MECH2.ORG IPX server appears to be down

[morrow]

Greetings,

the Mech2.org hosted IPX server relay appears to be down.
IPX server relay has been offline since 9-29-2014, when the mech2.org website went offline for a few hours

screenshot of IPXNEXT CONNECT failure attached.
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Z:\>IPXNET CONNECT mech2.org 10001
IPX Tunneling utility for DosBox

IPX Tunneling Client failed to connect to server at mech2.org.
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[Pepsi-Wolf]

Yeah I think MMPD is aware of the issue. I think he would just need to reset the server or something

[morrow]

Cool.
I wonder how MMPD setup the IPX relay in the first place.
Right now I'm thinking dosbox running an IPX server session? Or possibly something to do with DNS records and CNAMEs.

[IronChefBoyardee]

I chose a perfect time to start trying to play NetMech with relatives

I don't suppose there is any decent way of playing Netmech over LAN, is there?

[morrow]

I chose a perfect time to start trying to play NetMech with relatives

I don't suppose there is any decent way of playing Netmech over LAN, is there?

i thought of a way, but it requires using a VPN network setup like hamachi & running a standalone DOSBOx instance to host a IPX server
luckily, only one side has to run the DOSBOx IPX server, so the main issue is agreeing on a VPN network, getting the software installed, and connecting to it.

1)connect to hamachi network/or anotherVPN network
2)write down what IP address your computer is using on the VPN network
2)start a standalone Dosbox instance
3)configure Dosbox to create IPX server using the VPN IP address.
4)modify the dosbox .conf file that netmech is using to redirect the IPXCONNECT to that VPN IP address
5)start netmech
6)see if netmech is able to connect to the standalone DOSBOx IPX server
7)???
8)profit


i have a hamachivpn mesh network that i dedicated to retrogaming.
let me know if you want the connection details.

[IronChefBoyardee]

Thanks! That's an undertaking I haven't the resources to try this week, but when I get the chance, I'll try it and post the results.

[morrow]

Thanks! That's an undertaking I haven't the resources to try this week, but when I get the chance, I'll try it and post the results.

let me know how your testing goes.
i reccomended hamachi for a few reasons. it's pretty unobtrusive once installed, it doesn't have a monthly fee, and it has a decent amount of network management options if you're into stuff like that.
again, if you don't feel like dealing with creating a hamachi network or get confused by what hamachi is asking you, PM me and i'll try to help you out or give you temporary access to my retrogaming hamachi vpn network

[IronChefBoyardee]

Turns out getting a LAN party started was as easy as starting an emulated IPX server from within DOSBox, no VPN required. Was able to play on the computer acting as the server, and multiple clients were able to connect easily. Lots of fun was had.

[Sir MMPD Radick]

Apologies guys. We had alot of issues with the server as of late.
It is back working.

[IronChefBoyardee]

...and there was much rejoicing!

P.S. Now that I will possibly be playing with more than just close friends and family, what's the policy on legging? It is generally considered bad form, or is it fair game?