Quick thing first: DirectX 9 is only the graphics (how the client draws the game). It has nothing to do with players connecting. The networking is separate, so "dx9" doesn't change anything about ports or letting friends log in.
The port your friends connect to is the GateServer client port, default 1973 (TCP). You can confirm it in GateServer.cfg (the entry bound to 0.0.0.0). That is the only port outside players need.
1) Server config check (do this once on the host PC):
- Open GateServer.cfg. Find the client port section (Port 1973). The IP above it should be 0.0.0.0 (means "accept players from anywhere"). If it says 127.0.0.1, change it to 0.0.0.0 and save.
- Leave every other IP that says 127.0.0.1 alone. Those are your servers (Account, Group, Gate, Game) talking to each other on the same PC. Do not change them or the server breaks. (Correct as long as all servers run on one PC, which is normal.)
2) Client config: where your IP goes (the part friends connect to):
- Open scripts/table/serverset.txt in the client folder.
- Each row is one server in the select screen: Number | Group Name | Region | Gate Address 01 | ...
- Put your public IP or VPN IP in the Gate Address 01 column (the 4th one). Example:
1 MyServer Development YOUR_IP_HERE 0 0 0 0
- Recompile the tables so ServerSet.bin updates (the client reads the .bin, not the .txt). Most sources include a table-compiler .bat in the client folder for this.
- Easiest method: do this once on your PC, then send the finished client to your friends so they don't each have to edit anything. With a VPN your IP is the same for everyone, so one configured client works for all of them.
3) Easiest way to let friends in (VPN, recommended):
1. You and all your friends install the same VPN app: Radmin VPN (free) or ZeroTier.
2. You create a network. Your friends join it.
3. In the app, find your VPN IP (Radmin shows it as 26.x.x.x).
4. Put that VPN IP in serverset.txt (step 2) and send friends the client.
5. Start your servers, friends log in. Done. No router setup needed.
4) Proper way (port forwarding):
1. Find your PC's local IP: open Command Prompt, type ipconfig, look at IPv4 Address (like 192.168.x.x).
2. Log in to your router (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in a browser).
3. Find Port Forwarding. Forward TCP port 1973 to your PC's local IP from step 1.
4. Open Windows Firewall and allow inbound TCP 1973 (or allow the server .exe).
5. Find your public IP: search "what is my IP" on Google. Put it in serverset.txt (step 2).
Notes / troubleshooting:
- If a friend logs in, sees the character screen, but gets stuck entering the world, there is still an IP set to 127.0.0.1 somewhere that needs to be your public/VPN IP. It is almost always the serverset.txt / ServerSet.bin above. Fix that one IP, recompile, and it works.
- Home IPs change over time. For a name that never changes, use free dynamic DNS (No-IP or DuckDNS).
- Some ISPs use CGNAT, where port forwarding will not work no matter what. If that happens, use the VPN method instead.
So to sum up: it is not a DX9 thing. It is port 1973, your server .cfg keeping internal IPs as 127.0.0.1 with only the Gate listener on 0.0.0.0, and your friends' client pointing at your public or VPN IP via serverset.txt (then recompiled to ServerSet.bin).
