Topic: How Difficult is it to run a server?

[Tulwar]

I'm thinking about building a new computer to run a server.

I have 6.0 MBS DSL

Is that enough bandwidth, and what are the requirements for the server?

[Bonk]

6.0 Mbps DSL? I assume that is download speed?

What matters most for running a server is upload speed and latency. There is not that much data to send upstream though, latency is the biggest factor for stability of the serverkit.

So you want a very stable connection with low ping times to all the major networks. (256kbit would probably do fine for bandwidth, so long as the connection is stable and fast - fast meaning low latency.)

As far as hardware - the faster the processor the better. Flatfile does not require much memory. If you want to run on MySQL you'll need to ensure there is sufficient memory (which depends on db size and MySQL settings) Starting out though I'd definitely stick with flatfile which does not need much memory at all. I'd avoid running it on Vista. I'd also run it on a 32 bit CPU.

P.S. if you have DSL/Cable ensure you have a real modem, not a USB modem (take those and smash them into tiny pieces and then stomp the pieces into dust). Also ensure there is not a router in your modem that you cannot control.

[marstone]

  Basic server isn't really hard.  I haven't gotten the SQL one runing yet so can't say anything on how hard to run it would be.  But a basic flatfile, there really isn't much to it (although the modifing part can bend a nerve or two).  I am working on putting up my third test server (but working 12 hour days now so not much time after my little bit of sleep).

[Strayy]

Running a flatfile server isnt too hard, just the customizing you do to it can get complicated.... make sure your server is not running behind a router, or youll have all kinds of connection/drafting issues, and make sure the machine your server runs on is stand alone, that way you wont have to worry about a crash taking your server down... ( aside from the goofy thing itself)   and best of all is to read NuclearWessels bible on the subject...  http://www3.telus.net/NuclearWessels/sfc/   

[Pestalence_XC]

I may toss up a Hardcore server...

The last time I did, people complained that the AI was too difficult.. my servers don't mission match or BPV match.. you can go into a hex and face off with a frig. or a BB.. totally random.. on one mission I did on my server, I was in a NAC and the server threw 1 BB and 2 DN's at me.. needless to say I ran..

I may try again, but I will keep the difficulty settings high, but not as high as I did them last time..

I also want to see what this system can do running a server under Vista 64 bit.. I think I have a config for SFC running OK.. but I need to do some more debugging.

[Bonk]

That would be cool! I like a tough server. (Graduate of the School of Herr Burt ) I'd definitely login for some tough hardcore missions.

A hardcore server by Pestalence just sounds like a good idea to me!

Should we consider a 64 bit build of the kit?... would take a bunch of work and time... and I'd need a 64 bit system and OS to do it on. ...hey this discussion sounds familiar! It would probably be overkill but it just makes sense to me to produce a 64 bit build if people are going to run it on 64 bit systems.

Oh but wait... I'm not sure if that hardcore shiplist is Kosher with the serverkit, I've never QA'd it myself. It may be missing required ships, classes, specials... this of course depends on the starting ship settings in all years the server will run (which also applies to all server AI generation, whis it is best not to disable but satisfy in a minimal fashion...) The best way to test this is run your server on its final settings with accelerated time over the entire time period the server will run with debug output to the console or file. (don't accelerate it too fast, i.e. - at least 50% more time per turn than the sum of all the time related AI generation settings...) If you see any errors, then your shiplist and settings are not final! You could of course run the stock hardcore shiplist client side and modify it only serverside as needed if necessary.

[Pestalence_XC]

Good idea Bonk..

and my OS is Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit System Builders OEM version (109.99 at newegg) with Vista Service Pack 1 RTM installed with all latest driver versions for hardware installed.. all 64 bit...

the system runs 32 bit applications no problem.. IE COD 4, SFC OP, SFC, SFC EAW, SFC 3, Battlefield 1942, etc..

the question is can the 32 bit server kit understand instruction sets from a 64 bit OS.. I don't see a problem.. but you never know.

[KBFLordKrueg]

I may toss up a Hardcore server...

The last time I did, people complained that the AI was too difficult.. my servers don't mission match or BPV match.. you can go into a hex and face off with a frig. or a BB.. totally random.. on one mission I did on my server, I was in a NAC and the server threw 1 BB and 2 DN's at me.. needless to say I ran..

I may try again, but I will keep the difficulty settings high, but not as high as I did them last time..

I also want to see what this system can do running a server under Vista 64 bit.. I think I have a config for SFC running OK.. but I need to do some more debugging.

Do not pay attention to the wussies....
A good challenge builds character! 
That would be awesome, sir.

[Bonk]

the question is can the 32 bit server kit understand instruction sets from a 64 bit OS.. I don't see a problem.. but you never know.

WOW should cover it (that's windows on windows, not world of warcraft of course...), but I do think we should look at a 64 bit build eventually. Just need a development system and time.

[Strayy]

Geez, Pesty... dont know how many times I've heard that about the Tavern A.I's....  even dropped their aggressiveness a tad.... shiplist seems to be better balanced now... but, the server still gets in its moods & sends out heavy iron against a rowboat at times, still not sure just why....
You recheck your debugging of *&^*^^%*& vista with their new service pack release??   updated the 1 vista machine, havent noticed any improvements at all....  leavin the server machine alone, havent did any updates yet ... if it works, dont **** with it !! 

[Nemesis]

Do not pay attention to the wussies....
A good challenge builds character! 
That would be awesome, sir.

Seconded

[Pestalence_XC]

I need a list of broken mission scripts.. preferrably scripts in the OP Enhancement Pack v5.1

I am including ED mission, the regular NW missions, Tracey G. missions, and El Karnak missions

Stock missions will not be included.

the kit will be using the updated DLL files

I am also going to run the OP + 4.0 Hardcore shiplist

I would also like to know which races you would like to see allied to each other.. I'm setting it up as a 2 sided war, 4 races per side.

Server will start in early era and will run until late era... server should be set to run each era per week, with late era ending after 2 weeks after it starts (in other words 1 week early, 1 week mid, 2 weeks late)

I would also like to stress the server out and try to keep sides balanced if possible.

Map is going to be Mid to large size with small opening territory for each race.. economy should be about balanced for each race to start.

The side holding the most territory at the end of the server wins..

Fleeting rules apply as per all previous servers.

Flying as a team is highly recommended.. single pilots will find the odds against them.. if you like going alone, then please make sure you know how to handle the ship you are flying.

anyhow.. any suggestions at this point are welcome.
 

P.S. the server will be running under kit 2552 build 36 flat file.

[Bonk]

I would go with traditional alliances, 30 years of playtesting and all.. It seems we always get into trouble with balance issues if we do not.

[marstone]

the question is can the 32 bit server kit understand instruction sets from a 64 bit OS.. I don't see a problem.. but you never know.

WOW should cover it (that's windows on windows, not world of warcraft of course...), but I do think we should look at a 64 bit build eventually. Just need a development system and time.

They should be able to communitcate alright.  Poping the source code over to compile on 64bit shouldn't be that hard, there are instruction changes but not that many.  Most if I recall are taken care of by the compiler, with a few that are needed to be coded in.  I would suggest using conditional coding so that the same source will compile to 32 and 64bit.  Less chance of differences slipping into the builds.

[Corbomite]

I may toss up a Hardcore server...

The last time I did, people complained that the AI was too difficult.. my servers don't mission match or BPV match.. you can go into a hex and face off with a frig. or a BB.. totally random.. on one mission I did on my server, I was in a NAC and the server threw 1 BB and 2 DN's at me.. needless to say I ran..

I may try again, but I will keep the difficulty settings high, but not as high as I did them last time..

I also want to see what this system can do running a server under Vista 64 bit.. I think I have a config for SFC running OK.. but I need to do some more debugging.

I would love that. I've always wanted totally random meetings. I don't know why people think they should always have an easy time of it or even a chance sometimes. Sometimes you should meet a frigate and be done in two minutes and others you should find yourself faced with a six ship combat group. I set up my single player to be that way with a mixture of all the missions ever put out by anyone and file settings. I never get bored fighting AI like I do on a live server, waiting for a good PvP match. It would also give the AI a chance to defend your hexes when there is nobody of your race on line. Some really bad draws in a row could discourage would be attackers, especially if the DV keeps going up instead of down.

The problem with modded shiplists is they usually sacrifice Tactical Intelligence for "shiny new things" that, at least for me, don't add very much to gameplay in the long run. Many ships are specialized and show up in inappropriate places, too much or not at all. Many times you don't know what you are fighting until you get close or waste a probe because the ship class, UI and model are all showing you different things. On Strayy's server this could be deadly! I have nothing against mods, but in a shiplist where nothing seems as it appears and a simple looking frigate that you may ignore in favor of a nasty looking dred (because there is no time or power to probe both and you have to get the mission done lickety-split because of the enemy dogpile in the same hex) comes over and wrecks you in one shot, it tends to ruin the strategic aspect of the game somewhat.

[Pestalence_XC]

Corb, since you been debugging the scripts.. can you give me a list of broken ones for removal please?

[Corbomite]

Corb, since you been debugging the scripts.. can you give me a list of broken ones for removal please?

That really depends on what you consider "broken". Many work just the way they were intended, but people didn't like them for some reason or other and they were removed from Dyna play. I haven't yet started a formal list and some only rear their ugly warts in MP so I'd need some help for a full survey.

[FPF-Paladin]

Do not pay attention to the wussies....
A good challenge builds character! 
That would be awesome, sir.

Seconded

Thirded.  And I love the idea of not knowing what kind of battle I'm going to encounter, it would really liven up AI battles I think.

Not everyone is as hardcore as I am though, but I'm seeing some other responses that say I'm not completely alone

[marstone]

Do not pay attention to the wussies....
A good challenge builds character! 
That would be awesome, sir.

Seconded

Thirded.  And I love the idea of not knowing what kind of battle I'm going to encounter, it would really liven up AI battles I think.

Not everyone is as hardcore as I am though, but I'm seeing some other responses that say I'm not completely alone

I will agree with the rest with come caveats.  In a simple game server, one just for fun, balance is nice to have.  In a objective oriented server (i.e. ISC Pascification Server) you should have more variables to deal with, better simulation of true warfare.  So in the second kind of server it would be nice to have some really off-balance games once in awhile.  It would give players a reason to enter missions as a group, instead of just lining up to flip a hex.

One thing I am going to look into is just what can be modified in SQL while a game is running.  It might be interesting to have some SQL editing to control the game more for a campaign.  One bit being more control over the ships being offered to the players, maybe giving the race or side leaders some control over what ships are built and who can get them.

[Corbomite]

Corb, since you been debugging the scripts.. can you give me a list of broken ones for removal please?

The debugging I was looking into only involved the original Taldren scripts as I have no access to private scripter sources in most cases.

I can tell you that you can include Patrol #'s 6, 10 and 17 as well as the Starbase Construction Mission from the Taldren scripts with no issues. I do believe NW's Starbase Construction mission doesn't work right and should not be used. There are other Taldren originals that work well, but were dropped for various reasons.

From memory, I believe that the EEK missions work just fine, but have a tendency to take over selection and you hardly ever see anyone else's missions show up, so they were dropped from Dyna play.

I can't seem to find Tracey's missions and I know I DL them at some point. I might have to get your EP and extract them again.

Dave has at least two different sets of missions he produced way back when; one with a config file (my favorites) an one without. Many of the missions are the same or similar in style and the only real difference one might see is superior drone loadouts at certain times or higher odds if the file is set to a difficult setting. They both work pretty well with the double shot bug the only major isssue I remember and even that was squashed for the most part IIRC.

[Strayy]

For my server, im runnin all the new Evil Dave missions, his old op missions(renamed to work with new missions), and the stock missions. Marstone's right.. the EEK missions take over the mission selection and nothing else will come out. Seem to remember that the patrol 6 for E.D.'s new missions is bugged, and pat's 10 & 17 dominate mission selection.... I think that the BPV check is off for my server in mission matching, .. could explain the nasty A.I's    thx pesty   

[Corbomite]

Marstone's??  right the EEK missions take over the mission selection and nothing else will come out.

I was just thinking that we could probably up the mission selection to three or four at this point without crashing the server with the lower player base. That might solve some problems in that area. I have my single player set to six missions so I never get that problem.

[Strayy]

Depends on the map, mission list, and the mission prioriety...  got the Tavern set to allow 4 missions, but most of the time, theres only 2 missions that show... the list of 4 usually only show in planet/base hexes...

[Corbomite]

Well yes that does make a big difference. I have over 100 missions in my list. Most servers pare it down to about 6 or 7 I think.

[marstone]

Marstone's??  right the EEK missions take over the mission selection and nothing else will come out.

I was just thinking that we could probably up the mission selection to three or four at this point without crashing the server with the lower player base. That might solve some problems in that area. I have my single player set to six missions so I never get that problem.

Twasn't me who said that, twas Corb.  I am still trying to learn what missions are good to use also.  My first two test servers only used the base missions, plan to ass to that when the third comes up.  So will be watching what is said here.  Heck, I have my hands full seeing how the SQL part works.  The info put out is good, but the versions of MySQL available now is set up alittle different then they show, not a great big thing but anough to confound my old brain ('specially after 12-14 hour work days, not much thinking is going on).

[marstone]

Well yes that does make a big difference. I have over 100 missions in my list. Most servers pare it down to about 6 or 7 I think.

Having fewing missions but ones that can simulate more for each one might be the way to go, a single patrol mission script, but have it be able to do multiple styles of patrol, etc...

I have seen a post about one that does that, haven't tried it to see what it does (not yet at least).

[Strayy]

Oops.. ur right Marstone.... sorry Corbomite    with all these missions available, any ideas on how to make em all come out instead of only a select few? ... unless its in the mission script itself...

[Age]

I need a list of broken mission scripts.. preferrably scripts in the OP Enhancement Pack v5.1

I am including ED mission, the regular NW missions, Tracey G. missions, and El Karnak missions

Stock missions will not be included.

the kit will be using the updated DLL files

I am also going to run the OP + 4.0 Hardcore shiplist

I would also like to know which races you would like to see allied to each other.. I'm setting it up as a 2 sided war, 4 races per side.

Server will start in early era and will run until late era... server should be set to run each era per week, with late era ending after 2 weeks after it starts (in other words 1 week early, 1 week mid, 2 weeks late)

I would also like to stress the server out and try to keep sides balanced if possible.

Map is going to be Mid to large size with small opening territory for each race.. economy should be about balanced for each race to start.

The side holding the most territory at the end of the server wins..

Fleeting rules apply as per all previous servers.

Flying as a team is highly recommended.. single pilots will find the odds against them.. if you like going alone, then please make sure you know how to handle the ship you are flying.

anyhow.. any suggestions at this point are welcome.
 

P.S. the server will be running under kit 2552 build 36 flat file.

This sounds harder than Dizzy's SGO servers.What ever you do don't use EL Karnack's planetary assault missions.Tracey had them replaced in SGO3.I may come on for a few days.

[Tulwar]

My old computer is a lost cause, but I just bought a refurbished Dell for less than $200.00!  I was going to fix my old one, but I'm not sure what type of sticky problems I'd run into swapping out the motherboard.  Considdering the age of my opperating system and Microsoft's license protection, it might not even boot.  The USB ports were fried when the power supply failed.  A mother board wouldn't be cheap, and besides, I made the mistake of putting some Symantec software on that system.  Beware Norton's 360!

In any case, is 512 Kbps upload fast enough to run a server, and how difficult will it be to configure the posrts to get through a router?  Note:  I wouldn't touch a refurbished Gateway product with a 10.5' pole.  Dell, well, I still considder it a junk machine, otherwise I wouldn't contemplate using it as a server.  2.66 GHz should be plenty fast, though I don't know how fast the motherboard is.  I'm sure it will suffice.

Now I'm worried about how to go about wiping off all the crapware!  Oh, I hate getting a new computer!  At least, I won't have to load this one with software.

[Bonk]

512 up is fine. The latency is more of an issue though, what are your ping times to google, hp, and tsn? Are they consistent?

Ports: 15101-15300, 27100 (or 28100 depending on what you set in the gf) and 6999 (using our IRC server) Of course for port forwarding to work the box must be configured with a static lan IP. Your router must accept pings from the WAN.

If your router is wireless don't use wireless, the networking overhead is too much and connection too unreliable, plug it in if the router has a switch.

[Tulwar]

I have an AT&T router.  It's not always easy to get to the configuration page.  My IP address is static.  It's the best DSL AT&T offers for residential.  When I ordered DSL w/o phone service, they didn't offer me anything less.  My employer pays for my cell phone, so I don't need to pay for a land line.  I'm paying less for premium DSL than I payed for phone service and a dial-up ISP!

Enough bragging!  I've got a decent connection, and I intend to use it.

[Bonk]

Static WAN IP or LAN IP? If your LAN IP is dynamic then port forwarding at the router will not work, because when the dhcp lease expires and is renewed, you may get a different LAN IP address then the NAT entries you made for port forwarding will no longer be valid. Grok?

AT&T does not make routers that I am aware of.

It sounds as though you have a DSL modem with a router in it? Does your ISP allow you full control of the router? If not, ask them for an ethernet modem without a router and get your own quality router (I reccomend linksys/cisco), well if you want more than the one machine connected.

[Tulwar]

AT&T Yahoo! Get them at Best Buy.  Static IP.  tested upload speeds on a couple sites, 420+ kbps.  The configuration page is hard to get to, but do-able.  I can actually get on the Dynaverse with my anti-virus engaged on this computer.  Might run the router wide open, without mail configured, very insecure.  I need another ethernet cable, though.

[Bonk]

Static IP. 

LAN or WAN?

AT&T Yahoo! Get them at Best Buy.

But who made it? Surely not AT&T?

I can actually get on the Dynaverse with my anti-virus engaged on this computer.

But exactly when is Norton going to decide that connecting players are hackers and drop you from the mission? What is it going to think of the server? How much processor load will it add as it scans every disk and network action of the serverkit or client? Because it works once does not mean it will work all the time. Will Norton tell you exactly what they do to running executables, the tcp/ip stack and disk access? No, they will not, thus you can never know what is happening on your machine with Norton installed. If you have norton installed you are no longer running windows, but some other mystery operating system designed by Symantec.

I'll stop haranguing you now, but think about these questions carefully and look up the answers if you are unsure.

[marstone]

Static WAN IP or LAN IP? If your LAN IP is dynamic then port forwarding at the router will not work, because when the dhcp lease expires and is renewed, you may get a different LAN IP address then the NAT entries you made for port forwarding will no longer be valid. Grok?

you can go into your network config on your computer and set the address it will link with.  Mine downstairs links into the LAN with 128.67.1.101 on the LAN side it is effectivily static.

[FPF-DieHard]

I ran over 10 D2 servers on an old AMD Athlon 1.4 GHz CPU with 512 MB RAM.  Cable modem with  about 1.5 mb upload.

CPU power DEFINITELY played a role.  i don't think it's important anymore.  Back when we did SGO4 (I think, it was the three-way where we totally screwed over the ISC players) THOR was still running on dual 500 MHz Xeons and was hosted on a OC3 connection in an ISP's data center (Frey can correct me it I'm wrong).  The Athlon was able to stably host more players, we used to move the server back and forth depending on how many people were online and the difference was plain as day yo see.   I wonder what we could have done with a dual-core CPU back then with the proccessor affinity set to the Server kit had a whole core to itself . . .


That said, it's pretty much a moot point.   We don't have the play numbers anymore for this really to matter.   On ATOK3, the server kit was running on a VMware session on my desktop PC (at the time was a AMD X2 4800) while I was playing on the same computer! 

When you've got 25 people playing peak you can run this on pretty much anything. 

[marstone]

  So how do you run more then one server at the same time, do you just need to have them in different directories so they don't cross files?

[FPF-DieHard]

  So how do you run more then one server at the same time, do you just need to have them in different directories so they don't cross files?

Ive always kept every server self contained in it's own folder.

you really can't run more than one server at a time on a box.   There are provisions to do this over different ports but it doesn't actually work.

[Bonk]

you really can't run more than one server at a time on a box.   There are provisions to do this over different ports but it doesn't actually work.

I used to be able to... one on 27100 and the other on 28100. It looks funny locally though as the client doubles entries for local servers. (one for each of the LAN and WAN IPs) Also, special considerations must be made if you use the processsentinel.

What difficulties or issues did you encounter?

[FPF-DieHard]

What difficulties or issues did you encounter?

Nobody could see the server.

[Bonk]

Odd. I wonder what was different? Ah well, its not that important I guess.

[FPF-DieHard]

Odd. I wonder what was different? Ah well, its not that important I guess.

Yeah, we never bothered to pull our hair out over it because it's not that big of a deal.

[FPF-Paladin]

Throwing in my two cents...

First, Norton has known issues with classifying outgoing data improperly and not allowing it through.  The comment above about it basically taking your computer over.. it's true.  You can't even properly uninstall it.  Heaven help you if you try using Outlook with this; you'd might as well start lobotomizing yourself now with a dull spoon, it won't hurt near as much.

192.168.2.1 should be your firmware IP address on your modem.  If not, then you have a router in between you need to account for or get rid of.  I'd recommend calling them and asking for either a 2 Wire 2701 or any SpeedStream model above 4500, speedstream especially if you're running a network because it's built right in along with built in wireless generally.  I'm wiping away cobwebs trying to remember this stuff though, someone else may be able to give more up to date info (last Speedstream I set up was a 6520)

Even if you are being told you're on a 6Meg connection, it really just means you can get 'up to' that speed.  Most ISPs really don't want people to know about that.  Call your ISP tech support, ask them to check sync strength on your line and find out what you're really getting.  Don't let them lie; they can see not only what you're really getting but what your max performance could be.  If you ask them to test your sync they will (if competent) realize you're not Joe Blow calling in clueless.  Ask for Max Attainable Rate also to find out if upgrading your line is even worth it.  Max distance for DSL is 4.7km, the first 2.7 from the hub nearest you where they plug in the line card giving you DSL service.  usually being the best place to be ... basically as the signal travels down the copper wire it degrades.

If latency is a huge problem, ask them to check if your connection is Interweaved or Fast.  Basically this is the correction done on the ISP end for packets... there is some trade off but gamers generally want Fast.

Don't use wireless for this.  Just don't... and like above, if this is a USB modem get rid of it because you're being ripped off.  USB is at best a backup connection when the ethernet isn't working and no tech worth his salt would be ok with leaving you on it.

[Pestalence_XC]

with Time Warner Road Runner Turbo, they guarantee 10 Mbps downstream and 786 upstream.. however my speeds are



thats local to me.

On DSL.. the closer you are to the Phone companies hub, the faster you will go..

but Cable is 60% fiber optic nation wide, very little degradation..

Here is my speed test to California.. and I'm in Texas ..



that is why Cable is about 3 times faster than DSL on average, unless you have their suped up package..

but not only is your connection important, it is also the people you are going to support on your server.. distance to your contact point makes a big difference..

now, Let's say I want to chat to someone in Russia



Notice how my downstream got nuetered ?

the distance is over 5000 miles and through the trans Atlantic line.. most of europe is still running copper and even aluminum lines, very little fiber optics over there.. thus the reduction on speed.

and modems :

Running a cable modem via USB will eat your processors clock cycles and your system memory and your virtual memory.. Only use Ethernet Cards .. that is unless you have no other choice but use USB.

[marstone]

now, Let's say I want to chat to someone in Russia



Notice how my downstream got nuetered ?

Remember that is to Novosibirsk, there is probably a teletype operator manually translating the signal between their system and yours.  It would slow it down alittle.




I edited this to fix quote as all comments were in the qoute box - Pestalence_XC

[FPF-DieHard]

You have more than enough bandwidth.   In hindsight, I think is was CPU power that was what killed us in the past, not bandwidth.

[Tulwar]

I finally finished using my "new" computer to get the manure off the hard drives from my old computer.  It gets kinda warm in the summer, so I want to move the computer into a better case.  This Dell better fit in a standard ATX case!

I have a laptop now, but I bought a rebuilt machine to use as a server.  I can't do much though the week, so I'll scoop my "new" computer out of its case and into another this weekend.

The first virus that hit my first XP machine was one that didn't come on any attachment.  Somebody's computer simply searched the net looking for open ports until it found my computer.  I forgot what it was called.  Now, I practice "safe surfing."  The server must not run any program that touches the internet, other than SFC.  Nothing else is allowed to penetrate the firewalls.

To Do List:

1.)  Download SFC OP client on this machine, and manually transfer to the server, via thumbdrive.
2.)  Configure the server: alliances, missions, etc.
3.)  Configure Window firewall to close all ports, except those used by SFC (There is no anti-virus software on the maching what-so-ever.)
4.)  Run eithernet cable from server to router.
5.)  Install and configure Port Forward.
6.)  See if it works.

Problems:

A.)  I'm not sure how to do any of these things, except, #4.
B.)  I'm pretty sure I won't be able to play SFC on line with my laptop, because it'll confuse the router.  I don't know how that works.
C.)  I get less computer-savvy every day.

After I get this running, I'll have to find out what might get people to want to play on my server.

[Raztax]

I may toss up a Hardcore server...

Would love to see that. I'd have to start playing again possibly 

[Bonk]

Odd. I wonder what was different? Ah well, its not that important I guess.

Yeah, we never bothered to pull our hair out over it because it's not that big of a deal.

I think I just figured out what you might have been missing... did each server have a different "_CentralSwitchPlusAllServers" directory name? Know what I mean? As I recall I had issues running two (at least with Process Sentinels) until I gave each one a different name so that they had different titles at the top of the console window.

[Raztax]

So people have gotten two servers running on the same box? I'm interested in this  because shortly, I would like to launch a beta version of my server, but would really rather not take down the existing server to test the other one if I don't have to.


As far as how difficult it is to run? My server is just pretty much stock using a flatfile, and it pretty much runs itself. I clean the db now and again and that's pretty much it.