people cant join my server, help please?

[Ori Child]

Basically, i made a server [L]sandbox (it wasnt dedicated) i can use all the commands do all the admin stuff, but when ever someone trys to join my server they just get told they couldnt connect after 4 retrys, any ideas on why and how to make it so they can join?

[MrPresident]

Forward your ports?

[Ori Child]

im kinda new to this whole thing... what does that mean?

[MrPresident]

You'll have to look that up on your own. We are not tech support.

However, I'll get you started...
When you run a server, people have to connect to whatever port your server is running on. If you are running behind a firewall.. or on a router.. you have to configure them to allow incomming connections on that port to be sucessfully connected through to YOUR computer. Google it.

[Ori Child]

27011  ... assumeing i understood the wikipedia page.
ive never had this problem before and i can run counterstrike servers fine with no problem

[WildWill]

The default port is going to be 27015 unless you change it.

[JamminR]

Yet one more thing I've not seen mentioned here yet... make sure they aren't trying to join your server from your "Friends" profile. Friends, for some dumb reason, doesn't properly show your external game ip when running a listen server. Have them find you in the servers list. If you aren't there, then your router and/or firewall is blocking your 'ad' to the server list.

[MrPresident]

good point Jam, I've noticed this. It'll show your local area IP like 192.168.1.193 or whatever.. which obviously.. wont work.

[WildWill]

good point Jam, I've noticed this. It'll show your local area IP like 192.168.1.193 or whatever.. which obviously.. wont work.

Unless I sneak into the house and plug into your router. 

[MrPresident]

...

[JamminR]

One more thing I discovered this evening.
After playing several single player sessions while troubleshooting a script I'm working on, I tried to load a listen server.
It continued to come up single player.
Odd.
I restarted Gmod and loaded up a listen server fine after that.

Probably not your issue, but, an oddity just the same.

[Ori Child]

well i now a new fresh download of gmod, and the port is 27015. but, even with a new install, the right port, still no one can connect, (this is with no extra downloaded content been put on it, its just the very basic gmod) so, with everything back to how it is when you first download it (when there was no problems) any ideas why it wont work now?

[MrPresident]

Did you follow the steps we already gave?

1. Make sure you set up your home router to forward 27015 to your computer.
2. Make sure your friends trying to connect connect to your actual IP. (http://www.whatismyip.com) go there to get your internet IP
3. Make sure you are running a LAN server. Go into console and try to spawn a bot by typing "bot" (without the quotes) into your console.. if it tells you it failed to make a bot.. you are in single player. =) If it tells you sv_cheats has to be on.. then you are in a multiplayer mode.


If you are 1000% sure all 3 of the steps are complete... then I don't know why.. but I'd almost bet anything that your problem is user error. (not to be taken offensively)

[Ori Child]

well, my server ip matches my ip from the whats my ip website
and i get the sv_cheats needs to be on for the bot...
but i honestly have no idea how to forward ports from my router to my computer
oh and the person can join on lan aswell..
and, i know your not tech support but do you think you could point me in the right direction (roughly) please?

[WildWill]

For the port forwarding go here http://www.portforward.com/