How to host non-dedicated/personal Arma 3 Server

[Renz]

Here's my progress so far. 

This only applies to Windows 7
To host a server in Arma 3, you must port forward Arma 3's ports AND Steam's ports. I've found this to be very complicated, so prepare to put in some effort. Every router has a different website to configure ports, so instructions will differ. However, there is a website which will gives you instructions for your specific router.
I've followed the following video:



Here's what I did:
1) Click here: portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/routerindex.htm
Click on your router manufacturer from the list

2) Afterwards, find your router model, and click the most similar one. 
You can find your model somewhere on your physical router. 

Mine was "Super Hub 2ac", but the website only listed "Super Hub 2". I clicked on that, since they were similar anyway. 

3) Click "Arma 3" next

4) The following page will have instructions to port forward your specific router. Follow it carefully. 
For me, I had to make my IP address static using "PF Setup Static IP".
I then port forwarded 2302-2305 from my router website interface. 
Your method could be different depending on your router.

Testing
To test successful forwarding, download PFconfig: portforward.com/help/portcheck.htm
When you open it, select trial -> OK -> Port Checker
In Port Check, input 2302 in "Port Number to Check",
and select "UDP" as protocol.
Click "Check Me".

If successful, it should say port is open.
Copy down the external IP address. This address is given to players if they want to remote join through Arma 3 steam browser.

If unsuccessful, here's some possible solutions:
- Double check your router model, you may have selected the wrong model
- Restore firewall defaults (Through Control Panel -> System and Security -> Windows Firewall -> Restore Defaults -> Restore Defaults again)
- Port forward these extra ports: 3478
, 4379, 4380
and 27000 TO 27050. These are steam ports.
Don't forward these ports if your instructions already told you to.
- Disable firewall (risky, remember to turn it back on after playing)

And that's all I've got so far. When I hosted in Arma 3 people could see my server, but they couldn't join. 
People could join after I restored my firewall to defaults 

I believe this method will work for other people. 

[sasha]

I saw Renz's comp in steam browser, i joined, we played, and some other guy named Manu joined in progress!

Some other guy saw the Renz comp and decided to join and he indeed joined our game - just incredible!

[sasha]

If you have passed all steps to open prots 2302 and 2303 (these two are enough - 2302 is mission port and 2303 is steam port) but ports are still closed it means your internet provider blocked them (you have internet connection through NAT). It was my case. So i asked my provider to give me my own direct ip adress and by this way my ports are now open (thought I will have to pay 60 cents more each month for internet).

I tried to make rules in firewall for 2302 and 2303 to avoid opening whole firewall during hosting, but for some reason ports were closed anyway and i had to disable firewall completely to open ports.

I then started my multiplayer mission but my lobby was blank, so i went to editor and saved my multiplayer missions again as user mission and as multiplayer mission. So after this my lobby was filled with all the needed beauty, slots visible etc. I started Frontline as nooby "Sasha on home" server name and in about 30 minutes I had 10 ppl playing with me including Mo - we could talk and recruit - which we did not do because we were busy checking scripts etc. 10 ppl on Monday morning!!! Could you imagine it just two days ago? No. But now everything is possible. I was changing missions and ppl were staying on my comp just like we used to see when hosting in OA Demo.

PS (for Renz) Frontline vehicle scripts need human detection spawn radius decreased, base protection radius should be increased. And we need more missions including fun ones

PPS Today we had couple of hackers and scripters joining just like in old OA Demo times - so think about some detection or punishment scripts

[KSK]

Holy moly! So it's true that there's always hope...and in the end (some) dreams come true
Have to get through it slowly and check the risks...I'll only host like in old days if it's without risks...

[Renz]

I've tested an scanned the programs I downloaded, so I think their harmless.
I trust Arma 3 and Steam with my ports as well.

As a laptop user however, I'll have to change my static IP back to dynamic whenever I take it outside the house.

[sasha]

when you host with firewall disabled and hacker joins - can he get into your comp?

[MO]

Jul 7, 2015 6:35:10 GMT sasha said:

when you host with firewall disabled and hacker joins - can he get into your comp?

nope.they can't.a real hacker, yes but a real hacker won't waste his time to hack our computers

[KSK]

For me the main problem is the forwarding/opening of ports...an open port is an open port. There are no harmless ports and harmful...good or bad ports. It's an open door without real control. The locking of ports is the real "firewall" you have - the external/hardware firewall. In case you have a bad program or a hacker which/who passed the port it's already on your computer and the only thingy that can stop it there is a anti virus program. The Software firewall can do shit then, because they "fight" on the same level as the virus or hacker, so it depends on how good the attack is covered so that the firewall even recognizes the attack and another point is, which of them, the firewall or the bad program/the hacker, is better/stronger. If it would be just my PC it would be okay, since I have no important data on it, but the whole family network of the house is connected to it, which includes important data as well as access to bank transfer and all that stuff...
I don't want to be paranoid, but the hackers don't need to play ArmA to hack - then it would be true that you don't need to fear those noobs. But they just scan if you've open ports and if so, they hop in.

So when I find a way to open the ports just for the traffic of steam and Arma III, so add rules to the external firewall or at least for the internal firewall that would minimize the risk a lot...

[sasha]

When I host about 80% of new players join from Russia - due to ping distance. But they seldom talk English and reqruitment into DAMteam becomes a problem

European host will have more chances to get new memberships

Yesterday I had not managed to get more than 10 ppl playing. Its not enough and probably missions need to be with lots of weapons for choice and lots of staff to keep them interested

Btw I name my comp DAMteam when hosting

[KSK]

Yupp, should be true that central EU server will attract more and "qualified" (for our purposes) people.
Moreover we should get to the agreement to set up always the same server name when someone is hosting to make it easy for people who want to join us again on other days - as Sasha already mentioned. DAMteam looks and sounds perfectly for me, so let's stay with and take that.

[Renz]

Can you host yet KSK?

[KSK]

Can't say yet, since I'm not at home and being busy with studying.
Gonna be back home tomorrow and I gonna take a closer look on the tutorial as well as on my router and software/internal firewall settings and possibilities. But beside that: I would really like to host again like in the good old times...an see more of our people being active and together in combat and in the missions our guys designed.

[sasha]

Russian guys come under most intensive mg friendly fire while playing on my server with a couple of damteammers:

- Blyat blyat blyat blyat STOP SHOOT!!! blyat blyat blyat FUCK!!! blyat blyat blyat MJAC!!!
- Oh, sorry...

Lets try EU server to get some better coordination )))

[KSK]

No hosting from my side. Not getting the permission to forward ports.

[sasha]

Ok lessons from my hosting

1. Frontline mission doesnt attract ppl here in RU because those joining for attackers need to play coop style but they cant speak English and lose interest soon. Those who join defending team need long distance to pass by car or they crash in heli doing so, and they lose interest too

2. Noobs can devotedly play direct PvP missions with short distance from spawn, but host can't start his session with it because its not dynamic and he cant play alone or 1vs1 waiting for other guys to join.

3. Very important is to create some mission which host could use as a starter. He must be able to play it alone and it should be interesting for 2 or 3 players at first to slowly gain numbers after.

4. This could be a mission which i had in Demo - it was called smth like Assault on Sakhe and there were 3 sectors to fight for (not inmportant) and two respawnable AI squads on each side battling each other persistently (this is important). So there was BATTLE GOING ON EVEN WITHOUT ANY HUMAN PLAYERS so when they join they will have fun and later when more ppl join mission could be changed for smth smarter. The battle zones in my Demo mission could be reached by foot if needed (and defenders were even closer to it), but there were vehicles anyway for fun and in 20 min even tanks were spawned for attackers. We need such mission and tomorrow ill make one variant.

And I will be leaving on Monday to make some geology work and will be without internet (and Arma) until September. So definetely hosting will have to be done by some other guy. If Mo could make his server visible in Steam Browser - it would make a good variant, and there could be a mixed Eagles/Damteam PvP battles with addition of players from elswere who found the server in Steam. Or Renz could try to find a good internet provider if thats possible.

and

ppl cant join if not vanilla
ppl will leave if they dont see and hear communication

so

ALWAYS VANILLA ALWAYS INGAME CHAT