Invalid STEAM UserID Ticket problem

[teknogrebo]

Hi,

I'm really sorry if this has been asked about before, but I've looked all over and can't find the solution to this problem.

I'm trying to set up a dedicated server (on WinXP) for CS: Source over a LAN for our office lunchtime sessions, and we're having no luck connecting. Everyone that is playing has their own Steam account etc, we've all set up different ports in userconfig.cfg (or whichever file it is), but when anyone tries to connect the console logs these messages, and no-one can connect!

L 01/21/2005 - 12:53:07: "Dioscuri<18><STEAM_ID_LAN><>" connected, address "159.153.114.250:27008"
L 01/21/2005 - 12:53:08: "Dioscuri<18><STEAM_ID_LAN><>" disconnected (reason "Invalid STEAM UserID Ticket
")
Dropped Dioscuri from server
Reason: Invalid STEAM UserID Ticket

L 01/21/2005 - 12:55:33: "robbie<19><STEAM_ID_LAN><>" connected, address "159.153.114.194:27005"
L 01/21/2005 - 12:55:33: "robbie<19><STEAM_ID_LAN><>" disconnected (reason "Invalid STEAM UserID Ticket

If anyone can help I would be very grateful.

TIA,

Tom

[teknogrebo]

Okay, quick update, I found the answer on the official FAQ (Duh!!). Basically at work we're behind a NAT. Whatever that is! This basically means it seems that we're screwed. Without wanting to sound to abusive, I'm surprised that Valve can't write networking code that works properly behind a NAT like every other company out there that has a LAN component to their games. I've never had any problems running LAN games before, and that includes the original CS.

[wicked71]

You have to select the game from the LAN tab, not the Internet tab. I had this same problem and selecting the game from the LAN tab resolved it.

[teknogrebo]

I have the server set up to be LAN only, and people were selecting from the LAN tab. Unfortunately our sysadmin says that we can't have the server broadcast as an internet game either due to the NAT. (I've tried - it didn't work). So it seems we are pretty much stuffed! The weird thing is that we have had partial success with people hosting games through their clients. I say partial as it seems to depend on the weather as to whether people can connect or not.

[cryotek]

Firstly NAT = Network Address Translation, also known as a VLAN(virtual lan) it tries to extend net addresses. Basically in saying, you whole network is behind a router, and using a class C ip address that only you can see. i.e: you have intenal ips like 192.168.0.1. You need to make sure all your ports are forwarded to the box running the source server.

Quote:Steam ports
UDP 1200 (used for friends service)
UDP 27000 to 27015 inclusive
TCP 27030 to 27039 inclusive
Computers running Dedicated Servers need these ports open
UDP: 27015 and 27020 (default HLDS, SRCDS and HLTV port)
TCP: 27015 (SRCDS Rcon port)

I would check your routers control panel to make sure those ports are being forwarded.

[teknogrebo]

Hi,

Thanks for the extra info. I did ask the sysadmin here about opening those ports, but he said it wasn't possible. Whether he meant that he didn't want to do it (for whatever reason), or that it was actually impossible, I don't know. Whatever the reason though, I am at his mercy on the matter. Is there no other way around it? I mean, if we're playing a LAN game, then surely all the network traffic is kept internal? None of the CS players in the office have any trouble playing internet games, or authenticating with steam, so surely there should be no problems playing a LAN game, after all, we can play any other games on the LAN!

[wicked71]

You do not need to open any ports to play the game on the LAN. Make sure you set sv_lan 0 to sv_lan 1

sv_lan 1 is for setting the server up as a LAN server only.

[teknogrebo]

Sorry, but sv_lan is set to 1. :/ It's definately a steam/NAT incombatability thing.

[teknogrebo]

I'm not sure on the rules about answering your own posts, but I've fixed the problem, and I thought the solution was worth sharing:

I discovered that the machine I was running the server on was on a different range of IP numbers to everyone that was trying to connect i.e. they were on 159.xxx.xxx.xxx and the server was on 158.xxx.xxx.xxx. Changing the servers IP so that it was on 159.xxx.xxx.xxx meant that everyone could join just fine!

Simple, but effective. Thanks to everyone that tried to help

[Mitch-LM]

http://steampowered.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/steampowered.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=120

How can I have multiple clients playing games behind a router at the same time?
Question
How can I have multiple clients playing games behind a router at the same time?
Answer
You need to change one or the other of your clients so they have different clientport numbers.


How to run Multiple Clients Behind a Router

If you want to run multiple HL Clients behind a router, you need a few things:

1. Each machine must have a unique Steam account with different CDKeys.

2. Each machine must have a different clientport setting.

3. Each machine must have a unique MAC address (usually don't need to worry about this).

4. Make sure your router has the latest working firmware installed. NOTE: the latest Linksys router firmware has problems, the last known good version is 1.45.7, please refer to this FAQ for more information.

5. If your router has a firewall you need to allow the following ports:

UDP 1200
UDP 27000 to 27015 inclusive
TCP 27030 to 27039 inclusive

The official Steam port FAQ link is here:

Some firewalls only block incoming ports but many newer firewalls also block outgoing ports.

For help on port forwarding for your Router, please consult this excellent website: http://www.portforward.com.

The default clientport is 27005 and you can only have one game with that port active on the same lan.

What you need to do is go to your launch properties (do this for each computer):

steam > games > rightclick your MOD > properties > launch options

then for each one, add:
+clientport 270xx

where xx is: 05, or 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 ... etc.

(each computer must have a different clientport).

then click OK and you should be good to go.

NOTE: This solution only works if you launch the game through the "Play Games" Menu!

If there are already options in there, be sure to leave a space between the last one and the "+".

If you wish to make a more general solution for your game where this will work if you have a desktop shortcut, you will need to add this switch to your userconfig.cfg file in the game directory (create a file with notepad if you don't have one there):

clientport 270xx
where xx is: 05, or 06, 07, 08, 09 or 10

If you use this switch in the cfg file then you don't put the "+" in front.

[Olleper]

@Mitch-LM
Nice walktrough but isn't that the case if you want to play online on Internet,, this shouldn't affect if you play in a LAN rather than only if you have multiple clients on a LAN wanting to play on Internet against same Server.?

[teknogrebo]

We tried all the clientport business before and it still didn't help when the server was on a different ip range to the clients. We now all have different clientports as a result of the testing, but it didn't help.

[Mitch-LM]

have you tried deleting the clientregistry.blobs on all the clients valve/steam folders?

[teknogrebo]

Yup. That to.

[Mitch-LM]

our problem is back and forth all the time. today we didnt get one and it was cs all day.

so, i have no idea.