Zugg Software :: View topic

Beginner Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Posts: 21 Location: Ireland

Hello, the mud I play offers MCCP support, but for some reason it rarely works for me when I connect. When I check View>Preferences>General>Emulation, the Mud Compression (MCCP) under Telnet Options is ticked. Checking statistics reveals that 0 bytes have been compressed. I know a couple of people who connect to the same mud with Zmud and their compression works fine. I've tried upgrading to 6.67 but no joy there either. I kinda know when it won't be working - when I log on for the first time the mud mostly replies with That character does not exist. Please choose 'Establish a new character.' My second attempt goes through ok, but with no compression. Just to throw a spanner in the works, very occasionally the compression does fire up, although I have no idea what I do differently and I haven't been able to reproduce it with any success. Any ideas what I should be trying?
Cheers,
Kaine

GURU Joined: 28 Sep 2000 Posts: 434 Location: USA

I looks to me like the MUD is mistaking zMUD's response to the MCCP negotiation as the login name. To better explain what might be happening, let me first explain what is suppose to happen.

Server: IAC WILL COMPRESS2
Client: IAC DO COMPRESS2
Server: IAC SB COMPRESS2 IAC SE
(Begin compressed stream)
Any other telnet option negotiation

Now, a couple of things could be happening.

Server: IAC WILL COMPRESS2
Server: What is your name?
Client: IAC DO COMPRESS2
Client: Joe

In the above example, the MUD querries zMUD about MCCPv2, but instead of waiting for a response, it continues on to ask for your name. Since IAC DO COMPRESS2 is the first response it receives from the client, it interprets that as the login name. However, if the MUD has properly implemented telnet option negotiation, then this shouldn't happen.

The only other thing I can think of right now is if you were using the atconnect alias to input your name/password (many people do this), then this might be what is happening.

Server: IAC WILL COMPRESS2
Client: Joe
Server: (not expecting Joe - throw it away)
Client: Password
Client: IAC DO COMPRESS2
Server: What is your name?
Server: (received Password)
Server: That player does not exist. Please choose 'Establish a new character.'
Server: (received IAC DO COMPRESS2)
Server: That player does not exist. Please choose 'Establish a new character.'
Client: Joe
Server: Password for Joe?
Client: Password
Server: Welcome!

Does that make sense at all? What I am trying to say is, if you are using the atconnect alias to log into the MUD, then that's probably what is causing your problem.

Beginner Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Posts: 21 Location: Ireland

It's a great explanation, the only problem is I log in manually :(

Wizard Joined: 14 Oct 2000 Posts: 1368

quote:
Originally posted by Kaine

It's a great explanation, the only problem is I log in manually :(

Could you write down which mud this is? Port & hostname would be nice. Thanks.

GURU Joined: 28 Sep 2000 Posts: 434 Location: USA

quote:
Originally posted by Kaine

It's a great explanation, the only problem is I log in manually :(

Doh!

I'm with Rorso on this one, if you could supply us with the hostname (or ip) and port, then we could try to reproduce your problem, take a look at the packets going to and from the MUD, and perhaps figure out what is causing the problem.

Wizard Joined: 14 Oct 2000 Posts: 1368

quote:
Originally posted by Carabas

quote:
Originally posted by Kaine

It's a great explanation, the only problem is I log in manually :(

Doh!

I'm with Rorso on this one, if you could supply us with the hostname (or ip) and port, then we could try to reproduce your problem, take a look at the packets going to and from the MUD, and perhaps figure out what is causing the problem.

Actually you are probably correct Carabas but we missed one point: lagg. Sometimes packets are smashed together while traveling through the net. The MUD might wait for a single packet containing the telnet negotiation code and expect the answer to come before it sends out the login prompt.

It is sad to see so many bad implementations of MXP/MCCP. For some time now we've seen muds waiting for the negotiation and failing on clients not having telnet negotiation support etc. All data to the mud should be examined for telnet negotiations - always. It is then up to the server to remove them or interpret them where needed.

Beginner Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Posts: 21 Location: Ireland

Its Legendmud - mud.legendmud.org, Port 9999. 66.37.172.234
It's a great place, please come visit! Thanks for persevering,
Kaine

Beginner Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Posts: 21 Location: Ireland

With a bit more experimenting Ive hit on a method to get MCCP to start working reliably. I connect to the mud, but dont log in - entering 0 (twice) to exit the mud. Zmud disconnected dialog box comes up, and I click Offline. From File, I then reconnect. The mud's login options still come up twice, but I can enter my character name first go without the mud telling me 'that character does not exist.' Into the game and viewing statistics reveals that MCCP is now clicking along nicely. Any ideas how I can get this to happen without all that rigmarole?

Wizard Joined: 15 Jan 2002 Posts: 1644 Location: USA

Ok going over this with Kaine his problem was the atconnect alias it was sending a blank %char after he deleted that Mccp Worked fine