GUIDE Portable Siljo multiplayer relay host for Windows

Siljo Relay Host – Looking for volunteer relay hosts worldwide

Hi everyone,

I’m working on a multiplayer relay system for Siljo, mainly for older PC games that use things like DOSBox IPX, nullmodem/TCP networking and PCem-style networking.

The goal is simple:

instead of having all players connect through one relay server in Slovenia, I want to build a small network of relay servers around the world so players can automatically use a relay that is closer to them.

This should improve latency and make online multiplayer much more practical for people in different regions.

I’ve made a small portable Windows application called Siljo Relay Host.

It is designed to be as easy as possible to run:

- no installer required

- fully portable

- automatic Node/Python/Caddy runtime setup

- automatic Windows Firewall configuration

- automatic UPnP port mapping where supported

- DOSBox IPX relay support

- nullmodem / TCP relay support

- PCem relay support

- live status and diagnostics

- no game files are required

Basically, you extract the ZIP, run SiljoRelayHost.exe as Administrator, click Prepare and then Start Relay.

The relay only handles multiplayer network traffic. You don’t need to run the Siljo website or any game server yourself.

I’m currently looking for people who would be willing to host a relay in different parts of the world.

Especially useful regions would be:

- Australia / New Zealand

- North America

- South America

- Western Europe

- Eastern Europe

- Asia

- Africa

You don’t need a powerful PC.

A machine with a stable internet connection that can stay online is much more important than CPU or GPU performance.

Ideally you should have:

- Windows 10 or Windows 11 x64

- a reasonably stable internet connection

- a public IPv4 address

- UPnP enabled on your router, OR the ability to manually forward ports

If UPnP does not work, manual port forwarding is possible.

For the test mode, the required ports are:

TCP 18080

UDP 13011

TCP/UDP 3300-3399

The application will show your public IP and diagnostics, so setup/testing should be fairly easy.

If your ISP uses CGNAT, direct hosting may not work unless your ISP can provide you with a public IPv4 address.

I will provide the relay key and public hostname for your relay.

You would only need to run the application and keep the relay online.

I’m especially interested in finding a few people in geographically distant regions so we can test latency, routing and reliability before this becomes part of the normal Siljo multiplayer system.

If you are interested in helping, please reply or send me a message with:

- your country / region

- approximate internet connection speed

- whether you have a public IPv4 address if you know

- whether you are able to configure port forwarding on your router if needed

This is still being tested, so feedback and testing are also very welcome.

Thanks!

Download Portable Siljo multiplayer relay host for Windows

Siljo Relay Host - Quick Setup

1. Extract the portable ZIP somewhere on your PC, for example:

C:\SiljoRelayHost

2. Run:

SiljoRelayHost.exe

3. Click:

Restart as Administrator

This is needed so the app can prepare the Windows Firewall rules.

4. I will give you these two values:

Relay key

Public hostname

Enter them in the "Provided by Siljo" section.

5. You can choose your own Name, for example:

Siljo Australia

6. For the first test, leave:

Mode = Test

Enable UPnP = ON

7. Click:

Save

8. Click:

Prepare

The first Prepare can take a minute because Python and Node may need to be downloaded.

9. When Prepare finishes successfully, click:

Start relay

10. Wait a few seconds.

The status panel should ideally show:

Relay: ONLINE

UPnP: OK

Caddy: OK

Manager: OK

PCem relay: OK

11. Click:

Diagnostics

12. In the Log section click:

Copy

and send me the copied log.

13. Also click:

Copy connection info

and send me that too.

I ALSO NEED YOUR PUBLIC IP ADDRESS.

The app should show your Public IP in the status/diagnostics information. Please send that to me as well.

IMPORTANT - IF UPnP FAILS:

If UPnP is not supported by your router, or the app says that UPnP mapping failed, you will need to manually forward the ports in your router to the LAN/local IP address of the PC running Siljo Relay Host.

For TEST MODE, manually forward:

18080 TCP

13011 UDP

3300-3399 TCP

3300-3399 UDP

Forward them to the local IP address of the relay PC, for example:

192.168.1.50

You do NOT need to forward the Manager port. The Manager service is local/internal.

If you are unsure how to do port forwarding, send me:

- your router model

- the relay PC's local/LAN IP

- your public IP

- the Diagnostics log

and I can help.

If your router port forwarding is correct but the relay is still unreachable, your ISP may be using CGNAT. If that happens, let me know.

SECURITY:

- The Manager token is secret.

- It is only used between the Siljo backend and your relay server for administration.

- Players do not need it.

- Please do not post the Manager token publicly.

For the first test, keep the app in TEST MODE.

I will tell you when to switch it to PRODUCTION.

Keep SiljoRelayHost.exe and all its folders together. The app is portable and keeps its config, runtime, logs and state inside the same folder.

If Prepare, Start relay or Diagnostics shows any error, click Copy in the Log section and send me the full log.

Download Portable Siljo multiplayer relay host for Windows