Network & Connectivity on Ctrl-Alt-GG Care

Bandwidth Etiquette

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

While our local network (LAN) runs at gigabit speeds, our internet connection is shared. If one person starts streaming 4K video or torrenting, they can ruin the ping for 100 other players.

Firewall and Antivirus Checks

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Windows Firewall loves to block LAN games on “Public” networks.

First, check Known Issues.

The symptoms

Warning

Your firewall is probably the issue if you see any of these:

How the Network Works

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

This is the “enthusiast” version. If you just want to get online, start with Network Troubleshooting.

High-level layout

Internet -> Juniper SRX340 (firewall) -> Arista DCS-7050SX (L3 core) -> Juniper EX3300 (access switches)
Inter-switch links are simple routed point-to-point (/31), so we’re not depending on spanning tree between switches
Access switches are edge only; routing decisions happen at the core

Segmentation (VLANs)

Access VLANs (140-150): guest devices on the same switch share a LAN segment
- DHCP only, internet + LAN services
- Don’t expose services you don’t want other people to see
Services VLAN (130): game servers, file host, DNS (Unbound), DHCP (Kea)
Management VLAN (128): network devices only
Wireless VLAN (132): same policy as access VLANs
IoT VLAN (131): currently similar to access; future plan is “internet-only, isolated”

Traffic flow

Clients -> access switch -> core gateway -> firewall -> internet
LAN services stay inside the core (no hairpinning through the firewall)

Design intent

Keep L2 complexity low
Make failures predictable and easy to isolate (is it access / core / firewall?)
Keep troubleshooting fast using the portal, server status page, and basic ping tests

I Can't See the Server

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

If you can’t see a game server or the LAN portal, start here.

First, check Known Issues.

1. Check network first

Run through Network Troubleshooting if you haven’t already (cable, link light, portal).

IP Setup Basics

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Our network uses dynamic addressing.

The Rule

Set everything to Automatic (DHCP).

My Ping is Terrible

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

High ping usually means something on your machine is eating bandwidth.

First, check Known Issues.

Tip

Quick checklist — do these first:

Network Troubleshooting (Start Here)

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Most issues are either cable/port, DHCP, or something on your PC. Work through the sections below in order.

First, check Known Issues. If it’s a global outage, you can’t fix it locally.

Networking Glossary

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

If How the Network Works was too technical, this crash course covers the essential terms you need to know.

IP Address

Your computer’s address on the network. This identifies you. On the LAN, this might change dynamically, but it must always be unique. If two devices have the same IP, neither will work (IP conflict).

Ports & Game Connections

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

If your game won’t connect or screams “Strict NAT”, read this.

First, check Known Issues.

What is NAT?

NAT (Network Address Translation) maps your internal IP to the outside world. Some games (especially older P2P titles) care a lot about your NAT type.

Quick Command Reference

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

If tech support asks you to run a command, copy it from here.

Windows

Open Command Prompt (Start > cmd > Enter).

Reporting Network Issues

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

“The internet is broken” doesn’t help us fix it. When you message support or wave down a staff member, tell us:

Staying Safe on a Shared Network

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

A LAN party is a friendly environment, but technically, it’s a public network. Hundreds of unknown devices are connected to the same switches. You don’t need to be paranoid, but basic precautions are mandatory.

Wi-Fi vs LAN

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

We provide both, but they are for different things.

Wired LAN (Ethernet)

Use for: Gaming, large downloads, stability.

Network & Connectivity on Ctrl-Alt-GG Care

Bandwidth Etiquette

Firewall and Antivirus Checks

The symptoms#

How the Network Works

High-level layout#

Segmentation (VLANs)#

Traffic flow#

Design intent#

I Can't See the Server

1. Check network first#

IP Setup Basics

The Rule#

My Ping is Terrible

Network Troubleshooting (Start Here)

Networking Glossary

IP Address#

Ports & Game Connections

What is NAT?#

Quick Command Reference

Windows#

Reporting Network Issues

Staying Safe on a Shared Network

Wi-Fi vs LAN

Wired LAN (Ethernet)#

The symptoms

High-level layout

Segmentation (VLANs)

Traffic flow

Design intent

1. Check network first

The Rule

IP Address

What is NAT?

Windows

Wired LAN (Ethernet)