Dedicated Server on same Computer.. Problem!

Ok.. i was wondering how this would work and if it is possible. I have halo 2 installed on my computer. I also have the dedicated server installed on my computer as well. I have gotten as far as putting the DS as a service for windows as well as I have created my custom .hpl file. The Server is up and running and I can see it when I browse for a server in the Halo 2 game itself. Problem is when i click on it to join the server it tells me that I cant join and to try again later. All others that I have contacted are able to play in the server but I cant from my computer. the server is running off a seperate live account, than the one i use to actually play the game. Ive tried diabling the firewall but to no avail. My router has ports forwarded to my computer (http port 88 and http/udp port 3074). I also tried to DMZ the firewall to allow anything to go through but that didnt work either.. I know its communicating since I can see it. Just cant join the server. Any help would be greatly appreciated.. I have another computer I can use to host DS but unless I have to, I dont want to have to dig that thing out just to run one server.

You cant play on the same computer your ds is running on. Well as far as i've herd. So you might wanna dig that comp out unless its crap.

Ok, After some trial and error I have managed to be able to run the server and the game off the same computer which also allows me to join it as well as others.. We'll call it a bit of creative inginuity. If anyone would like a tutorial on this process, please let me know. My gamertag is icesick06.

Actually, I'd like to know how you managed to get the DS to work on your machine AND play on it at the same time.

Maybe you can PM me if you don't want to publicly announce it?

Well, it's invite only, only the people you "invite" can join.

And If you mean you already invited them and they still can't join...then I don't know. It doesn't have to be the host to invite, it can be anyone that's in the server, I think.

I will post a tutorial some time this coming week.. Right now im inbetween jobs and finding a new one is more important at the moment. Things you will need though are a copy of vista, a copy of server, a decent computer with at least a core duo. You can also use two nic's if you want but only one is neccesary. Later.

What did you do? Create a virtual machine and run the game on one OS and the game on another? Why else would you need two operating systems and a computer with at least a core duo?

lol, laggy servers here we come :P

Maybe he did something with 2 different product keys then different ports for the dedicated server. But I really don't know what he did.

Even 2 different keys won't work on the same computer.

I think if you have two NICs that might work. I'm not going to try. I have no idea how to get them both connected to one internet.