Easy (?) tips in order to increase general performance while doing single player missions

[d0ppler]

Dear ED, I've experienced that if I'm playing DCS Liberation missions on a "multiplayer server" hosted by my own machine, DCS runs smoother than if I was doing the exact same mission as a regular single player mission. The only reason I can think why this happens, is that when I'm running a new server instance, that instance gets its own CPU core to play with, which mean that the CPU core the game/client runs at will have more headroom since it doesn't need to simulate all the other units, because that's being calculated by the server instance.

So my suggestion is that, even if you run a singleplayer mission, why not just start a hidden "multiplayer" server instance, programmed in the background so the user feels like it's a completely normal single player mission, so we can split the work on two CPU cores rather than one?

To me, as a programmer, that sounds like an "easy" workaround.

What you think?

[Gryzor]

I think its a good idea, lets pray to have something with multicore

[Pyker]

On 12/13/2021 at 9:52 PM, d0ppler said:

Dear ED, I've experienced that if I'm playing DCS Liberation missions on a "multiplayer server" hosted by my own machine, DCS runs smoother than if I was doing the exact same mission as a regular single player mission. The only reason I can think why this happens, is that when I'm running a new server instance, that instance gets its own CPU core to play with, which mean that the CPU core the game/client runs at will have more headroom since it doesn't need to simulate all the other units, because that's being calculated by the server instance.

So my suggestion is that, even if you run a singleplayer mission, why not just start a hidden "multiplayer" server instance, programmed in the background so the user feels like it's a completely normal single player mission, so we can split the work on two CPU cores rather than one?

To me, as a programmer, that sounds like an "easy" workaround.

What you think?

Is there a tutorial on how to set the server on the same pc? I found only tutorials on how to set a server for ´true’  MP.  I read that some use a second PC to do what you did, but I’m a noob and don’t know how to do it on the same PC.

[LucShep]

On 12/13/2021 at 8:52 PM, d0ppler said:

Dear ED, I've experienced that if I'm playing DCS Liberation missions on a "multiplayer server" hosted by my own machine, DCS runs smoother than if I was doing the exact same mission as a regular single player mission. The only reason I can think why this happens, is that when I'm running a new server instance, that instance gets its own CPU core to play with, which mean that the CPU core the game/client runs at will have more headroom since it doesn't need to simulate all the other units, because that's being calculated by the server instance.

So my suggestion is that, even if you run a singleplayer mission, why not just start a hidden "multiplayer" server instance, programmed in the background so the user feels like it's a completely normal single player mission, so we can split the work on two CPU cores rather than one?

To me, as a programmer, that sounds like an "easy" workaround.

What you think?

I think it's a good idea but, while it can run better that way, you need to consider that users will see RAM usage increased (even more) because of it.

[d0ppler]

7 hours ago, Pyker said:

Is there a tutorial on how to set the server on the same pc? I found only tutorials on how to set a server for ´true’  MP.  I read that some use a second PC to do what you did, but I’m a noob and don’t know how to do it on the same PC.

 

[Pyker]

Thank you for the tutorial.  I didn’t understand everything, but I’ll try to figure it out.

I suppose that this would work for any MP mission, including SP missions ‘converted’ to MP , not just the ‘Liberation’ missions?

[d0ppler]

On 1/3/2022 at 5:03 PM, Pyker said:

Thank you for the tutorial.  I didn’t understand everything, but I’ll try to figure it out.

I suppose that this would work for any MP mission, including SP missions ‘converted’ to MP , not just the ‘Liberation’ missions?

That's right

[PD919]

I just ran a quick test with this from private multiplayer missions I've been hosting from my own PC without a dedicated server to single player missions.  The stutter from AI communications and AI spawn was almost completely gone.  I feel this would "fix" several campaigns in DCS that are script heavy.  It seemed that it was taking all of the script work off of the main DCS core.  It's a shame I can't load the DLC campaign missions into my "server."

ED.  Please implement a background "private server" option for people who play single player.  It would be a huge boon for your great campaign creators as well, unless the multicore rendering is being designed to fix this issue.

Edited February 20, 2022 by PD919

[Flappie]

Do you have an example of laggy mission?

[Boosterdog]

2 minutes ago, Flappie said:

Do you have an example of laggy mission?

MI24 Quick Mission - Disaster Relief - Very little really occuring, lots of triggers for coms, messages and AI tasks. Stutters like a scratched record even on my system at 1080P

[Flappie]

Thanks. This mission is a true lag fest, indeed! I'll try @PD919's tip.

[Flappie]

First try with a dedi: no lag at all. I'll try again and make a movie to compare SP and dedi.

[PD919]

46 minutes ago, Flappie said:

First try with a dedi: no lag at all. I'll try again and make a movie to compare SP and dedi.

I will say that since I play in VR the microstutter is more noticeable then 2d because framepacing is more noticeable.  Most of the stutter I see in DCS comes from framepacing not a poor FPS.  I have a 5800x and 32 Gbs of RAM.   GPU is 3080 Ti for reference. 

[Boosterdog]

2 hours ago, PD919 said:

I will say that since I play in VR the microstutter is more noticeable then 2d because framepacing is more noticeable.  Most of the stutter I see in DCS comes from framepacing not a poor FPS.  I have a 5800x and 32 Gbs of RAM.   GPU is 3080 Ti for reference. 

That mission is horrendous even using the most basic settings in 2D.  TBH Im really surprised it even made it past QA. Triggers are such that they effectivley pour custard into the engine's carburettor.  As you say its not a lack of horsepower its simply that the single core being used for everything but sound (??) becomes saturated by certain triggered actions (fire at point, audio, path finding etc).

If a dedi can run this mission well it gives me hope not only for the here and now but also for MC. 

[Boosterdog]

On 2/20/2022 at 5:31 AM, PD919 said:

I just ran a quick test with this from private multiplayer missions I've been hosting from my own PC without a dedicated server to single player missions.  The stutter from AI communications and AI spawn was almost completely gone.  I feel this would "fix" several campaigns in DCS that are script heavy.  It seemed that it was taking all of the script work off of the main DCS core.  It's a shame I can't load the DLC campaign missions into my "server."

ED.  Please implement a background "private server" option for people who play single player.  It would be a huge boon for your great campaign creators as well, unless the multicore rendering is being designed to fix this issue.

 

Sadly I fell at the first hurdle having absoluelty no idea why there appears to be no way for me to select a mission to run. All I have is a blank field. 

 

[Flappie]

You should have a "..." icon. Where has it gone? Try a DCS repair, maybe.

[Baldrick33]

I am not sure how to set the folder it initially looks in but you can manually edit the mission section in serversettings.lua in Saved Games\DCS.Server1\Config. Mine looks like this:

...
    ["missionList"] =
    {
        [1] = "G:\\Saved Games\\DCS.openbeta\\Missions\\Misc\\Batumi TEST V7 RED.miz",
        [2] = "G:\\Saved Games\\DCS.openbeta\\Missions\\Bf-109K-4\\Bf109K-4 - Caucasus - Takeoff.miz",
        [3] = "G:\\Saved Games\\DCS.openbeta\\Missions\\Mi-24P\\Convoy Raid.miz",
    }, -- end of ["missionList"]
    ["name"] = "DCS Server",
    ["uri"] = "startServer",
...

 

[Boosterdog]

28 minutes ago, Flappie said:

You should have a "..." icon. Where has it gone? Try a DCS repair, maybe.

I have no idea what you mean Flappie. Sorry. Repair made no difference. 

25 minutes ago, Baldrick33 said:

I am not sure how to set the folder it initially looks in but you can manually edit the mission section in serversettings.lua in Saved Games\DCS.Server1\Config. Mine looks like this:

...
    ["missionList"] =
    {
        [1] = "G:\\Saved Games\\DCS.openbeta\\Missions\\Misc\\Batumi TEST V7 RED.miz",
        [2] = "G:\\Saved Games\\DCS.openbeta\\Missions\\Bf-109K-4\\Bf109K-4 - Caucasus - Takeoff.miz",
        [3] = "G:\\Saved Games\\DCS.openbeta\\Missions\\Mi-24P\\Convoy Raid.miz",
    }, -- end of ["missionList"]
    ["name"] = "DCS Server",
    ["uri"] = "startServer",
...

 

Thanks that got a mission to show in a list but then the server failed to start and the only clue I get is the ultra helpful "error starting server"

I dunno if its a port forwarding thing, a set up thing a DCS thing or a me thing. 

I am trying to use the Server within the main DCS as oer the mthod described above BTW not the dedicated server.

[Flappie]

8 minutes ago, Boosterdog said:

I have no idea what you mean Flappie. Sorry. Repair made no difference.

This "..." (or ".." ?) button lets you go up in the files tree. It means if you start at "Save Games/DCS Server", this button leads you to "Saved Games".

I don't understand why you don't have this button.

[Baldrick33]

So once you start the server using the link from above (bin\DCS.exe --server --norender -w DCS.server1 ) do you get a window that loads that you can move around?

[Boosterdog]

37 minutes ago, Flappie said:

This "..." (or ".." ?) button lets you go up in the files tree. It means if you start at "Save Games/DCS Server", this button leads you to "Saved Games".

I don't understand why you don't have this button.

neither do I. My Save games folder isnt on the C drive but and isnt called "Saved Games" either. I screwed up the moving of it. Works fine though. I dunno if the program is somehow set up to look for a default first. My saved games is on the same drive as the main OB install. 

32 minutes ago, Baldrick33 said:

So once you start the server using the link from above (bin\DCS.exe --server --norender -w DCS.server1 ) do you get a window that loads that you can move around?

Yup - I get te DCS blue sky flash screen.  When I hit the Web Gui index I get acknowledgement that the server has been found. 

I may go back and redo the saved games folder but Im reluctant to shove it on the C drive due to its (modded) size.

[Baldrick33]

2 minutes ago, Boosterdog said:

neither do I. My Save games folder isnt on the C drive but and isnt called "Saved Games" either. I screwed up the moving of it. Works fine though. I dunno if the program is somehow set up to look for a default first. My saved games is on the same drive as the main OB install. 

Yup - I get te DCS blue sky flash screen.  When I hit the Web Gui index I get acknowledgement that the server has been found. 

I may go back and redo the saved games folder but Im reluctant to shove it on the C drive due to its (modded) size.

My Saved Games isn't on my c drive. I moved it by simply changing the location in properties for the folder.

[Boosterdog]

4 hours ago, Baldrick33 said:

My Saved Games isn't on my c drive. I moved it by simply changing the location in properties for the folder.

I saw - however my "saved games" folder no longer has the option to change its location. I dunno what I did as I was clicking without paying attention. I need to fix that in any case so Ill do that and see what happens with a fresh OB install too.   

 

EDIT @Baldrick33and @Flappie It wuz muh Save Games folder. FUBAR'd.  Now its just a matter of oooooo 12 hours to redownload the modules!!

Edited February 21, 2022 by Boosterdog

[Boosterdog]

Having finally repaired my self inflicted issues, I flew the distaster releif mission on a private server with zero stutter. Incredible (though less incredibe when you consdier our supposedly cutting edge sim is still using a single core in 2022 unless hoops are jumped through). 

This said - setting up a server in the manner described is not onerous and (assuming yu havent messed stuff up previously as I did) takes a few minutes at most. Once set up, seconds per session. Better still since its not the full Dedicated server, there is nothing more than the core game to take up space on the drive.

All this said its not perfect - the map objects in the destroyed zones do not appear in the damaged forms (a year old problem at least), leaving an intact city with a very confused population wondering why UN were rushing about looking so concerned (happily thats quickly resolved when they get motared). This undoubteldy eases the load in general but Ive played an edited version of this mission in SP with no destruction zones (or cloud or anything nice in fact) and still had severe stuttering.

Its a very good case study in how much needed the hiving off of the AI triggers onto a separate core is if nothing else. Im looking forward to running the IADS thriough it for sure. In the meantime its a godsend for those of us sensitive to hiccups although, given the extra 4GB of RAM use, Im not sure its a Syria thing even with 32GB to play with :-). 

Thanks for the thread.

Edited February 22, 2022 by Boosterdog