a favourite. You get to run in an out of appartments and alleyways. Easy to flank and be flanked though!

The following maps I have yet to play:

Quarry, Rundown, Rust, Scrapyard, Sub Base, Invasion, Underpass

Best News All Year....

From Me and My PS3

At last, the news I have been waiting for since 14th April 2009!

Modern Warfare 2 has shipped!