DCS Server Control

[USSR_Rik]

(based on Werner ‘derelor’ Siedenburg text with help of beta-testers team.

 

Many thanks to all public hosters who help us in tests!)

 

DCS Remote Server Control works starting ver. 2.5.4.28090, based on Web GUI and has the following options:

 

Server tab:

Pause/start, stop mission

Change server options (Name, Password, Port, Integrity Check etc)

Run any mission from mission list, LOOP and SHUFFLE modes.

Add, remote mission to list. Save current mission list

Mission progress indiccator (based on mission triggers and goals as usual, WIP)

 

 

Also you can see Log window in this tab (press </> icon on the top-left corner). Server log updates in this wingow 'on-the-fly'

 

 

 

Players tab:

Show player list, banned list

Kick or ban any player

Unban any player

 

 

 

 

Chat tab:

Read and write chat messages. All players will see messages sent by the control PC as white-colored server messages. At the same time, the control PC can see all game chat messages.

 

Edited September 10, 2020 by USSR_Rik

[USSR_Rik]

1. What is needed to run a dedicated server?

Dedicated server is not a standalone software, it's one of DCS start option. To run a server, a (separate) DCS base install is needed with all terrains (you wish to host) purchased and installed. We are considering possibilities for running terrains without purchase them in --norender mode.

 

 

2. How to run a dedicated server?

Currently, the dedicated server can only be started manually from the command line appending the following parameters to file

 

--server

runs DCS in ‘server’ mode where the simulator is started as a server with the first mission in list ["missionList"] (see ‘Saved Games\<DCS>\Config\serverSettings.lua’)

 

and/or

--norender

runs DCS without 3D rendering

 

or just

--webgui

server started as usual (i.e. with rendering and GUI) and you can control it via web interface.

Examples:

 

<DCS base directory>\bin>dcs --server --norender

(server started without rendering and launched first mission in serverSettings.lua missions list)

 

<DCS base directory>\bin>dcs --webgui

(DCS started as usual with full render and server can be controlled via web)

 

3. How to run several dedicated servers on the same machine?

It is possible to run several DCS (server) instances from the same install by using different write folders for each one with the “-w” (for “write folder”) command line parameter.

Also, each instance should use a separate game port and HTTP port (for the web GUI to work).

 

The HTTP port can be changed by editing the webgui_port line in file autoexec.cfg:

 

webgui_port = 12345

 

4. How to shut down a dedicated server?

Currently, to shut down the dedicated server, the DCS process has to be killed via Windows task manager - a proper shutdown procedure does not exist yet.

 

Note: While running the dedicated server in graphics mode (i.e., started without the --norender parameter), the game world is shown and the ESC key does not work.

 

5. How to control a dedicated server?

 

There are two options: local server started on your PC and remote server started somewhere.

 

5.1 Remote Control

For remote control, DCS servers use TCP port 8088 by default. This port has to be opened on the server's router for remote control to work. UPNP routers will open this port automatically (this feature is work in progress and currently does not always work reliably).

 

For remote control of the DCS server, the control PC (or device) has to be logged in into your DCS account on the DCS homepage. NOTE: your PC and server should be logged in the same account! You can't control servers started from different DCS accounts (this feature is in development).

 

In order to get control open your Profile page and select your server or visit URL:

 

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/personal/server/ (EN)

 

5.2 Local Control

 

A. You can use the same URL as in Remote Control (note: you must be logged in to your DCS account)

 

B. Open the .html document

 

<DCS base directory>\WebGui\index.html

 

from your local file system. This allows local server control without forwarding port 8088 and logging into a DCS account on the DCS homepage.

 

 

NOTE (added by const):

 

You should disable uPnP in DCS in case of using manual address or port translation in your router for DCS application. Add line to your autoexec.cfg:

 

net.use_upnp = false

 

Otherwise DCS will try to automatically open ports in your router on default router IP via uPnP

 

ADDED 1.

 

Issue: Server's player name is just 'player' and can't be changed

 

Hint: Create folder Scripts in server home folder: Saved Games\%DCS_Dedicated_Server%\Scripts

and create in that folder file dedicatedServer.lua

with text:

 

net.set_name('your desired server player name')
local res = net.start_server(serverSettings)
if res ~= 0 then
   log.write('Dedicated Server', log.DEBUG, 'Failed to start server with code: ', res)
end

 

ADDED 2.

 

Issue: Web control does't works on MS browsers (EDGE, IE). Repair in progress. Please use Chrom, Firefox.

Edited July 22, 2019 by USSR_Rik

[HiJack]

Great!

[Looney]

Thank you so very much!

[schurem]

bolshe spasibo!

[ravenzino]

well, just to remark this historical moment...

[VladMordock]

Thanks! :thumbup:

 

We are considering possibilities for running terrains without purchase them in --norender mode.

 

Do it, you will gain more from more active servers than selling "a few" more licenses by server admins. :music_whistling:

[csper]

Awesome!

[RaiderOne]

Thank you !

 

 

Very good news for MP teams around the world ! :thumbup:

[HC_Official]

great news about dedicated server :)

 

not so great news that we still have to buy terrains to host them :mad:

[Esac_mirmidon]

Is possible to run a dedicated server and fly as a client from the same machine?

 

Or you need one PC for the dedicated server and another for flying.?

[HC_Official]

Is possible to run a dedicated server and fly as a client from the same machine?

 

Or you need one PC for the dedicated server and another for flying.?

 

probably, but you will need 32G of RAM and it will affect your client performance

[Esac_mirmidon]

So the benefit is very small...

 

Well it seems the full potential for dedicated server is having a dedicated machine.

 

Thanks HC.

[Mr_sukebe]

Excellent stuff.

I’m looking forward to feedback on resource requirements and general thoughts on best practices.

[Bob_Bushman]

So the benefit is very small...

 

Well it seems the full potential for dedicated server is having a dedicated machine.

 

Thanks HC.

 

Not necessarily, it would be running as two distinct processes, so since DCS is so limited in that regard it will on a newer mutlicore CPU take more effect from having all those threads.

 

Also if for some instance your game could have a crash, and unless this also crashes other parts of your machine your server instance could be running just fine.

 

I am hoping :)

 

If it is tied in with your own account and whatnot, that might be a bit different, I really hope not.

Edited March 1, 2019 by Bob_Bushman

[Mr_sukebe]

So the benefit is very small...

 

Well it seems the full potential for dedicated server is having a dedicated machine.

 

Thanks HC.

 

The only question then starts on resource requirements. If it’s not rendering any visuals, it’s footprint should be smaller than what we currently see, so we might be able to run the server on a fairly old second pc. I’m hoping to using either a laptop, of my current pc base when I upgrade later this year.

[Esac_mirmidon]

Interesting

[Sandman1330]

great news about dedicated server :)

 

not so great news that we still have to buy terrains to host them :mad:

 

We really really really want to run PG on my server... but (mostly) out of principle we won’t purchase a second license.

 

Any timeframe on the decision whether to allow other terrains? My PG map sits idle, and likely none of us will purchase Syria if we can’t use it on our server.

 

Not to mention the hard drive requirements of leaving so many maps installed... will running in norender mode still require the map be installed, if you do allow free licenses for servers? Or maybe just a skeleton of the map for the server, to save space?

Edited March 1, 2019 by Sandman1330

[wasserschorle]

When could it be possible to rent a server? I mean like renting one for ArmA from the regular game server providers.

[cercata]

We are considering possibilities for running terrains without purchase them in --norender mode.

 

That would be amazing !!!!

[BoneDust]

Good stuff.

[Wizard1393]

Good news that there's finally an official dedicated server option. But, as I understand it, this really isn't something new? Whats new is the webgui control interface. We already had a "render3d = false" option (not sure if it worked in 2.5). And to be honest, I don't get why you make it unnecessarily difficult, still requiring an account to host. Easy is the key.

 

I think you should just make available a completely free "full package everything included" dedicated server package download that is not "playable". This will only benefit the community. To actually play you would still need a purchased client.

[Rudel_chw]

1. What is needed to run a dedicated server?

Dedicated server is not a standalone software, it's one of DCS start option. To run a server, a (separate) DCS base install is needed with all terrains purchased and installed.

 

...

 

5.1 Remote Control

..

For remote control of the DCS server, the control PC (or device) has to be logged in into your DCS account on the DCS homepage. NOTE: your PC and server should be logged in the same account! You can't control servers started from different DCS accounts

 

Please clarify this a bit .. in anticipation of the Dedicated Server release, I purchased the terrains ... but they were not available to purchase on my current DCS account (as I already owned them) ... so, I created a different account for use with my dedicated Server.

 

So, how can I control my Server if it uses a different ED account? I dont get it :(

[Wizard1393]

I agree with Rudel. I'd suggest just remove account requirement all together for dedicated servers. Why do we need an account even, to host a server? Strange way to go with this imo.

[Jumbik]

I agree with Rudel. I'd suggest just remove account requirement all together for dedicated servers. Why do we need an account even, to host a server? Strange way to go with this imo.

 

Well I suppose they do not have a way how to prevent remote tampering with your server if you will allow remote control. The only way to go now is to limit it for your login.