Multiplayer without Master Server, NAT errors

Unity Engine
1

I’ve managed to get the unity networking examples to work when I use a master server that I’m running on my machine. I’ve also managed to get it working, but ONLY locally when using just the connect GUI and no master server.

At the current point with my game, I would like to not have to use a master server for players to connect, but for players to just send their ip/port or GUID to someone else they know to connect. However when my friends and I have tried this with the network example it doesn’t work.

It’s strange because when my friends enter my GUID and try to connect, my unity will actually get an error message to pop up like “Receiving NAT punchthrough attempt from target 9007247006427852 failed” but then it won’t let them connect. It’s really confusing and I have no idea how to fix it. I’ve seen a couple other people write about it but have been very unclear on their solutions.

Anybody figure this out? How can I make these multiplayer connections work without a master server?

2

You need a device that provides the nat punchtrough, it will never work without it if your behind a router with a private ip address.

3

So that would mean I need a facilitator hosted somewhere at the very least for a connection across the internet?

I can’t seem to find a detailed guide on how to set up your own facilitator on a host.

edit: are the dimerocker servers syill going or any other one?

4

If your server instance is running on a private ip address you will need some way to be able to reach it.
If the server instance is running on a public ip, you won’t need nat.

5

Ok now even with the public master server and facilitator back up and running, I’m still getting no connection with anyone outside of my network. I’m getting the same NAT error actually. Is there something I’m missing?

6

firewall does not allow it to operate or your router is not nat punchable. or ut just didn’t enable the nat facilitator to prevent people from using it productively, only for testing and in testing you can setup portforwardings in your router to make it work.

optimally you set it up on a host yourself so you are fine in any case. detailed instructions aren’t needed, you drop it on the server and run it, thats it.
all thats needed is on the master server download page actually.

7

I’d rather not buy my own server before knowing that any of the stuff even works. It says in the log that i’ve connected to the facilitator and the master server fine which is why it’s the most confusing.

What server service would you suggest for these? and does anyone have something set up that i can test it on for like a day?

8

Move towards a middleware solution so you don’t need the facilitator anymore. Either case you will need a server.