Setting up a server - thoughts and comments

[Kossuth]

I am new to the INF community, and really like what it has created so far, so I started thinking, what could I give in return. Yes, setup a dedicated server.

So now I need some suggestion and comments about the hardware and software I'm going to use, and some info about the performance I can expect from it. I've read the faq's at http://infonline.theonlinegaming.com/ , but I think you people have something to add to it.

So, here's some of the specs I'm planning for it. Keep in mind, that I'm using mostly leftover and second hand parts, so don't expect any 1.5GHZ athlons.

Processor might be P2 233-266MHZ, memory is going to at least 64Mb, maybe 128 if I feel rich. I've got 2.5 gigs leftover hard disk and some old 2 to 4Mb vid-card. I currently have leftover 10Mb ethernet card, but I could pressure my friend (also INF convert) to swap his 10/100Mb card for this one, cause he only uses it for his ADSL. The OS should be NT, I guess.

So what kind of usage you think that server would support, without crashing too much, and are there any pitfalls I should try to avoid. Also any comment about the game types and other stuff are welcome, but I think they might be more suited when I get this damn thing running first. And last I say, that I'm not sure if it is going to be truly public server, but I promise that I try to keep it open to public as much as possible.

[Kossuth]

Ok, I got the server now running but I have one little problem I bet someone knows how to fix. I can't get the server go public, because it fails the uplinks to the advertisement server, so does anyone know which parts of the ini file I should check and what commad can enable the public mode in it.

Thanks in advance.

Ps. The addres is 130.233.21.139, so you can try it out if you wish, but I can't promise it is yet online 24h. Also there might not be too many players, because it's not public yet.

Pps. Team Deathmatch or Deathmatch, wath you people think?

[Harry_C]

Try to find this particular section [UWeb.WebServer] in the infiltration.ini

[UWeb.WebServer]
Applications[0]=UTServerAdmin.UTServerAdmin
ApplicationPaths[0]=/ServerAdmin
Applications[1]=UTServerAdmin.UTImageServer
ApplicationPaths[1]=/images
DefaultApplication=0
bEnabled=True
...
ApplicationPaths[9]=
ListenPort=80
MaxConnections=30
ServerName=130.233.21.139

And add the IP address of your server in the line ServerName=...

Forget about the dumb deatchmatch mode.
And have a look there http://www.theadminpage.com/

[Kossuth]

Alright, I got it finally to go public, thanks. Everyone is now welcome to play.

Actually the problem was not the part you mentioned, but the thing that I completely missed the DoUplink part of the ini file altogether. When I lastly put it there I got it running sweet.

There were couple of things there that would need explaining, so hope someone knows. The list follows...

1.

[URL]
Protocol=unreal
ProtocolDescription=Unreal Protocol
Name=Player
Map=entry.unr
LocalMap=entry.unr
Host= (Do I need to fill This one?)
Portal= (Or This?)
MapExt=unr
SaveExt=usa (What, usa? The server is in Finland)
Port=7777
Class=INF_Core.INFc_CHHelmet

2.

Region=0 (Does this have to do something with the place the server is running, mine is in Finland, northern Europe)


3. [IpDrv.HTTPDownLoad]
RedirectToURL=http://ucc.sobservers.com/
ProxyServerHost=
ProxyServerPort=3128
UseCompression=True
(Should I disable these or change them, because I think that I'm forwarding these to wrong place)

Ok, so if someone knows what they mean or that I shouldn't bother myself with them, please let me know.

Also what do you people think about the max player setting. How many would be good. The machine is right now P2 233 with 64Mb memory and 10Mbps connection. I could boost it up to 128Mb memory and 100Mbps connection, if it would help it much.

And what comes to the Deatmatch, I was thinking that every server out there is running TeamDeathmatch, so why don't I run some times plain Deathmatch so people can go there and let of some steam and try to dispense their TKing urges in a safe manner.

[Hannibal1]

Congratulations and many thanks on setting up a server(we need more!). Some thoughts..

"I was thinking that every server out there is running TeamDeathmatch"
Indeed, so instead of running tdm or dm why not set up an AS, DOM, or CTF server? These have been made stable in recent updates, and nobody runs these gamemodes, even though they're as much(if not more) fun than TeamDeathmatch! We have many good AS maps, and a few DOM and CTF here in Infiltration, so please consider this option(I at least would apreciate the change of pace).

[Kossuth]

Hey, what a great idea. Assault would be actually really great idea, because I don't think that DOM and CTF are realistic enough for INF ;-)

So what maps do you recommend, I haven't played much AS with INF, basically only TDM.

[Hannibal1]

As far as AS maps go, the Infiltration official map packs include a few, but your best source will probably be RealMaps(there were many AS maps made for previous Inf versions). Look for maps made by T. Ahlen, most of those are excellent. DOM and CTF - if you think about the gametypes abstractly, they're much more realistic than tdm - capturing and holding key positions(DOM) has always been the basis for warfare, and retrieval(CTF) is often an important mission for Spec Ops teams.

[Kossuth]

I completely agree with you Hannibal1. What I meant about the DOM and CTF being not so realistic, I meant of course the symbols hovering in the air and the unnaturally huge flag, not the general idea of these game types ofcourse.

I currently have Chita46, Cuban Dawn and Terrain on my server and I'm going to go to realmaps and get some new AS maps.

BTW. Do you know how to put reinforcements in ini file, because I like to play a bit longer each round, so I get more bots to kill without cramming the map up with 16 bots in one wave.

Tried out the server with 4 players and 4 bots, and no slowdown was present, so after I get the 64 megs more memory I think it will work fine. Have you tried it yet? The name is Idle Fellows Infiltration server, so go try it if you want.

[Borgrumm]

[UWeb.WebServer]
Applications[0]=UTServerAdmin.UTServerAdmin
ApplicationPaths[0]=/ServerAdmin
Applications[1]=UTServerAdmin.UTImageServer
ApplicationPaths[1]=/images
bEnabled=True

this section is only usefull when you want to bring up the web admin console
don't forget to turn it off (bEnabled=False)
if you don't use it or if you don't change default login and password (admin, admin) very easy to hack ;)

As I know

Map=entry.unr ->>>> the UT logo displayed at the start of the game
LocalMap=entry.unr
Host= (Do I need to fill This one?) ->>>> no need to change this
Portal= (Or This?) ->>>> no need to change this
MapExt=unr ->>>> extention for the mapfile
Port=7777 ->>>> the running port of your server (you may overwrite it in your UCC cmd line)

for more information ask to daddybone (He is the ini king for inf ;) )
and have a look at <a href="http://infonline.theonlinegaming.com/ServerManual/
">[url]http://infonline.theonlinegaming.com/ServerManual/</a>

[Kossuth]

Oh yes, thanks for the explaining, actually they are very clear now, that you pointed out their meaning, stupid of me not to try to figure them out myself.

And that part of the ini that has the server admin systems, I already knew, because I use the http-admistration. The server very far from me (next room) so I'm too lazy to go there and log on.

And that url you gave me is very helpfull, at start I copied my ini file from threre, so the server setup was easy.

Now I'm off to the shop, buy some more Ram, so I'll be able to boost the servers capabilities.

BTW, what do you think, now the server is connected with 10Mbps connection, but I could push it up to 100Mbps. Is this worth the trouble, or is 10Mbps enough for a small server like this?

Ps. still trying to find the reinforcements in the ini-file, so if someone can help, pelase do so.

[Borgrumm]

You can stay with your server at 10 Mbs, in the .ini there is a parameter (I don't precisly remember it's name) that set user max bandwidth to 20000 bytes/s
(look for this value in your .ini, it's the default)

it influence game and download speed (for maps...)

you can adjust it to your needs knowing that :
<ul>
<li>With a 10Mbs network, your efficace bandwidth bon't exced 4 or 4.5 Mbs or 400 - 450 Kbytes/s</li>
<li>you must divide your efficace networkbandwidth by the max number of user your server will support ex.: 400/16 = 25 Kbytes/s</li>
<li>take 20% of margin to avoid server overload
</ul>
and you get the magic 20000 value ;)

if you plan to set a 32 players server on a 10Mbs network, set the value to 10000. (Your player, except when downloading maps, will never saw the différence, a 56kmodem bandwidth is max 5600bytes/s and the game run well).

if you overload your bandwidth you will get the symptom of an increasing ping.

For all the other settings, wait until the next release. It will include the Web admin console :)

[Hannibal1]

Kossuth, as far as the realism of the details in DOM and CTF are concerned, I see where you're coming from as the flags and large DOM thingies are completely out of place in the Inf universe, but we musn't forget that these are only details and the overall gametype is both fun and realistic. Don't worry about the small unrealisms, because the big picture shows us that a DOM or CTF server would be hosting an engaging gametype that is also more realistic and teamplay-oriented than tdm.

[Kossuth]

Yes I'm really now for these advanced game types, but I run into little probelms with the ini file. It seems that I'm not skilled enough to get AS server working for INF. I tried it for a while, but it just gave UT AS, so I wen't back to running TDM on my server. So if anyone can post here a working INF AS ini or give me a pointer where to find one I'd more than happy. Also suggestions on CTF and DOM inis are welcome. I'll hope that the 2.85.5 webadmin console will help me out with this one also.