Topic: SFC Launcher (a dynaverse and gamespy's online services replacement)

[d4v1ks]

Starfleet Command Launcher (c) D4v1ks, December 2016


Edit: 26 Dec 2016

A solution, in beta stage, was made available! 
The program, currently compatible with SFCOP 2552/2563, SFC EAW 2036/2037, and SFC 1.01 build 534*, is capable to provide, to these game, all the online services they need.
It is a direct replacement of the current Dynaverse "directory\firewall" services, and the old "gamespy" services.
As such, you can run now any campaign in your own LAN, without any need of access to internet. But it also works in a virtual LAN environment (ex. EVOLVE parties), or as a public provider.

Check the posts bellow to know all the history and the releases already made.

Edit: 4 Jan 2017

The 3rd version of the Starfleet Command Launcher (v1.0.2) has been released!

It has been tested with:
   SFC EAW 2036;
   SFC OP 2552/2563;
   SFC 3 v1.01 b534;

Includes readme files for both versions. 


>> Lastest version <<


Don't forget it is a beta version. It is meant to crash in any unknown circunstances.
Feel free to report anything or give sugestions.

Cheers

[d4v1ks]

(reserved)

[FA Frey XC]

Awesome work!!!

Regards,

[d4v1ks]

Tips:

You don't need to redirect any doors on the router, or similar devices.
You can run this solution in a real or virtual LAN enviroment.

Option 1 -> Running the combo through the Evolve LAN party system doesn't require any work at all.
You just create a party, invite the people to join it, and everyone will have access to the system. Just don't forget to update the files above (WONServerSetup.gf and ServersSetup.gf), so the game knows where to find the servers.

Option 2 -> SFC doesn't handle very well with multiples ethernet adapters!
In my home setup, for example, beside the real ethernet card adapter, i have the evolve's ethernet adapter + 2 virtual machines' ethernet adapters. So things got complicated for SFC. But there is two solutions for that:
   1. Temporarily disable all the ethernet adapters you don't need. Just keep one active!
   2. Or then set the ethernet adapters' priority rigth! So the game always use the one on top (the real ethernet adapter).

Have fun!

[d4v1ks]

Hello all.
While working on one off my personnal projects, i discovered that the code that i wrote to handle the sockets events, in this emulator, had a small memory leak. So i took the opportunity to fix and update that piece of code.
After the update, i decided to try it at home, im my home lan, against my wife. But in that day my internet was down. So, i had no access to Qtracker. And, of course, i was not hable to do anything more...
And that let me upset, that limitation...
I sure had the potencial to do something more, when i decided to wrote this emulator...
So, for a place in the history records, i decided to take a look at this challange: how hard was this Gamespy issue to fix in SFC OP?
The answer was much easier that i thougth.
The solution toke 1 byte hexedit in the sfcop exe, and some extra code in the emulator.
I will release an update to this tool in the days ahead, after i get some free time.
The "directory services" and "Gamespy" emulator update.

(It is just a dozen of years late)

[d4v1ks]

This emulator can be extended to run as a public directory and gamespy emulator for SFCOP.
To run in a LAN, it doesnt need to reply an specific server'ip, as the client just broadcast a request to the entire LAN. But for a public server i still need to research that part.
Currently i dont see any public server around. But if anyone is able to set one for 1 or 2 days, i can study and add that option.
I can also create some email, nick and pass validation to it.

[TarMinyatur]

The server "Mirkwood" is running now, Carlos. It's on fafnir.xenocorp.net. I was able to start a scout mission a few minutes ago.

It doesn't use the Directory Service Emulator. It uses the regular flipside.com applications on thor.xenocorp.net.

[d4v1ks]

The server "Mirkwood" is running now, Carlos.

Hey Tar!
Thnks for the quick reply. 
I think i got what i needed.
I will post further advancements as soon i get time.

Maybe now, creating a SFC launcher will make sense, as the launcher itself can serve as a service provider for all the client and server external communications (dependencies). Like a SFC OP Gold Edition... A full working and independent version. Being the launcher responsible for checking and update all the ini files (checking the current windows version where it is running in the process). Maybe creating the rigth shortcuts, with the right color and compatibility settings, to avoid all the initial config issues... A legacy for Dynaverse.

But i will stick to this emulator update for now... 

[d4v1ks]

It's done!
With the new info i got, i managed to code a full gamespy and directory services replacement.
It works without any internet access. You just need to open a server in your home lan, fire a irc chat, config everything to point to the new emulator, and everythings works as expected. I even tried with 2 servers here, on 192.168.0.10 and 192.168.0.11, with ports 27200 and 27300 (to avoid the broadcast search that the clients do, looking for any server at port 27100), and both clients where able to see the 2, log in, and join the servers.
I still wish to add some client validation and test it. But looks very good.
Insane results for some hours of work. 

[Nemesis]

Nice work.  Just wish I were in a position to make use of it.   

[TAnimaL]

Thanks very much for this Carlos. Here's hoping I can get to play with this during the holiday break. Appreciate the work that goes into this

[d4v1ks]

Thanks.
I didnt felt well just by giving it the basic funcionalities.
So, today i added some code to handle the server lists: When they go live or leave, listen their heartbeats, and do a test, if they crashed, in case of a time without heartbeat's updates.
Tomorow will add both a whitelist and ban list mechanisn for it, that will accept new users, keep them away, or restrict their access. Basic user stuff...
Then i think i will have an alpha version for test, that will raise an exception in any unfamiliar circunstances.
The code is heavily multithreaded, so there is space for some need of debug.
Cheers

[TarMinyatur]

Good work. The default directory service may soon be obsolete, replaced by a superior service. If only we had more than 2 players to test this stuff. Heh. Oh well.

[d4v1ks]

It is not superior. But it works.

For your entertrainment, and first time in history: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AiumJZOPROpbg9xqYVHLPcg37kOM6g

A working Gamespy and Directory services replacement, for your LAN campaigns, or any public server. It doesnt require any external service.
You just need 3 things to run any campaign now: A server, a client, and this program.
It was made during this month, in some couple hours of my free time. Enjoy.
There is a readme file in the zip. Cheers 



It is an alpha version. Please report any error you may find to my email.

[TarMinyatur]

StarfleetOP.txt
2BB505: 1op // Are we using a custom server? (Yes 24, No 3C)
The option to change this with the SFC_Editor is grayed out.

Shouldn't that be...

2BB505: 1op // Are we using a custom server? (Yes 3C, No 18)?

The default 2.563 executable has a 18h byte at 0x2BB505.

18h is 24 in decimal. 1op uses hexadecimal. Not sure about that 3C.

[d4v1ks]

Shouldn't that be...

2BB505: 1op // Are we using a custom server? (Yes 3C, No 18)?

Hey there!
Yes, you are right Tar.   
But the value 3C is correct.
Was writting out of my memory...
Not in home. But maybe Sunday i will have some time

[d4v1ks]

Just look the old motd system working full power 

[d4v1ks]

It totally blows me away how easy was this gamespy issue to fix.
You would too, if you could see it.
In the end, both the client and server just "needed a friend" that would understand them, in this small conversation... 
And noone was there, for them, in all these years...

[d4v1ks]

Today, in the afteernoon, i was able to go a step further.
i discovered how all the encryption works in the sfc - gamespy comunications. 
In the next version of the sfc launcher, no hexedit will be required on the sfcop 2563 version, for it to work.
The password authentication will not be ignored, but handled correctly.
It will be 100% compatible with the gamespy protocol. 

[Nemesis]