Two Computer Matches using null modem cable?

[bigo]

I'm trying to setup two separate computer matches using nul modem cable. The drivers are installed but Fritz 10 in Vista Ultimate x64 on both computers match does not begin.

[CRoberson]

I've not succeeded in making that work either.

However, there is an alternative assuming you have the machines
on the same network. You set up a network pipe with some free software.
One machine runs an engine only while the other machine runs
the GUI and one engine. You point the GUI to the network pipe
which just passes protocol commands over the net to the other
machine to the remote engine.

Look here for the network pipe software:
http://home.arcor.de/bernhard.wallner/netChess.html

[bigo]

I've not succeeded in making that work either.

However, there is an alternative assuming you have the machines
on the same network. You set up a network pipe with some free software.
One machine runs an engine only while the other machine runs
the GUI and one engine. You point the GUI to the network pipe
which just passes protocol commands over the net to the other
machine to the remote engine.

Look here for the network pipe software:
http://home.arcor.de/bernhard.wallner/netChess.html

Obviously you have alot more knowledge about this then i do, I couldn't get the client to install I'm using Vista Ultimate X64 Both computers.

Anything written simply about how to do this would be helpful . I would love to be able to play my two computers against each other without having to manually do it.

[M ANSARI]

The netchess software is great and is what most people use for remote chess engine loading. However I have heard that it has quite a bit of latency that can be problematic in fast time control engine vs. engine matches.

I really wish someone would come out with a very robust LAN based system which would allow home tourneys using totally different hardware setups.

With regards to how to get the client sofware working. It is not so simple as you have to configure your router and some ports to make it work. You then assign a specific IP address to each computer or engine ... then you load that engine from "add UCI engine" in the CB GUI. I haven't tried it on another GUI but it should work the same. This way to make a tourney you simply do the tourney the normal way and add the engines as they were named when you loaded the engine in the GUI. By adding a DYDNS address, you can have the DYDNS address always point at your router and thus you, or anyone else with internet connectivity can load your engine remotely. I used to do that quite a bit when I had a very noisy vapor cooled computer that I would load from my laptop in a quiet place at home.

[Bill Rogers]

There used to be a piece of software called RS232 that was just made for this purpose. A web search may help you find it.
Bill

[ernest]

There used to be a piece of software called RS232

If you like DOS!

[parrish]

... I would love to be able to play my two computers against each other without having to manually do it.

You could have them play against each other on a chess server.

[CRoberson]

I've not succeeded in making that work either.

However, there is an alternative assuming you have the machines
on the same network. You set up a network pipe with some free software.
One machine runs an engine only while the other machine runs
the GUI and one engine. You point the GUI to the network pipe
which just passes protocol commands over the net to the other
machine to the remote engine.

Look here for the network pipe software:
http://home.arcor.de/bernhard.wallner/netChess.html

Obviously you have alot more knowledge about this then i do, I couldn't get the client to install I'm using Vista Ultimate X64 Both computers.

Anything written simply about how to do this would be helpful . I would love to be able to play my two computers against each other without having to manually do it.

I run the server on a linux box and the client on Windows XP.
It works fine as per the directions that came with the software.
If both server and client are on your side of the firewall, then there
shouldn't be any firewall adjustments needed unless you have
some ports blocked.

If you want me to help, you will have to be detailed in what you
did and what happened. The problem may be a mistake on your
part or it may be Vista. I can't tell based on the level of info that
you have given so far.

Generally, speaking:
1) the server has to be started first.
2) you can use ipconfig to get the ip addresses for each computer.
3) You create the specific client by running the client program
which allows you to create multiple clients - one for each
remote program you run.
4) Run the GUI = Fritz. Load the resulting client from step 3 as
an engine.

Basically, I need you to follow the directions that came with it in
an web file called RemoteEngineReadme.mht

Tell me what you did at each step and what happened. From that
we can make progress.

[CRoberson]

The netchess software is great and is what most people use for remote chess engine loading. However I have heard that it has quite a bit of latency that can be problematic in fast time control engine vs. engine matches.

I really wish someone would come out with a very robust LAN based system which would allow home tourneys using totally different hardware setups.

With regards to how to get the client sofware working. It is not so simple as you have to configure your router and some ports to make it work. You then assign a specific IP address to each computer or engine ... then you load that engine from "add UCI engine" in the CB GUI. I haven't tried it on another GUI but it should work the same. This way to make a tourney you simply do the tourney the normal way and add the engines as they were named when you loaded the engine in the GUI. By adding a DYDNS address, you can have the DYDNS address always point at your router and thus you, or anyone else with internet connectivity can load your engine remotely. I used to do that quite a bit when I had a very noisy vapor cooled computer that I would load from my laptop in a quiet place at home.

Each time I noticed the latency, there were multiple clients accidentally
running on my system. Sometimes they don't die properly.
There have been times where I thought latencies may be an
issue with only one client, but I couldn't prove it. So, accidental
multiple clients may be part of the problem. Yes, they were
multiple clients trying to connect to the same server.

My first guess at latency issues (under normal conditions) for
this type of software is buffered I/O. A simple solution is liberal
use of a flush() command in the program.

[sje]

Generally, a null modem cable is used in the context of supporting RS-232 or RS-442 serial communication. This was a technique commonly used in the pre-Ethernet LAN days. but it was old even back when I had to use it in the late 1980s to hook up a Mac and a PC.

Today, there is the technique of using an Ethernet crossover 10/100base-t cable to connect two machines to form an ad-hoc LAN. It can work, but I'd suggest a rather more general solution of getting a hub (or better, a switch) and setting up a real LAN. Afterward, the hub/switch can be connected to the router that connects to the Internet at large. The idea is to build a general solution, not just a chess solution. This way you can better use the assistance available on the net.

There is also the possibility of doing a wireless solution using an 802.11b/g/n wireless router and wireless adapters on each computer. But if the machines are all desktops and arent going to be moved around too much, then a cabled solution is faster, simpler, and more secure.

I'd recommend spending a little bit more if possible and getting a gigabit switch and a gigabit router. (I have several of the first, but only a single 100 megabit router.)