1. What is Xbox Live?

Xbox Live is Microsoft's online service for the Xbox and Xbox 360 console.

On November 15, 2002, Microsoft launched its Xbox Live online gaming service, allowing subscribers to play online Xbox games with (or against) other subscribers all around the world and download new content for their games to the system's hard drive. This online service works exclusively with a broadband Internet connection. Approximately 250,000 subscribers had signed up within 2 months of Live's launch. In July 2004, Microsoft announced that Xbox Live had reached 1 million subscribers, and only a year later, in July 2005, that membership had reached 2 million.

2. What do I need to use Xbox LIVE?

You need:
(1) An Xbox or Xbox 360
(2) A broadband Internet connection (cable/DSL/etc - NO dial-up)
(3) A .net account go here if you haven't got one.
(4) A credit card

Internet Service Providers (ISP)

To use Xbox Live you must have a broadband connection. This can be DSL or Cable. There are a number of differnt ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and Xbox Live will work with most of them, ensure you let them know before hand that you wish to use Xbox Live.

The performance of Xbox Live will vary by ISP and network conditions online

. Not all Internet service providers support Xbox Live play. Dial-up (for example, 56K), ISDN, and satellite Internet services are not supported. Depending on your service and the configuration of your home network, additional hardware may be required to connect.

Xbox Live Connection Methods

Direct Connection

To get up and running fast, the direct connection is your best bet. Like the name suggests, it connects your Xbox console directly to your modem. It's terrific if all you want to do is play games. If you want to share your Internet connection with your PC while using Xbox Live, choose a different connection type.

1.Turn off your Xbox console and your broadband modem before connecting any cables. Unplug your modem from power to turn it off.
2.Take your Ethernet cable and connect one end to the Ethernet port on your modem and the other end to the Ethernet port on the back of the Xbox console. Most modems use a standard (straight-through) Ethernet cable, but some modems use a crossover Ethernet cable. Check the documentation that came with your modem for more information.
3.Turn on your modem, then your Xbox console, with no disc in the disc tray.
4.If you've already used your Xbox 360 system for offline play, the Xbox Dashboard will open to the Xbox Live area. Select the Xbox Live banner. When you see the Xbox Live Marketplace you'll know you're connected to Xbox Live.
If this is the first time you've turned on your Xbox 360 console, see Create Your Gamer Profile to get started with both the Xbox 360 system and Xbox Live play. If you're unable to connect to Xbox Live, the Xbox Dashboard provides an automatic network trouble shooter in the System area (under Network Settings) to help you connect.

Router Connection

This is the best way to share your Internet service with your PC. Choose a router connection if:
.You want to share your high-speed Internet connection with your PC (or other device).
.Your cable modem supports an Ethernet connection.
.You want to be able to play on Xbox Live whether your PC is on or off.

Router Connection

A router connection is usually the best way to connect to Xbox Live because you can your PC and your Xbox console can use your Internet service at the same time. Make sure you use a router that works with Xbox Live.

1.Before you connect any cables turn off your Xbox console, broadband router, broadband modem, and PC. Unplug your modem from power to turn it off.
2.Take an Ethernet cable and connect one end to the Ethernet out port on the modem and the other end to the Ethernet in or WAN port on the router. 3.Take another Ethernet cable and connect one end to one of the Ethernet out ports on the router and the other end to the Ethernet port on the PC NIC.
4.Take yet another Ethernet cable and connect one end to one of the Ethernet out ports on the router and the other end to the Ethernet port on the back of the Xbox console.
5.Turn on your modem, then your router, then your PC.
6.Make sure that your PC can access the Internet. If not, the router may require a specific configuration to let your PC access the Internet. Check the router documentation for help configuring the router using your PC.
7.Turn on your Xbox console with no disc in the disc tray.
8.If you've already used your Xbox 360 system for offline play, the Xbox Dashboard will open to the Xbox Live area. Select the Xbox Live banner. When you see the Xbox Live Marketplace you'll know you're connected to Xbox Live.
A: The following ports need to be opened if you're using a proxy or firewall:
* UDP 88
* UDP 3074
* TCP 3074
If you're using just a NAT (Network Address Translation) device, it's not necessary to do this.
A *better* option is to use DMZ.

DMZ

On the router there should be an option to enable (DMZ) DMZ basically means "Demilitarised Zone. This is a feature for Network Devices that need certain ports to be open. When this is set pointing to the Xbox ip address. It will basically open every port directly to the Xbox. You should go to your Xbox 360 settings, From the "System Blade" of the Xbox 360 Dashboard, you can select "Network Settings". Inside this menu are "Test Xbox Live Connection", "Test Media Connection", "Edit Settings", "Windows Connect Now", and "Restore to Factory Defaults". Under edit settings you will find "IP Settings", and get the IP address of your Xbox. Then enable manual on IP settings . Then in your router, enable DMZ and then enter the IP address of you Xbox 360 in the space provided. Then reset your router.

Gateway Connection

A gateway connection is much like a router connection in that it allows both your PC and your Xbox 360? video game and entertainment system to access the Internet at the same time.
To make a gateway connection to Xbox Live:
1. Before you connect any cables, turn off your gateway, PC, and Xbox 360 console. (Unplug your gateway from its power source to turn it off.)
2. Make sure that your gateway remains connected to the Internet with an F-type coaxial cable for cable ISPs or a standard RJ-11 telephone cord for DSL ISPs.
3. Connect one end of an Ethernet cable to one of the Ethernet output (LAN) ports on the gateway. Connect the other end to the Ethernet port on your PC.
4. Connect one end of the second Ethernet cable to another one of the Ethernet output (LAN) ports on the gateway. Connect the other end to the Ethernet port on the back of the Xbox 360 console.
5 Turn on your gateway, then your PC.
6 Make sure your PC can access the Internet. If not, you may need to configure the gateway for Internet access. For help configuring the gateway using your PC, check the instructions that came with the gateway.
7 Turn on your Xbox 360 console with no disc in the disc tray.
8 If you've already used your Xbox 360 system for offline play, the Xbox Dashboard will open to the Xbox Live area. Select the Xbox Live banner. When you see the Xbox Live Marketplace you'll know you're connected to Xbox Live.

Windows ICS Connection

Microsoft Windows Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) uses your PC to share one Internet connection with multiple devices, including your Xbox 360? video game and entertainment system.

To connect to Xbox Live using Windows ICS through your USB modem:

1. Before connecting any cables, turn off your cable or DSL modem, PC, and Xbox 360 console. (If you have an external modem, unplug it from its power source to turn it off.)
2. Connect one end of your USB cable to the modem's USB port. Connect the other end to a USB port on your PC.
3. Connect one end of your Ethernet cable to your PC's Ethernet port. Connect the other end to the Ethernet port on the back of your Xbox 360 console.
4. Turn on your modem and your PC.
5. From your PC, configure Windows ICS to share your Internet connection.
# Log on to your PC as Administrator or Owner.
# In Windows XP, ICS is automatically loaded during installation.
# On the taskbar, click Start, right-click My Network Places, and select Properties.
# Depending on what you have installed on your machine, you can connect using either a Local Area Connection or a PPPoE connection.

Local Area Connection

1. Right-click the connection that you use to connect to the Internet. (You may see multiple connections listed, depending on your network.)
2. On the shortcut menu, click Properties and then click the Advanced tab. 3. Below Internet Connection Sharing, click the Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection check box.
4. Click OK.
The connection to the Internet is shared to your Xbox console.

PPPoE connection

1. Below the Broadband heading, right-click PPPoE Connection. Note You might see the name of your ISP, for example, earthlink, rather than PPPoe.
2. On the shortcut menu, click Properties and then click the Advanced tab.
3. Below Internet Connection Sharing, click the Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection check box.
4. From the Home network

Connection drop-down list, select the networking connection to which your computer is connected (for example, Local Area Connection).
5. Click OK.
The connection to the Internet is shared to your Xbox console.

To connect your Xbox? console to Xbox Live with your wireless router:

1. Set up a Router Connection from your wireless router to the Internet.
2. According to your router manufacturer’s instructions, write down the SSID and channel of your wireless router. If you are unfamiliar with your router's SSID and channel, see your router documentation.
3. According to your adapter manufacturer's instructions, connect your wireless-to-Ethernet bridge to your Xbox console.
4. From the Xbox Dashboard, select Settings, Network Settings, Advanced, and Wireless.
5. From the Wireless Status screen, select Settings.
6. Your router can be configured to either broadcast or not broadcast its SSID. If your router is configured to broadcast its SSID, see step 6a below. If it is configured to not broadcast its SSID, see step 6b below. The Xbox Dashboard will list the SSIDs that your Xbox Compatible wireless bridge finds. If the Xbox Dashboard doesn’t show your router's SSID, your router isn’t broadcasting the SSID.
a. If the SSID is broadcast, select the SSID (written down instep 2) of your wireless router from the list of SSIDs in the Select Network screen.
b. If the SSID is not broadcast, select OTHER from the list on the Select Network screen. Then enter the SSID (written down in step 2) using the Xbox Dashboard virtual keyboard.
7. From the Wireless Settings screen, select Network Mode as Infrastructure. Select Security Type and configure the Xbox Compatible wireless bridge with the same security settings (NONE,64-bit WEP, or 128-bit WEP) as your wireless router.
Important The Xbox Dashboard supports 64- and 128-bit WEP encryption for Xbox Compatible wireless bridges. Microsoft highly recommends that you secure your wireless network by taking advantage of 128-bit WEP encryption. However, the use of WEP is not required for any Xbox Compatible wireless bridge to connect to a wireless router.
8. Press A to save the new settings, and then B to go back.
9. From the Wireless Status screen, check that your Xbox console is connected to the network name (SSID) specified in Step 6.
10. Press B twice to go back. From the Network Settings screen, select Connect to connect to Xbox Live.
11. From the Connect Status screen, verify that the Xbox console connects to Xbox Live.

Windows ICS/Ad Hoc Connection

Note This configuration will require two network adapters, one of which must be a wireless adapter.

To connect your Xbox console to Xbox Live using Windows ICS:

1. Set up a Windows ICS connection from your PC to the Internet. Verify that you have Internet connectivity by browsing to a web page, Note that your wireless adapter should not be receiving an IP address from your ISP. The wireless adapter will be used to connect to the Xbox Compatible wireless bridge. The wireless network adapter in your PC should be receiving an IP address from Windows ICS.
2. Configure your PC's wireless network adapter for a Computer to Computer (Ad-Hoc) connection. Write down the network name associated with your wireless adapter.
3. According to your adapter manufacturer's instructions, connect your wireless-to-Ethernet bridge to your Xbox console.
4. From the Xbox Dashboard, select Settings , Network Settings, Advanced, and Wireless.
5. From the Wireless Status screen, select Settings.
6. Select the network name (written down in step 2) from the Select Network screen. If you do not see your network name, select OTHER. Then enter the network name using the Xbox Dashboard virtual keyboard.
7. From the Wireless Settings screen, set Network Mode to Ad Hoc 802.11 b/g.
8. From the Wireless Settings screen, select Security Type and configure the Xbox Compatible wireless bridge with the same security settings (NONE, 64-bit WEP, or 128-bit WEP) as your PC's wireless adapter.
Important The Xbox Dashboard supports 64- and 128-bit WEP encryption for Xbox Compatible wireless bridges. Microsoft highly recommends that you secure your wireless network by taking advantage of 128-bit WEP encryption. However, the use of WEP is not required for any Xbox Compatible wireless bridge to connect to Windows ICS.
9. Press A to save the new settings, and then B to go back.
10. From the Wireless Status screen, check that your Xbox console is connected to the network name (SSID) specified in Step 7.
11. Press B twice to go back. From the Network Settings screen, select Connect to connect to Xbox Live.
12. From the Connect Status screen, verify that the Xbox console connects to Xbox Live.

You are now set to Join Xbox Live

Connecting to Xbox Live

You should have already created a .net passport or hotmail account as stated at the top of this page before you start and have information like the e-mail address and password associated with your Passport Network account, your country/region, your language, your name, and your phone number and a credit card to hand.

# Turn on your system with no disc in the tray. From the Xbox Live area of the Xbox Dashboard, select the Xbox Live banner. This will open the Xbox Live area of the Xbox Guide.

Xbox Dashboard: Join Xbox Live # Select Join Xbox Live and follow the on-screen instructions.

Here you will have the option to change your gamer tag. You'll also supply information like the e-mail address and password associated with your Passport Network account, your country/region, your language, your name, and your phone number.

Tip
You can enter information using either a USB PC keyboard plugged into a controller port or your Xbox 360 controller and the on-screen virtual keyboard. # When prompted, select your desired membership type from the list of options. Xbox Dashboard: Choose a membership
Xbox Live Gold memberships are paid memberships that require you to supply valid credit-card information. For more information about Xbox Live memberships, see www.xbox.com/live.
# Follow the remaining steps: enter a contact address, choose an Xbox Live Gamer Zone, set your communication preferences for Xbox 360 promotions, and select a time zone and daylight-saving option.

To recover your gamertag from Xbox Live. if you have previously used an Xbox:

1. With your Xbox 360 console connected to Xbox Live, turn it on with no disc in the tray and sign out (x) of any offline profiles.
For information about home networking, see Introduction to Home Networking. 2. Go to the Xbox Live area of the Xbox Dashboard and select Recover Gamertag from Xbox Live.
Xbox Dashboard: Recover Gamertag from Xbox Live 3. Select Gamertag and enter the gamertag for the gamer profile you want to recover to your console. When you've finished typing, select Done, and then select Next.
If you're recovering over a profile that already exists on your console, select Yes when asked, There is already a profile for this gamertag on your console. Would you like to replace it?
4. Enter the e-mail address and password associated with the Microsoft Passport Network account you used to get your gamertag. When you're finished typing, select Sign In.
If you're a minor, you will be asked to supply Passport Network credentials for your parent, who will need to be present to complete the procedure. Your parent will need his or her own Passport Network account and a valid e-mail address.
5. Upon successful sign-in, your gamer profile will be downloaded from Xbox Live to your console.