Diagnosing Xbox Live Connections with the Xbox Dashboard
Many Xbox Live gamers set up a home network to connect their Xbox console to their broadband Internet connection. Most home networks use a home gateway (a combined cable/DSL modem and router), a stand-alone router, or a PC to share a single broadband connection. Setting up your home networking devices properly significantly improves your Xbox Live experience.
You can use the latest Xbox Dashboard tools to solve Xbox Live connection issues and learn more about your home network in order to optimize your Xbox Live experience. The Xbox Dashboard can run diagnostic tests based on three technologies: ICMP, MTU, and NAT.
Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)
For a great experience, your router or gateway must properly handle a certain type of Internet traffic called ICMP port unreachable traffic. ICMP stands for Internet Control Message Protocol. It’s not important that you know much about ICMP, but you should be sure your home gateway or router properly handles this kind of traffic.
How does ICMP traffic influence Xbox Live?
If your router does not handle ICMP traffic properly, you won’t be able to connect to Xbox Live.
How can I tell if my home network properly handles ICMP traffic?
With the latest update of the Xbox Dashboard, you can now determine whether your router or home gateway is handling ICMP traffic properly!
To see your ICMP test results in the Xbox Dashboard
- Select Xbox Live to sign in to Xbox Live from the Xbox Dashboard.
- From the Connect Status screen, press the Y button on your controller.
- Press the A button to see diagnostic information. Find IC: x, where x is your ICMP test result of either 0 or 1. 0 means your router or home gateway has failed the ICMP test and is not compatible with Xbox Live. 1 means your router or home gateway has passed the ICMP test, and you’re good to go for Xbox Live!
What if my device doesn’t properly handle ICMP traffic?
If the IC value is 0, the test failed and your device is not properly handling ICMP packets. Typically this is not a setting you can change, though you may be able to update your device’s firmware from the device manufacturer.
Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU)
One setting a router or gateway can influence is the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU). The MTU determines the largest datagram than can be transmitted by an IP interface (without it needing to be broken down into smaller units). So what does MTU have to do with playing games? Read on…
What does MTU do on Xbox Live?
The MTU of your router or gateway must be greater than or equal to 1365. If it is less than 1365, you won’t be able to connect to XboxLive.
How do I check my MTU size?
There are two ways. You can check your router or gateway manufacturer’s documentation for your device’s MTU setting. Or, you can let Xbox Live help you. With the latest update of the Xbox Dashboard, you can now determine if your MTU setting is too small for Xbox Live.
To see your MTU setting in the Xbox Dashboard
- Select Xbox Live to sign in to XboxLive from the Xbox Dashboard.
- From the Connect Status screen, press the Ybutton on your controller.
- Press the A button to see diagnostic information. Find MT: x, where x is your MTU test result of either 0 or 1. 0 means your MTU size is not 1365 or greater and it won’t work with Xbox Live. 1 means your MTU size is 1365 or greater and you’re good to go for XboxLive!
What if my MTU size is not compatible with Xbox Live?
If the MT value is 0, you have a router or gateway that is incompatible with Xbox Live because of its MTU setting. You’ll need to change the MTU setting on your device. See your device documentation to accomplish this.
Network Address Translation (NAT)
You might have both a PC and your Xbox console on your home network. When you have multiple devices on your home network sharing one Internet connection, the devices typically perform this sharing through Network Address Translation (NAT).
Note NAT is sometimes called Network Address and Port Translation (NAPT).
What does NAT do on Xbox Live?
Not all devices perform this NAT function the same way. We’ve classified NAT types into three categories: open, moderate, and strict. Devices that perform strict or moderate NAT can limit the ability of gamers to find each other, participate in sessions, or hear each other on Xbox Live.
How do I find out my NAT type?
If your router is Xbox Live Compatible certified, your NAT type is open. If you want to check the NAT type of any router, XboxLive Compatible certified or not, you can do so using the Xbox Dashboard.
To see your NAT type in the Xbox Dashboard
- Select Xbox Live to sign in to XboxLive from the Xbox Dashboard.
- From the Connect Status screen, press theY button on your controller.
- Press the A button to see diagnostic information. Find NT: x, where x is your NAT type. 1 means open, 2 means moderate, and 3 means strict.
What does NAT mean to me and my friends?
To make this easy for everyone, we’ve created a chart for your use.
| | To Open | To Moderate | To Strict |
| From Open | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| From Moderate | Yes | Yes | No |
| From Strict | Yes | No | No |
Suppose you want to host an XboxLive game and you’re using a router that’s classified as open. Armed with that information and using the chart above, you can be confident that your router’s NAT type will not keep your friends (who may also be using routers) from finding your session, hearing your voice, and enjoying a great game.
But let’s say you’re behind a router that’s a strict NAT. When you want to host a game, you now have something to consider. Anyone else who’s behind a router that uses a moderate or strict NAT may not be able to connect to your session.
Let’s look at one final example going the other direction: you joining someone else’s game. Will you be able to participate fully with everyone in the game? If you have a moderate NAT on your home network, you can get an idea of what may happen by looking at the chart. If the players you want to play with are using strict NATs, you will likely experience problems. You may not be able to hear them and they may not be able to hear you. You may not be able to see those players at all.
Note NATs don’t affect lag; this is all about connecting to other players!
What does each NAT type mean?
It doesn’t have to have anything to do with security. A router performing “open” NAT is no less secure than a router performing “strict” NAT. The classification system boils down to something called a port assignment policy.
- Open NAT means that either the port assignment policy is minimal or the router has a fully compliant version of UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) enabled by default.
- Moderate NAT means that the port assignment policy is minimal, but there is address or port filtering taking place.
- Strict NAT means the port assignment policy is aggressive.
Avoiding Home Networking Issues
Nobody wants to worry about ICMP packets, MTU size, or NAT types. To avoid these issues, you should use Xbox Live Compatible certified devices. These routers not only properly handle ICMP, MTU, and NAT issues, but are also designed to provide the best possible experience by eliminating a bunch of other issues that can occur with non–Xbox Live Compatible routers.
