Question Do I have to make port trigger etc for external IP connection with com.unity.transport?

Hello everyone,

I'm creating a multiplayer game using (com.unity.transport) and Lobby services at Unity. I'm gonna describe my steps:

1.I've created a lobby.
2. I've kept host external IP using lobby options -> data object.
3. I've created a driver as host as you can see:

Code (CSharp):

1.   IEnumerator startNetworkAsHost()
2.   {
3.     HostDriver = NetworkDriver.Create();
4.     if (HostDriver.Bind(NetworkEndPoint.AnyIpv4) != 0)
5.     {
6.       Debug.LogError("Server failed to bind");
7.     }
8.     else
9.     {
10.       while (!HostDriver.Bound)
11.       {
12.         HostDriver.ScheduleUpdate().Complete();
13.         yield return null;
14.       }
15.  
16.       if (HostDriver.Listen() != 0)
17.       {
18.         Debug.LogError("Server failed to listen");
19.       }
20.       else
21.       {
22.         Debug.Log("Server connected");
23.       }
24.     }
25.   }

4. I've reached host external ip when i join the lobby.
5. I've created a client driver and connected with host's external IP.

Code (CSharp):

1.   // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   public void startNetworkAsClient()
3.   {
4.     PlayerDriver = NetworkDriver.Create();
5.     System.Net.IPAddress serverAddress = System.Net.IPAddress.Parse(endPointRemote);
6.  
7.     Unity.Collections.NativeArray<byte> nativeArrayAddress;
8.     nativeArrayAddress = new  Unity.Collections.NativeArray<byte>(serverAddress.GetAddressBytes().Length, Unity.Collections.Allocator.Temp);  
9.     nativeArrayAddress.CopyFrom(serverAddress.GetAddressBytes());
10.    
11.     NetworkEndPoint endpoint = NetworkEndPoint.LoopbackIpv4;
12.     endpoint.SetRawAddressBytes(nativeArrayAddress);
13.     endpoint.Port = portNumber;
14.     clientConnection = PlayerDriver.Connect(endpoint);
15.     Debug.Log("Connected: " + clientConnection.IsCreated);
16.   }
17.  

6. I'm trying to accept connections from server using that code block:

Code (CSharp):

1.  if(currentLobby.HostId == loggedPlayer.Id){
2.         HostDriver.ScheduleUpdate().Complete();
3.  
4.         NetworkConnection c;
5.         while ((c = HostDriver.Accept()) != default(NetworkConnection))
6.         {
7.             hostConnections.Add(c);
8.             Debug.Log("Accepted a connection");
9.         }
10. }

But it doesn't work. So, should i connect to the host not directly with external IP? Should i use port triggering or something?

 

Firstly, thanks for your reply.

No, host and client are not on the same network. I'm sorry i don't have much information about networking. I guess i have to make port forwarding.

In my case, we are making a brawler multiplayer game therefore we don't have ping tolarence. In the theory, connections should be p2p but without server. That's why, i am not using relay.

Can relay ensure my clients connect with each other without server and with low ping?

-

I'm scheduling the updates like that but i'm not sure it working:

Code (CSharp):

1.   public async void Update()
2.   {
3.     if(!currentLobby.isNotNull()) return;
4.     if(!loggedPlayer.isNotNull()) return;
5.    
6.     if(currentLobby.HostId == loggedPlayer.Id){
7.         HostDriver.ScheduleUpdate().Complete();
8.        
9.         NetworkConnection c;
10.         while ((c = HostDriver.Accept()) != default(NetworkConnection))
11.         {
12.             hostConnections.Add(c);
13.             Debug.Log("Accepted a connection");
14.         }
15.  
16.        
17.     DataStreamReader stream;
18.     for (int i = 0; i < hostConnections.Length; i++)
19.     {
20.         NetworkEvent.Type cmd;
21.         while ((cmd = HostDriver.PopEventForConnection(hostConnections[i], out stream)) != NetworkEvent.Type.Empty)
22.         {
23.  
24.             if(cmd == NetworkEvent.Type.Connect){
25.                 Debug.Log("Server connected");
26.             }
27.             else if (cmd == NetworkEvent.Type.Disconnect)
28.             {
29.                 Debug.Log("Client disconnected from server");
30.                 hostConnections[i] = default(NetworkConnection);
31.             }
32.         }
33.     }
34.     }
35.     else{
36.             PlayerDriver.ScheduleUpdate().Complete();
37.     }
38.   }
39.  

 

I'm trying to implement an upnp port forwarder for this. It will probably looks like that:

https://github.com/Codeh4ck/UPnP-Port-Forwarder

I think it's a good example to learn how it works.

I consider that it must be an upnp because my protocol will be UTP. I know i have to make bunch of configuration but what is the alternative except relay services?

And yes, i've tried also locally at the same machine and it did not work again. Maybe problem is not the ports, it about the my code. I'm sure player drivers and server driver updates themselves. I guess i need a some kind of trigger for lobby connections. After someone login the lobby, if i can trigger my server, i can update my also player drivers? I've checked out the sample project, i know relay can do that but lobby doesn't have On_Join or On_Exit events.

 

All right, i will check out NAT punch-through for port forwarding.

Yes simple example in the documentation is working. But in the simple example i'm adding server and client script as component to my game object. But in my case, i only have one script and that handles both. I expect if i start server from my local machine, other client can listen. I'm binding to 9000 port number. Should i open port as perminatly?

 

I got it. Thanks a lot for your helps!