Running a DCS campaign on a separate PC using DCS server....

[markturner1960]

Quick query...how is this done? I have got 2 PC's one I use for flying Helo's so when I am flying jets, I have decided to utilise it for running demanding campaigns ( I just got the Kerman campaign and first mission runs like a pig, 23 FPS and -40% CPU headroom in VR) so was hoping that using DCS server, I can run the campaign on PC and fly the mission from PC1, thus offloading all the computing etc to PC2 and leaving me some headroom for the performance in VR. 

Missions I have figured out, just need to add them to the open beta server saved games folder. But I cant figure out how to run the campaign....

 

Can someone help? Thanks

[Schmafuzius]

I'm not sure about this but wouldnt you need 2 DCS licenses then??

[Maverick87Shaka]

You can't run default campaign on a server, and join it from another client.
I don't even know if it's somehow a violation of the TOS.

Btw, you basically have to open each missions of the campaign, edit all of them to make it "runnable" in multiplayer, be aware of not braking some trigger and logic's done by campaign creator.

Additionally, you'll loose al the status campaign progression on your client side view, and you need to track manually you successfully status and so on.

[markturner1960]

OK...thanks.... thats a strange one then, as I can run DCS on all of my machines using my normal single authorization, but I cant run a campaign I have paid for on one machine and log into it from another? Why is that? whats the logic? 

I have looked into running DCS liberation in this way and have not done it yet, but understand from a quick look on you tube that you generate a mission and then copy that over to the server machine and then copy back a .json file to give you the "results". Is that what you mean when you describe opening the campaign ? 

If I decided ( hypothetically) to buy a separate licence for the number 2 machine, and run the campaigns on that, would it be possible? Or is it more complicated than that?

thanks

Edit: Maverick, I see you run servers, with campaigns.......whats the difference then? People are presumably logging in to them from different clients? 

So I can run DCS server on my main machine and do it like that ? Although that would kind of defeat the objective as I would not be offloading the work from my main CPU would i?

Finally, how does it work with theatres on the number 2 machine ? 

Edited April 3, 2023 by markturner1960

[twistking]

30 minutes ago, markturner1960 said:

OK...thanks.... thats a strange one then, as I can run DCS on all of my machines using my normal single authorization, but I cant run a campaign I have paid for on one machine and log into it from another? Why is that? whats the logic?

1. missions that run on a dedicated server are technically multiplayer missions, even if they are designed to be played by a single player. it's set up differently during mission creations.
2. paid campaigns have some sort of DRM and only run on an account that has purchased the license. this authorisation does not work when connecting to a server. the server would need to check for the client's license, which it cannot do.

[markturner1960]

OK, so basically, I cant do what I want to do then.........thats pretty frustrating......Obviously, the situation is different with something like liberation, as that's not a paid 3rd party creation, yes? And they have worked out a kind of workaround for the continuity, but using the .json file to transfer results, correct? 

 

Thanks for the help

[twistking]

1 hour ago, markturner1960 said:

OK, so basically, I cant do what I want to do then.........thats pretty frustrating......Obviously, the situation is different with something like liberation, as that's not a paid 3rd party creation, yes? And they have worked out a kind of workaround for the continuity, but using the .json file to transfer results, correct? 

 

Thanks for the help

correct. it's not possible unfortunately. ED would need to build a more complex system for DRM in MP environments to allow this. such a system would also allow paid mp/coop campaigns (which would be nice).

i don't know how liberations works, but if it's not paid then it does not have DRM and therefore should have no restrictions. if you build your own multiplayer mission in the editor for example, you can still play it alone in singlepalyer on your pc locally, or you can host it  on a  server and play from a client pc, or you can host and play it in multiplayer.

Edited April 3, 2023 by twistking

[draconus]

2 hours ago, markturner1960 said:

...I can run DCS on all of my machines using my normal single authorization, but I cant run a campaign I have paid for on one machine and log into it from another? Why is that? whats the logic? 

The reason is copy protection/anti-piracy. You're free to use DCS and all your modules and content on any machine but only one log in at the same time. You can't authorize paid DLC on two PCs concurently. What is strange are your trials to run SP campaign on MP using 2 PCs which is neither supported or designed for. Do you even run MT version?

[markturner1960]

Yes, I have MT version. i get they dont want piracy, but I am pretty sure I can have DCS running at the same time on several PC's, with the same log in? Anyway, I have tried running the campaign in MT and it does run at double the FPS using MT....I had not been using MT due to issues with shadows etc, but turned them off and its not too bad.

 

Thanks

[draconus]

1 hour ago, markturner1960 said:

Yes, I have MT version. i get they dont want piracy, but I am pretty sure I can have DCS running at the same time on several PC's, with the same log in? Anyway, I have tried running the campaign in MT and it does run at double the FPS using MT....I had not been using MT due to issues with shadows etc, but turned them off and its not too bad.

Afaik it should log you out from any other running sessions.

Shadows problem is only in MT, NTTR and depends on settings.

 

[Japo32]

This is something I was thinking about. Pick up every miz that my bought campaings have. Put them in a dedicated server created in other computer that I have entered my login and password, so I could have 

1. Better FPS

2. Could save the track, so i could make better video replays.

So then, that is not possible? I cannot try now, but I would be one computer with dedicated server and my user account, and other computer with client and my login account as well. Really don't care about progression saving.

[Art-J]

You can experiment, but as noted above, chances that it will work are rather low. By default if it's an SP campaign, it can be played only on a single PC at a time using one set of login credentials. Converting missions to be MP compatible could work possibly (?), but payware campaign missions are usually locked and can't be tinkered with.

[Insonia]

6 hours ago, Japo32 said:

This is something I was thinking about. Pick up every miz that my bought campaings have. Put them in a dedicated server created in other computer that I have entered my login and password, so I could have 

1. Better FPS

2. Could save the track, so i could make better video replays.

So then, that is not possible? I cannot try now, but I would be one computer with dedicated server and my user account, and other computer with client and my login account as well. Really don't care about progression saving.

Playable for non-drm protect campaigns. Ib4, when DCS only run as singlethread . it indeed improves the performance quite a lot on heavy missions. you have the best perf when you turn away from combat zones.

But not in current MT. i find it has no noticeable changes, regardless of where the player fly or look at.

Paid DLC is DRM protected. I already tested years ago. although it still can be modified to client slots. but the mission broke the after few triggers.

im not sure if it;s a DRM issue or the trigger. very likely, it's DRM

Edited January 13, 2024 by Insonia

[SharpeXB]

16 hours ago, Japo32 said:

2. Could save the track, so i could make better video replays.

You don’t need a server to save tracks. That can be done from single player/single PC as well. Just click Save Replay when you quit. 

[rob10]

5 hours ago, SharpeXB said:

You don’t need a server to save tracks. That can be done from single player/single PC as well. Just click Save Replay when you quit. 

Prior to the recent changes to the track system, you would get a "better" track file from a server vs client computer.  That methodology of saving a track (or at least something similar) is now in the client game so there likely isn't a big advantage of getting the track from a server any more.

[SharpeXB]

39 minutes ago, rob10 said:

Prior to the recent changes to the track system, you would get a "better" track file from a server vs client computer.  That methodology of saving a track (or at least something similar) is now in the client game so there likely isn't a big advantage of getting the track from a server any more.

Honestly I think they were equally broken in either SP or MP

[lBlackMambal]

Am 3.4.2023 um 16:43 schrieb twistking:

...
2. paid campaigns have some sort of DRM and only run on an account that has purchased the license. this authorisation does not work when connecting to a server. the server would need to check for the client's license, which it cannot do.

...

So how are the checks done so a player can only enter an aircraft he actually paid for?

[twistking]

2 hours ago, lBlackMambal said:

So how are the checks done so a player can only enter an aircraft he actually paid for?

on the client, i assume. the server doesn't care which aircraft you own.

Edited October 28, 2024 by twistking

[draconus]

17 hours ago, lBlackMambal said:

So how are the checks done so a player can only enter an aircraft he actually paid for?

DCS checks installed modules at the start. If the valid license is found (either online, offline, saved 3-day authorisation or trial) they are enabled in the game and available to fly.

[lBlackMambal]

Ok, but I still don't get why:
 

...

2. paid campaigns have some sort of DRM and only run on an account that has purchased the license. this authorisation does not work when connecting to a server. the server would need to check for the client's license, which it cannot do.

...

 

Ok, I understand if the client checks what aircraft the player can enter - after he joined the server. But what about maps, I mean specifically those which you also need to pay for and where the check needs to be performed before the player joins the server. I guess some kind of DRM also kicks in for those too.

Is there any difference between checking if the player has paid for a map that currently runs on a server and a paid campaign (to my understanding the plain logic), which - depending on the campaign itself - either runs on a free or paid map? Guess, again both license checks can be handled by the client too, right?

Edited October 30, 2024 by lBlackMambal

[MAXsenna]

@lBlackMambal One more thing. DCS do not support the experience co-op/MP campaigns regarding voi overs etc. I think Reflected did a video about this. He tried, but just gave up. Some campaign creators have released some free missions, and I think they can be played on a server, but they will not be like the single player campaign missions. Like, you can't be pilot and RIO because they're to heavily scripted for one person in the pilot seat. 

[lBlackMambal]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb MAXsenna:

@lBlackMambal One more thing. DCS do not support the experience co-op/MP campaigns regarding voi overs etc. I think Reflected did a video about this. He tried, but just gave up. Some campaign creators have released some free missions, and I think they can be played on a server, but they will not be like the single player campaign missions. Like, you can't be pilot and RIO because they're to heavily scripted for one person in the pilot seat. 

For now I read the previous comments and simply focussed on the (technical) question why it's generally not possible to load a campaign onto a server to enjoy it together with a friend.

But true, I totally get your point about the scripted parts which probably have a negative impact on how even a dedicated 2-seater like e.g. the AH-64D might feel. ED eventually did play-test some campaigns in coop mode and came to the same result - i.e. that although it's technically possible to avoid any negative reviews (about how bad it's feeling in coop) keeping campaigns single player only.

[draconus]

5 hours ago, lBlackMambal said:

For now I read the previous comments and simply focussed on the (technical) question why it's generally not possible to load a campaign onto a server to enjoy it together with a friend.

Like I said the license checks are done at the start of DCS - be it a module, map or campaign - if it's ok they are then enabled in the session. Does your account, that you've logged in to the server, have the campaign purchased? What good would be loading it on a server anyway when there are no client slots?

[MAXsenna]

For now I read the previous comments and simply focussed on the (technical) question why it's generally not possible to load a campaign onto a server to enjoy it together with a friend.
But true, I totally get your point about the scripted parts which probably have a negative impact on how even a dedicated 2-seater like e.g. the AH-64D might feel. ED eventually did play-test some campaigns in coop mode and came to the same result - i.e. that although it's technically possible to avoid any negative reviews (about how bad it's feeling in coop) keeping campaigns single player only.

Yeah, I just wanted to point it out if other users were to read it.
This is a highly wanted feature, and I believe it's a missed opportunity for ED. I'm sure they would sell really well.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[silverdevil]

On 10/30/2024 at 9:36 PM, lBlackMambal said:

For now I read the previous comments and simply focussed on the (technical) question why it's generally not possible to load a campaign onto a server to enjoy it together with a friend.

But true, I totally get your point about the scripted parts which probably have a negative impact on how even a dedicated 2-seater like e.g. the AH-64D might feel. ED eventually did play-test some campaigns in coop mode and came to the same result - i.e. that although it's technically possible to avoid any negative reviews (about how bad it's feeling in coop) keeping campaigns single player only.

my squadron plays a Liberation system for a campaign. i may be wrong but i believe it is on a dedicated server. i am nearly certain though.