proxypunch

README

proxypunch

This tool has been superseded by autopunch, a much more user-friendly and simpler tool to do the same thing! Please consider downloading and using autopunch rather than proxypunch.

This program lets you host & connect to friends to play peer-to-peer games without having to open or redirect any port.

Technical details: proxypunch creates a user-friendly UDP proxy/tunnel between two peers by hole punching the user's NAT with a custom STUN-like server which additionally "matchmakes" users based on their internal port rather than their NAT-ed port.

How to use

• Download the latest version for Windows 64 bits (for other OS check the latest release page)
• Simply double-click the downloaded executable file to run it; there is no setup or anything so put the file somewhere you'll remember
• If a Windows Security Alert popup appears, check all checkboxes and click on "Allow access"
• If prompted for an update, press Enter to accept the update; proxypunch will update and restart automatically
• Choose between server (hosting) and client (connecting to a host) by typing s or c, then pressing Enter
• Instructions continue below depending on your choice

Server / Hosting

• When prompted for a port, choose any port (if you're not sure, choose any randon number between 10000 and 60000), type it and press Enter
• In your game, start your server / start hosting on the port you chose
• Ask your peer to connect to the shown host and port, the peer must connect with proxypunch as explained below, not directly
• Wait for the peer to connect, then play & profit
• When you're done playing with this peer, stop hosting, and close the proxypunch window (start it again and repeat the process to play with someone else)
• Next time you run proxypunch, you can simply press Enter to use the same settings as last time you connected

Client / Connecting to a host

• Wait for the person hosting to send you a host and port to connect to
• Enter the host and port when prompted to by typing it and pressing Enter
• In your game, connect to the shown host and port (not the host and port your peer gave you)
• Profit & play
• When you're done playing with this peer, disconnect, and close the proxypunch window (start it again and repeat the process to play with someone else)
• Next time you run proxypunch, you can simply press Enter to use the same settings as last time you connected

Troubleshooting

• If you experience any issue when restarting proxypunch to play with someone else, try to use a different port every time your run proxypunch
• If you have any other issue or feedback, either contact me on Discord at cc#6439 or open an issue on Github

Advanced usage

• Command-line flags are available for quick/unattended start, run proxypunch -help to review the flags