well the server did run without .net framework installed it was just the problem of other computers connecting to the server but im only going to host the server over a lan i dont even plan to put it on the internet or hamachi or anything are u saying there are ports i need to open WITHIN the lan to make it work or something also will .net framework 4.0 work or does it absolutely NEED to be 3.5? is my lack of .net framework 3.5 the reason y no one can get past the realm screen on lan?