Xbox: The Diagnostic Server detects Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) problems when using Xbox Live (840418)

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With the most recent release of the Dashboard, Xbox Live users can analyze router problems on a more detailed level than they could in previous releases. Through the Dashboard's Connect Status screen (Network Troubleshooter), you can access a new tool named the Diagnostic Server. The Diagnostic Server performs various tests to determine whether your router:

Has an MTU setting that is incompatible with Xbox Live.
Handles ICMP port-unreachable packets incorrectly.
Is a highly aggressive NAT-type router.

How an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) problem can prevent you from enjoying Xbox Live service

A router that handles ICMP port-unreachable packets incorrectly is susceptible to having its ports closed by packets that arrive from the Internet. If this is the case with your router, you may be severely inconvenienced and exposed to a security risk. For example, Xbox Live service will prevent you from signing in to Xbox Live, joining games, or causing bad gaming experiences for yourself and others.

How to determine if you are experiencing an ICMP router problem

To check whether your router has this issue:

Select the Y button on the Connect Status screen, and then press the A button to continue to the diagnostic read-outs.
You receive the following information in the Diagnostic Server window:
<Version #>
IC: x (aaaa - bbbb) x=0 ? ICMP test failed and there is an ICMP problem.
x=1 ? No ICMP problem.
(aaaa-bbbb) is the error code
If the IC shows a "1," the router passed the test, and ICMP packet loss is not an issue with the router.

If the IC shows a "0," the test failed. If this is the case, you have a router that is incompatible with Xbox Live. This is because of your router handling ICMP packets incorrectly. You may have to update your router's firmware or obtain one of the routers listed on one of the following Xbox Router Compatibility Web sites:

United States: http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live/connect/routercompatibility.htm

Note For Pacific Rim countries, the Router compatibility page is different for each country:

Australia: http://www.xbox.com/en-au/live/start/connect/faq/routers.htm

Hong Kong: http://www.xbox.com/zh-hk/live/connect/routercompatibility.htm

Korea: http://www.xbox.com/ko-kr/live/connect/routercompatibility.htm

New Zealand: http://www.xbox.com/en-nz/live/start/connect/faq/routers.htm

Singapore: http://www.xbox.com/zh-sg/live/connect/routercompatibility.htm

Taiwan: http://www.xbox.com/zh-tw/live/connect/routercompatibility.htm

Note For European countries, all compatible routers are exactly the same:

Europe: http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/live/start/connect/faq/routers.htm

Note If you are not using a router to connect to Xbox Live, the Diagnostic Server readings should all show a positive (pass) test result (1).

Error Codes Associated with ICMP tests

The following table gives the error codes associated with ICMP tests that pass or fail. The Success code is displayed for each successful test. Failures may be caused by DNS failures, memory shortages, diagnostic server problems, or IP Address/Port changes from the server.

Error Code	Value as displayed in Troubleshooter	Comment
XONLINE_E_LOGON_DNS_LOOKUP_FAILED	0x8015190
XONLINE_E_LOGON_DNS_LOOKUP_TIMEDOUT	0x80151904
E_OUTOFMEMORY	0x8007000E
XONLINE_E_INTERNAL_ERROR	0x80150007	Failure is indicated if a return value is received from the XDS server, but it is not what you expected.
XONLINE_E_BAD_CONTENT_TYPE	0x8015000C	The IP Address or the Port from the server changed, and you have the ICMP problem.
XONLINETASK_S_SUCCESS	0x001500F0	Everything is good. If you do not see this code, the test results are not necessarily valid. For example, the ICMP problem flag cannot be trusted.

Note If you are not using a router to connect to Xbox Live, the Diagnostic Server readings should all indicate a positive (pass) test result (1).

Diagnostic Servers