ok, first
the static ip you hire is the one on your modem/router, right?
if yes, then put vmware on bridge mode and select replicate .... (like here
)
the router set the ip automatic for the linux box, set linux on dhcp mode, dont edit any ip (the router is going to do the job)
next, open your router and on the part about "address reservation" put your linux mac address and set what ip you want (in my case MAC 00-0C-29-A9-33-F9 is set to have always the ip 10.0.0.100... no matters what you do, ip is always 10.0.0.100)
and last, redirect any traffic incoming to port 29000 to ip 10.0.0.100 (or the ip you set on dhcp router)
this is the easiest way to make it work on vmware
if you are talking about you have a VPS or dedicated server, first turn off firewall (for checking only)
all incoming traffic must be reaching the server
opps, forgot to say, at your client, you need to put your modem ip
let say your internet ip is 55.87.25.260 and your linux ip is 10.0.0.100
you need to set client to ip 55.87.25.260 (all incoming traffic on port 29000 is send by the router to 10.0.0.100)
and opps v2.0.. forgot to say, you must forward port 80 too, if you want your players to reach your web page