Connecting Via VMWare Method

Barfish88

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Hi all

have any of you tried connecting to wow via the VMware method, creating a virtual linux system on your pc.

Supposed to seriously reduce your latency.
 
From another site :)

Stuff you will need.

feather-0.7.5.iso http://mymirrors.homelinux.org/linux/feather-linux/
vmware server http://www.vmware.com/download/server/
TcpView for windows http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Utilities/TcpView.mspx

Once vmware server is installed open it up and click local host->then ok
Then click file.
Then click new->virtual machine click next
choose typical ->next->linux->version->(drop down menu)other version 2.4xkernel->next

Choose a name for it and the place u want to store the virtual machine
click next->use bridge networking->next
i did 1gb for disk capacity (you can make it smaller )then click finish.

Once that is done click host then virtual network settings->click host virtual network mapping
for vMnet0 choose your network adaptor u connect to the net with then leave the rest as they are ->click ok.


In the inventory window in vmware server right click on the virtual machine click settings then click memory choose 128mb.
Then click cd-rom click use iso image and point that to the feather-0.7.5.iso you downloaded click ok.
Now time to boot feather linux right click on the virtual machine in the inventory and click power on.

It takes a few seconds for it to start up.
For the setup routine choose the 2nd option xfdev press enter.
For the mouse choose no to usb mouse then yes to the next option.
Test to make sure your internet connection is working on the vm machine right click on desktop apps->net->firefox.
Now to get the ip for your wow server log a character into wow (leave vmware open :) )
alt+tab to desktop and run tcpview.exe scroll down until u find wow and right click and copy the ip address.and paste it into notepad or something.

Then close wow.

Go back into vmware linux and open console (its on the desktop) and type in Yarre's fix. (the stuff in caps are not a typo ;))

sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -p tcp -d your.wow.server.ip.address --dport 3724 -j REDIRECT --to-ports 3724 press enter

sudo socat -d -d -d TCP4-LISTEN:3724,nodelay,fork,reuseaddr,su=nobody TCP4:your.wow.server.ip.address:3724,nodelay press enter

now hopefully that should be working now open up a new console window and type ifconfig now in eth0 look for your inet addr that is the ip address of the virtual machine.You will need that to route wow traffic to your vmware linux.

Now go back into windows click start menu click run type cmd then ok, Now time to route your wow traffic through your vm linux.

From Baalzaman post on page 2.

Replace wow.server.ip with your wow server ip and replace vm.machine.ip with the vm machine ip
route -p ADD wow.server.ip MASK 255.255.255.255 vm.machine.ip

input that into the cmd window

(if u want to connect to wow not using the vm linux u will have to delete that route just type route delete wow.server.ip)

Now log into wow and it should be routing wow traffic to your vmware linux box and you should be enjoying lower pings.

Credit goes to Yarre for this excellent fix and Baalzaman for the route add cmd Thank you :).

If u want to install feather linux to your hdd righ click on the vm linux desktop and choose enhancements and extra and
choose hd install->install hard to hard disk-safer option and follow the prompts.

After you have installed it to the vmware hdd you can open up sciTE and save the iptables,socat cmds to disk and then all you have to do is copy the iptables,socat cmds
into the console (middle mouse button to paste) when you want to run it. (There is probably an easier way to save and run it later i dont know much about linux)
 
I don't see why this would improve your latency.
All you're doing is routing your traffic to the WoW Servers via your bridged NIC essentially looping it back to yourself and then through to the internet.

Also that link for the Feather Distro doesn't work.
 
Found a Link for the Distro:
http://featherlinux.berlios.de/

The only thing i can think of is skipping hops to the server by changing the routing but I remain vey skeptical.
You could just add a Static Route in windows to do the same thing.
 
Just finished downloading the 2 progams needed over 300mb. Will post results. This is the method used by lowerping.com which cut my latency in half.

How would i go about adding a static route in windows?
 
Ok I would like to know if someone else can test this. I have the two Reg Hacks installed already.

Without VMWare - 900ms
With VMWare - 600ms.


The reason why it is so high is that there was a problem with my NIC.

But there is a difference.

So could someone who has a normal latency say 500-700 try this method and post results. They are fairly big downloads, 300mb to get started.

Remember this is the closest to lowerping.com that you will get without actually paying for the service. People on Wow forums and elitistjerks have all been impressed with the results.

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=874429&p=1
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=3271071466&sid=1&pageNo=1
 
Last edited:
Hmmm i have VMWare and the Image.

I'll give it a go and see.

I'm typically on 500ms

Very nice find Barfish, I'm going to shamelessly steal it and repost on my guild forums.
 
lol

Will it make a difference on a unshaped ADSL account? I get 350-450ms normally.
 
lol

Will it make a difference on a unshaped ADSL account? I get 350-450ms normally.

It should, as per other ppl who commented on it broght their latency 400ms to around 200-250, think that poster was from Australia or New Zealand.

Just one thing I am not a linux fundie, but i couldnt get it to work in bridged mode, I chose the one underneath it in the VMWare options. Just keep on checking firefox to see if feather is connected.

And to undo the route -p your.wow.ip MASK 255.255.255.255 vm.machine.ip

route delete your.wow.ip

In your command prompt

Otherwise setup is pretty simple just follow the instructions above. Make sure you get your wow servers ip address. Think they all posted on Wowwiki somewhere. Or use TcpView once connected to your wow server.
 
If you got a spare pc you can make a dedicated linux machine and charge your guildies to connect via you charge them a kuk load lol
 
Hi,

Just wanted to find out if this is actually true? Does it really work????
Did anyone try the windows static route instead to see if that made any difference, the whole VMWare thing seems really complicated although if it truely does work im game!
 
if it truely does work im game!

me to :)
Not that i understand completely, some1 care to explain whats being done in english or perhaps have a site :P
 
Hi,

Just wanted to find out if this is actually true? Does it really work????
Did anyone try the windows static route instead to see if that made any difference, the whole VMWare thing seems really complicated although if it truely does work im game!

If you read the windows static command is part of the VMWare metho, you direct it to your linux server
 
Yeah I tried this last night but had Internet Routing issues with the VM.
I didn't really have the time or inclination to fix it so I'll get it working this weekend.

One thing they don't mention is when using TCPView you need to uncheck the option to Resolve Names so you get an IP Address for your server instead of a hostname.

For Example Twilight's Hammer is 80.239.179.53 but it resolves to host-23.wow-europe.com which a nslookup or telnet won't be able to connect to.
 
Yeah I tried this last night but had Internet Routing issues with the VM.
I didn't really have the time or inclination to fix it so I'll get it working this weekend.

One thing they don't mention is when using TCPView you need to uncheck the option to Resolve Names so you get an IP Address for your server instead of a hostname.

For Example Twilight's Hammer is 80.239.179.53 but it resolves to host-23.wow-europe.com which a nslookup or telnet won't be able to connect to.

Any results yet ?
 
Nope I was a bit pre-occupied this weekend. 2x Kara runs and tons of PvP and SSO dailies :P
 
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