Alternative to Hamachi: Opensource and no network limits!

[pieterbaarlo]

Hello!

After reading several threads about hamachi, i noted that you use Hamachi very often for matches.
The only problem is that networks are very quickly full, and nobody really administrate them.
This results in several threads with hamachi-network names & passwords which is very inconveniant.

Therefore i wanted you to know about a new vpn tool on the block called n2n.
n2n is a opensource layer2 p2p-vpn tool created by the guys at ntop.org.



* diagram of a n2n network with 2 supernodes.



Unlike hamachi, n2n doesnt have a spiffy gui or contact lists.
n2n is very minimalistic, without bells and whistles, it gives only the needed network functionality and it works everytime.

I have setup a n2n supernode on my linux-server at the datacenter, and hooked up a dhcp-server in the vpn network.

This means that everybody can join the network without any configuration. Every user gets a class c ipadress, and can join/leave whenever they like without "full networks or Network administration" problems.
Now you can be connected with the vpn with 2-254 people, who are playing several silent hunter sessions, which you could browse and join anytime!

However, per network the dhcp can issue 254 ipadresses which means there can be a maximum of 254 concurrent users. (which should be enough )

If there is some handy ict-guy here at subsim, you could setup your own supernode and have your own private lan.
Untill then, you could try my pre-configured n2n vpn client.
There is a downside. public vpns are risky so always have a firewall enabled.

I have packed up a complete new version which you can download here:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~igrabo/hell/HK...layerLanV2.rar

To use the tool, you must installs a TAP adapter which is located in the /drivers/ folder.

feel free to test it out.
i hope this solution will finally put an end to your hamachi network madness.

Cheers,

pieter


Official n2n homepage : http://www.ntop.org/n2n/
Compiled Windows version : http://www.xs4all.nl/~igrabo/hell/HK...layerLanV2.rar

note: if you wonder why i am promoting this tool, it because i spend the last week bugtracking n2n for windows.
by finding & fixing a few bugs in n2n, i never have to create/share hamachi networks again!
Next to that, n2n just kicks all the competition's butt!

!! UPDATE !!
Added vista x64 compatibility! - manually install the TAP adapter.
Added Profiles for custom networks. - now you can create & host a network yourself!



!! UPDATE 2 !!

The installations is essentially 2 steps.

1 :: Install a virtual network adapter - also known as a TAP-Adapter. If you already have some sort of TAP adapter installed (beside Hamachi), you can skip this step. ( many VPN programs use virtual network adapters like OpenVPN or other opensource vpn packages. )

2 :: Start our VPNtool, right-click on connect, and click on the connect button.

3 :: Start your favorite game, goto the LAN gamelobby and host or join a game.

Okey, that's 3 steps but that last one doesnt really count huh?


!! UPDATE 3 !!


We noticed that Windows Vista has some problems with installing the tap-adapter.
Therefore i describe the most fail-safe install instructions per Operating System.

Howto install:


Download this : http://www.xs4all.nl/~igrabo/hell/HK...layerLanV2.rar


:: Windows XP

Unpack the Rar-file.
Open the directory /drivers/ and click on 'Addtap.bat'
This should start the installation of a virtual ethernet adapter.
Accept the hardware installation and you are good to go.


:: Windows Vista x86/x64

Download:
http://www.openvpn.net/release/openv...15-install.exe
Start openvpn-2.1_rc15-install.exe as administrator.
When asked what components to install, choose ONLY the
'TAP Virtual Ethernet Adapter'
So, untick all options and select only the 'TAP Virtual Ethernet Adapter' and click next.
The installer will add new hardware, which you should allow to install.
When this installer exits, download and unpack the file HK_MultiplayerLanV2.rar to a location of your choice.

:: Start VPN

start hellskitchen.exe and a tray icon appear. right-click on connect, and click on the connect button.
You should now be connected to the public vpn.

:: Start Gaming

If your friends are connected too, fireup your favorite lan-game and start playing lan games online!

:: Notice

The tool is in essence a network-adapter. Firewalls or other protection software might need reconfiguration ( opening ports ) to successfully see lan game-sessions.