How To Connect To Live: A Detailed Guide

[iamlucky18]

Connecting to XBox Live: Wireless Connection

Requirements: Wireless ADSL router, XBox 360 wireless adaptor, broadband enabled phone line, PC



Note
The wireless adaptor for the XBox 360 connects via USB, not ethernet as illustrated in the above picture. Also note this guide is for the normal XBox, not the XBox 360. However, the steps should be very similar.

1. Setup your wireless ADSL router to connect to the internet if it is not already to do so.

2. Note down the SSID of the wireless ADSL router. This can be found under the Properties page of the wireless router. Also note down the form of security used by the router: either 64-bit WEP, 128-bit WEP or none.

3. Connect the XBox 360 wireless adaptor by plugging it into one of the available USB ports on the XBox 360.

4. Go to the XBox dashboard. Go to the System blade and select Network Settings.

5. Select Edit Settings, highlight the Wireless Mode field at the bottom of the screen and press the A button.

6. Now enter the SSID of the wireless router as noted down in step 2 and the encryption type used as noted down in step 2.

7. Now test the XBox Live connection by returning to the Network Settings screen and selecting Test XBox Live Connection.



The XBox 360 will now test your network settings. The Wireless Network field should be confirmed and stated as being “Wired”. Your IP Address, DNS, MTU, ICMP and XBox Live settings should state “Confirmed”. The NAT field should also say “Open”.

If the NAT field states “Strict”, please go to the NAT/DMZ section. If there are other problems, please go to the Port Forwarding section.

[iamlucky18]

Connecting to XBox Live: Direct Connection

The setup of your network using this method should be similar to that illustrated by the below picture.



Remember that an ADSL router is an ADSL modem and router combined.

Requirements: Ethernet patch cable, a PC with either a USB or ethernet connection to the router, existing broadband enabled phone line with socket, ADSL router software (optional), ADSL router

Follow the below steps to setup your network

1. Install your ADSL router software if it is not already installed.

2. Make sure your computer, router and XBox 360 is switched off.

3. Connect the ADSL router to the USB or ethernet port of the computer.

4. Now connect the XBox 360 console to the ethernet port of the ADSL modem (see picture below).



5. Now switch on the ADSL router and PC only.

6. Once the PC is running, switch on the XBox 360.

7. Go to the XBox Dashboard and select the option to Sign onto Live.



If you are able to sign onto Live – well done! If you still experience problems, there may be a problem with the settings of the router. Please go to the FAQ.

[iamlucky18]

Connecting to XBox Live: Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

Requirements: PC with ethernet networking card, USB ADSL modem, existing broadband enabled phone line with socket, crossover ethernet cable

After the setup, your network should be pretty similar to that illustrated in the picture below.



1. Install the ADSL router software if it is not already.

2. Switch off the PC, ADSL router and XBox.

3. Now connect one end of a crossover ethernet cable to the XBox and the other end to the ethernet port of the PC.



4. Now switch on the XBox, PC and ADSL router.

5. We must now alter the network settings on the PC. Go to Start and click on Control Panel. Then click on Network and Internet Connections. Then click Network Connections.

6. You should see a window similar to the one shown in the picture below. Right click on the connection used to connect to the internet (it contains the name of the modem you use) and then click Properties.



7. On the new window, click on the Advanced tab located on the top of the window.



8. Now select the option to Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection.

9. Now click on OK.

Note
For PPoE, settings must be altered on the XBox 360 also. On the XBox dashboard go to the System blade. Select Network Settings and then Edit Settings. Press right on the control stick to go to the Other Settings pane. Select PPoE settings. Alter the username, password and service name (ISP) settings.

[iamlucky18]

Connecting to Xbox Live: Port Forwarding

Background information
Your router assigns an IP address to your computer every time it is switched on. An IP address is a series of four numbers separated by periods. It acts as an ID for your computer on the internet. Similarly, every time your XBox is switched on, it assigns itself an IP address. However, if your XBox and your PC has the same IP address, they cannot communicate with each other and access the internet at the same time. Think about the process of signing with Yahoo! If someone has already taken your choice of username, you cannot sign on. You have to use a different username. Port forwarding is the process of manually assigning IP addresses to avoid this problem.

1. Go to the Start menu and select Run.

2 Enter command into the Open: field and press enter.

3. The command window will now open. Enter ipconfig /all and press enter.

4. The command window will now display all your network settings.



5. Note down the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway and DNS Servers.

6. Close the command window.

7. Go to Start, select Control Panel and then Network and Internet Connections.

8. Select Network Connections.

9. You may have several network connections. Look under the Device Name field and look for the one with the name of your modem.

10. Select the network connection, right click and select Properties.

11. You should now see the following window.



12. Select the Properties button.

13. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and then click on Properties.

14. You should now see the window as presented below. By default, the Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically options are checked.



15. Select the Use the following IP address option.

16. Enter the IP address, Subnet mask and Default gateway numbers as obtained in steps 4 and 5.

17. Now select the Use the following DNS server addresses option.

18. Enter the two DNS server addresses noted down in steps 4 and 5 into the Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server fields.

19. Click OK and close down all other windows.

We have now port forwarded. The next thing to do is to check if your NAT settings are okay. Once you have signed onto XBox Live, go to the XBox dashboard. Now go to the System blade and then select Network Settings. Now select the Test XBox Live option. The XBox 360 will now test your network settings. If any part of the test fails, the test will stop. Hopefully everything will be okay. We are interested in the NAT settings. If it states Open, no further modifications are necessary. If it says Strict, there could be a problem. If this is the case, go to the NAT/DMZ section.

[iamlucky18]

Connecting to XBox Live: NAT/DMZs

Background
NAT settings determine how much security must be imposed on connected computers. If it is strict, the level of security is high. This will have a detrimental effect on XBox Live. There would be difficulty connecting to games and chatting with others. DMZ stands for De-Militarized Zone and is where you alter the NAT settings.
This guide uses the Voyager 205. However, the steps should be very similar for other routers.

1. Ensure your computer and ADSL router is switched on.

2. Double click on the Router manager icon.

3. On the window that opens, click on Advanced on the left hand side of the window. Click on Advanced in the middle of the page.

4. A password window will now open. Enter admin as both the username and password and press enter.

5. Select IP Routing on the left.



6. Under NAT options select NAT Virtual Server/DMZ.

7. Now click on Add.



8. Under Rule Flavor select DMZ.

9. Under Rule ID, type 50.

10. Type 192 168 1 35 into the LAN IP Address field. Note this number down.

11. Click the Apply button and then the red Save button on the left of the window.



We must now alter the settings on the XBox 360. Go to the XBox Dashboard and then to the System blade. Now select the Network Settings option and then select the option to alter the settings. You should now see the following screen.



Select IP Settings and press the A button. Select the Manual option. Enter the addresses as shown in the picture on the right. Do the same for DNS Settings.

Now retest your connection. Hopefully everything should be fine. If not, go to the troubleshooting page.

I went through this section with the BT Voyager 205. For other routers and links to information for altering settings, go to www.portforward.com

[Evan]

nice guide, i really hope the mods will sticky this one, im tired of having n00bs ask how they connect their xbox to their pc.

[iamlucky18]

Thanks Evan.

You're right - too many people ask about the methods connecting to Live. THey also frequently encounter problems and don't have a clue what to do. So I created these guide to help those people out.

I'm going to write up an FAQ very soon on the same subject too.

[marvel]

the only problem that you might have is that different people encounter different problems, but its a good guide nonetheless.

[iamlucky18]

Originally Posted by marvel

the only problem that you might have is that different people encounter different problems, but its a good guide nonetheless.

That's true marvel - that's why I'm gonna write up an FAQ soon.
Thanks.

[Khemikl]

One additional problem is that most people have wireless issues, this should be a main focus when you do your FAQ or maybe create a guide for that as well. ICS can be hairy sometimes when linking through a wireless PC (say a laptop).