Ventrilo is a popular voice chat program used by players on World of Warcraft. It can be used for many other purposes. The reason I use it is to aid myself and others while raiding. Instead of typing we can just talk. The World of Warcraft client already has a built in voice chat system, but people have said that it causes lag issues. This will pretty much be a how to guide on how to set up your own vent server. The free public version I believe is allowed to have 8-10 users on at anytime. If you want to use it with more options then you would have to pay for the service. Here is a screen-shot of where to download both the client and server program on their official site (click for larger image):
Ventrilo Download Page
The various links are the different types of software other people use. I use Windows XP so I would click on these links to download:
Windows i386 – 32bit – Win2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, Windows 7 (Version 3.0.5)
Windows i386 – 32bit (Version 3.0.3)
The other important information you need to get before you leave their site is finding the IP address that other people will need to connect to your home server. Just click on their menu link labeled My IP:
Ventrilo page to find your public IP address
After installing the downloaded programs you will need to input your home server IP. For example you can find this in your computer’s control panel – Network Connections (Local Area Connection):
Look up your IP in the control panel
When you click on the properties of your local area connection it will have some details that includes your home server IP address:
Finding your home server IP
There is also another step getting pass the firewall of your router if any. I use a Dynalink router so entering the details in the control panel section of the router is needed. This can be found in the advanced page – virtual server (Port Forwarding):
Control Panel of Router
I have also taken another screen-shot of adding a new port forwarding rule. I am adding a user defined rule and labeled it Vent. I added in my personal home server IP. For the TCP/UDP protocol you must place a default port number 3784 into those boxes. Add another port number 6100 in all the boxes for the protocol UDP. Then click the apply button:
Getting advanced with your router
After you install the Ventrilo server program there are two things you must open for it to work. First find the file ventrilo_srv that can be opened by Notepad and add in your public server IP that was found in the official Ventrilo site section of My IP. You can add the line at the end (Intf=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) as seen in the bottom:
Open the ventrilo_srv file with Notepad
You can also change your passwords and such in the ventrilo_srv file. The second thing you must do to start your home server is open up the execution file Ventrilo Server. If you added shortcuts in your start up menu then it would be easier to find. This will show something like this:
Opened Ventrilo Server
Now that the server is ready you can start using the client program. The first step is adding a new user. Clicking on the arrow will open up a new window. Simply give yourself a screen name of how you want others to see you:
Give a name to yourself
The next step is adding your home server into the client. Click on the arrow next to Server and it will open up a new window called Connection Editor. The home server IP you will add here that you found from your local area connection. The default port number is 3784 and the Admin Password if any that you changed in the ventrilo_srv file:
Getting started with the Ventrilo Client
Once everything is filled in you can click on the connect button and then you will be connected:
Get connected using the Ventrilo Client
There are also other options you may wish to change, but is not essential. My preference at the moment is to click on Push to Talk Hotkey (PTT Mode) and remove the check box for Play Key Clicks:
Additional Options
Now getting other people connected or joining other people’s vent you will need 2-3 things.
1. Their host name which is different for each server (The IP found in the My IP section of Ventrilo’s official site).
2. The port number (in this case yours is 3784).
3. The password if any.
So, for example if I wanted you to join my vent I would give you the details (of course I changed the passwords so please don’t try to connect to mine):
1. 220.244.248.111 (host name)
2. 3784 (port number)
3. 000 (password)
