Connection/Zoning issue.

[Veyron]

All right, basically my connection was fine last night, this morning ect ect. I came home from work, was like "oh hay, lets go do random thing #4 before Salvage!.. oh hey, I need a RVB lets get that done with." So I head out to the entrance, didn't have any problems getting there, but once my group tries to enter, I d/c...and keep d/cing every time I log back in until they fail. Restarted PoL/Windower, got back in finally.. but again, after they failed. Ok, no Salvage tonight, stupid Nyzul eatting my tags..

Basically, I couldn't get past the ". . . Downloading Data . . ." black screen at all. I tried going to my mule, that worked fine though.. So I'm like ok, whatever it must have just been a weird d/c. Next, I try to go to Riverne #A01, used my Tav ring and d/c'd when I tried to enter Tav. Restarted PoL, let me back in after 5~min of trying to reconnect from the Character Select screen saying I was already logged in. Tried restarting the computer, didn't help. Tried to zone into A01 after the restart of the computer, d/c'd again. Zoned out of A01, d/c'd again.

Running a virus scan right now. Started up CC Cleaner, didn't come up with anything unusual.

Just zoned back into Tav from Mis. Coast, didn't d/c. What. The. Fuck.

Summary:
Zone from Tav > Mis. Coast = d/c
Zone from Mis. Coast > B01 = d/c
Zone from B01 > Mis. Coast = d/c
Zone from Mis. Coast > A01 = d/c
Zone from A01 > Mis. Coast = d/c
Zone from Mis. Coast > Tav, worked fine.

::Edit::
Zone from Tav > Coast > Riverne B01 > Whitegate > MH > Whitegate > Mea > Maze > Chasm (guess what popped <_<), didn't d/c at all.. idk wtf is going on!

Only solution it seems is to restart PoL/Windower after every zone that I d/c through.

[finalwolf]

a lot of people are experiencing the same problem. Most can not log onto their main character, or log onto a mule that's in jeuno/whitegate.
one friend is stuck in Upper Delfukt, another is in Fort K-N. so it's across several servers and over several in-game zones (if that means anything)

[Mugekuge]

I have same problem, i get ". . . Downloading Data . . ." black screen in lower jeuno (had to ask a friend to log on my account and warp me out) and now that i was trying to go to Behemoth dominion too.

[thatwasnifty]

I'm having the same problem, too. I tried warping from Rolanberry [S] to Bastok Markets last night and got the FFXI-3001 error after being on the black "downloading data" screen for a couple of minutes. I can log onto my mules in Bastok and San d'Oria fine, but my main is stuck in mid-zone limbo. I emailed support last night so hopefully I'll hear from them today. (I also posted about this on LJ and otherwiki forum, and there are a few similar reports. SE must have screwed up some servers or something.)

[Riiaider]

I had the same problem as well zoning from Metalworks to Bastok markets. Could logon mules but not my main chara. Friend had to warp me and I could get back on.

Lsmate had the same problem zoning into DA. And another currently cant get on after retracing to Windy.

[Mithroy]

I had this problem last night (still do) when OPing from South Sandy S to BattDowns S, had a friend tele-holla me out but i still have this issue, and for some unknown reason its on both my ps2 and ps3, but not on my friends pc. What consoles is everyone else on?

[Ragnarzero]

I had the same problem last night.
Started around say 9-10 Est I started R0ing
then when i got booted i tried to log back in to Dynamis BCD i got black loading screen of death.

was like that all night.
I live in Canada East coast, Use a Netgear router, play on PC

I got my Friend who lives in Montana To move me, she was able to with out any problems.

I was able to log onto my mule without any problems.

when i got back on main i tried going to Tav, Via the OP when i tried to Zone into Tav, Black screen of loading Death. Had to get her to move me again back to my HP in Bastok markets.

So Far the 2 zones i'm having problems with is Tav from Meadows (where OP is)
and Dynamis bcd.

[Mirya]

I'm on Bahamut server. Last night I was Campaigning in Pashow [S] and d/c mid-battle. I haven't been able to log back on as my main character since (mules work though), as I get the same black screen and FFXI-3001 error as everyone else. The d/c happened while I was playing on the PC, however I can't log my main character in on the PS2 either. My husband was idling in his MH (not sure what city he was in) at the same time and also d/c, but he was able to log back in after an hour. The LS' Rolanmart mule that runs continuously on our PS2 never d/c'd.

[Mirya]

Wow Ragnar, someone else from PEI!

My d/c happened at 9PM EST on the dot last night.

[Mithroy]

BREAKING NEWS
after waiting 90mins for a response:


SEI POL Kenny: Hello, thank you for contacting the PlayOnline Information Center. Just a few moments while I review your question, please.
SEI POL Kenny: Are the machines connected to a router or directly to the modem?
Me: 1 second
Me: wirelessly
Me: but while i was on hold waiting, it seems like a few other people in different areas are having this problem in the last 15hours
SEI POL Kenny: Who is your ISP?
Me: all seem to be in random different zones and only effect a few or one of thier characters
Me: verizon
SEI POL Kenny: Officially speaking, we have not heard of any server issues on our end.
SEI POL Kenny: However I have been speaking to many customers today with the same problem you are having, and all have Verizon.
Me: officially?
SEI POL Kenny: Normally the issue you are describing usually refers to a port blocking issue.
SEI POL Kenny: Each zone is controlled by a different port, if a specific port is blocked connection to the zone can be lost or not connected at all.
SEI POL Kenny: Since each character would be in different zone, it would appear to only affect certain characters on the same account/gaming machine.
SEI POL Kenny: Since you stated you are connected wirelessly, I'm guessing you are connected to a router of somesort.
Me: well while waiting I was attempting to take one of my lesser characters to one of the problem zones to test
SEI POL Kenny: It probably worked.
Me: i have already tried powercycling my router last night, and waited while i slept for it to reload
SEI POL Kenny: For security reasons the software uses a wide range of ports to prevent users from maliciously attacking other customers.
SEI POL Kenny: It changes on a daily bases which ports it would use.
SEI POL Kenny: You may need to configure the router for port forwarding to allow all ports that FFXI utilizes opened up.
SEI POL Kenny: The following ports need to be allowed to pass through. TCP 1024 - 65535 UDP 53, 50000 - 65535.
Me: how do I do that?
SEI POL Kenny: Because each router is made differently, I would not be able to assist you in configuring it. You would have to contact the router manufacturer.
Me: fun
SEI POL Kenny: Once the port blocking issue has been addressed, the connection loss would disappear and allow you to use that character you want.
Me: will the problem return when the ports change tomarrow?
SEI POL Kenny: If you open up all the ports that was stated, the problem will not continue. Since the software would only chose ports within those ranges.
SEI POL Kenny: This issue would only continue if one or more of thsoe ports are being blocked off.
Me: any way to ballpark how i would be able to change those w/o calling the manufactuer?
SEI POL Kenny: Each router is made differently, meaning the configuration tools would be set up in a unique way. Usually the manufacturers of router would have the directions on their website if not in the user's manual.
Me: Are you getting back to back calls about this problem?
SEI POL Kenny: It has been a common theme for most of this morning.
Me: I used to work for comcast, so I know what you mean.
Me: alright just to clerify
Me: i need to allow ports TCP 1024 - 65535 and UDP 53, 50000 - 65535 to be used?
SEI POL Kenny: That is correct.
SEI POL Kenny: Sometime the router may want to know for what device, so you would need to configure both the PS2 and PS3 for those same ports.
Me: alright i will post that on a community forum so hopefully it can get passed around faster
SEI POL Kenny: Are there any other issues I can assist you with right now?
Me: is this problem only happening on ps2/ps3 by the way?
SEI POL Kenny: It is occuring for all platforms.
Me: alright
SEI POL Kenny: But all from customers using Verizon, from what I've experienced.

Now can anyone ballpark how i go about changing those I really dont want to be on hold again...

[Mugekuge]

I don't live in USA but my internet provider uses as international provider Verizon, i did a check of those ports here:

Asociación de Internautas

(Where says "escaner a puertos especificos" i put 1024,53,50000,65535)

It says port 1024,53 and 5000 are closed.

I have 2 net cards on my pc, with one i get black screen in lower jeuno so far, with other i get black screen on port jeuno and behemoth dominion, lol funny i am changing cables from card to card to be able to access zones, anyone that lives in USA can call Verizon and ask to open those ports?

[Suiram]

Last night when we were doing Dynamis - Tav, a friend of mine in the alliance d/ced as we entered. Whenever he tried to log back in he got stuck on "Downloading Data". He tried having someone log in for him to get him all the way into the zone (he never actually "appeared" for us) and then tried logging in to no avail. He ran a file check and still couldn't log in. The other person warped him back to Bastok and he was able to log in fine, but when he tried to re-enter Dynamis he had the same issue. Even two hours later when the run was over it wouldn't let him log in to get spit out, I had to log in for him. I asked, and he is also a Verizon customer (he lives in Massachusetts, I think).

[Mithroy]

Well I called linkseys and they were able to walk me thru opening the ports.

Pretty easy, everyone working great now but linkseys said if I called in again they were going to charge me, it sounds like they have gotten a few calls about this today and it is frustrating them. :D

[Mugekuge]

What did they tell you about the issue?

[Ragnarzero]

No Offence.... But thats total BS

I'm not Verizon
And I'm in the DMZ of my Router (i do tech support for an ISP provider i know about ports)
And i am still having issues.
At work now will have to check things when i get home.
I released my IP and will have to check it when i get back tonight.

[Ariane]

As Mirya mentioned, we started having these problems last night. I tried resetting everything from the router, cable modem, both PCs etc. with no luck. Today as late as about 11am EST I had tested it and it still did not work on her main toon. Her mules worked fine throughout all of this.

I just decided to re-do the port forwarding on my LinkSys router. I saved my old configuration, cleared out everything in there (only had POL and uTorrent settings to begin with) and put in 3 fresh lines for POL.

I just tested it and now she works again!

On a whim, I reset the router to the old (saved) configuration and tested it again - and she still works. I then turned off the POL port forwarding entirely - and still it works.

I don't think the fix was on my side. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what did fix it either. Hopefully if you are using Eastlink like we are here Ragnar, this means that you are up and running again too!

[Ragnarzero]

Actually i am on eastlink, they are usually preatty reliable

[Haily]

This happened to me last night too, I dc'd while zoning into Xarc, and my other character couldn't log in in WG. Mules in Port Jeuno and Sandy were fine. After a few hours last trying to resolve and two and a half unhelpful canned message GM calls yesterday, I was able to log in again tonight.

I do have Verizon, if anyone's keeping count. I didn't do anything with ports.

[LarienTiwele]

I had this same issue at around 2:00 AM EST, and it happened on my Verizon net. I swapped over to my T1 work net, and it did the same thing to me, so it definately was more then Verizon.

[LD]

nvm, restarted router and it was fine. %D