FAQ.TXT 12-1-95 Richard Kennerly CU-SeeMe for Windows Frequently Asked Questions: * What Video Capture card/Sound card/Winsock Stack will work with CU-SeeMe? * "GetHostByName() failed (nnnnn)" error. Hostname Requirement for CU-SeeMe * "No Response from " error. * Capture card is not detected by CU-SeeMe * "WSAAsyncSelect blew chow (11004)" error. * LAN WorkPlace - CU-SeeMe can't connect. * Audio does not work, even though I've got an audio card and speakers --------------------------------------------------------------------------- What Video Capture card/Sound card/Winsock Stack will work with CU-SeeMe? See COMPAT.TXT The latest copy of COMPAT.TXT is available via FTP at cu-seeme.cornell.edu/pub/CU-SeeMe and on the web at: http://cu-seeme.cornell.edu/PC.cuseeme.html) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "GetHostByName() failed (nnnnn)" error. Hostname Requirement for Windows CU-SeeMe Your Windows machine will need a hostname. CU-SeeMe for Windows will not work without it (this requirement may disappear soon). The way to provide a hostname is to make an entry into the hosts file called "hosts" (with no extension): The format for the hosts file is: For example, you might decide to use the hostname WillieBob. If your IP address was 128.32.64.88, the entry in your hosts file would look like: 128.32.64.88 WillieBob Your HOSTS file should be in your Windows Sockets directory (the same directory that contains your 'winsock.dll'). This directory must be in the PATH before windows is started. Note: the HOSTS file needs to be accessed by the Winsock stack, not CU-SeeMe - putting the HOSTS file in the directory with CU-SeeMe will not accomplish anything. If you don't already have a hostname for your PC, you may want to contact your network administrator about getting one assigned. If your host name is defined in a Domain Name Server (DNS) accessible to your PC, you won't need to have a HOSTS file. Keep in mind, in this case, that if you can't reach your DNS, you'll get the "GetHostByName() Error" message. While this issue has been a problem for many it has worked on all stacks after some work (The FTP software hitch mentioned below took many phone calls to a very patient user at NSF before solving). Things to verify: *) Verify that you've only got one HOSTS file (there might be a bad one earlier in your path). Use FILE MANAGER, File Menu, Search - Search for hosts, start from c:\, check the 'Search All Subdirectories box. If you find entries other than the one you expect to find in your Winsock directory, consider removing or updating them. Possible stumbling blocks: *) You're using FTP PCTCP and you've something set in the "Domain Completion" box. This can cause your software to not find its real hostname in the hosts file. *) When Defining your hostname with your Winsock Customization software, do not include the domain name in the hostname specification. For example, if WillieBob is in the domain cit.cornell.edu, do NOT specify WillieBob.cit.cornell.edu as the hostname. Just enter WillieBob and enter the domain in its place. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "No Response from " error. Assuming that you have tested other winsock network applications so you know you have basic network connectivity, there are several possible reasons why you might be getting this response: * The reflector machine is down - Try to telnet, FTP, or PING the host address to check this. Even if you can't log in, any 'login' -type response will indicate that the host is on the net. * The reflector software is not currently running on the reflector host. Try a couple of reflector sites - it is not likely that too many will be down at the same time. * You have a 'firewall' somewhere at 'your end' - between your local network and the Internet. A firewall prevents traffic of certain types from passing in and out of a network or networks. For example, a 'firewall' may exist to reduce traffic volume by disallowing UDP packets - this will prevent PING and NFS (Network File System) packets from passing through. And, since CU-SeeMe uses UDP, it will not work either. It is also possible for a firewall to disallow certain UDP port and allow others. Your network provider can decide what type(s) of 'firewall' restrictions if any to impose on your network. It can be difficult to determine whether or not there is a firewall in place on your network. If you can telnet to a reflector host (even though you can't log on) but CU-SeeMe doesn't work then it could be a firewall. You can contact your network provider to see if there are any restrictions on the traffic passing in and out of your network. CU-SeeMe uses UDP (not TCP) on UDP port 7648. You can ask your network provider to allow UDP traffic on port 7648 to get through the 'firewall'. Or, if you're using a PC with Winsock, it could be: * There is a DNS IP address problem or 'proxy' DNS is being done. Somehow, with Winsock, it is possible for the machine to make a DNS query to the network for its own address which is not really the actual address of the Windows PC. CU-SeeMe uses this address in the CU-SeeMe packet header which is different from the address in the IP header (apparently). This can be caused by having two DNS servers with different IP addresses or, by a machine doing 'proxy' DNS where it claims to be 'you' so it will get your packets which it will then forward to you. This latter example has been found in a situation where SLIP IP addresses were being 'spoken for' by the slip server. Unfortunately, we don't have good information about what can be done to really solve this problem. I would recommend having your host and actual IP address in a HOSTS file locally so the DNS call is either not made or not favored over the local hosts entry. * You're using TIA. Here's a quote from a knowledgable user: "TIA will not work with CU-See me because CU-SeeMe needs an IP address of the machine you are connecting with. TIA does not give your machine an IP address but gives you the IP address of the machine you are connecting to, so instead of trying to connect back to your machine CU-SeeMe is connecting back to your providers machine (the machine that you are running tia on). In order for CU-SeeMe to work you need a PPP or SLIP account where you have your own individual IP address." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Capture Card is not detected by CU-SeeMe Sometimes a video capture card (especially Creative Labs Video Blasters) can be installed in the system and the Video Capture program supplied by Creative Labs works fine. But, CU-SeeMe does not generate a local video picture and the 'File-Video Devices' option is greyed out. Edit your system.ini file in the /windows directory and, in the [drivers] section, make sure there's an entry for msvideo=. For example, one user with a blaster FS200 has the entry: msvideo=fs200cap.drv in system.ini. Check your installation guide to see what it should be for your model. This entry is needed for software to locate the driver; apparently the Creative labs software itself does not require this. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- WSAAsyncSelect blew chow (11004)! Some Winsock stacks, especially Lan WorkPlace for Dos, often report this error. The error 11004 means that your winsock stack either does not support UDP or is not set up to do so. Check the configuration options for your network installation to make sure UDP is enabled if possible. If you're using LAN WP see the other FAQ answer for LAN WP. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- * LAN WorkPlace - CU-SeeMe can't connect. We received a report about an IMPORTANT configuration detail required for CU-SeeMe. In the NET.CFG file you can specify the number of sockets for TCP and UDP. You must change this number to 30 or less in order for CU-SeeMe to work: tcp_sockets 30 udp_sockets 30 raw_sockets 1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Audio does not work, even though I've got an audio card and speakers Audio will only work if you've got enough bandwidth to support it. At this point, you need to have at least a 28.8K modem, ISDN at 64K or 128K, or a faster network connection to the Internet. If you have a 28.8K modem you STILL will only receive audio if the sender has set their audio encoding method to DeltaMod 16K. Unfortunately, at this point, there's no way to tell what method they're using - you just won't hear them (or perhaps you'll hear pops and tiny segments of sound). IMPORTANT NOTE: If your computer is audio capable but you DON'T have a camera you can only choose the audio encoding method by editting CUSEEME.INI. The two choices for audio encoding method are: [Audio Settings] Encoding Method=Delta-Mod (16 Kb/s) --or-- Encoding Method=Intel DVI (32 Kb/s) If you are using a MODEM at 28.8 or less you MUST use Delta-Mod encoding!!!!