Latency
UO Trace (Click to download - 65K)
Using this program will allow you to find out exactly where the problem in your Internet connection is occurring. Follow these steps to learn more about your connection:
- Double-click on UOTRACE.EXE to run the program.
- Click on OPTIONS, then ADVANCED.
- Choose the server you wish to trace to from the drop-down list.
- Click the TRACE ROUTE button. A succession of host names will begin to appear in the main window. These are the computers your data passes through on its way to the UO Server. Once the function is complete, a message that says "Traceroute successful" will appear in the lower left corner of the window. If you get a message saying "Maximum number of hops exceeded" click on OPTIONS then SETTINGS and change the max hops to a higher number and re-trace.
- Click the POLL button. This tells the program to send multiple packets of data through the route to the final host. As the data is being sent, look at the PKTS R/S column. Let it send about 100 packets then select STOP POLL.
- If you want to copy the results to send to someone else or post on a forum, click Copy in the Edit menu, then paste it where you want it to go.
Humility.owo.com (login server)
Compassion.owo.com (patch server)
All others are the name of the server with a .owo.com extension (ex. Lakesuperior.owo.com)
How to interpret the results:
Host names/servers - These are the individual computers that make up the Internet. The connection you make to the UO server may travel across the Internet through 15-25 individual hosts before reaching the UO Server. Many problems suffered by these hosts will reflect in poor game performance. If all host names have green symbols, there may be a different problem (such as client side or server side performance as described below).
Ping Average - This is the average amount of time it takes for a packet of data to be sent from your computer to a host server and back. If this number for a particular host is chronically too high (above 225ms), it usually signifies that the host you are testing is receiving more traffic than they can effectively handle. This means that you are not receiving updates fast enough from the game to maintain fluid motion. Your movements will be jerky and you will notice that the players and monsters around you seem to be able to move much faster than you. This is due to the fact that others are taking a different route to the UO Server and are not affected by the problem. If you consistently notice high ping times, contact your ISP and discuss the problem with them. Be sure to have a list of the problem hosts.
% Loss - This is the percentage of packets that are being lost. (100% packet loss is almost always an indication that router is set to ignore ping requests rather than an actual problem.) In other words, you are sending information to or through that host and the host is either not receiving the data or is not able to return it to you. Any packet loss is a sign of some type of problem. These problems could be caused by hardware issues at the host server, bottlenecking (too many users communicating through that host), telephone line noise, and other causes. Most packet loss issues are generally resolved quickly by the hosts (a matter of minutes), although some may take several days to resolve. If you consistently notice packet loss, you should contact your provider to discuss possible solutions. You may also consider trying a different ISP.
Client Side Performance Sometimes the cause of the slowdown may be located on your computer (the client). Of course, the faster your computer's processor is, the better your computer will perform. In addition, the quality of your hardware components plays a factor in achieving optimal performance. This means that the various devices that make up your computer can affect how well your computer runs the Ultima Online application. You may be able to determine if this is the case by using a friend's computer, if one is available. Try to connect to your current ISP via their computer, and see if you notice improvement. Obviously, try to create similar conditions. Make sure your friend lives in the same town or city and that you are calling the same POP (Point of Presence) phone number you would normally dial and that the connection speed is the same. If the other system is running the game faster, try to find out what may be different. (Please remember to not give out your account information or password to anyone you do not implicitly trust). Although Ultima Online: The Second Age can be played on a Pentium-166 with 32 megs of RAM and a 2 meg video card, this kind of system may experience some slow down simply due to overall computer performance (and how 'fast' the individual components are). The more RAM you have, the better the game will perform. A good video card can improve the game's graphic performance as well. Although a 2 meg video card is sufficient, a good 4 or 8 meg video card will also improve performance. Also, make sure you have the most recent drivers for your sound and video card, and that they are DirectX compatible.
You should also consider shutting down any active 'background tasks' (virus checkers, Internet messaging utilities (ICQ), system health and performance monitors, Internet applications such as stock or weather checkers, etc.) that may be running at the same time as Ultima Online. Last, it is a good idea to perform regular 'housekeeping' by periodically defragmenting and scandisking your hard drive(s).
ADJUSTING MODEM SETTINGS If you are experiencing slow game performance due to Internet latency and are using a modem, there are some adjustments you can make which may improve data transfer stability. Right-click "My Computer" and select "Properties", then "Device Manager". Find the "Modem" line and double-click on it, then double-click the line that appears underneath. You should now be in "Modem Properties". Click the "Modem" tab and set the "Max Connect" to 38400. Click the "Connection" tab and then "Advanced". Disable "Compress Data" and "Error Control". Click "OK" on everything until you return to the Desktop.
