rec.autos.simulators

Perhaps this already exists... maybe someone can enlighten me
of the URL... ;-)

Apologies for the long winded post... hope you think its a
feasible or good idea?

Dave Hawnt UK-GPL

    Not all hosts have more then 64megs.  Probably your best bet would
be to ask the host to save the replay then send it to you.  Besides
that,  When was the last time you took a look at how big these replays
are?  If you happen to have a 33.6 you can be sure that it'll take most
all day to download a couple laps.

    If you're in one of my races, Just ask and I'll send it.

Mike Barlow

Race Communications Association
http://members.xoom.com/RCA/toc.html

Holodyne Engineering

Mystic Music

-Lindsay

--
=========================================================
John Simmons - Redneck Techno-Biker (Zerex12)
http://www.members.home.net/jms1/index.html

John Simmons - Barbarian Diecast Collector
http://members.home.net/jsimm/diecast_index.html

IGPS (Season 2) Director
http://207.104.111.77/igps2/igps2.html

If you want to send me email, go to either of the URL's
shown above & click "Send Me Mail" in the contents frame.
=========================================================

Anyway, at the present I am one of the hosters with only 64 meg of
memory.  But it is possible to setup GPL and one's machine to capture
longer replays without compromising GPL's performance too much.

First thing to do is create a "fixed" virtual memory swap in Windows.
This is one of the first things you need to do if you only have 64meg
(or less) memory.  The rule of thumb I use is to create a fixed virtual
memory that is 1.5x's the installed memory for 64meg.  If you have the
disk space you may want to create a bigger one.

1) Right click on My Computer and choose properties

2) Under Performance, click on Virtual Memory

3) Set the radio button for "Let me specify my own virtual memory
   settings"

4) If you have more than one drive, I would opt for the one that does
   not contain your operating system.  These are actual drives not
   logical drives.  Select the drive to contain your swap file.

5) Set both the maximum and minimum to the swap size you want.  I have
   my 64meg system set for 96.

6) Click on OK.

7) Edit your system.ini file (located in your Windows folder).
   a) look for an entry in the file with the '[vcache]' heading
      If one does not exist add the line:
      [vcache]
   b) For a 64 meg system add the following lines after the line
      '[vcache]'

        MinFileCache=4096
        MaxFileCache=4096

8) Restart your computer

9) Defragment the drive you have selected for your swap file (virtual
memory).  If you have a compression or defrag software that will allow
you to move your swap file to be the first file on the drive select this
option.  Also, if available, specify that you want your swap file
"optimized".

10) In your GPL folder look for a file called core.ini (if it does not
exist you can create it with Notepad). Add the following lines to this
file:

[ Replay ]
replayMemoryOverride = 28000

The above lines will give you approximately 28meg of replay.  You can
tailor this to your system.  Depending on the number of drivers
connected and whether the graphics for skids, smoke/dust are turned on,
you should be able to record 40-60 minutes of replay.

Warning:  While you are connected it is best to not use the rewind or
fastforward options of the replay.  Excessive rewinding or
fastforwarding (beyond the are stored in actual memory) may cause you
(or your clients if you are hosting) to be disconnected.  Do any editing
or full rewind/fastforwarding off-line.

% Just a thought, but I thought it would be nice if there was a
% way that hosts running GPL races on VROC could somehow make
% available for download the replays of the race?  Most host
% have fairly superior machines with enough ram to record the
% whole race (I may be wrong on this fact).  I only have 64mb.
% and normally save the replay as soon as the race is finished,
% but I normally only get 2/3 laps!  Perhaps some enterprising
% individual/GPL WEB site could offer a place for hosts to send
% replays for download?  With a  'name of host', 'date', 'time'
% schedule list of recent replays, this would be a real benefit
% for those that took part in the race and want to 'relive' how
% well they did, or in my case, analyse all the mistakes ;-).
% Evan peeps who did not take part in a race might be interested
% in downloading and viewing some of the 'classic'
% tournament/league races..... I know I would.

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Mikey

|In IGPS, any league driver who requested one gets a CD with the entire
|IGPS Season web page, including final stats and all the replays for all
|of the events run during the season.  The replays are typically in to 20-
|30 MEGAbyte range.  Our 12-race season filled about half of a CD.
|
|=========================================================

I hope I will be joining you in the hosters ranks soon, and I too have
'only' 64MB. The impossibility of joining/hosting on cable that I suffer
from right now is caused by the network address translation which should
be delt with on monday by giving us our own IP addresses.
I saw you host a race last weekend, but unfortunately (for me at least :))
it was at Spa. If I'm online next time you host a Ring Rodeo, I
certainly will join the party again (if not on cable, then on 28k8 pay-
per-second phoneline :))

I created a 156MB partition specifically for holding the swap file.
Do you think GPL-online/max_replay would still benefit from setting a
fixed swap file size?
Btw, it is fat16, because that is supposed to be faster on a big chunk of
data as the swap file is. (My main partition is fat32)

I find this very high on a 64MB machine. Did you get it this high only
by tweaking your machine to the reasonable extreme?
(The ultra extreme is : hey, it'll take me an hour, but I'll have me that
 extra byte then) :)
I recall someone mentioning that 40000 was already on the high side for
a 128MB machine (though memory may be failing here).

Something else that might help the GPL online experience...
Before goin online to join/host on VROC, I always restart my computer
to get that windows hog as cleaned up as possible.
Although I know it may not be of much use if you have one or more of
those other microsoft terrors (notice a trend here?:)) with their fast
find stuff etc. installed.

--
Ren van Lobberegt, The Netherlands.

Personal site : http://www.toptown.com/INNERCIRCLE/1846/

AMCA web master : http://www.amcaracing.nl/

Remeber that GPL runs perfecly fine on a 32Mb machine .... therefore anything
up to 32 will be fine (actially, even on a 32Mb PC you'll have 2Mb or replay
so)
Though, when hosting there's a limit (I think it's less than 90Mb) otherwise
Netscape gets confudes and drops you out.

Regards,
David Mocnay

John Simmons - Barbarian Diecast Collector
http://members.home.net/jsimm/diecast_index.html

IGPS (Season 2) Director
http://207.104.111.77/igps2/igps2.html

If you want to send me email, go to either of the URL's
shown above & click "Send Me Mail" in the contents frame.
=========================================================

Mikey

% I created a 156MB partition specifically for holding the swap file.
% Do you think GPL-online/max_replay would still benefit from setting a
% fixed swap file size?
% Btw, it is fat16, because that is supposed to be faster on a big chunk of
% data as the swap file is. (My main partition is fat32)

The reason for a "fixed" size swap file is that Win9x likes to start
with a minimum size and then as it needs more virtual memory it has to
do some juggling to increase the file size.  If you have a partition
devoted to just a swap file, by all means it would be better to just set
the virtual memory to the same minimum and maximum size.  That way there
is no disk thrashing while Win9x resizes the swap file.

% > replayMemoryOverride = 28000

% I find this very high on a 64MB machine. Did you get it this high only
% by tweaking your machine to the reasonable extreme?
% (The ultra extreme is : hey, it'll take me an hour, but I'll have me that
%  extra byte then) :)
% I recall someone mentioning that 40000 was already on the high side for
% a 128MB machine (though memory may be failing here).

28000 is a 'safe' number.  Apparently Win9x likes to go bonkers if the
replay size is equal to or greater than 1/2 the memory installed on the
machine.  

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=