rec.autos.simulators

Well, I have put up a dedicated server at work on a meager PII 350
without any 3d card with a 10Mbit internet connection (well,
theoretically of course). I tested it a bit last night, and I made a few
observations:
1) The dedicated server turned off all graphics and sound, and this
should free up CPU cycles no end. I tried the other variant as well, the
"launch=1" setting, but this didn't turn off the graphics.
2) The connection worked like a breeze:
    a) pings were from 0.100 to 0.200, the server is placed in Norway,
and I had people in from US.
    b) bandwidth hasn't been tested thoroughly, but it seems to be able
to cope with a lot of clients
3) The password organization was very neat, the ability to define
"bosses" through boss-passwords and boss-drivers was very nice.
Selecting tracks and length etc from your home computer was perfect,
making the dedicated server totally transparent to the boss.
4) The only trouble we had was that qual times didn't get counted and
scored as it should. There was qual times that got counted, but this
happened rather eratically

At the end of the day, the dedicated server has great, no amazing,
possibilities, and clearly it must be the future!

I had, on my client, a few problems with stuttering etc, but unlike the
whiners here, I kept my cool and just started to tinker a bit with the
adj_clock_rate until I got it like it was before. In fact I ended up
with a quite high setting, I think I yanked it up to 40 or something,
and there was no stuttering, but an occasional clock glitch. But totally
acceptable.

I think using a dedicated server will change people's view of the patch,
it really was good. And for all I know, the time shifts might disappear
as well with a dedicated server.

The only single thing I'd like to be fixed is the qual time bug. If
Randy reads this, I'd love to hear a theory on why the qual times get
counted and scored erratically. Otherwise, the patch is a breeze.

I don't like the new method of clock adjustment, but then I just turned
it back to the original. So should all the whiners! And making it
possible at all to race on the internet is a feat of dimension, whining
about bad racing on a modem just doesn't make me upset...

GPL1.1 is so far, IMHO a great piece of software.

---Asgeir---

I was there and it rocked bells. LAN quality, I kid ye not.

Experencied one tiny little clocksmash in 4 races. More testing tonight
<vbg>

Jan.
------

On Wed, 14 Jul 1999 11:48:16 +0200, asgeir nes?en

I did the same last weekend in a hurry, without time to read the
ReadMe-text carefully.
My problem after return on Monday was: how do I stop it?
Every time I click on the red button and confirm the interrupt, the
current race get's stopped, and the next race in the list gets started
immediately without time to click on red again.
It shut down after some mad clicking and key-board hitting finally,
but I think usually only the task manager can kill it?

--
Matthias Flatt

Well, holding the left shift button down while exiting a track will halt
the loop, and you should be able to select a new track. This works when
you do it from the server. I am not sure if this works when you are the
boss, I have to look into this when I get home from work.

Alternatively, you can list no races in the server.ini, this will make the
dedicated server stand there and wait for "boss" commands.

---Asgeir---

After doing some research, I to ran a dedicated server for a couple
nights. I guess I didn't research it far enough, because I didn't know how
to shut it down when I got home. Only the "big power button" would do it!
After checking Allison's page, I ran across the "trick". While holding
down the left shift key, hit the red button. I think it may be a timing
issue too, I could only get it to work at the *very* start of the next
track. Hope this info helps with the other "dedicated" servers out there!
:-)

Also, on a side note. After looking thru the chat log, I noticed an awful
lot of disco's. Everyone that was racing at the time talked of a great
connections with no problems. I had it set to "ignore errors", so I
believe these people were just leaving. I think some people lose interest
in a "unattended"  host because they know that they can just come and go
as they please. No host to chat with and communicate any concerns or
comments. Kinda takes some of the fun out of it. I'm not sure what is
really happening, but this is what I think I am seeing. Anyway, lets all
stick together and work thru some of these "glitches" we've come across.
:-)

Cheers,
Bob

I would like to also agree with this post as I have been running a dedicated
server on a T1 connection with a PII 266 software mode. As stated everything
runs great and using the boss password works wonderfull. My server too is
having problems in qualifing by not showing some clients lap times. With the
right little tweaking everyone that has used the server has been very happy
as most of them get ping times in the 200's or lower. Here are things I have
done with the servers core.ini and my clients core.ini:

(servers core.ini)

[ Communications ]
disable_ipx = 1
disable_modem = 1
net_mdm_client_send_every = 3            ; Client packet freq on dialup
net_mdm_client_send_size = 84            ; Client packet size on dialup
net_mdm_server_send_every = 3            ; Server packet freq on dialup
net_mdm_server_send_size = 84            ; Server packet size on dialup
bcast_listserv = vroc.net
bcast_send_freq = 30

[ SERVER ]
launch = 1
password = /******
auto_export_standings = 1

(my client or home PC's core.ini using a 56k modem connection)

[ Communications ]
disable_ipx = 1
disable_modem = 1
net_mdm_client_send_every = 3            ; Client packet freq on dialup
net_mdm_client_send_size = 84            ; Client packet size on dialup
net_mdm_server_send_every = 3            ; Server packet freq on dialup
net_mdm_server_send_size = 84            ; Server packet size on dialup
clock_adj_delay = 8

[ Joy ]
allow_force_feedback = 1

[ Task ]
synch_method = 0                            ; Client synch method

Jeff Murchison (Murchman)
http://members.tripod.com/grandprixlegends

Chat log on the server?  Damn, gotta find the right 'readme' file.  I have two
machines running at work.  If any of you try to connect, please let me know how
it works for you.  I'll try to keep modifying the .ini files if needed.  I
don't know enough about the program yet to be comfortable... :-(
Eldred

__

Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea...
remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Well I have found on my remote server guys disconnect don't because of poor
performance or getting drop but because the crashed or just couldn't win so
the just drop out. I watch the replay's of the races and see them pull off
the track and then disapear. It is really sad that just because they can't
win they just quit.

--
Jeff Murchison Jr
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

What I mean by the chat "log" is, when you return to your server, you can use your
page up and page down keys to scroll thru the chat window. This also works any
other time in GPL. I haven't figured out a way to export the chat automatically,
but I am still hoping and searching! :-)

Well, there are some instances where it's pointless to go on...like if the
race is one where you've been heavily damaged and you can't shift-r to make
it all better :) or you're out there running 1:33's at Monza while everyone
else laps you at 1:29 (no...that's not me running 1:33...serious...ok, it is
:) or you just plain have to get off!

--
Kirk Lane
Tempe, AZ


ICQ: 28171652
BRT #187

"I read dead Russian authors volumes at a time
I write everything down except what's on my mind
'Cause my greatest fear is the sucking sound
And then I know I'll never get back out"
                         -'Narcolepsy', Third Eye Blind

I agree with this one...

...but not this one.

If you're three (or even ten) seconds slower than the pole sitter, so
what?  Stick around and race - it's always better to race against people
that are faster because you might just learn something about driving.  
You'll be able to study the replay and see where they're faster and
you're slower, and maybe even WHY they're faster than you.

--
=========================================================
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  http://members.home.net/jsimm/diecast_index.html
Internet Grand Prix Series Season 2
  http://www.paddedwall.org/igps2/igps2.html
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If you want to send me email, go to the first URL shown
above & click "Send Me Mail" in the contents frame.
=========================================================

Have to agree with you there John. Sure, winning is great, but at this
point, I'm just happy to have someone to race with<g>. I know I'm not as
quick as the fast guys, but I can turn consistant 1:30's at Monza and hold
my own mid-pack, but what usually happens is that guys start dropping out
when they make a little mistake or can't run up front, and I end up running
most of the race alone.

Mid-Packers! Let's stick together! <vbg>

don

[|]-(_)-[|]

Sad.  It almost makes me NOT want to host races.  If *everyone* did that, there
wouldn't be much USE in it, huh?

Eldred

__

Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea...
remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Oh, ok - that I've done.  I though v1.1 had a chat log feature that I just
MISSED...

__

Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea...
remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

writes:

I've only hosted one or two races where shift-r was disabled(PRO length).  The
other 99.5% have been 'shiftable'.  If speed was the issue, then there would
only be about 20 people who would good enough to finish.  If I followed the
speed 'rule', I wouldn't be able to participate in my OWN races.  I average
1:32, when everyone else runs 1:30s and below.  According to what I've seen,
I'd quit EVERY race - I don't have ANY chance to win...  
In the most recent PRO race I hosted, we had about 15-17 drivers.  We probably
lost half the field in T1, and the rest dwindled down.  After about 17-18 laps,
there were only two of us left.  The other driver quit, so I was the last man
standing(driving).  Wouldn't have made a difference - he was obviously faster
than me, and we both knew it.  So, I started dead LAST, and finished first(sort
of).  I've had the same thing happen even on the short races.  15 people start,
10 get pissed off at a first-lap incident, 8 drop out.  2-3 others get disco'ed
by their ISP.  I finish in the top 5(3 laps down) with no skill whatsoever...
I'll take the positions, but I'd rather EARN it...

Eldred

__

Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea...
remove SPAM-OFF to reply.