Problem in SMB networking

[checkout101]

Hi guys, I've been reading a lot of tutorials on how to set up PS2 to PC for SMB gaming here. Here's more info:

PC(XP, SP2), Laptop(Vista) and PS2(Slim) connected to a router
All have static DHCP on router (IP connect automatically)

PC: 192.168.1.102
Laptop: 192.168.1.103
PS2: 192.168.1.110
Router: 192.168.1.2

I have also properly set up subnets, port-forwarding and gateways. I've put ISOs on PS2SMB/DVD for both PC and laptop and set the permissions to everyone and enabled guest accounts. Now, I can ping PC and laptop and vice-versa; I can also access the folders, so I guess there's no problem with access restrictions there.

But when I try to connect to either using OPL, I always end up at 2. Also, I can't ping the PS2 from both machines--at all times.

One test surprised me though. I tried my ARMAX CD to connect to the internet and update the codelist and it connected. While updating, I also pinged my PS2 successfully from both machines.

Need help here. Thanks.

[checkout101]

EDIT: It's fine now when connecting to SMS. But it still freezes at 2 on OPL. I've tried different ports and monitored the router's log but they were not blocked at all.

Thanks.

[dlanor]

EDIT: It's fine now when connecting to SMS. But it still freezes at 2 on OPL. I've tried different ports and monitored the router's log but they were not blocked at all.

What OPL version are you using ?

Please be aware that the support of normal ISO files only exists in the beta revisions, but not in the public releases of v0.7 or earlier. So if you run OPL v0.7 with only normal ISO files in the fileshare, then it will never find any games there.

For OPL v0.7 you will need to install games into the fileshare folder using the tool "USBUtil" or similar ("USBUtil" is the best one available). This will create game installation files (not ISOs) of the same form as used with the old USBAdvance application, from which early OPL versions inherited this standard.

Best regards: dlanor

[checkout101]

Thank you for the reply. I use both 0.6 and 0.7. I have both ISOs and the USBUtil files that you mentioned, but the installer I used is the ul_install.exe.

In 0.6, if I don't ping it while it searches for games, it gets stuck at 1 with no ping response. If I ping it continuously, it lists the game but ping only responds at 2 onwards. Game is also stuck in yellow screen if I play it. Ping response is also gone as soon is I pick a game.

In 0.7, it jumps straight from 5 to 2 with no ping response. I hooked it up with wireshark and saw that there was no communication between the PS2 and PC at all.

Thanks in advance.

[dlanor]

Thank you for the reply. I use both 0.6 and 0.7. I have both ISOs and the USBUtil files that you mentioned, but the installer I used is the ul_install.exe.

Well, that works though it is extremely limited, and only capable of installing to the root of a drive, which is not where you need the stuff to be for networked access. But I assume you realized this and copied the entire set of files into the fileshare folder (not just the game files but also "ul.cfg" which defines their existence).

In 0.6,

I won't comment on that version except to say that you should stop wasting time on obsolete versions. That one is long replaced and will never be worked on again. How it behaves or misbehaves is of no interest anymore.

In 0.7, it jumps straight from 5 to 2 with no ping response. I hooked it up with wireshark and saw that there was no communication between the PS2 and PC at all.

I think the initial 'steps' are for internal initialization of the interface, which is why no communication is required for them.

The failure thereafter is likely due to some misconfiguration, though we can't evaluate that since we don't have any details on it. Please post attachments with your IPCONFIG.DAT as well as your usbld.cfg file (normally both are stored in "mc0:/SYS-CONF/"), and also state your full IP configuration on the PC. Not just the 'IP Address:' value, but also the values of "Subnet Mask:" and "Default Gateway:", so we can check that everything matches up.

After checking all of that we may also need to consider details of fileshare permissions etc.

Best regards: dlanor

[checkout101]

I just reinstalled my ISOs using USBUtil just in case things get better. Anyway, here are the files:

IPCONFIG.DAT:
192.168.1.110 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.2

usbld.cfg:
scrolling=1
menutype=1
theme=<none>
bgcolor=#0000FF
textcolor=#FFFFFF
language=0
exitmode=0
default_device=0
disable_debug=0
pc_ip=192.168.1.101
pc_port=445
net_auto=0
use_hdd=0
autostart_hdd=0
pc_share=PS2SMB
autosort=0

PC IP config:
IP 192.168.1.101
Subnet 255.255.255.0
Gateway 192.168.1.2

Guest account is also enabled. It works fine with SMS so I guess the problem IS inside the OPL. But there's just a few settings for OPL, it's so easy to set up that I'm 200% sure that I've followed every step correcty.

Thanks for the reply.

[dlanor]

I just reinstalled my ISOs using USBUtil just in case things get better. Anyway, here are the files:

----- re: PS2 IPCONFIG.DAT and usbld.cfg listings plus PC IP configs -----

These settings all looked fine to me, but don't misunderstand this, it was still very important for us to see them, to eliminate suspicions about how they might have been wrong, which could steer our deductions the wrong way.

Guest account is also enabled.

Good, but was this done before or after the fileshare was created ?
Enabling the account afterwards does not automatically add it to all share permission lists.

It works fine with SMS so I guess the problem IS inside the OPL.

Perhaps, but I still doubt it. And this reminds me that I should also have asked for your SMS.smb file from the PS2 MC (inside "mc0:/SMS/").

I'm wondering if you use the SMB access of SMS with or without account login data, which would make a big difference to the fileshare access. SMB access with the same login data as you use in logging on to the computer normally will automatically give you access to every file and folder on that computer, since you will have access permissions for everything you normally use locally on that computer.

But OPL v0.7 has no account login, so it will only have access to those fileshares that include permissions for the "Everyone" group and/or the "Guest" account in it.

That has been changed in the newer beta revisions, as proper account login was required for some of the new features (like write access to VMC files).

But there's just a few settings for OPL, it's so easy to set up that I'm 200% sure that I've followed every step correcty.

You probably have, which means that we need to look for the problem on the PC side of the connection. That is why I keep harping on the subject of share permissions, since this is something the PS2 has no control over, but which might work differently for SMS and OPL, due to possibly different SMB login methods.

Best regards: dlanor

[checkout101]

I've rechecked the permissions for the folder, it only has Everyone and the Read is also checked.

I'm wondering if you use the SMB access of SMS with or without account login data, which would make a big difference to the fileshare access.

I didn't understand this part, but I didn't put any username or password on the SMS settings, if that's what you meant.

SMS.smb:
192.168.1.101
HOMEPC
PS2

SMS only searches for the IP and computer name right? I guess if only OPL didn't require the port and shared folder names maybe file access would be easier.

Do you know the reason why OPL jumps to a certain number and freezes there? I've read a lot of cases regarding that. Also, I don't get why 0.6 goes further than 0.7. At least 0.6 can list the games without freezing, whereas 0.7 is supposed to improve over 0.6.

Thanks.

[dlanor]

I've rechecked the permissions for the folder, it only has Everyone and the Read is also checked.

That does sound correct, though I'm surprised you don't also have permissions for your normal account name. You do use passworded login on your PC, don't you ?

I didn't understand this part, but I didn't put any username or password on the SMS settings, if that's what you meant.

That is what I meant. Without those entries you should get anonymous access, just as with OPL v0.7.

SMS only searches for the IP and computer name right?

Just the IP. The name is just to have something to show in the selection list when you have more than one computer defined in SMS.smb.

I have three PCs in my LAN, so in the config submenu "SMB server..." of SMS I need to see a difference between the three entries so I can choose which one I want to use for the moment. I use all three in SMS, with the choice depending on which media files I want to play. But the strings entered in SMS.smb are arbitrary. They do not need to match what you named those PCs for real in configuring Windows.

I guess if only OPL didn't require the port and shared folder names maybe file access would be easier.

Then it would be impossible to access anything on the computer, as such an OPL version would be unable to tell the server what fileshare to use. And the port number is necessary as different standards exist.

Do you know the reason why OPL jumps to a certain number and freezes there?

The 'jump' is simply because the basic internal network init tasks can be performed very quickly. Those numbers were really meaningful only when those internal init code sections were debugged.

As for the 'freeze' I have no clue, at least not for the XP computer, since I use XP too and it works fine for me.

But Vista is a whole other issue. With that OS all bets are off, and I have no advice on it.
(I don't use it, and never will.)

Also, I don't get why 0.6 goes further than 0.7.

The numbers don't mean the same thing there, as the coundown calls are inserted where the developers think it may help in debugging, and that varies for different versions. But since you do get a list with v0.6 we can assume that one of the modifications of v0.7 messes things up for you, though we still don't know why.

It certainly doesn't happen to everyone else, so it must be something specific to your setup, either on PS2 or on PC.

At least 0.6 can list the games without freezing, whereas 0.7 is supposed to improve over 0.6.

And a vast improvement it is, when it works right, and we still don't know why it doesn't work right for you, though it does for most others.

I'm afraid I'm all out of ideas now, so I have no new advice to give this time.
Unless someone else can step in we'll just have to ponder this until we can think of some new idea to try.

Best regards: dlanor

[checkout101]

Well that's kinda sad to hear. I'm really interested in trying out this setup as I'm having a hard time with my PS2 lens. I'll just mess around with stuff then. Or wait for 0.8.

Thanks for the help though!