DCS-Server on ESXI (5.5)

[Sc0rc3d]

Hi Guys,

 

i want to Host a local DCS-Server (Internet Speed 100 down and 20up). That should be ok for a few guys. Works great if i host in on my PC with 6 people connected.

 

On my local Home-Server i use ESXI 5.5u2 and on it some VMs. So i set up a Windows 7 64bit VM for DCS and installed the Game (1.5.2.x), vcredist, and DirectX.

 

But everytime i start DCS it only Crashes:

 

 

Here some System Informations:

 

 

And the Crash-Report:

 

=== Log opened UTC 2016-01-05 08:53:09
00000.000 INFO    VFS: Using 'Saved Games': "C:\Users\SRV\Saved Games"
00000.001 INFO    DCS: DCS/1.5.2.48726 (x86_64; Windows/6.1.7601)
00000.001 INFO    DCS: CPU cores: 4, System RAM: 4095 MB
00000.005 INFO    EDCORE: (dDispatcher)enterToState_:0
00000.010 INFO    Dispatcher: 2016/1/5 09:53 V1508170900
00000.012 INFO    INPUT: Device created Keyboard
00000.137 INFO    SOUND: loaded 1074 sdefs from "sounds\sdef"
00000.179 INFO    SOUND: XAudio2: Using device ID:'{3.0.0.00000001}.{6C26BA7D-F0B2-4225-B422-8168C5261E45}' Name:'Remoteaudio', channels: 2
00000.680 INFO    SOUND: XAudio2: channel layout: Headphones/Stereo
00000.683 INFO    SOUND: Using SSE FTZ/DAZ mode.
00000.914 ERROR   VFS: Can't mount './CoreMods/WWII Units/Liveries' to '/textures//liveries/'.
00000.920 ERROR   VFS: Can't mount './CoreMods/aircraft/Hawk/Textures/Avionics' to '/textures/'.
00000.924 INFO    SOUND: loaded 10 sdefs from ".\coremods\aircraft\mig-21bis\sounds\sdef"
00000.974 INFO    GRAPHICSVISTA: Creating Resource "Unicode" of type 5
00000.976 INFO    DX11BACKEND: TRUNK renderer init: showShaderError coreCount=1
00000.978 ERROR   DX11BACKEND: DX11Renderer::init() failed - D3D11CreateDevice() returned DXGI_ERROR_UNSUPPORTED
00000.978 INFO    DCS: try to write dump information
00000.980 INFO    EDCORE: # -------------- 20160105-085310 --------------
00000.980 INFO    EDCORE: 
00000.981 INFO    EDCORE: # C0000005 ACCESS_VIOLATION at ED0C8559 00:00000000
00000.982 INFO    EDCORE: 00000000 00000000 0000:00000000 
00000.983 INFO    EDCORE: ED0C8559 001DEC20 0000:00000000  ?shutdown@DX11Renderer@RenderAPI@@UEAAXXZ()+369
00000.984 INFO    EDCORE: ED0C791C 001DEE80 0000:00000000  ?init@DX11Renderer@RenderAPI@@UEAA_NAEAVConfig@Lua@@_KHH_NHHW4FMT_ENUM@render@@W4MSAA_ENUM@6@PEBD@Z()+4AC
00000.985 INFO    EDCORE: EF879CB9 001DEFA0 0000:00000000  ?initialize@DXRenderer@Graphics@@UEAA_NPEAXHHH@Z()+259
00000.986 INFO    EDCORE: EDE553C8 001DF090 0000:00000000  ??0SceneManager_Implement@@QEAA@XZ()+828
00000.987 INFO    EDCORE: EDE6050A 001DF0D0 0000:00000000  ?CreateSceneManager@smSceneManager@@SAXXZ()+2A
00000.987 INFO    EDCORE: 400F150B 001DF1B0 0000:00000000 
00000.987 INFO    EDCORE: 400F0769 001DF230 0000:00000000 
00000.988 INFO    EDCORE: 401BA4E1 001DF8E0 0000:00000000 
00000.989 INFO    EDCORE: 401BD6C5 001DF920 0000:00000000 
00000.990 INFO    EDCORE: 772059CD 001DF950 0000:00000000  BaseThreadInitThunk()+D
00000.991 INFO    EDCORE: 7733B981 001DF9A0 0000:00000000  RtlUserThreadStart()+21
00001.045 INFO    EDCORE: Minidump created.
00001.045 INFO    DCS: try to write track file

I think the Problem ist that line:

 

00000.978 ERROR DX11BACKEND: DX11Renderer::init() failed - D3D11CreateDevice() returned DXGI_ERROR_UNSUPPORTED

 

In my autoexec.cfg (%user%\Saved Games\DCS\Config\autoexec.cfg)

 

i used the "render3D = false"

 

i also tryed to change "render3D = true" to "render3D = false" in the config.lua in the DCS-Game-Directory.

 

I also enabled the 3D-Support in ESXI for Windows 7.

 

But it still crashes. I hope you could help me to fix this. I think the Problem is, that i have no real GFX-Card. :(

Edited January 5, 2016 by Sc0rc3d

[T_A]

Your virtual graphics card does not support DX11

 

AFAIK "render3D = false" is still not working

 

also not sure, but its possible the host also must support it.

[Sc0rc3d]

So what are the solutions? I can't install a GPU because the PCIE-Slot is blocked with my HBA. But what's the problem with "render3D = false"? :o

[eekz]

I believe you need VMWare. By the way render3D = false works just fine, but the games still need dx 11 support to run, regardless of render.

[T_A]

So what are the solutions? I can't install a GPU because the PCIE-Slot is blocked with my HBA. But what's the problem with "render3D = false"? :o

 

I guess the solution is to wait for the dedicated server they promised (no date given)

[xaoslaad]

I believe you need VMWare. By the way render3D = false works just fine, but the games still need dx 11 support to run, regardless of render.

Esxi is a vmware product. /facepalm

[_Teddy_]

So what are the solutions? I can't install a GPU because the PCIE-Slot is blocked with my HBA. But what's the problem with "render3D = false"? :o

 

You simply need 3d-card supporting DX11. VMware ESXi (even with VMware-tools installed in VM) does not support it, so you can forget virtual GFX. What you need is real GFX-card (hardware), and you'd have to pass it through to VM. Now three solutions come to my mind (except for waiting till ED releases dedicated server software):

 

1. If you have any more slots on your mobo (i.e. PCIe-1x, AGP, or even ancient PCI), you could use them for GFX-card. You do not need anything powerful, if you disable 3d (which as I heard should work in 1.5.x).

 

2. There are a few rather "exotic" external GFX-cards (i.e. for using with laptops), usually with usb-interface. Never tried them personally, but I've heard of them.

 

3. Depending on your CPU, you could pass-through to VM even in-CPU graphics (yes, it does work, at least with some Intel-CPUs). Now this depends on your hardware (does your mobo have its own on-board graphics for ESXi?).

[fltsimbuff]

VMWare ESXi also has requirements for Passthrough (VMDirectPath I/O) to work in the first place. One of the requirements is VT-d support for Intel or IOMMU for AMD chipsets. You may need to enable it in the BIOS as well.

 

You'll find that depending on your graphics card choice, the passthrough may not work at all.

[_Teddy_]

Yep, you are right. But I checked his cpu (intel xeon e3-1231, can be seen on one screenshot) and it does support VT-d.

 

Concerning GFX, any old nvidia 6xx (or 7xx) could work. They all support dx11, and one can find Zotac 610 models with PCIe 1x or PCI interface...

[Nate--IRL--]

You could try Hyper-V server 2012R2?

 

EDIT:- Disregard - I note no GPU in the server. I might test 1.5 in a VMware VM using server 2012 R2 or 2016 - I had 1.2 working no problem.

 

Nate

Edited January 5, 2016 by Nate--IRL--

[_Teddy_]

I had 1.2 working no problem.

Me too. But do not forget: 1.2 was still DX7-based (supported IIRC since vHW8 in ESXi)...

[Nate--IRL--]

Nope, 1.5 doesn't work, it seems VMware does not support DX11 yet - Hyper-V is the way to proceed I think.

 

EDIT:- Isn't Hyper-V part of Win-8/10 now? Could someone give it a go?

 

Nate

[Sc0rc3d]

Thanks for the feedback

 

And i think "You simply need 3d-card supporting DX11" thats the point. :noexpression:

 

@_TEddy_: There is only one PCIe slot and my IBM HBA is in it (more info about my Homeserver). The "exotic" external GFX-cards" are crap and my Xeon has no GPU inside (the i7 has - and that's the difference between i7 and Xeon). I never thought to need a GPU on a Server, my fault. :D

 

No seriously, its a shame that there is no 'normal' Dedicated Server for such a great Game!

@Nate--IRL--: Yes on 8 and 10 (64bit). But for dcs a dx11 gpu is needed anyway

Edited January 6, 2016 by Sc0rc3d

[_Teddy_]

You do not need anything powerful, really just any "crap" with theoretical support of DX11. A friend of mine is running now DCS 1.5 on server with GeForce 610 in PCI-slot (not PCIe). That really *is* ancient crap, but with 3d off it is enough (just to display game-menu).

 

Concerning Xeon, you do not have correct info. Even Xeon-cpu can have GFX-core. Your E3-1231-v3 does not have it, but i.e. E3-1245-v3 (for the same socket1150) does have "Intel HD Graphics P4600" included in CPU (otherwise is the same as E3-1231-v3). And because your mobo has on-board VGA output (which you probably use for ESXi-console), you could (???) passthrough this CPU/GPU-core to VM. I did not test this myself, but read about it on VMware forum. My CPU has GPU-core too. I do not use it and I was really surprised when I saw it in the list of devices I can mark for pass-through...

 

Of course, I could not agree more with your last statement. So many years, and no dedicated server, that's a shame...

[Sc0rc3d]

Yes you are right(in both cases), some Xeons does have a graphics unit. But just for a game, i will not change my CPU (even if I like it). I hope with 2.0 the Dedicated Server will be released. :)

[Pikey]

The only benefit to having ESX is sharing resources. For this game, being in client mode, there is no point in having it on ESX because it runs badly enough on dedicated machines let alone something struggling through middleware. If you remove the ESX layer and got to hardware directly you might be able to find the low riser or half height GPU's unless of course you are running on a 1U rack mounted, which I doubt. So assuming its not a 1U, you can fit a DX11 card into a rack mounted server, and then get the crappy performance of the low clock Xeons running this single thread app.

 

All roads point to a gaming machine right now and for the last few years. I know dedicated is in the works but I coudlnt advise on waiting, this software develops way slower than the hardware market does DX11 - 2008 tech, release date of 1.5?

 

The same advice goes for Server OS, I tried 2008 and just got hellish problems continually until I took it to a workstation class OS.

 

The requirements for server are identical to the requirements for client, because there is no server.

[BitMaster]

I have also mixed feelings for the ded. server module and peoples hope to run it on DC class 1U rental servers.

 

You dont need any of the requirements that define a server but a DAMN FAST CPU, 16+GB and 1 SSD.

 

Money put in RAID subsystems, enterprise class 40Gbit NICs and 12-core CPU's is gonna be wasted in terms of speed benefit for DCS.

 

Let's hope you can rent a 4GHz 4790k that does 4.4 in Turbo and 16GB paired with a nice M2 SSD..basically all you would need for a ded. DCS server, now and later. ( for now u will need a dx11 card, yes )

[blaueente]

( for now u will need a dx11 card, yes )

 

Which is integrated in the 4790k ... which makes this setup pretty much all u may need for now AND the future ;)

 

mfg ente

[BitMaster]

Which is integrated in the 4790k ... which makes this setup pretty much all u may need for now AND the future ;)

 

mfg ente

 

YEAH; heck I forgot the iGPU

[v81]

I'm running ESXi v6 with a couple of VM's and am also trying to fire up a DCS server.

I too have encountered the same issues as OP.

 

I am aware of VT-D pass through, and have a GTX710 on order, so i hope that resolves the issue, will report back.

 

Machine is dual E5-2670's giving 16 physical cores.

64GB ram and storage on a fast NAS over 2gbE link.

 

I do have a couple of questions, and was hoping to find some stickies.

There is mention of "render3D = false" in this thread.

Could somone clarify what config file this goes in?

 

Any other tips or suggestions?

[Wrecking Crew]

On the server, it goes into the C:\Users\..\Saved Games\DCS\Config\autoexec.cfg file, here is a sample:

 

 

options.graphics.maxfps = 30
options.graphics.render3D = false
if not net then net = {} end
net.download_speed = 1024*1024
net.upload_speed = 256*1024

 

hee hee I run a GTX 510 in my server, np.

[xaoslaad]

I'm running ESXi v6 with a couple of VM's and am also trying to fire up a DCS server.

I too have encountered the same issues as OP.

 

I am aware of VT-D pass through, and have a GTX710 on order, so i hope that resolves the issue, will report back.

 

Machine is dual E5-2670's giving 16 physical cores.

64GB ram and storage on a fast NAS over 2gbE link.

 

I do have a couple of questions, and was hoping to find some stickies.

There is mention of "render3D = false" in this thread.

Could somone clarify what config file this goes in?

 

Any other tips or suggestions?

VT-d should work. Hyper-V RemoteFX works for me and it's not even passthrough. Rather it uses a dedicated card to improve performance on multiple vms.

[Azrayen]

On the server, it goes into the C:\Users\..\Saved Games\DCS\Config\autoexec.cfg file, here is a sample:

Agreed + correct current syntax.

 

The simpler syntax mentionned above (page 1), as the config.lua file in the DCS-Game-Directory are "historic" and do not work anymore AFAIK.