rec.autos.simulators

Why not more VROC servers?

Maps

Why not more VROC servers?

by Maps » Sat, 24 Apr 1999 04:00:00



>writes:

>>Question- would someone at work have to have a fast video card and all
>>that to simply host races? Seems like a very streamlined setup for
>>just servers could be created such that the serving machine needs very
>>little outside of primary processor and network connection, I'd think.
>>SOmeone could theoretically host races from a non-gamer work machine
>>that they'd actually race on from home just like any other client.

>I've done it before - left my work machine(T1 connection) at a track with a
>long practice time.  That way, people get to practice, and I can join the race
>when I get home.  Two problems - one, I can only host one race this way, as
>there's no way to control the 'server' after the race.  Two, this only works if
>I have a static IP address at work.  When I set it for DHCP (as our netadmin as
>decreed), the host doesn't show up.  Anybody have a fix for that yet?
>My work system is a PII 300mhz w/o a 3D card.  I just turned down all the
>details(since I'm not racing THERE), and it works fine.  I was worried about
>warping, but the people who DID run on my server said it ran fine...

Excellent. These are the sorts of details programmers will need to
understand to help create the sort of fixes you are talking about. I
never heard of the dynamic IP issue, for one. I don't understand DHCP
principles- I figured the IP was given when the first TCP program
started and it remained until all TCP programs were closed. Woulddn't
that be more or less like having a static IP from GPL's point of view,
so long as some TCP/IP program on the Host is left on?

Sure sound entirely plausible. Fact is, using PCAnywhere might make it
possible to write a fairly simply hack to remotely cycle your work
comptuer from home- although that certainly is a very round-about way
to achieve track cycling, IMO! But if it is easy to do, it might be a
good fix until a real solution comes. In the extreme form, a home
machine could be setup to dial in every 40 minutes to cycle the
tracks! Might get the Rube Goldberg award...

Big question from my perspective- is it clearly possible for a
non-Papyrus (i.e., without direct code access) programmer to write
some sort of external track-cycling program for GPL? Something that
literally "clicks the windows" and initiates hosting, etc.? Is there
enough to work with? I know this isn't "Quake Script" or whatever, but
Papy always had left a lot of exposed stuff for people to monkey with-
much to the sim communities great happiness.

Trip

Why not more VROC servers?

by Trip » Sat, 24 Apr 1999 04:00:00


> Hmm, I'll have to check my system again.  I couldn't get a remote to work, and
> I assumed GPL took over the server system...

If your office PC runs GPL on a Voodoo or Voodoo2, you won't be able to use PC
Anywhere from home. GPL must be running on your primary display device because PC
Anywhere sends the contents of your primary device's framebuffer to the remote PC.

When I had the Accelstar2/Voodoo1 combo in the office box, I had to run the host
in software render mode to be able to control it from home. With the TNT in the
office box, I can run the host in OpenGL mode and still see it on the remote PC.

Trips
D. Bell on VROC

Trip

Why not more VROC servers?

by Trip » Sat, 24 Apr 1999 04:00:00


> I didn't see the original of this post by Trips, but am glad EP
> included it:


> >writes:

> >>No need for automatic cycling to accomplish this. I've been hosting GPL races
> >>on my work box (a PII 233 on a T3) for quite some time now. The connects are
> >>great for the most part, with hardly a warp let alone disconnects.

> Wow. That is fantastic. So there definitely is no need for high-muscle
> machine with Voodoo card (or the like). The network connection with a
> moderate machine is enought to host.

> How many people can you allow to connect without problems?

I don't know what the absolute limit is, in the league races I've hosted we've not
had much of a turnout. Those who did attend looked very smooth tho.

I'll be hosting some races on VROC tonight (Friday), hopefully we'll find out how
it's working for full fields.

I've got ISDN at home, and I could host maybe four or five from there. BUT, I've
always thought that the host should be dedicated to hosting, not hosting AND racing
at the same time. Also, the league I raced in (VIRC) needed a host for its F3
division. Since I'm only really interested in F3 racing online, I decided that I'd
better do whatever I had to to make sure a suitable host was available.

The other advantage to this method is that I get beter framerates online by passing
the host duties off to the office machine.

Trips
D. Bell on VROC

Eldre

Why not more VROC servers?

by Eldre » Sat, 24 Apr 1999 04:00:00



>> Hmm, I'll have to check my system again.  I couldn't get a remote to work,
>and
>> I assumed GPL took over the server system...

>If your office PC runs GPL on a Voodoo or Voodoo2, you won't be able to use
>PC
>Anywhere from home. GPL must be running on your primary display device
>because PC
>Anywhere sends the contents of your primary device's framebuffer to the
>remote PC.

>When I had the Accelstar2/Voodoo1 combo in the office box, I had to run the
>host
>in software render mode to be able to control it from home. With the TNT in
>the
>office box, I can run the host in OpenGL mode and still see it on the remote
>PC.

>Trips
>D. Bell on VROC

No 3D card, so that shouldn't be a problem...

__

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

Mickey Kerk

Why not more VROC servers?

by Mickey Kerk » Sat, 15 May 1999 04:00:00



        I have ASDL and used to host a lot of races, But I just got
tired of people crashing on the first lap trying to win the race on
lap 1.  I tried using a spaced out 1X1 grid asking people to take it
easy on the start and first lap but you always get a few that go balls
out from anywhere on the grid that think even tho I didn't qualify
well I'll just shoot up to the front and see if I can grab a good
spot.  Very few races are run with out a crash at the line or at the
first turn, If guys only understood that if you take it easy on the
first lap and everyone gets to race its a lot more fun then being out
there all alone or only with 2 or 3 guys because everyone else left.

        My point being that I didn't like hosting, being taken out at
the start or first lap and having to tie up my system waiting for the
few left to finish the race.  Its just easier to let someone else host
and if I'm hit on the first lap I leave and go look for another race.

                                Mickey


rec.autos.simulators is a usenet newsgroup formed in December, 1993. As this group was always unmoderated there may be some spam or off topic articles included. Some links do point back to racesimcentral.net as we could not validate the original address. Please report any pages that you believe warrant deletion from this archive (include the link in your email). RaceSimCentral.net is in no way responsible and does not endorse any of the content herein.