Dedicated Server Questions

inque · Post by **inque** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:33 pm

Apologies in advance for another n00b posting a question

But here goes:

I'm planning on renting a server from a GSP (Game Server Provider) for our Southeast Asian gaming community, to host EM for us.

My question is, how does one go about administrating the server. Could it be done in-game or can I tweak the config files

Also, how is the netcode of the game? Will people who have an average ping 200ms be able to tolerate it?

Thanks in advance, really looking forward to bringing this game to our community

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:25 pm

Hi Inque, welcome to the forum.....hopefully some one will stop by shortly to answer your questions!....

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:27 pm

Dingo runs the current server ... Vice wrote the program and tweaks it so that a wide range of "pings" can use MP.

Post by **Vice** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:44 pm

My question is, how does one go about administrating the server. Could it be done in-game or can I tweak the config files

You'll generally want to be on the server to administrate, although you can apply a password option for a client to do basic administration.

Also, how is the netcode of the game? Will people who have an average ping 200ms be able to tolerate it?

They should be fine at 200ms, largely depends on the performance of the server's connection.

inque · Post by **inque** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:50 pm

Thanks for the replies guys!

So Vice, the admin configurations are done in-game? Say setting the password and other options and etc?

Also, I just read the thread on the 2D server program, since our GSP doesn't have GPUs in their servers, so we're forced to go with the 2D route, but me never being able to play the game in-depth yet, this part puzzled me:

- It renders using 2D text only. While this has the benefit of not requiring a 3D graphics cards, it also means that some visual options are not available in this version of the server program including the territory control map. The 2D server program still supports the territory control system, but the visual display in the 3D version is not available in the 2D version. Color text, mouse over highlighting, menu frames, and other graphics are also not displayed in the 2D version.

Will this greatly affect gameplay when the server runs the 2D version?

Post by **Vice** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:57 pm

So Vice, the admin configurations are done in-game? Say setting the password and other options and etc?

The settings are available in the text2.dat file included with the server program. Instructions are included with the server program and the installer will prompt you to open them after installation.

Will this greatly affect gameplay when the server runs the 2D version?

Not gameplay (the 2D version should be fully functional at this point in terms of client-side features), just server-side options that utilize graphics. The 2D version will simply display text only, the real-time player position and territory control map won't be displayed along with a few other graphics related details.

inque · Post by **inque** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:14 am

Thanks again

Those features sound really useful and too bad we won't be able to use them 8(

Are there alternatives in-game for substituting those missing feature? Particularly the player position?

Thank you again for your patience on answering all my questions!

Post by **Vice** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:16 am

Yes, when you are playing the game using the client, you still get to see the territory map and other details. It's -only- the 2D server program that won't be able to render those graphics to the server operator. All clients still see and play the same game as they do on the 3D powered version.

inque · Post by **inque** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:16 am

From post: 123807, Topic: tid=8334, author=Vice wrote: Yes, when you are playing the game using the client, you still get to see the territory map and other details. It's -only- the 2D server program that won't be able to render those graphics to the server operator. All clients still see and play the same game as they do on the 3D powered version.

Ok understood!

Last question, but why would the server operator would want to peak inside the game with graphical settings?

From my limited knowledge, dedicated servers usually just run with a command prompt and log whatever activity the clients do?

Post by **Vice** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:29 am

Last question, but why would the server operator would want to peak inside the game with graphical settings?

It's a quick way to present a lot of information in real-time. Also helps the operator keep track of changing conditions with those parameters and inform players what system(s) they are near (or far away from). It's not required, but just an aid in monitoring gamestate for the operator. It also allows some things to be thrown over to the GPU to help free up CPU resources, so on some systems, the 3D version can peform better.

From my limited knowledge, dedicated servers usually just run with a command prompt and log whatever activity the clients do?

Some do, yes. These programs just let the server operator be a bit more involved in what's going on (they even hear the voice chat when enabled) and aware of what's going on. But there is a 2D version for those who want a more basic presentation and/or need to work with more limited capabilities on the server system.

inque · Post by **inque** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:33 am

Ok now I understand everything perfectly

Since we're having it hosted with a GSP, the 2D version will definitely suit our needs

Ok now to pimp this game some more to our community and to get everybody invovled!

Thanks for all your help!

Post by **Marvin** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:35 am

Make sure your players know they can use the same pilot profile(s) on any server they log on to.

inque · Post by **inque** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:46 am

From post: 123828, Topic: tid=8334, author=Marvin wrote: Make sure your players know they can use the same pilot profile(s) on any server they log on to.

Thanks! Will do!

inque · Post by **inque** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:29 am

Hello

I've run into a bit of a problem with hosting this game.

After sending the server exe to our GSP (i3d.net) they installed the file in their server and proceeded to tweak the data2.dat for us

All was well and I was able to connect initially, but then had to quit for a moment and then when I tried to connect again I was greeted with an error that the server IP might be incorrect, blocked or full (not the exact words)

I've reported this to i3d.net and they are still investigating on why this is happening since this happened twice already.

Here is the data2.dat of our server http://pastie.org/3208305

Hope Vice or any other server admins could help us out here 8(

Capt_Caveman · Post by **Capt_Caveman** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:40 am

should'nt line 502 = 0 not 1 ?

Post by **Vice** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:48 am

Not if he's testing things via direct IP before putting it online, which is good if a problem like this is coming up. I'd need to know more details about the error server-side. You can have them contact me via e-mail or do so yourself with the information.

inque · Post by **inque** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:49 am

From post: 124097, Topic: tid=8334, author=capt_cronic wrote:should'nt line 502 = 0 not 1 ?

If I'm not mistaken, 502 is to set the privacy on or off?

We would like to keep our server private at the moment, that's why we set it at 1

Post by **Vice** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:52 am

Yup, you're doing fine.

inque · Post by **inque** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 1:33 am

From post: 124098, Topic: tid=8334, author=Vice wrote: Not if he's testing things via direct IP before putting it online, which is good if a problem like this is coming up. I'd need to know more details about the error server-side. You can have them contact me via e-mail or do so yourself with the information.

Thank you for the offer Vice

I will let them know and also show them this thread

i3d.net is also reporting that they have a hard time looking at the console because the text or The textures are just not readable on the dedicated server. I'll tell them to include this problem in their email as well

Jest · Post by **Jest** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:04 pm

Thanks for making the 2D version.

The server program uses ports 3888 and 3889 from what I can see, are there any others?
Are these port values static?

Edit:
I have the same issue with text not showing up in the 2D version, which is fine as it's not needed.

[Edited on 1-19-2012 by Jest]

[Edited on 1-20-2012 by Jest]

WilsonMG · Post by **WilsonMG** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:04 pm

If you're accessing your server through VNC, MSTSC, etc. you will probably just see a black screen like I did while testing our server. The issue is the 2D app. is extremely touchy when it comes to display settings, so much so, I moved the window once and caused it to crash.

I found a trick to make the text visible at least, which is important. Just right click the 2D.exe, go to the Compatibility tab and choose any one of the three "Disable" options, like "Disable visual themes" and hit Apply and OK then launch the .exe.

If it works for you like it does for me (MSTSC to remote into server), the text will be displayed for you. The text shows as a dark blue font to me instead of white, but it's at least legible and you can adjust server functions as needed.

Jest · Post by **Jest** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:22 am

From post: 124424, Topic: tid=8334, author=WilsonMG wrote:If you're accessing your server through VNC, MSTSC, etc. you will probably just see a black screen like I did while testing our server. The issue is the 2D app. is extremely touchy when it comes to display settings, so much so, I moved the window once and caused it to crash.

I found a trick to make the text visible at least, which is important. Just right click the 2D.exe, go to the Compatibility tab and choose any one of the three "Disable" options, like "Disable visual themes" and hit Apply and OK then launch the .exe.

If it works for you like it does for me (MSTSC to remote into server), the text will be displayed for you. The text shows as a dark blue font to me instead of white, but it's at least legible and you can adjust server functions as needed.

Thanks for the tip, I tried out the mix of the 3 disable options but none seemed to help.
Server seems to run, but no one can join it.
Ports are opened and it establishes a connection on port 80 but the other ports are left open.
I'll keep messing around

[Edited on 1-20-2012 by Jest]

nemafow · Post by **nemafow** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 5:42 am

From post: 124335, Topic: tid=8334, author=Jest wrote:Thanks for making the 2D version.

The server program uses ports 60156, 3888 and 3889 from what I can see, are there any others?
Are these port values static?

Edit:
I have the same issue with text not showing up in the 2D version, which is fine as it's not needed.

[Edited on 1-19-2012 by Jest]

Hang on - I'm having some problems with my dedicated server as well, is port 60156 an additional one required to be forwarded? Can someone link me to where this is stated to allow me to have a bit of a read? Perhaps I have missed it

Brady · Post by **Brady** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:10 am

I missed this aswell...Any news on this port?

Jest · Post by **Jest** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:30 pm

Sorry, those other ports I believe are random, I'm not sure if they need to be forwarded or not for this program. This is from the most recent start up.
I'm still having issues with the 2D server not being join-able, but it could be something on my side. Program seems to properly load and connect to a web server though.

UDP 127.0.0.1:55669 *:*
3700
UDP 208.122.57.50:3889 *:*
3700
TCP 208.122.57.50:3888 0.0.0.0:0 LISTENING
3700
TCP 208.122.57.50:49382 68.178.232.94:80 ESTABLISHED
3700