Troubleshooting RS3 Firewall Error 7,28 On Arch Linux

Jul 14, 2025 by Jeany 54 views

Encountering the dreaded Firewall Error 7,28 in RuneScape 3 (RS3) can be a frustrating experience, especially when other similar applications and clients function flawlessly. This article delves into a specific case where an Arch Linux user, experiencing this issue, has exhausted common troubleshooting steps. This comprehensive guide will explore potential causes and solutions, tailored for users with technical proficiency and a desire to resolve this persistent problem. We will meticulously examine various aspects of the system configuration, network settings, and RS3 client intricacies to pinpoint the root cause and implement effective remedies.

Understanding the Problem

The user, Adamcake, reported encountering Firewall Error 7,28 specifically when launching RS3 clients obtained from AUR (Arch User Repository), Flatpak, and built directly from source. This is particularly perplexing because other RuneScape clients such as Old School RuneScape (OSRS), HDOS, and Runelite launch without issues. Even the Steam variant of RS3 works correctly. This narrows down the problem to something specific to the non-Steam RS3 clients on this Arch Linux system. The system specifications include Arch Linux, Wayland, KDE Plasma, and an AMD GPU & CPU, with no proxy or VPN daemon running. The user has confirmed that disabling the system firewall does not resolve the issue, and the official Jagex client functions correctly on other devices within the network. This suggests that the problem is localized to the specific Arch Linux setup and not a general network issue.

Initial Troubleshooting Steps

Adamcake has already undertaken several standard troubleshooting steps, which include purging all RS, Bolt, and Jagex data from their PC and reinstalling the client multiple times. This eliminates the possibility of corrupted files or configuration issues arising from previous installations. Furthermore, the fact that the issue persists across different installation methods (AUR, Flatpak, and building from source) indicates that the problem is not tied to a specific package or build process. The user is running the most recent version of RS3, version 18, and the issue has been ongoing for several days without any recent system changes, ruling out recent updates as the primary cause.

Potential Causes and Solutions

To effectively troubleshoot this issue, we need to explore several potential causes and their corresponding solutions. Given the user's technical background, we will delve into more advanced troubleshooting techniques.

1. Application Permissions and Sandboxing

Understanding Application Permissions and Sandboxing: Application permissions and sandboxing are security mechanisms that restrict an application's access to system resources and data. These mechanisms are designed to protect the system from malicious software by limiting the scope of what an application can do. However, overly restrictive permissions or sandboxing configurations can sometimes prevent legitimate applications, like RS3, from functioning correctly.

Troubleshooting Steps:

Flatpak Permissions: If the Flatpak version of RS3 is experiencing issues, it's possible that the Flatpak sandbox is restricting its access to necessary network resources. Flatpak uses a permission system that controls what resources an application can access. To check and modify these permissions, you can use the flatpak-override command-line tool.
```
flatpak override --show com.jagex.RuneScape
```
This command will display the current permissions for the RS3 Flatpak application. Look for any network-related permissions that might be missing or restricted. To grant additional permissions, such as network access, use the following command:
```
flatpak override --user --filesystem=home com.jagex.RuneScape
```
This command grants the application access to the user's home directory, which might be necessary for configuration files or data storage. Be cautious when granting permissions, and only grant the minimum permissions required for the application to function.
AUR Package Permissions: Packages installed via AUR might have incorrect file permissions or ownership. This can happen if the package build process doesn't correctly set permissions or if there are conflicts with existing system files. To resolve this, you can try resetting the permissions and ownership of the RS3 installation directory.
```
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /opt/runescape  # Replace /opt/runescape with the actual installation directory
sudo chmod -R 755 /opt/runescape
```
These commands change the ownership of the installation directory to the current user and set the permissions to 755 (read, write, and execute for the owner and group, and read and execute for others). This ensures that the user has the necessary permissions to run the application.
AppArmor or SELinux: Arch Linux might be using AppArmor or SELinux, which are mandatory access control systems that can restrict application behavior. These systems enforce policies that define what resources an application can access. If RS3 is being blocked by AppArmor or SELinux, you'll need to adjust the policies to allow the application to function correctly.

To check if AppArmor is enabled, run:
```
sudo apparmor_status
```
If AppArmor is enabled, you might need to create a custom profile for RS3 or modify the existing profile to allow network access. The process for doing this is complex and requires a deep understanding of AppArmor policies. You can consult the AppArmor documentation for more information.

SELinux is another mandatory access control system that might be used on Arch Linux. To check if SELinux is enabled, run:
```
getenforce
```
If SELinux is enabled and set to enforcing mode, it might be blocking RS3. Similar to AppArmor, you'll need to adjust SELinux policies to allow the application to function correctly. This also requires a deep understanding of SELinux policies and is beyond the scope of this basic troubleshooting guide.

2. Network Configuration Issues

Understanding Network Configuration Issues: Network configuration issues can prevent an application from establishing a connection to the internet or a specific server. These issues can range from incorrect DNS settings to firewall rules that block specific ports or protocols. Troubleshooting network issues requires a systematic approach to identify the source of the problem and implement the appropriate solution.

Troubleshooting Steps:

DNS Resolution: The Domain Name System (DNS) translates domain names (like runescape.com) into IP addresses. If there's an issue with DNS resolution, the RS3 client might not be able to connect to the game servers. To test DNS resolution, you can use the nslookup or dig commands.
```
nslookup world1.runescape.com
```
This command queries the DNS server for the IP address of world1.runescape.com. If the command fails to resolve the domain name, there might be an issue with your DNS settings. You can try changing your DNS servers to a public DNS provider like Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1).

To change DNS servers on Arch Linux, you typically need to modify the /etc/resolv.conf file or your network manager settings. The exact steps depend on your network configuration. Consult the Arch Linux documentation for more information.
Firewall Rules (Advanced): While the user has disabled their PC firewall, there might be more granular firewall rules in place that are still affecting the RS3 client. These rules might be configured at the router level or through more advanced firewall management tools like iptables or nftables. To investigate this, you'll need to examine the firewall rules and look for any rules that might be blocking RS3 traffic.
```
sudo iptables -L
sudo nft list ruleset
```
These commands list the current iptables and nftables rules, respectively. Examine the output for any rules that might be blocking outgoing connections on the ports used by RS3. You can also try adding specific rules to allow RS3 traffic, but be cautious when modifying firewall rules, as incorrect rules can compromise your system's security.
Routing Issues: In rare cases, routing issues might prevent the RS3 client from reaching the game servers. This can happen if there are problems with the network routing tables or if there are network congestion issues. To diagnose routing issues, you can use the traceroute command.
```
traceroute world1.runescape.com
```
This command traces the route that network packets take to reach world1.runescape.com. The output shows the sequence of routers that the packets pass through. If there are any timeouts or errors along the route, it might indicate a routing issue. However, routing issues are typically beyond the user's control and require intervention from the network service provider.

3. Compatibility Issues with Wayland and KDE Plasma

Understanding Compatibility Issues: Wayland is a modern display server protocol that is gradually replacing X11 on Linux systems. While Wayland offers several advantages over X11, it can sometimes have compatibility issues with older applications or games that are not fully Wayland-aware. Similarly, KDE Plasma is a desktop environment that can interact with both X11 and Wayland. If there are compatibility issues between RS3, Wayland, and KDE Plasma, it can lead to unexpected behavior, including network errors.

Troubleshooting Steps:

Try Running RS3 in X11: To rule out Wayland-related issues, try running RS3 in an X11 session. This involves logging out of your current KDE Plasma session and selecting the