2D Multiplayer Server Program...

Post by **Vice** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 9:04 pm

I wanted to post some details on testing going on with the 2D version of the server program, which was launched just last week for testing. So here is an update on the status of development for the program.

There are issues with remote desktop/access systems trying to use the program, some may be caused by driver/software issues, others may be program related, but this is still being looked into. The program generally seems to run fine when the user has direct access to the system and is not trying to access it through a remote access program/service. But I'd like to have the program support that option, so it's something I'm still looking into and hope to have a work-around in the next update. This doesn't impact the 3D version, which generally works fine through remote services with appropriate 3D hardware and drivers in place.

Another discovered issue involves multi-core systems. For some reason, single core systems generally run the program fine (and multi-core systems that limit the program to using only one core), but as soon as two or more cores are involved, garbled characers appear and the program along with a client may bind up. After a couple of days of testing and troubleshooting, I was able to duplicate this issue on my local network, so now I have a setup to test against for this problem. It is being worked on now and I hope to have more information to post soon.

Bru · Post by **Bru** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:03 pm

I seem to have the opposite problem. The 2D version seems to work fine when I remote into my Win7 box, but the 3D version crashes any time I minimize or disconnect from the remote window.

I have the latest video drivers for the card in that box loaded as well (NVidia 285.62)

Post by **Vice** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:05 pm

What remote program are you using? It may be interfering with the server program in a way that is deleting data from video memory, which would result in the program closing. Sometimes, those programs have different video/display modes that can help.

servili007 · Post by **servili007** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:49 am

From post: 124762, Topic: tid=8427, author=Bru wrote:I seem to have the opposite problem. The 2D version seems to work fine when I remote into my Win7 box, but the 3D version crashes any time I minimize or disconnect from the remote window.

I have the latest video drivers for the card in that box loaded as well (NVidia 285.62)

I can confirm this when using the official windows/microsoft remote desktop (on both ends) on windows 7.

The server has an ATI graphics card, which I'm relatively sure does not handle video processing when remoting in. Along with this, CPU usage for both 3D and 2D modes is much higher when starting through remote, as opposed to being at the computer. I think this has to do with the graphics card/application communicating properly, although the same holds true for the 2d server program. It seems like a smart thing to consider would be a command line server with a status bar at the top, similar to Source dedicated server.

MrJake · Post by **MrJake** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:19 am

im testing something for fun. I started the 3d version of the server and in task manager i set the afinity to only 1 cpu and its running at 100% steady. Thats 3.4ghz by itself and no one is connected. The 2d-version when I do the same crashes after a while but i remain connected to it even if I have the message from winblows saying this program has stopped working. But the cpu usage drops to 0. Maybe cause im local it doesn disconnect me but once i force close it then my client says i lost connection and makes me save my game. But setting it to 1 cpu only doesnt seem to help it much. makes it lesss stable in my tests

Kilandor · Post by **Kilandor** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 7:25 pm

I was looking forward to this dedicated tool, howerver I was quickly disapointed. I have a remote PC I use with a faster connection for downloading and what not, howerver its also used as a normal PC by another person. The problem is the 2d server launches up this big window that cannot be hidden. Even if you set the resolution to 1x1 or something like that you still have the top bar for the window that is completely visible with a red X, as well as it still exists in the taskbar.

This needs a couple of changes. It needs the option to launch completely hidden so it can be used to run as a service or what not, or as well options to minimize the program and send it to tray.

Personally I want to run the server without ANY window at all.

On another note, there needs to be a config to set the distress call frequency

Kilandor · Post by **Kilandor** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 7:25 pm

I can't see my other message to edit it but, After some more testing of the 2d version It appears to work fine till I connect then it shows me as having a jibberish name in the server window with random character. Upon trying to chat in game no chat appears. The server console doesn't update and seems to hang, however it doesn't quite hang. It still runs I can play in the world etc. The server is completely unresponsive to any clicks. I have to force close it.

I am using a remote login, i'm using LogMeIn.

To note, the server console window works 100% fine till i connect to it to join

Post by **Vice** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 7:27 pm

I'm not sure there will be a way to allow the program to run as a hidden task in the current development platform used for it.

As for the strange characters, it appears to be related to multi-core systems with the 2D program. It is a known issue and is being worked on as indicated above.

bar10dr · Post by **bar10dr** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:44 pm

Hi,

We're some guys who wanted to test out the game, we're running a dedicated server and have this exact problem.
Connecting to the server using windows RDP.

It would perhaps be better if you made a pure console server version? And let the clients connect and verify as the owner and control the server from the client?
Not many dedicated servers have good gfx hw.

Anyway, I installed the 2010 c++ package and when I started the 2D app up I did not get any error messages but the screen was totally black with a blinking marker in it.

Here's a screenshot:
[img=875x530]http://www.bar10dr.com/ServerProblems1.jpg[/img]

[Edited on 1-22-2012 by Vice]

Post by **Vice** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:45 pm

Check out the update here, it should solve it for you:

http://www.starwraith.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8465

[Edited on 1-21-2012 by Vice]

bar10dr · Post by **bar10dr** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:41 pm

From post: 125085, Topic: tid=8427, author=Vice wrote: Check out the update here, it should solve it for you:

http://www.starwraith.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8465

[Edited on 1-21-2012 by Vice]

That thread link just takes me to the same download page I downloaded the server app a few hours ago?

The filename had the same version on it too but I tried to reinstall it, same error.

This is the file I'm downloading: http://www.starwraith.com/evochronmerce ... er1728.exe

Then running
C:\\sw3dg\\EvochronMercenaryServer\\EvochronMercenaryServer2D.exe

Post by **Vice** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:53 pm

The page is probably cached in your browser. Click on refresh to update the page to the latest version.

bar10dr · Post by **bar10dr** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:01 am

From post: 125123, Topic: tid=8427, author=Vice wrote: The page is probably cached in your browser. Click on refresh to update the page to the latest version.

doh...

Worked like a charm, thank you!

nemafow · Post by **nemafow** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:31 am

Using 3D with VNC seems to have fixed the disconnect/crash problem when closing/minimizing a remote connection for me

bar10dr · Post by **bar10dr** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:43 am

2D app still have some problems.

When I change the setting nothing gets saved.

Only way I can make it work is as following:
1. Change game name (Note I cannot remove the name that is there, I have to add a few characters to it)
2. Connect the server.

If I don't do step 1 first it can't connect.

When I restart none of the settings are stored.

If I remove the game name and enter a totally new one it will not get stored, same with all the other settings.

We are three people playing, and at random moments we all get dropped out, the server says we were kicked but no reason.

Post by **Vice** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:51 am

Any changes you make need to be saved to the text2.dat file itself, that's where all pre-configuring is done. Just open the file using notepad and make any changes you want directly to that file.

As for the disconnects, are there any numbers after the kick messages (ie (21))?

bar10dr · Post by **bar10dr** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 1:26 am

From post: 125136, Topic: tid=8427, author=Vice wrote: Any changes you make need to be saved to the text2.dat file itself, that's where all pre-configuring is done. Just open the file using notepad and make any changes you want directly to that file.

As for the disconnects, are there any numbers after the kick messages (ie (21))?

Looks to be mostly 22 and 23

[Edited on 1-22-2012 by bar10dr]

Post by **Vice** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 1:48 am

That indicates a backlog of packets and with it happening to all player simultaneously, it suggests something happened to the server program. Were you trying to move the window around or otherwise pause the program or run something else? Is this on LAN or internet?

bar10dr · Post by **bar10dr** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 1:59 am

From post: 125153, Topic: tid=8427, author=Vice wrote: That indicates a backlog of packets and with it happening to all player simultaneously, it suggests something happened to the server program. Were you trying to move the window around or otherwise pause the program or run something else? Is this on LAN or internet?

I pay for the server, virtual machine hosted by a company, it doesn't have very much RAM so perhaps its just running out of resources then?

Win Server currently running on just 512MB.

I'll try upgrading the specs and see if that solves the problem.

Would 2GB RAM be enough?
Will it take advantage/any point of getting more CPU's?

Post by **Vice** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 2:09 am

It could be if it's that lean on memory, 1 GB at least would be better. Otherwise, depending on the version of Windows being used, it could be running the system very lean on memory with just the OS loaded. If the server program is pausing/stuttering as a result, it could cause that kind of disconnect.

The multiplayer system can utilize multiple cores, but this is likely related to something else. Are you able to observe the control window? If so, watch the FPS and CPU readouts. If the program is spiking at its limits (low FPS or max CPU), then that could indicate it is a resource problem.

bar10dr · Post by **bar10dr** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 2:18 am

From post: 125162, Topic: tid=8427, author=Vice wrote: It could be if it's that lean on memory, 1 GB at least would be better. Otherwise, depending on the version of Windows being used, it could be running the system very lean on memory with just the OS loaded. If the server program is pausing/stuttering as a result, it could cause that kind of disconnect.

The multiplayer system can utilize multiple cores, but this is likely related to something else. Are you able to observe the control window? If so, watch the FPS and CPU readouts. If the program is spiking at its limits (low FPS or max CPU), then that could indicate it is a resource problem.

Aight, my bet is that it's just crapping out due to low specs then.

I will be upgrading the WM first coming Wednesday, I'll add to this thread if it does or doesn't solve the problem.

Thanks for the quick support.

servili007 · Post by **servili007** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 7:01 am

1808 seems to providing a much better experience when using the 2D server. I no longer crash shortly after connecting, CPU usage seems to be lower, and it seems to be more stable. Like I said earlier, I use RDP, and one issue I still notice is that when the window isn't hidden (by using the show desktop button as recommended), the mouse cursor and general speed at which the cursor can click buttons inside or outside the window is drastically, sometimes painfully reduced. Any chance that you could integrate a minimize button on the 2D server that ceases to draw it to alleviate some strain.

I think that if you did, you could also integrate a way for the program to start in that way, to satisfy the needs of people with much lower spec servers than some of us.

Kilandor · Post by **Kilandor** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:35 pm

From post: 125021, Topic: tid=8427, author=Vice wrote: I'm not sure there will be a way to allow the program to run as a hidden task in the current development platform used for it.

As for the strange characters, it appears to be related to multi-core systems with the 2D program. It is a known issue and is being worked on as indicated above.

Sorry I didn't read all of that however. The system I was running on is NOT multi-core Its an old Pentium 4, running Windows XP SP3

So maybe there is more to the issue?

The system is pretty vanilla has all the latest windows updates.

servili007 · Post by **servili007** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 8:08 pm

Any chance we'll see the ability to enter domain names as the IP in the client and server, and let them auto resolve, as opposed to being forced to use IPs?

Post by **Vice** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:30 am

Any chance we'll see the ability to enter domain names as the IP in the client and server, and let them auto resolve, as opposed to being forced to use IPs?

Yes, actually looking into this now. Might have it implemented by the next update.