How to setup DCC using mIRC and a Linksys Wireless Router.

UNABLE TO DCC
Most Common Reasons

One major problem is that the computer you are attempting to DCC or establish Identd from, is going on the internet via a wireless card. If the computer is hard wired to your LAN it will probably be able to run identd and DCC. If the computer is running solely on the wireless connection, chances are it cannot run identd, therefore cannot DCC.

Other than this .. the majority of the time, the problem is in how you have the Local Info configured. It's all about addresses when you DCC. Probably the next biggest reason is that a Firewall is blocking it. I have covered a list of those, and other possibilities that you can work through. Let's start with the obvious. We'll make sure mIRC knows your real IP Address.

1) FIND THE IP ADDRESS YOUR INTERNET PROVIDER HAS ASSIGNED TO YOU

Click HERE to go to a website where you will find the IP#, that your Internet Provider assigned to you.

Look for the numerical address (example) IP-Address: 24.164.150.219
Write this number down.

2) IS "LOCAL INFO" CORRECTLY CONFIGURED IN mIRC ?

Open up mIRC and then DISCONNECT from the server (changes should be made while disconnected). Open up mIRC Options (Alt+O) .. Click on the Connect tab, then the Local Info tab.

Local Host: Leave empty (mIRC will fill this in for you)
IP Address: Type in the Internet IP# from your notes.
On Connect Always Get .. Untick both Local Host and IP Address. Both must be Unchecked.
Lookup Method: Check Server

Click OK, and close.
Fire up mIRC and give DCC a shot. If it is still not working, perform the next test.

3) IS mIRC LISTENING FOR DCC's ?

mIRC has to *listen* for DCC’s on port 59.
Alt+O, click on the DCC tab, click on the SERVER tab. You do not have to enable a DCC Server, but make sure that where it says "Listen on Port" .. that 59 has been entered. I don't know why, but I found mine had changed.

If it doesn't say 59 .. change it to 59 and click OK before you close. Try to DCC .. if it is still not working, move on to the next possibility.

4) IS WINDOWS FIREWALL BLOCKING YOU ?

DCC or Identd may be blocked by Windows Firewall

Let's check to see. Go to START, then Control Panel, and open the Windows Firewall icon.

If it is ON, turn it OFF .. Click OK.

Now try to DCC. If it works, you know that Windows Firewall was blocking you.

If you do not have a Personal Firewall, then you will want to go back and turn Windows Firewall back on. You are going to have to configure Windows Firewall so that it will allow DCC to pass through it. Here is an excellent source which explains how to do this.
http://www.mishscript.de/ircguide/appb1.html

5) IS YOUR SOFTWARE FIREWALL BLOCKING DCC ?

Your Software Firewall could be blocking you

Probably the most popular Software Firewalls are Zone Alarm, Norton Internet Security and McAfee Internet Security Suite.

If you are running a Software Firewall, test to see if it is blocking you. It’s never a good idea to turn off your Firewall, but it’s the only way I know how to test for this problem. You may want to disable or turn off your Firewall and then try to DCC. If it works, you know that it was your Software Firewall that was blocking it.

Turn your Firewall back on. If you are using a different Router you will need to read the instructions that came with your Router, or read the FAQ their Website, or call Tech Support of the Manufacturer.

Tell them you need to give mIRC permission to set Identd (port 113), and DCC (which means *act* as a server).

6) ARE YOU USING A HARDWARE FIREWALL ?

The Hardware Firewall on your Router may be blocking DCC

To test it:

     a) Turn off your computer.
     b) Unplug your router.
     c) Unplug your Modem.
     d) Remove the Internet connection from your Router and plug it into your Modem (bypassing
           the Router).
     e) Plug your Modem back in.
      f) Turn your computer back on.

Try to DCC. If DCC works, then you know the Hardware Firewall on your Router was blocking it. Turn your computer back off, put everything back the way it was and restart your computer.

The solution is to set up Port Forwarding on your Router. If you are using a Linksys Wireless Router, you are in luck. I have written some instructions on how to enable Port Forwarding. Click HERE

If you are using a different Router you will need to read the instructions that came with your Router, read the FAQ at their Website, or call Tech Support. ou need to set up Port Forwarding.

The port ranges need to be in a very high numbered range. Do not pick port numbers below 1024 (i.e. 1 to 1023), as this could cause major problems with other protocols (FTP, HTTP, SSH, SMB/CIFS, NFS, and hundreds of others). Stick to port numbers above 40000, and do not exceed 65534. For example you could use 47000 to 47010, or 50000 to 50010.

How many Ports?
Ten Ports are sufficient unless you will be sending and receiving more than 10 DCC’s at a time.

7) DOES YOUR VIRUS PROTECTION THINK THAT DCC IS A VIRUS/WORM ?

This is not likely, but you might want to check to be sure.

Are you getting any messages that it finds a Worm or something when you try to DCC? It’s never a good idea to disable or turn off your Virus Protection and I won't advise it here. Sometimes an Anti Virus program will register a "false positive".

If this is your problem, you will need to contact the maker of your Virus Protection to find out how to allow DCC.

8) STILL UNABLE TO DCC?

Is mIRC confused?
Type on .. /localinfo –u in any mIRC window, and enter.
This will make sure mIRC is not confused about what your address is.

Honestly, I think that most of the DCC problems can be solved in #1 above. If you have worked your way through this list and are still not able to DCC, I recommend you join #mirc and talk to some of the friendly people in there. They may be able to think of some things I missed.

There are some EXCEPTIONS that I want to mention:

1) Wireless? I am only able to DCC (over my wireless network) on my computer that is hard wired to the net. My other computers, which operate solely on the wireless card cannot DCC, no matter what I do. I believe it is because your router assigns each computer a different IP# than your hard wired computer .. and the hard wired computer is the only *correct* IP# for DCC.

2) For some reason, every so often I will suddenly be unable to DCC. If this happens to you, the first thing you need to check is your mIRC client. Go to Options --> Connect --> Local Info. Check to make sure that mIRC did not revert back to using the bouncer ip address. If it did, you will need to change it back to your real Internet IP#. I don't know why this happens, but it does occasionally.

I wish you great success!

Sincerely,

CometBaby

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