Tutorial: Connection

Currently, the game is only available to people connecting with Japanese IP address, thus this page guides new users how to bypass this restriction.

'''Currently there are three (3) options known to connect to the game - they are arranged from the most recommended to the least recommended. Try going from the most recommended option to the least recommended option before asking questions.'''

Option 1: Editing DMM Cookie's Region Flag
Something recently changed about this method. Please read the comment section for relevant info, or switch to other methods for now.

Usage
 document.cookie = "ckcy=1;expires=Sun, 09 Feb 2019 09:00:09 GMT;domain=osapi.dmm.com;path=/"; document.cookie = "ckcy=1;expires=Sun, 09 Feb 2019 09:00:09 GMT;domain=203.104.209.7;path=/"; ocument.cookie = "ckcy=1;expires=Sun, 09 Feb 2019 09:00:09 GMT;domain=www.dmm.com;path=/netgame/"; document.cookie = "ckcy=1;expires=Sun, 09 Feb 2019 09:00:09 GMT;domain=log-netgame.dmm.com;path=/";
 * 1) Log into DMM.com
 * 2) Switch the language of the site from English to Japanese (日本語) at the top of the site.
 * 3) Open the Developer Bar (F12), put these lines into the Console and execute (by pressing the [Enter] key or [Ctrl + Enter] for IE).

Using Cookies to browse DMM
 * If you want to browse DMM NetGame section, and not just play KanColle, you will need to additionally input the following cookie code on every page to make sure you avoid error area.
 * If you're feeling lazy, you can use KC3改 that writes these cookies automatically everytime, or use EditThisCookie and lock  and.

 document.cookie = "cklg=welcome;expires=Sun, 09 Feb 2019 09:00:09 GMT;domain=.dmm.com;path=/"; document.cookie = "ckcy=1;expires=Sun, 09 Feb 2019 09:00:09 GMT;domain=.dmm.com;path=/"; document.cookie = "ckcy=1;expires=Sun, 09 Feb 2019 09:00:09 GMT;domain=.dmm.com;path=/netgame/"; document.cookie = "ckcy=1;expires=Sun, 09 Feb 2019 09:00:09 GMT;domain=.dmm.com;path=/netgame_s/";

Advantages

 * Works for any OS or browser
 * You do not need to download or install any third-party software
 * You will have access until you specifically clear your browser cookies
 * It is fast, since you'll be using your direct internet connection

How it works

 * You use the browser's dev tools console to write cookies on your computer. Nothing has been transmitted to the server at this point.
 * Once you refresh DMM, it will now check for the cookies. Your browser includes these cookies as a part of the HTTP header on your refresh.
 * DMM will now see the new region flag on the cookies, (which they do not know you faked since it was given by your browser) and grant you access.
 * Choose your netgame and play

Incorporation

 * On some third-party tools, the process can be simplified as follow:
 * Log-in to www.dmm.com via those tools.
 * Switch the language of the site from English to Japanese (日本語) at the top of the site.
 * Click the "Apply/Set (Region) Cookie" button in those tools.

Usage
Windows Mac / UNIX-based Linux
 * 1) Head over to VPN Gate, an "Academic Experiment Project" by the University of Tsukuba.
 * 2) Download, install and run the client.
 * 3) Select a Japanese server in "VPN Gate Public VPN Relay Servers"
 * Chance are there is L2TP VPN interface that has been pre-installed in your kernel (especially if you are not running your own custom kernel). You can directly set it up without needed to download any clients nor using similar software to let you execute Windows-only clients. However, in case your network is blocking the usage of L2TP, you will still need to download VPN clients to let you use VPN with different protocols.
 * See this user blog entry for more information.
 * If you have difficulties getting SoftEther VPN for linux to work properly you can revert to connecting to SoftEther VPN servers via L2TP method. Just make sure that the server you are connecting to also supports L2TP method.

Advantages

 * Does not require the need to use region cookies as mentioned in the foremost option towards the top.
 * Shows your IP address conveniently as Japanese IP address or whichever IP address that you chose.
 * May help with some common troubleshooting issues for instance when you get catbombed/errors which maybe is the result of poor internet connectivity.

Disadvantages

 * It is complex to setup and may require networking knowledge to make the most of it.
 * Troubleshooting when connecting via VPN may become more complex and harder to diagnose.
 * It is susceptible to Man in the middle attack (MitM attack) as compromised host can render your visits to various sites be intercepted.
 * It is NOT recommended to be used especially when you are handling sensitive data such as when entering your card details - see former point about MitM attack.

Method
This method works for Windows 7 as well, but the wording of the settings might be different.
 * 1) Go to VPN Gate, and find a Japanese server that supports either "L2TP/IPsec" or "MS-STTP" connections.
 * 2) Copy the server's address (eg.  vg2036075803.opengw.net)  . For STTP-supporting servers, copy the address plus the port number, shown in the MS-STTP column.
 * 3) "Set up a new connection or network" in Network and Sharing Center.
 * 4) "Connect to a workplace"
 * 5) "Use my Internet connection (VPN)"
 * 6) Paste the address (plus the port, for STTP), name the VPN connection as you wish and click on "Create".
 * 7) (L2TP users skip to step 8 for now) The VPN connection should appear in "Network Connections" (or the sidebar that appears when you click on the network icon in the taskbar). When asked for User name and Password, input "vpn" for both.
 * 8) For L2TP users, you must find the network connection that was just created, and going to its "Properties" by right clicking on the just-created connection in "Network Connections". Go to the "Security" tab, select L2TP/IPsec as the "Type of VPN" and then click on "Advanced settings". Select "Use preshared key for authentication" and then input "vpn". Apply the settings. Connect to the VPN as per step 7.

This method is for users of Mac and UNIX-based systems: If this one fails too, you can try turning off your whole internet connection for 1-2 minutes before trying to connect to the VPN again. This issue sometimes happen when you suddenly disconnected from the VPN due to bad connection or incomplete request.
 * 1) Open Network Preferences.
 * 2) Click add connection, then select VPN (L2TP)
 * 3) Go to VPN Gate, and find a Japanese server that supports either "L2TP/IPsec" connections.
 * 4) Copy the server's address (eg.  vg2036075803.opengw.net) .
 * 5) Paste the address to the "Server Address", and type vpn as the "Account Name".
 * 6) Click "Authentication Setting", then type vpn for both available textboxes. You need not to change anything else.
 * 7) Click "Advanced", and tick Send all traffic over VPN Connection.
 * 8) Click OK, then Apply, then test the connection using "Connect" button.
 * 9) If the VPN fails, try to add the IP address to the "Server Address" instead of the full server name.

Advantages
Like option 2: VPN Gate Client the same advantages and disadvantages are correlated.
 * Does not require the need to use region cookies as mentioned in the foremost option towards the top.
 * Shows your IP address conveniently as Japanese IP address or whichever IP address that you chose.
 * May help with some common troubleshooting issues for instance when you get catbombed/errors which maybe is the result of poor internet connectivity.

Disadvantages
Like option 2: VPN Gate Client the same advantages and disadvantages are correlated.
 * It is complex to setup and may require networking knowledge to make the most of it.
 * Troubleshooting when connecting via VPN may become more complex and harder to diagnose.
 * It is susceptible to Man in the middle attack (MitM attack) as compromised host can render your visits to various sites be intercepted.
 * It is NOT recommended to be used especially when you are handling sensitive data such as when entering your card details - see former point about MitM attack.

Introduction
''' Getting an API Link requires you to be able to view the game first, thus you will need one of the three options on this article to initially connect to the game. '''
 * An API Link is a web address pointing directly to your KanColle account.
 * If you acquire this, you can visit it as a quick way to login.
 * Since it is a direct link, it bypasses DMM, thus bypasses country restrictions as well.
 * It is safe and is being used by the majority of the foreign community at this point.

Get via Network Logs
This is probably the easiest way to get an API link without third-party tools. Note: Terminologies for Chrome, there are counterparts for Firefox and other browsers
 * 1) Open your browser DevTools by pressing F12.
 * 2) Open the game
 * 3) Go to the Network tab
 * 4) Filter/Search for:  
 * 5) There will be only one result. Right-click that, and [Copy link address]

Get via Manual Search

 * 1) Open the game
 * 2) Ctrl+Shift+I (F12) to inspect element of the page or use "Show resources list" using Adblock, search for api_token or mainD2.swf
 * 3) * Example: http://125.6.189.7/kcs/mainD2.swf?api_token=xxx&api_starttime=xxx
 * 4) * Note: the API link unique for each server and session.
 * 5) Copy the API link
 * 6) Turn off your proxy/VPN and open the link in your browser.
 * 7) * If it doesn't work, you probably copied the wrong or incomplete API link.
 * 8) If you somehow find that your search function in the developer console is not working properly (in either Chrome or Firefox), you can also manually search for the API link by navigating the script in this order:
 * 9) * html > body > div#w > div#main-ntg > div#page > div#area-game > iframe#game_frame > html > body > div#flashWrap > embed#externalswf
 * 10) You can refer this tutorial video here on how to manually grab API Link on Chrome.

Important Notes

 * You will need to get a new API link (refresh API link) by repeating one of the processes above, each month to reset the extra operation maps boss gauges.
 * It is also good practice to refresh your API link every in-game update (after maintenance).

Tip
To avoid having to clear your browser cache everytime you want to connect to the game, you can use another chrome alike web browser (i.e. CoolNovo, Chromium, Comodo Dragon, SRWare Iron, RockMelt, etc.).

Use this browser only for KanColle and don't forget to connect to a Japanese proxy before opening it.

Like this, you won't have to wait for the downloading of the game's data everytime you need to connect to the game.

In case you don't understand those text descriptions for any aforementioned steps, someone made a video OverView/Tutorial on the Provided Options (Mainly Option 1):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EU9Oklro90

Troubleshooting
See main article: Tutorial: Troubleshooting


 * Have you cleared your cache? Try doing everything again in Incognito.
 * Have you tried logging in again on DMM to play there or get a new API link?
 * Have you tried checking other sites? Maybe the problem comes from your internet connection.
 * Were you using viewers? Try logging in normally on browser.
 * Were you banned? Login on DMM and see a black error message (as indicated in the second image)
 * Banned accounts see the cat error on API link, and black message on DMM
 * Is you computer clock correct? Have you tried switching to Japanese timezone?
 * Many error screen reports relate to computer clock