Topic: Vista users.. Need testers to verify Vista Fix for Dynaverse

[Bonk]

OK, got firewall first try, good login second try, fast movement at first then slow... getting closer.

I better call it a night, busy day tomorrow.

Tomorrow night I'll try exactly Pestalence's settings in the post above to see what I get.

You getting consistent results on multiple separate Dynaverse sessions with that setup Pestalence? (and thanks for your patience)

[Pestalence_XC]

So far.. doing test 3 now.

[Bonk]

Cool, 3 is the magic number for me. I'll try that setup (as close as I can get on Vista HP) tomorrow night.

[Bonk]

Interesting note: before my last trial, I: "turn off the windows firewall, stop it's service, stop the SSDP and UPnP services and turn of network discovery."

I just went to turn the firewall back on and restart the services and the window firewall was already enabled, it's service started and the UPnP service started, SSDP remained stopped and network discovery remained off.

Something started the windows firewall and UPnP services without asking me.    (Probably just when that slow movement began)

There's a giant hole in UAC if you ask me... I did not authorise that action. I guess I'll need to disable or set those services to manual.

[FCM_SFHQ_XC]

bit more to add from my last post:
no lag when turn ends and I recieve the ship
some lag on renaming ship
lots of lag selling ship
no lag on resupplying ship unless new generation or map update happens at the same time

[FCM_SFHQ_XC]

Pesty and I tried out:

MulticasterServer=1 from MulticasterServer=0
 
and

[AIDebug]
AIDebugLevel=0
DebugError=0

in SFC.ini

Additional improvement in Vista lag
Main Lag now comes from:
Coming out of mission causing the hex to flip neutral, or another race, major lag
news updating from someone else flipping a hex, major lag
news updating from someone finishing a mission, minor lag

no lag selling a ship
no lag buying a ship
no lag resupplying a ship
no lag renaming a ship
movement is fine until news comes out
taking missions is fine
coming out of mission that doesn't flip a hex has a touch of lag

[Bonk]

Good work guys. I need to take the night off from OP vista testing tonight, I had to work late and it's too late to get started now. (and I'm pooped) Hopefully I can catch up to where you guys are tomorrow.

[toasty0]

Hey guys. I've been following the thread and it looks like everything is under control, so to speak. So, unless you need the eyes of a total n00b on this one I'll just hang out here on the sidelines and enjoy following your progress.

[FCM_SFHQ_XC]

Good work guys. I need to take the night off from OP vista testing tonight, I had to work late and it's too late to get started now. (and I'm pooped) Hopefully I can catch up to where you guys are tomorrow.

no worries , I'll take tonight to relax some and play some Bridge Commander, and Command and Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath

[Lepton]

OK.. everything I have done.

I have been doing all of this with Firewall Turned off and Anti-Virus turned off.

SSDP, UPnp, and Firewall services sitll automatic and turned on.. however I have Vista's 3 firewall disabled in the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security snap in.. all firewalls disabled.

Also have UPnP in Router enabled.

Installed the game from exploring the CD (not autorun)... by finding the setup.exe and setting the properties on it to XPSP 2 compatibility and run as administrator.

I said no to DirectX 8.0a and said no to Gamespy Arcade.

I set security permissions on the Taldren Software Inc and the Starfleet Command Orion Pirates folders for Full Access to all users and installers.

I removed Read only from the Taldren Software Inc and Starfleet Command Orion Pirates folders.

I patched using OPE v5.1, but all that basically does is put a bunch of installers into the Starfleet Command Orion Pirates\Installs folder so you can install them manually or allow the Batch fule I created install them in correct order.

the install method that OPE does installs the installers to the installs folder in the Starfleet Command Orion Pirates directory, when installer exits, black dos window appears..

I go into the installs directory and set all the EXE fiiles to XPSP 2 compatibility and Run as Administrator (except Model Viewer, I set it to Win 2000 compatibility and Administrator).

I go back to the OPE DOS Window.

the installer then runs Patch 2.5.5.2, the Bonus Scripts from Taldren, the DLL files, the community scripts package, The High Resolution Model Package for Fed, Rom and Klink and then Mod Chooser.. I stop right then and there with the DOS Window (don't exit), I set Mod Chooser shortcut to XPSP 2 compatibility and set Administrator.

I continue the installer which will install OP+ 4.0, OP+ 4.0 HC Edition, and helps you configure Mod Chooser in the process of each shiplist just after each is installed, then Shipedit gets installed (and there is a fix that needs to be done with my package because one of the UI's gets fubarred in the install, but the DAT folder is duplicated so it is just a simple Copy paste fix) Set the Shipedit EAW and Shipedit OP to XPSP 2 compatibility and to run as administrator. I also give full access on the EagleEye folder in the security tab to everything listed and I take off Read Only at the same time.

Back in the DOS Window, Co-Op Ace 4.0, Secor Assault (by Mags and Firesoul), Sector Assault by Alpha Centauri, Fleet Pick by Alpha Centauri.. Etc.. the rest of the package.

Basically all it does is installs the stuff you already use plus a crap load of scripts. and the DLL files.

On the desktop Shortcuts, I make sure that the Run and Start In path points to the correct patch for the game install, I also set XPSP 2 compatibility and Run as Administrator on everything except Model Viewer, it needs to be set for Administrator and Win 2000 compatibility. On the ShipEdit shortcuts, I make sure that they are pointing to the EagleEye Software folder.

I then go back to the Taldren Software folder and the Starfleet Command Orion Pirates folder and I double check Security is full access and Read Only is disabled.

Inside the Starfleet Command folder, I find all the EXE files and set them to XPSP 2 compatibility and set Run as Administrator.

I copy the StarfleetOP.exe game file to a different folder, rename it to SFCOP.exe and move the file back and overwrite the one there.

I open the WonServerSetup.gf file and edit

[Settings]

BlockSize = 1000
DelayMultiple = 1.0
PacketQueLimit = 125

and

[WONDirectoryServer]
ServerPath = "/StarFleetCommand2/Game/Release"
//ServerPath = "/StarFleetCommand2/Game/Release"
//ServerPath = "/StarFleetCommand2/Game/Release_Test"

Save file and exit.

I then launch Ez-INI 2.0 in XPSP 2 compatibility and run as administrator ... set resolution, Z buffer, Hide BPV/Race, enable Engine Doubling, set audio to 64 channels, crew sounds max, add GSA name, my common GSA room name, my D2 log in info, set AI to Admiral, Volley info, quick tips, allow screen shots, the rest should already be enabled.

I then go into the SFC.ini file

[Network]
PlayerName=Pestalence_XC
SessionName=Hardcore
SessionType=Starfleet
NetDebug=0
NetLib=0
SimProtocol=0
MulticasterServer=0
NetDbgFile=0
SynchWait=10
AllowEngineDoubling=1
HideRaceFromOthers=1
HideBPVFromOthers=1

[3D]
wireframe=0
windowed=0
zbuffer=1
lowres=3 //(temp due to current monitor)
driver=0
backdrop=1
shipstacking=1
ambientlighting=0.20
luminancetextures=1
luminancedamagetextures=1
spacedust=0



skip to


[UI]
UIType=1
QuickTip=1
Grid=0
OrderDelay=20

[Sound]
voice=3
GlobalVolume=100
MusicVolume=80
VoiceVolume=100
MaxChannels=64
CollisionAlert=0
HeadingDisplay=0
AutoFilm=0
SkipUpsell=1
ASCIICharacterSet=0

[Bonus]
BonusMissions=1

[Debug]
VollyInfo=1
Fps=0
ScreenShot=1

I then find the SFCOP.exe and I take off compatibility mode but I leave Run as Administrator.

I open Game Explorer from Windows and make sure that Orion Pirates shows up, check the settings to make sure that the shortcut is configured properly to above, close it all out.


On my networking :

Router set to DMZ with Wireless pretty much disabled.

Network Protocals has QOS and Printer/File sharing disabled, the rest are checked.


Services turned off :

Certificate Propogation
Distributed Link Tracking Client
NetLogon
Offline Files
Remote registry
SNMP Trap
Tablet PC Input Service
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Terminal Services UserMode Port Redirector
WebClient
Windows Remote Management (WS-Management)
WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service
Windows Search
Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Service

TMP base services (set to Manual)



Windows Features removed (unchecked):

Remote Differential Compression
Telnet Client
Telnet Server
Windows DFS Replication Service
Tablet PC Optional Components
SNMP Feature

these should be unchecked



Tweaks to system / Network:

Elevated Command Prompt (Command Prompt running as Administrator):

netsh int tcp set global chimney=enabled
netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled
netsh int tcp set global ecncapability=disabled
netsh int tcp set global congestionprovider=ctcp
netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=normal

Registry Entries :

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{...}\
MTU=1500 (DWORD, entry does not exist by default)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\
Tcp1323Opts=1 (DWORD, entry created automatically by Windows when you run the "netsh int tcp set global autotuninglvl=..." command, set to 0 by default)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
EnableTCPA=1 (DWORD, 1 to enable, 0 to disable NetDMA. Value not present by default in Vista)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management
SecondLevelDataCache=(ammount of 2nd level cache on your CPU)
DECIMAL---------HEXADECIMAL
256 KB-----------100 (hex)
512 KB-----------200 (hex)
1024 KB (1MB)----400 (hex)
2048 KB (2MB)----800 (hex)
4096 KB (4MB)----1000 (hex)
6144 KB (6MB)----1800 (hex)
8192 KB (8MB)----2000 (hex)
12288 KB (12MB)--3000 (hex)
16384 KB (16MB)--4000 (hex)

and that is about it..

Latest device drivers and every update MS has put out to date, plus Nov 2008 DirectX.

Launching game from Game Explorer using the SFCOP.exe file (renamed StarfleetOP.exe) Only running as Administrator with no compatibility enabled.

Hope that this helps.

While this is a laudable effort and well beyond my understanding of its necessity, if this is what is required to play the dynaverse on a Vista machine, then I have no desire to log onto the dynaverse in the future from a Vista machine.

[FCM_SFHQ_XC]

a lot of this stuff probably can be automated through batch files and stuff, once we find a working combination of settings. So, once the right combination is found, then most likely a batch file, or another some other type of script can be made that'll automate this for the normal user

[Bonk]

I got to thinking about smartheap...

Came across this:
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=592480

Now looking for a product that has the latest smartheap dlls in it (HA312W32.dll, SHW32.dll)

Currently we're using the versions from SFC3 (which, it is indicated, has no issues with Vista?)

Nevertheless, I'm curious to see what the latest smartheap would do for OP on Vista.

We're using version 6 - they're up to version 9 now. I suspect the Oracle free versions may have it in them.

[FCM_SFHQ_XC]

We might also want to experiment with this setting in the WONServerSetup.gf

Code: [Select]

SingleThreaded = 1If you think about it some, it seems that basically OP on Vista does fine when there is a single action going, or single thread, but soon as multiple things kick in, then that is when Vista lags.
During Hex Flipping, your not only changing a hex's race, but its DV, and generating a news. Multiple things are also usually printed out during a news gen, while just 1 is printed when there is a DV shift.
I haven't had much time to experiment with this setting, but I'm not exactly sure what this should be set to either.. does setting it to =0 allow for multi-threaded, or does it need to be set to =2, or even does a MultiThreaded = 1 need to be typed into the gf file?
Any thoughts on this?

Interesting thought with the DLL files, they might also end up producing some good results hopefully

[toasty0]

We might also want to experiment with this setting in the WONServerSetup.gf

Code: [Select]

SingleThreaded = 1If you think about it some, it seems that basically OP on Vista does fine when there is a single action going, or single thread, but soon as multiple things kick in, then that is when Vista lags.
During Hex Flipping, your not only changing a hex's race, but its DV, and generating a news. Multiple things are also usually printed out during a news gen, while just 1 is printed when there is a DV shift.
I haven't had much time to experiment with this setting, but I'm not exactly sure what this should be set to either.. does setting it to =0 allow for multi-threaded, or does it need to be set to =2, or even does a MultiThreaded = 1 need to be typed into the gf file?
Any thoughts on this?

Interesting thought with the DLL files, they might also end up producing some good results hopefully

Sorry to burst in here, but is the hardware you're on duo or single core?

[FCM_SFHQ_XC]

dual core
See this thread for my laptop specs: http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163347253.msg1122885921.html#msg1122885921
and the post above that for my desktop

[Bonk]

Already tried that one. No joy.

... and single processor systems are capable of multithreading. (I observed thread and handle usage in diagnostics of the OP serverkit on MySQL on single processor systems for ages... I can still feel the pain...)

What might make more sense is to use the SMP version of smartheap on multiprocessor systems.

However, currently I'm working on restoring the original smartheap libraries that OP was linked against, as I am unable to find any freely available applications that use smartheap 9. It is entirely possible that using the version of smartheap from SFC3 that OP was not linked against is what is causing the issues on OP where they do not occur with SFC3 as it was linked against this version (6.0.0.3). I forget which version OP was linked against, I'm trying to dig up the files from my old HDD now.

[Bonk]

OK, I just extracted the original smartheap dlls from the data1.cab file on the OP CD, using i5comp. They are the same version, just an older time/date stamp. So much for that theory.

[Bonk]

Can't get past the firewall check now.    I'll give it a few more cracks tomorrow before I give up, but I think it is time to start working on my XP and Kubuntu partitions if I'm ever going to get the temporary forge up and running soon.

[KBFLordKrueg]

Bonk...not to change the subject for just a post, but...
Is your Avatar a Pic of the Ringworld?
If it's not, it sure looks like it could be.
What an awesome series that was...

[Bonk]

Bonk...not to change the subject for just a post, but...
Is your Avatar a Pic of the Ringworld?
If it's not, it sure looks like it could be.
What an awesome series that was...

Yes, I finished "Ringworld's Children" and "The Ringworld Throne" a few months ago, I read "The Ringworld Engineers" a few years ago. Larry Niven rocks. Most recently I read "Rainbow Mars" - a wild story.

See this thread for where I'm going eventually... I see a server called "Fringe War" (after about a bazillion other projects ):
http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163384129.0.html
and this
http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163382900.0.html