Start\ control panel\ security centre
Click Windows Firewall button
Click advanced tab
In Network connection settings area, click settings button

Under services tab click Add button
In Description of service type 'Trackmania'
In External AND internal port number type 2350
In Name or IP address box, put your IP address. If you dont know it, go to
WhatIsMyIP.com - 64.118.92.20 and write down the number to put in
Click the TCP radio button then click ok.

Under services tab click Add button again
In Description of service type 'Trackmania' again
In External AND internal port number type 2350 again
In Name or IP address box, put your IP address.
Click the UDP radio button then click ok

Now just close down the open windows.

Start trackmania and on the start up screen click Configure then advanced
button
On the Network Tab set server port to 2350, client port to 0
In 'Force server address' type your IP address
Do not tick 'Use local address' unless you use a router or are on a network which has an IP assigning component
leave everything else blank.

Now start and set up a server. It should run ok.

Note: If your ISP provides you with a dynamic IP address (most do) then you will
need to check your IP address now and then and update the above to suit the
new IP address.

You could off course turn off your firewall, but this leaves you wide open to abuse. So why chance it when the above is so easy?


*If you use a router *

You can do the above but also:

In your #router utility software you need to set up a virtual server.
To do this you need to know the IP address your router assigns to your pc. There will be a specific number so hunt around the router software till you find it.
[Edit]If you can't find it do Start/Run type 'cmd', press enter. In the dos box type 'ipconfig' then press enter. Note the ip address, then shut down the dos box.[/Edit]
This is a different number to the ISP IP address!

Now add a port, give it an id (anything) if asked, give a public port AND private port of 2350 when/if prompted, click UDP. If asked for a host IP give the router assigned IP address.
Now add another port, give it an id (anything) if asked, give a public port AND private port of 2350 when/if prompted, click TCP. If asked for a host IP give the router assigned IP address again.

Start trackmania and on the start up screen click Configure then advanced
button
On the Network Tab set server port to 2350, client port to 0
In 'Force server address' type your [Edit]ISP given[/Edit] IP address
Tick 'Use local address'.
leave everything else blank.


Thats it! I've used this method to run trackmania for a year on XP and Win 98 on 2 different servers.

BTW. When you get up and running, on a 512k broadband connection, 16 players is about maximum before lag starts to set in. That's a years experience talking, so don't set your player level too high. Lag is the one thing that will get your visitors slagging you off.




Your ISP will periodically change your IP address (unless you pay for a fixed IP address, most don't), so check it before you run your server, and make adjustments if necessary.