OpenSimWorld is the directory of 3D Virtual Worlds based on OpenSimulator and connected through the HyperGrid. Learn More
"Hairpinning" Public Safety Annoucement and a small favor to ask of home Opensimulator server owners.
If you added a MAC address to a ban list, you may ban yourself, or ban all uses from any grid that uses a Loopback adapter for hairpinning. The problem is all Loopback adapters use the same MAC address. There is a different one for each type, such as WIndows, Mac and Linux.
Opensimulator servers require routers with working hairpinning so the server can find itself at the WAN's public IP. Loopback adapters are sometimes necessary at the server because not all home routers support hairpinning, a.k.a. Loopback. Only the the server can log in to itself, when the server has a loopback adapter. Others on thje same LAN can use a VPN, which moves the network endpoint outside the LAN, and onto the WAN.
Also, a lot of people think Loopback is needed for the Hypergrid. It's not. It only so the server can see itself at the external WAN IP.
I help maintain a list at http://opensimulator.org/wiki/NAT_Loopback_Routers of compatible and incompatible routers. Please, do us all a huge favor, and if your router for your home server is not listed, please comment the brand, model number and whether loopback works or not, and I will add it.
Thank you!
~Ferd Frederix/Fred Beckhusen
If you added a MAC address to a ban list, you may ban yourself, or ban all uses from any grid that uses a Loopback adapter for hairpinning. The problem is all Loopback adapters use the same MAC address. There is a different one for each type, such as WIndows, Mac and Linux.
Opensimulator servers require routers with working hairpinning so the server can find itself at the WAN's public IP. Loopback adapters are sometimes necessary at the server because not all home routers support hairpinning, a.k.a. Loopback. Only the the server can log in to itself, when the server has a loopback adapter. Others on thje same LAN can use a VPN, which moves the network endpoint outside the LAN, and onto the WAN.
Also, a lot of people think Loopback is needed for the Hypergrid. It's not. It only so the server can see itself at the external WAN IP.
I help maintain a list at http://opensimulator.org/wiki/NAT_Loopback_Routers of compatible and incompatible routers. Please, do us all a huge favor, and if your router for your home server is not listed, please comment the brand, model number and whether loopback works or not, and I will add it.
Thank you!
~Ferd Frederix/Fred Beckhusen
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The creators of OpenSIM have created a big misunderstanding in terminology.
In communications, a MAC address is a HARDWARE identifier stored in the device.
OpenSIM uses an MD5 hash of the real MAC address, reading this data from Firestorm.
https://grimore.org/opensim/banning_agents
Result/Current state:
Naturally, ALL copybot viewers have the option to generate a random MAC address.
By using the MAC address ban option, you are actually hindering normal people but allowing any copybot or hacker to do whatever they want.
Conclusion:
If you have gotten so caught up in bans that you have banned yourself, you have two easy ways out:
1. Wrong: Use LoStorm or a similar copybot viewer and hack yourself.
2. Right: Stop the hysteria and delete all bans.
--------------------------------------
Use simple but working settings:
https://opensimworld.com/post/95832
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In communications, a MAC address is a HARDWARE identifier stored in the device.
OpenSIM uses an MD5 hash of the real MAC address, reading this data from Firestorm.
https://grimore.org/opensim/banning_agents
Result/Current state:
Naturally, ALL copybot viewers have the option to generate a random MAC address.
By using the MAC address ban option, you are actually hindering normal people but allowing any copybot or hacker to do whatever they want.
Conclusion:
If you have gotten so caught up in bans that you have banned yourself, you have two easy ways out:
1. Wrong: Use LoStorm or a similar copybot viewer and hack yourself.
2. Right: Stop the hysteria and delete all bans.
--------------------------------------
Use simple but working settings:
https://opensimworld.com/post/95832
I have an Asus RT-AC68U router which I bought in the reccomendation of Nebadon Izumi and Dan Banner. They suggested I reflash with Asuwrt-Merlin firmware to enable Looback, but apparently this router supports Loopback out of the box with default firmware. There are some settings that need to be changed to ensure smooth operation of Opensim, and details about that can be found on the Asus router help forums. It's generally a good router, but not ideal and like most routers, seriously underpowered and not ideal for running Opensim. I plan to build my own router using the pfsense operating system - will write up process when successful.
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