diff --git a/xwords4/common/comtypes.h b/xwords4/common/comtypes.h
index aa352d168..dc0abf2d3 100644
--- a/xwords4/common/comtypes.h
+++ b/xwords4/common/comtypes.h
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@
 #define STREAM_VERS_41B4 0x02
 #define STREAM_VERS_405  0x01
 
+/* search for FIX_NEXT_VERSION_CHANGE next time this is changed */
 #define CUR_STREAM_VERS STREAM_VERS_COMMSBACKOFF
 
 typedef struct XP_Rect {
diff --git a/xwords4/common/server.c b/xwords4/common/server.c
index de12b6d97..ed7e594a1 100644
--- a/xwords4/common/server.c
+++ b/xwords4/common/server.c
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ typedef struct ServerVolatiles {
     void* turnChangeData;
     GameOverListener gameOverListener;
     void* gameOverData;
+    XP_U16 pendingRegistrations;
     XP_Bool showPrevMove;
 } ServerVolatiles;
 
@@ -86,7 +87,6 @@ typedef struct ServerNonvolatiles {
     XW_State stateAfterShow;
     XP_S8 currentTurn; /* invalid when game is over */
     XP_S8 quitter;     /* -1 unless somebody resigned */
-    XP_U8 pendingRegistrations;
     XP_Bool showRobotScores;
     XP_Bool sortNewTiles;
 #ifdef STREAM_VERS_BIGBOARD
@@ -206,21 +206,23 @@ logNewState( XW_State old, XW_State newst )
  ****************************************************************************/
 #ifndef XWFEATURE_STANDALONE_ONLY
 static void
-syncPlayers( ServerCtxt* server )
+figureMissing( ServerCtxt* server )
 {
+    XP_U16 pendingRegistrations = 0;
     XP_U16 ii;
     CurGameInfo* gi = server->vol.gi;
     LocalPlayer* lp = gi->players;
     ServerPlayer* player = server->players;
     for ( ii = 0; ii < gi->nPlayers; ++ii, ++lp, ++player ) {
-        if ( !lp->isLocal/*  && !lp->name */ ) {
-            ++server->nv.pendingRegistrations;
+        if ( !lp->isLocal && !lp->name ) {
+            ++pendingRegistrations;
         }
         player->deviceIndex = lp->isLocal? SERVER_DEVICE : UNKNOWN_DEVICE;
     }
+    server->vol.pendingRegistrations = pendingRegistrations;
 }
 #else
-# define syncPlayers( server )
+# define figureMissing( server )
 #endif
 
 static XP_Bool
@@ -243,7 +245,7 @@ initServer( ServerCtxt* server )
         SETSTATE( server, XWSTATE_BEGIN );
     }
 
-    syncPlayers( server );
+    figureMissing( server );
 
     server->nv.nDevices = 1; /* local device (0) is always there */
 #ifdef STREAM_VERS_BIGBOARD
@@ -302,7 +304,8 @@ getNV( XWStreamCtxt* stream, ServerNonvolatiles* nv, XP_U16 nPlayers )
     if ( STREAM_VERS_DICTNAME <= version ) {
         nv->quitter = (XP_S8)stream_getBits( stream, NPLAYERS_NBITS ) - 1;
     }
-    nv->pendingRegistrations = (XP_U8)stream_getBits( stream, NPLAYERS_NBITS );
+    /* FIX_NEXT_VERSION_CHANGE */
+    /*nv->pendingRegistrations = (XP_U8)*/ stream_getBits( stream, NPLAYERS_NBITS );
 
     for ( ii = 0; ii < nPlayers; ++ii ) {
         nv->addresses[ii].channelNo =
@@ -337,7 +340,8 @@ putNV( XWStreamCtxt* stream, const ServerNonvolatiles* nv, XP_U16 nPlayers )
     /* +1: make -1 (NOTURN) into a positive number */
     stream_putBits( stream, NPLAYERS_NBITS, nv->currentTurn+1 );
     stream_putBits( stream, NPLAYERS_NBITS, nv->quitter+1 );
-    stream_putBits( stream, NPLAYERS_NBITS, nv->pendingRegistrations );
+    /* FIX_NEXT_VERSION_CHANGE */
+    stream_putBits( stream, NPLAYERS_NBITS, 0 /*nv->pendingRegistrations*/ );
 
     for ( ii = 0; ii < nPlayers; ++ii ) {
         stream_putBits( stream, 16, nv->addresses[ii].channelNo );
@@ -416,9 +420,11 @@ server_makeFromStream( MPFORMAL XWStreamCtxt* stream, ModelCtxt* model,
         server->nv.prevWordsStream = readStreamIf( server, stream );
     }
 
+    figureMissing( server );
+
     util_informMissing( util, server->vol.gi->serverRole == SERVER_ISSERVER,
                         comms_getConType( comms ),
-                        server->nv.pendingRegistrations );
+                        server->vol.pendingRegistrations );
     return server;
 } /* server_makeFromStream */
 
@@ -699,7 +705,7 @@ handleRegistrationMsg( ServerCtxt* server, XWStreamCtxt* stream )
     playersInMsg = (XP_U16)stream_getBits( stream, NPLAYERS_NBITS );
     XP_ASSERT( playersInMsg > 0 );
 
-    if ( server->nv.pendingRegistrations < playersInMsg ) {
+    if ( server->vol.pendingRegistrations < playersInMsg ) {
         util_userError( server->vol.util, ERR_REG_UNEXPECTED_USER );
         success = XP_FALSE;
     } else {
@@ -738,7 +744,7 @@ handleRegistrationMsg( ServerCtxt* server, XWStreamCtxt* stream )
         }
 #endif
 
-        if ( server->nv.pendingRegistrations == 0 ) {
+        if ( server->vol.pendingRegistrations == 0 ) {
             XP_ASSERT( ii == playersInMsg ); /* otherwise malformed */
             setStreamVersion( server );
             checkResizeBoard( server );
@@ -1031,7 +1037,7 @@ server_do( ServerCtxt* server )
 
         switch( server->nv.gameState ) {
         case XWSTATE_BEGIN:
-            if ( server->nv.pendingRegistrations == 0 ) { /* all players on
+            if ( server->vol.pendingRegistrations == 0 ) { /* all players on
                                                              device */
                 assignTilesToAll( server );
                 SETSTATE( server, XWSTATE_INTURN );
@@ -1126,7 +1132,7 @@ findFirstPending( ServerCtxt* server, ServerPlayer** playerP )
     LocalPlayer* lp;
     CurGameInfo* gi = server->vol.gi;
     XP_U16 nPlayers = gi->nPlayers;
-    XP_U16 nPending = server->nv.pendingRegistrations;
+    XP_U16 nPending = server->vol.pendingRegistrations;
 
     XP_ASSERT( nPlayers > 0 );
     lp = gi->players + nPlayers;
@@ -1160,7 +1166,7 @@ registerRemotePlayer( ServerCtxt* server, XWStreamCtxt* stream )
 
     /* The player must already be there with a null name, or it's an error.
        Take the first empty slot. */
-    XP_ASSERT( server->nv.pendingRegistrations > 0 );
+    XP_ASSERT( server->vol.pendingRegistrations > 0 );
 
     /* find the slot to use */
     lp = findFirstPending( server, &player );
@@ -1179,7 +1185,7 @@ registerRemotePlayer( ServerCtxt* server, XWStreamCtxt* stream )
         channelNo = stream_getAddress( stream );
         deviceIndex = getIndexForDevice( server, channelNo );
 
-        --server->nv.pendingRegistrations;
+        --server->vol.pendingRegistrations;
 
         if ( deviceIndex == -1 ) {
             RemoteAddress* addr; 
@@ -1350,7 +1356,7 @@ client_readInitialMessage( ServerCtxt* server, XWStreamCtxt* stream )
             sortTilesIf( server, ii );
         }
 
-        syncPlayers( server );
+        figureMissing( server );
 
         SETSTATE( server, XWSTATE_INTURN );
 
@@ -2427,7 +2433,7 @@ server_getMissingPlayers( const ServerCtxt* server )
         }
         break;
     case SERVER_ISSERVER:
-        if ( 0 < server->nv.pendingRegistrations ) {
+        if ( 0 < server->vol.pendingRegistrations ) {
             XP_U16 nPlayers = server->vol.gi->nPlayers;
             const ServerPlayer* players = server->players;
             for ( ii = 0; ii < nPlayers; ++ii ) {
@@ -2550,6 +2556,7 @@ tileCountsOk( const ServerCtxt* server )
 static void
 setTurn( ServerCtxt* server, XP_S16 turn )
 {
+    XP_ASSERT( -1 == turn || 0 == server->vol.pendingRegistrations );
     if ( server->nv.currentTurn != turn ) {
         server->nv.currentTurn = turn;
         server->nv.lastMoveTime = util_getCurSeconds( server->vol.util );
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/Makefile b/xwords4/linux/Makefile
index a2544a37e..31364fa8b 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/Makefile
+++ b/xwords4/linux/Makefile
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ endif
 DEFINES += ${BLUETOOTH}
 DEFINES += -DXWFEATURE_RELAY
 DEFINES += -DXWFEATURE_SMS -DXWFEATURE_BASE64
+DEFINES += -DXWFEATURE_DIRECTIP
 
 # Robot can be made to think, to simulate for relay mostly
 DEFINES += -DXWFEATURE_SLOW_ROBOT
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/gtkconnsdlg.c b/xwords4/linux/gtkconnsdlg.c
index 507848227..e83a29e8c 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/gtkconnsdlg.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/gtkconnsdlg.c
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ typedef struct _GtkConnsState {
     GtkWidget* bthost;
     GtkWidget* smsphone;
     GtkWidget* smsport;
+    GtkWidget* iphost;
+    GtkWidget* ipport;
     GtkWidget* bgScanButton;
 
     GtkWidget* notebook;
@@ -80,7 +82,15 @@ handle_ok( GtkWidget* XP_UNUSED(widget), gpointer closure )
         CommsConnType conType = pageNoToConnType( state, page );
 
         switch ( conType ) {
+#ifdef XWFEATURE_DIRECTIP
         case COMMS_CONN_IP_DIRECT:
+            txt = gtk_entry_get_text( GTK_ENTRY(state->iphost) );
+            XP_STRNCPY( state->addr->u.ip.hostName_ip, txt, 
+                        sizeof(state->addr->u.ip.hostName_ip) );
+            txt = gtk_entry_get_text( GTK_ENTRY(state->ipport) );
+            state->addr->u.ip.port_ip = atoi( txt );
+            break;
+#endif
 #ifdef XWFEATURE_RELAY
         case COMMS_CONN_RELAY:
             txt = gtk_entry_get_text( GTK_ENTRY(state->invite) );
@@ -224,6 +234,32 @@ makeBTPage( GtkConnsState* state )
     return vbox;
 } /* makeBTPage */
 
+#ifdef XWFEATURE_DIRECTIP
+static GtkWidget*
+makeIPDirPage( GtkConnsState* state )
+{
+    GtkWidget* vbox = gtk_vbox_new( FALSE, 0 );
+
+    /* XP_UCHAR hostName_ip[MAX_HOSTNAME_LEN + 1]; */
+    /* XP_U16 port_ip; */
+
+    const gchar* name = COMMS_CONN_IP_DIRECT == state->addr->conType ?
+        state->addr->u.ip.hostName_ip : state->globals->cGlobals.params->connInfo.ip.hostName;
+    GtkWidget* hbox = makeLabeledField( "Hostname", &state->iphost, name );
+    gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(vbox), hbox, FALSE, TRUE, 0 );
+    
+    hbox = makeLabeledField( "Relay port", &state->ipport, NULL );
+    if ( COMMS_CONN_IP_DIRECT == state->addr->conType ) {
+        char buf[16];
+        snprintf( buf, sizeof(buf), "%d", state->addr->u.ip.port_ip );
+        gtk_entry_set_text( GTK_ENTRY(state->ipport), buf );
+    }
+    gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(vbox), hbox, FALSE, TRUE, 0 );
+
+    return vbox;
+}
+#endif
+
 static GtkWidget*
 makeSMSPage( GtkConnsState* state )
 {
@@ -279,6 +315,12 @@ gtkConnsDlg( GtkGameGlobals* globals, CommsAddrRec* addr, DeviceRole role,
     (void)gtk_notebook_append_page( GTK_NOTEBOOK(state.notebook),
                                     makeBTPage(&state),
                                     gtk_label_new( "Bluetooth" ) );
+#endif
+#ifdef XWFEATURE_DIRECTIP
+    state.pageTypes[nTypes++] = COMMS_CONN_IP_DIRECT;
+    (void)gtk_notebook_append_page( GTK_NOTEBOOK(state.notebook),
+                                    makeIPDirPage(&state),
+                                    gtk_label_new( "Direct" ) );
 #endif
     state.pageTypes[nTypes++] = COMMS_CONN_SMS;
     (void)gtk_notebook_append_page( GTK_NOTEBOOK(state.notebook),
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/main.h b/xwords4/linux/main.h
index 0cfd99501..3274e549b 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/main.h
+++ b/xwords4/linux/main.h
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ typedef struct LaunchParams {
             bdaddr_t hostAddr;      /* unused if a host */
         } bt;
 #endif
-#ifdef XWFEATURE_IP_DIRECT
+#if defined XWFEATURE_IP_DIRECT || defined XWFEATURE_DIRECTIP
         struct {
             const char* hostName;
             int port;
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/scripts/discon_ok2.sh b/xwords4/linux/scripts/discon_ok2.sh
index 0b95ef55c..257d07f0e 100755
--- a/xwords4/linux/scripts/discon_ok2.sh
+++ b/xwords4/linux/scripts/discon_ok2.sh
@@ -315,6 +315,9 @@ close_device() {
     unset ROOMS[$ID]
     unset APPS[$ID]
     unset ARGS_DEVID[$ID]
+
+    COUNT=${#ARGS[*]}
+    echo "$COUNT devices left playing..."
 }
 
 OBITS=""