If you’re an F1 23 player in Iraq and use Earthlink ISP, you might face connectivity issues while accessing the game’s online services. This guide provides a step-by-step solution to bypass ISP restrictions and regain access using a VPS and Socat for traffic redirection.

Earthlink ISP in Iraq often blocks or fails to resolve the required domains and IPs for certain online games, including F1 23. This can result in errors such as:

  • “Online Services Error”
  • “Failed to connect to online services”

The issue occurs because Earthlink DNS servers either block or cannot resolve the necessary IP addresses for Codemasters’ servers.

Solution Overview

The solution involves using a VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosted outside Iraq to act as a middleman. Traffic to Codemasters’ servers will be redirected through the VPS, bypassing the restrictions.

Tools Used:

  1. VPS with a public IP (outside Iraq).
  2. Socat for traffic redirection.
  3. PM2 for process management.
  4. Local changes to the hosts file to reroute traffic.

Step 1: Set Up a VPS

  1. Get a VPS: Purchase a VPS with a public IP address from providers like DigitalOcean, Vultr, or Linode.
  2. Install Required Tools: Log in to your VPS via SSH and run the following commands: 
    sudo apt update
sudo apt install socat
npm install -g pm2

Step 2: Configure Socat for Traffic Redirection

Create a script to forward traffic from your VPS to Codemasters’ server (f1s2023.codemasters.com).

Create the Script:

nano ~/socat-f1s2023.sh

Add the Following Content:

#!/bin/bash
socat TCP4-LISTEN:443,reuseaddr,fork TCP4:94.75.196.122:443

Replace 94.75.196.122 with the IP of Codemasters’ server.

Make the Script Executable:

chmod +x ~/socat-f1s2023.sh

Run the Script with PM2:

pm2 start ~/socat-f1s2023.sh --name "f1s2023-proxy"
pm2 save
pm2 startup

Step 3: Update Your Hosts File

Modify your local system’s hosts file to redirect f1s2023.codemasters.com to your VPS IP.

On Your Local PC:

Edit the hosts file:

  • On Windows: Open C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts as Administrator.
  • On Linux/Mac: Edit /etc/hosts with root privileges.

Add the following line:

<VPS_IP> f1s2023.codemasters.com

Replace <VPS_IP> with your VPS’s public IP address.

Save the File and Test the Connection.

Step 4: Verify the Setup

Ping the Server:

Run the following command to confirm f1s2023.codemasters.com resolves to your VPS IP:

ping f1s2023.codemasters.com

Launch the Game:

Start F1 23 and try logging into the online services. Traffic will now route through your VPS.

Step 5: Monitor and Troubleshoot

Check PM2 Status:

Ensure the Socat process is running:

pm2 status

View Logs:

If there are issues, check the logs:

pm2 logs f1s2023-proxy

Monitor Network Traffic (Optional):

Use tcpdump on the VPS to monitor traffic:

sudo tcpdump -i any port 443

Step 6: Configure a Static DNS Record on MikroTik for Consoles

Since you cannot edit the hosts file on gaming consoles like PS5 or Xbox, you can configure a static DNS record on your MikroTik router.

6.1 Access the MikroTik Router

Log in to your MikroTik router using WinBox, WebFig, or via SSH:

ssh admin@<router_ip>

6.2 Enable the MikroTik DNS Service

  • Go to IP > DNS in WinBox or WebFig.
  • Check the box for “Allow Remote Requests”.
  • Set your router as the DNS server for your network:
    • Go to IP > DHCP Server > Networks.
    • Set the DNS Server to the router’s IP address (e.g., 192.168.88.1).

6.3 Add a Static DNS Entry

In WinBox or WebFig:

  • Navigate to IP > DNS > Static.
  • Click Add (+) to create a new static entry.
  • Fill in the following:
    • Name: f1s2023.codemasters.com
    • Address: <VPS_IP> (your VPS’s public IP address)
  • Click OK.

If using the CLI, run:

/ip dns static add name="f1s2023.codemasters.com" address=<VPS_IP>

6.4 Test the Configuration

Flush the DNS Cache on the router:

/ip dns cache flush

Verify the DNS Resolution:

From the router CLI:

/resolve f1s2023.codemasters.com

This should resolve to your VPS IP.

6.5 Update Console Network Settings

On your console (PS5, Xbox, etc.), go to Network Settings. Manually set the DNS server to your MikroTik router’s IP address (e.g., 192.168.88.1). Save the settings and test the connection.

Final Verification

Test Connectivity:

Launch F1 23 on the console and verify that it connects to the online services.

Monitor Traffic on VPS:

Use pm2 logs f1s2023-proxy or tcpdump to confirm that traffic is reaching your VPS.

Conclusion

This guide demonstrates how to unblock F1 23 online services in Iraq for Earthlink ISP users by using a VPS and configuring a reverse proxy with Socat. Adding a static DNS record on your MikroTik router ensures that gaming consoles like PS5 and Xbox can also connect seamlessly.

Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Ensure that you comply with local laws and the terms of service of your ISP and the game.