Really annoying network problems

[dumdidum]

OK, here's my setup:

My PC is connected to my router, and so is my PS2. If I have RadHostClient open, I can copy files to PS2 HDD. I can also transfer games through HDL_dump, and what have you.

But, if I try to enable SMB/CIFS through SMS, my Playstation crashes. It just hangs. No matter what version I try, it still hangs. If I play movies through RadHostClient, it plays them just fine 15 minutes, and then disconnects. That's annoying too.

So now the only way for me is to transfer the movies to PS2 HDD before watching them, when I could watch them straight from my PC if it only would work!

Anyone have any suggestions?

[dlanor]

Originally Posted by dumdidum

OK, here's my setup:

My PC is connected to my router, and so is my PS2.

I also use a router in a similar way, except that I have two PS2 consoles and three computers in my LAN (2x WinXPpro + 1x Win2Kserver)

Either console can use SMS to play media files from either of the three computers, though I do have to change some settings in SMS to switch from one computer to the other.

If I have RadHostClient open, I can copy files to PS2 HDD. I can also transfer games through HDL_dump, and what have you.

But, if I try to enable SMB/CIFS through SMS, my Playstation crashes. It just hangs. No matter what version I try, it still hangs. If I play movies through RadHostClient, it plays them just fine 15 minutes, and then disconnects. That's annoying too.

So now the only way for me is to transfer the movies to PS2 HDD before watching them, when I could watch them straight from my PC if it only would work!

Anyone have any suggestions?

Solution #1:
Well, the most obvious suggestion is of course to terminate RadHostClient when you plan to use the samba interface of SMS. I assume you have at least checked that samba works then, and without any 15 minute time limit. (You seemed to imply that RadHostClient interferes with it.)

Solution #2:
Another solution would be to give up RadHostClient and instead use the PS2ClientLoader GUI for ps2client.exe, which is a combination I use pretty much and which does not interfere with SMS using samba to access files on the same computer. (In fact I'm doing it right now, having the PS2 play some MP3 music taken from the same computer I'm using to write this post, while also looking at the activity tray icon of PS2ClientLoader (in misled 'open' state, which doesn't harm anyone).

Solution #3:
Yet another solution would be to give up the samba interface of SMS and instead make it use the same HOST interface that you use with PS2ClientLoader.

Like I said above, I often use Solution #2 above, but I still terminate PS2ClientLoader when I intend not to use it for some longer period, as I dislike having useless network activity on my LAN. (Like RadHostClient PS2CLientLoader also scans for 'open' PS2 HOST servers by repeated 'ping' attempts.)

I hope it works out for you, one way or another.

Best regards: dlanor

[dumdidum]

Yes, of course I close RHC before trying samba, but still it crashes. PS2ClientLoader works only for 5 minutes, as RHC works for 15 minutes, so I really don't understand what the problem could be.

And here's the newest addition:

I just booted up hdld_svr-0.85, and as soon as it gives me the "Ready" text, my PS2 stops replying to ping. Nothing. I'm really starting to run out of options, and it sucks really bad :/

[psi88]

I'd suggest its some kind of flood control issue with your router, if you use a crossover lead to your PS2-PC or switch off your hardware firewall on your router do you still see this disconnect.

Perhaps you need to let the router know not to block your PS2, i've had this issue with a previous router that needed flood control disabled..

Also are you using some kind of software firewall/peerguardian setup on your PC that might need the PS2 adding to a "safe" address?

[dlanor]

Originally Posted by dumdidum

Yes, of course I close RHC before trying samba, but still it crashes. PS2ClientLoader works only for 5 minutes, as RHC works for 15 minutes, so I really don't understand what the problem could be.

I know that RHC has a much slower default 'ping' rate than PS2CL, which could account for the time factor, if we assume that the problem has something to do with firewall and/or flood control behaviour of your PC, like psi88 suggested. I agree with him that this does seem a likely cause of your problems.

And here's the newest addition:

I just booted up hdld_svr-0.85, and as soon as it gives me the "Ready" text, my PS2 stops replying to ping. Nothing. I'm really starting to run out of options, and it sucks really bad :/

That is completely crazy. By default, when you have not launched any networking software, the PS2 will NOT reply to any pings at all, since it has no built'in server for that purpose.

It is only when you start some networking software, and it has activated the network drivers, that the console becomes able to reply to 'pings', which it will then do by default, assuming the software is properly configured. (For homebrew done by SYS-CONF/IPCONFIG.DAT)

So if I have PS2CL running and as yet no network software active on the PS2, the PS2CL icon will be red, and when I then launch hdld_svr-0.8.5.elf on the PS2 the PS2CL icon will turn green, showing that hdld_svr is sending replies to the 'pings' of PS2CL.

Note that this is the opposite effect to what you got. Where launching the server stopped the pings. But it is possible that you were tricked here, by the extremely slow response of RHC (due to the slow ping rate). Launching a new application normally does interrupt the network activity, as the new application initializes its drivers. And with a slow ping rate it then takes quite some time for RHC to redetect the PS2 as active.

But that is not the main issue you need to deal with. Using hdld_svr for real is simply not an option before you have a reliable longterm connection. And the best tool for experimenting with that is probably uLE on the PS2 end, with PS2CL at the PC end (for faster response than with RHC).

Best regards: dlanor

[dumdidum]

OK, I installed a new network adapter to my PC, and connected my PS2 straight to my PC with a crossover cable, no firewalls of any sort.

Same behaviour just continued, SMS crashes instantly when I try to enable network support with samba, and with RHC it plays the movie for about 15 minutes. I also tried PS2CL, about 5 minutes and then the movie just stopped.

I'm really starting to get hopeless. If I have RHC on in my PC, I can copy movies to PS2 for 4 hours without any disconnects, but within SMS it crashes after 15 minutes. Today I tried 9 different versions of SMS, tried deleting the config from time to time - no change. I also tried 6 different cables, 3 straight and 3 crossover - no change. I also tried without HDD connected - no change. I don't have another network adapter to try. I also tried with my other PC's, just in case - no change.

Maybe the network adapter is slowly dying out, or PS2 altogether, I have absolutely no idea.

[dlanor]

Originally Posted by dumdidum

OK, I installed a new network adapter to my PC, and connected my PS2 straight to my PC with a crossover cable, no firewalls of any sort.

Same behaviour just continued, SMS crashes instantly when I try to enable network support with samba, and with RHC it plays the movie for about 15 minutes. I also tried PS2CL, about 5 minutes and then the movie just stopped.

I'm really starting to get hopeless. If I have RHC on in my PC, I can copy movies to PS2 for 4 hours without any disconnects, but within SMS it crashes after 15 minutes. Today I tried 9 different versions of SMS, tried deleting the config from time to time - no change. I also tried 6 different cables, 3 straight and 3 crossover - no change. I also tried without HDD connected - no change. I don't have another network adapter to try. I also tried with my other PC's, just in case - no change.

Maybe the network adapter is slowly dying out, or PS2 altogether, I have absolutely no idea.

I still suspect you may have some firewall active in your PC OS, as the main cause of the interrupted traffic with RHC and PS2CL.

The crashing on enabling Samba is probably another matter though, but could simply be due to erroneous configuration. Checking back on this thread I can't find any mention of the contents of your SMS.smb file (without which the samba interface can't work).

I also could not find any explicit mention of what PC OS you use. I simply assumed WinXP, since that is still the latest stable consumer OS from microsoft. (Vista does not qualify as 'stable' yet.)

Best regards: dlanor

[psi88]

I again agree with dlanor,

I've had problems before with peerguardian blocking IP's until i add them to my trusted list, perhaps you have something running on your PC that blocks traffic when it kicks in or does a network check of some kind..

And loads of connection problems to other net hardware especially when i used to use ZoneAlarm as a firewall it had all kinds of randon drop out problems.

One other issue i see time and time again is people getting connection issues cos they didnt switch off their torrents!!!

Again, I'd list what firewall you have, what other processes you are running on your PC, and what O/S you have and we can start to dig deeper into your issues..

[dumdidum]

Problem has been solved, I changed memory cards so that SMS saves settings to this brand new card, and now SMS works flawlessly. Maybe the memory card is broken, I have no idea. I'm just glad it works