Okay I'm getting kinda scared...

[MontyXI]

Okay earlier today I accidentally unplugged my ethernet cord and shut down my PS2while my character was logged in, thinking I was logged out and everything. I didn't really think much about it at the time, because I had to leave.

Anyways I get home some 6 hours later and now I'm unable to log into POL. It just sits on the "Checking POL version..whatever...etc." part of the log in process and then after like 2 minutes and error message comes up.

It's error code POL-0020 and it has something to do with DNAS...Does this look familiar to anyone? I really hope I haven't screwed anything up. Can I fix it somehow, or will it fix itself?

My internet connection is fine, this is the same ethernet cable I use on my computer, I just swicth it to my PS2.

So, any ideas?

[RoNTi]

Try un-plugging the connection, then plugging it back in. When i use to switch my cord from computer to ps2 it would do this, rarley, but it would happen. Just try unplugging everything, then re-connecting.

[ibroyles]

Yeah, if you have a router sometimes resetting it might fix it. This happened to me the other day(sort of, it was my comp that wouldn't access the internet, and FFXI was working fine), and I just reset the router and it worked.

[MontyXI]

Okay I unplugged everything and that didn't fix it. I also tried running the "Check files" option on both POL and FFXI but didn't recover any problems....

Here's the message that I get when I try and log in:

Version Update Communication Error
Error code: POL-0200

The DNS server is not responding. Please try again later, or verify that all cables, networking devices, and network settings are properly connected and configured.

Has anyone had this before? I really wish I could get it fixed.

[LawDawg]

..... sigh.. you remind me of the person who didn't know how to dial the phone properly... REREAD THE ERROR MESSAGE:

Version Update Communication Error
Error code: POL-0200

The DNS server is not responding. Please try again later, or verify that all cables, networking devices, and network settings are properly connected and configured.

===

If you don't know how to fix that, use google.

[Rubik]

LawDawg, I am just curious - do you EVER say anything nice?

When you unplug everything, Try turning the PS2 back on before you plug the modem back in. The modem looks at the address of whatever it is plugged into so if you swap from PC to PS2 without resetting the modem there is a chance that you will have problems.

Incidentally, this is the same error my wife got during the last server maintainence. I was able to log in and update PC but she got the DNAS error on her PS2. After maintainence was complete she was fine.

I am assuming from the following:

this is the same ethernet cable I use on my computer, I just swicth it to my PS2

you are not using a router. If you are there are some other potential issues.

[LawDawg]

Originally posted by Rubik
LawDawg, I am just curious - do you EVER say anything nice?

mmmmmmmmmm nope. I'm a stingy old man who browses internet forums looking for people asking stupid questions and finding pleasure pointing out their laziness and inability to read.

[Kanopus]

lol

I think it's funny - so I follow his postings and interject when I can ^^

[Ninjitsu]

Cable modems tend to 'bind' themselves to a single machine. They store the MAC address of the first device they see plugged into them, and store it as the only valid host for service. Anyway, if you plugged anything into the cable modem after it was already providing connectivity to your PS2, reset the cable modem with the PS2 plugged into it.

ISPs were doing that as a standard to keep people from using more than 1 machine on a cable modem with a hub, but everybody and their mom use NAT routers, so it is pointless. Try resetting your cable modem.

You may have already tried that, but I wanted to let you know about that incase it could be the issue. Another thing you can do is if the problem still persists, try plugging a known working machine into the drop and see if it works.

DNS = Domain Name Service/System
Bascially, it is a service on the internet that takes numeric IP addresses and stores names for them. Your system needs DNS because it asks for the IP address to be returned for a name that it is looking for. That is what that error means.

I hope you get your issue resolved.

Good luck man

[Wings of Icarus]

Happened to me yesterday -- my NIC went to shit -- just replaced it.

[Macht]

The quick and easy way that should solve your problem is basically what Ninjitsu said to do. Power off your cable modem give it about 1- 2 minutes (This is the life span an established connection is given till it's concidered dead). Power up the modem make sure it registers itself properly give it about 1 minute after that then attempt to try and connect.

Most likely though if you arn't using a router and have your PC connected directly to the Cable Modem then most likely the ISP saw that changing of MACs occuring and rejected your PS2 one. As far as I'm aware the ISP still try to enforce established connections so switching your cable modem connection comes with that risk.

I know the ISP I currently use enforces it still, the only way they allow multiple connections is by a router. They do this not only keep track of their users established connections but it also saves them resources and let me streamline the connection for more improved performance. It is highly recommended by my ISP to use a router if you want multiple connections.

EDIT:

If your ISP has any similar policies like that, then may set connections to be valid for 1 day. So each day you'll be able to have 1 MAC address assigned. Again it's just shooting in the dark to resolve the problem since we know nothing about your network.

[MontyXI]

Okay I've realized its not my internet, or connection. It can't be. I've never had problems with that before, plus I've noticed that the login process gets passed the "Checking internet..." bah blah part and it gets stuck at the "Checking PlayOnline View version..." were it sits for a few minutes and then gives me the error message.

I have no clue what to do. I tried rebooting my modem and everything, but that didn't work...

Anymore ideas?

[Rodin]

Try calling your ISP and checking if they're having problems with their DNS Servers, if you have AOL get a new ISP (Whenever I would use AOL I would disconnect like every hour or so while in a party, now that I have Suscom I don't really DC anymore.) If there are not any problems try reinstalling everything on your HDD. Good luck!

[MontyXI]

How do I go about reinstalling POL? I don't want my handle, content IDs, and character data to go away. Can I just delete and reinstall the actual program, while keeping my saved data?

Can anyone run me through it?

[Rodin]

All of your data except for your macros are stored on Square's servers. I've deleted and reinstalled POL on my PC a lot of times. First you'll want to uninstall everything, then just put in the FFXI disk and reinstall it, if you have a 56k modem it will take a long time, but it could probably work.