whats IP and how do i check if i have a firewall

[sharkman]

i keep going linkdead and acraig said to do something with IP instead of name. what does that mean? and how do i check if i have a firewall? and how do i turn it off if i do have one? im a newb

[Grakrim]

The textual name of a website or computer (ex. \"planeshift.fragnetics.com\" ) is just a human synonym for the computer\'s own referance, its IP address.  IP addresses are analogous to your street address in that it identifys your \"place of residence\" on the internet.

From the \"About Linkdead\" thread: The IP is 203.81.47.74
Just use the IP address in place of the textual hostname (i.e. planeshift.fragnetics.com)

[edit]
Forgot about the second question, D\'oh!
You would probably know if you have a firewall, unless you\'re on a network that you don\'t own.  In which case, ask the network administrator
[/edit]

[sharkman]

thanks

[Azulax]

Despite using the IP address, I\'m consistently linkdead (on that note, can the username Azulax be restored?  thanks...)

Could BlackIce be to blame?  It doesn\'t interfere with NWN, War3, JediKnight, or any of my other online games.  Any ideas on what I\'m missing here?

[Ghostslayer]

Since BlackICE is a firewall, i would have to say that its most likely to blame.  I haven\'t used that program myself, but if you can configure it to allow UDP through port 13331 it should work.
If not, just try turning it off, and if Planeshift works, you will know that it is to blame