GPL 1.1 - A little something on dedicated servers

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. ------ >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: ><snip>

On Wed, 14 Jul 1999 11:48:16 +0200, asgeir nes?en >Well, I have put up a dedicated server at work on a meager PII 350 >without any 3d card with a 10Mbit internet connection 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---

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> On Wed, 14 Jul 1999 11:48:16 +0200, asgeir nes?en > >Well, I have put up a dedicated server at work on a meager PII 350 > >without any 3d card with a 10Mbit internet connection > 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

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

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> On Wed, 14 Jul 1999 11:48:16 +0200, asgeir nes?en > >Well, I have put up a dedicated server at work on a meager PII 350 > >without any 3d card with a 10Mbit internet connection > 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

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

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>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

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://members.tripod.com/grandprixlegends > >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 > 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.

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! :-) > Chat log on the server? Damn, gotta find the right 'readme' file.

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 >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://members.tripod.com/grandprixlegends >> >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 >> 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.

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. -- ========================================================= Redneck Techno-Biker (Zerex12) http://www.members.home.net/jms1/index.html Barbarian Diecast Collector (370+ cars and counting) http://members.home.net/jsimm/diecast_index.html Internet Grand Prix Series Season 2 http://www.paddedwall.org/igps2/igps2.html North American Stockcar Racing Online Competition http://www.paddedwall.org/igps2/igps2.html Super X Philes http://members.home.net/kap/superx/superx.html If you want to send me email, go to the first URL shown above & click "Send Me Mail" in the contents frame. =========================================================

>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. 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 [|]-(_)-[|]

>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. 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.

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>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! :-) >> Chat log on the server? Damn, gotta find the right 'readme' file.

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.

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>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> >do

Well, if you're doing 1:30s, you're about 2 sec. faster than me. If *I* can stay in the races, then the faster guys should have NO problems... Geez, 1:30 - MID-pack? That's depressing... :-) Eldred __ Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... remove SPAM-OFF to reply.