Dedicated server - Licensing and automation

[Panzertard]

EDIT: DCS:BS - sorry - forgot to put it in the correct subforum. :chair:

 

A couple of questions popped into my mind last night as I was thinking about a server setup.

 

1. Dedicated server, Licensing. Do we need to buy an additional copy of the game to be able to run a server (when we already own a copy of the game)?

 

2. What about activation if it should be hosted from a dedicated box - do we have to use one extra activation? Or can the game folders be copied over to a game-server?

 

3. Server automation. Can it be run as a service - or will if fail utterly?

I'm aware of the Launcher.exe to DCS.exe relation - not sure how well this will work as a service.

(Plenty of methods of setting up EXE's as a service / .NET installers / Wise INStallers / SrvAny / SC.exe)

 

In any regards - is there a method to start DCS.exe by commandline, feed it the options it needs by commandline?

Or would it require a new breed of Launcher.exe to enable such a request?

[Acedy]

@1: According to the license you are not allowed to run BS on more than one PC at the same time. So if you want to host a dedicated server and connect from your home PC, you would need two licenses.

[Panzertard]

Thank you, Acedy.

1. Answered

Altough it may discourage a few people to set up dedicated. Would be nice to hear if ED considers a way to deal with the issue. Other vendors may have solved this be running a dedicated exe and some modified content - and still allowing for one "Game" version and one "dedicated server" on the same license.

I realize that this may be hard with the current implementation of DCS - but maybe for the next Sim in the series perhaps? :)

 

2. Now irrelevant

 

3. Waiting for anyone with experience :)

[EtherealN]

Well, on the note of additional licensing costs discouraging people from setting up dedicated servers, I'm not so sure it will have a big impact. I mean, if you can afford not only one but two performance computers for running DCS both as server and client at the same time, an extra 50 dollars for another license isn't going to be a big economic factor.

 

On number three, I'm unsure if this covers what you are interested in, but a link anyway: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=40143

[Panzertard]

Well, on the note of additional licensing costs discouraging people from setting up dedicated servers, I'm not so sure it will have a big impact. I mean, if you can afford not only one but two performance computers for running DCS both as server and client at the same time, an extra 50 dollars for another license isn't going to be a big economic factor.

 

On number three, I'm unsure if this covers what you are interested in, but a link anyway: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=40143

 

Yes, thanks, alread read a few pages there :)

 

Not a big discuragement, I agree. However, as for the community - I would dare to claim that more servers would be only if a dedicated server license was included.

Quite a few of us people who have spare computers (plenty actually) may have hosted if there was no further cost or hazle(?) involved.

But I can only speak for my self. :)

 

But I'm sure ED may have already have put some thought into this - regarding their own income, market spread and community interest. Hopefully they may be (re)considering it for future releases :thumbup:

[Fudd]

Most of these questions are answered in other threads.... search function, people! :D

 

In order to host a DCS BS sever you must:

 

Purchase a seperate DCS license

 

Have a server that runs Windows (must purchase a windows activation)

 

Have a server that has a video card and sound card (both Direct X compliant)

 

Access the server with an interface that does not disable direct X (so no using Remote Desktop).

 

Be able to consistently monitor the server. (Acedy's program does automate to some degree, but current multiplayer instabilities causes frequent crashing)

 

Be able to pay for unmetered bandwith in order to host client loads over 10 (10mbit up/down).

 

...just to name a few.

 

I'm not trying to discourage you, but its not as simple as it seems. If you are serious about setting one up, I know an excellent company and will help you with the inital setup. Just send me a PM.

[Panzertard]

Hi Fudd - you're not discouraging me. Rather I was a bit quick to fire off some questions - and the good thing about this ocmmunity is that there are so many friendly people around to help out. :)

 

I was specificly asking to run as a "service" - not as an app.

The reason for asking this is that is a major difference on how you maintain stability of the hosted service, maintenance such as reboot / patching etc.

- Running as a service grants you the ability to automate it without having a user logged on.

- Running as an app requires a auto logon mechanism - and again some other aspects to start up the hosted service.

 

The rest of the requirements are quite "normal" - been hosting other servers and services (IL-2, RavenShield, TS to name a few) for over 8 years in other communities, so no big supprise there.

 

Now what you are suggesting is that the server needs a UI - which means it wont be able to run as a service.

 

Thank you. :)

Edited June 4, 2009 by Panzertard

[Fudd]

Now what you are suggesting is that the server needs a UI - which means it wont be able to run as a service.

 

Correct

[192nd_Erdem]

Hi Fudd - you're not discouraging me. Rather I was a bit quick to fire off some questions - and the good thing about this ocmmunity is that there are so many friendly people around to help out. :)

 

I was specificly asking to run as a "service" - not as an app.

The reason for asking this is that is a major difference on how you maintain stability of the hosted service, maintenance such as reboot / patching etc.

- Running as a service grants you the ability to automate it without having a user logged on.

- Running as an app requires a auto logon mechanism - and again some other aspects to start up the hosted service.

 

The rest of the requirements are quite "normal" - been hosting other servers and services (IL-2, RavenShield, TS to name a few) for over 8 years in other communities, so no big supprise there.

 

Now what you are suggesting is that the server needs a UI - which means it wont be able to run as a service.

 

Thank you. :)

 

AFAIK there's no official "dedicated server" files or support provided from Eagle Dynamics. What you're doing is running the game as normal like you're going to play it and hosting a server. That's why you can't run it as a service, and need Windows along with DirectX.

 

ED said they have plans for a real dedicated server, I hope they're working on it :)

[Guest Kold]

Most of these questions are answered in other threads.... search function, people! :D

 

In order to host a DCS BS sever you must:

 

Purchase a seperate DCS license

 

Have a server that runs Windows (must purchase a windows activation)

 

Have a server that has a video card and sound card (both Direct X compliant)

 

Access the server with an interface that does not disable direct X (so no using Remote Desktop).

 

I had come here to help a friend look at his requirements to run this game on a leased server.

 

So many things deter me here.

 

- No Service/Console based binary.

 

- No Linux dedicated server binary. (Getting less common for more games, But they still come with Windows Service non GUI based binaries)

 

- Ridiculous notion of having to buy a 2nd copy to run a server (licensing) and offer enjoyment to others

 

- No RDC due to needing to run a DX Compatible GUI

 

 

All these things hinder the sales and popularity of this game. If Server companies can have a service based non GUI binary, and didn't need to pay for licensing, More Game Server companies could have this game ready to go for clients and therefore increase its popularity and sales.

 

Thumbs Way Down for this way of thinking :mad: I hear this is a great game. But the multiplay is back in the dark ages of Warcraft 2 TCP/IPX. Dedicated Server, Multiplayer Browsing and such should have been on the first page of any game developed today that is intended for multiplayer functionality.

Edited September 14, 2009 by Kold

[swepain]

Well, on the note of additional licensing costs discouraging people from setting up dedicated servers, I'm not so sure it will have a big impact. I mean, if you can afford not only one but two performance computers for running DCS both as server and client at the same time, an extra 50 dollars for another license isn't going to be a big economic factor.

 

On number three, I'm unsure if this covers what you are interested in, but a link anyway: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=40143

 

well if u have a dedicated server without all the bells and whistles u dont need 2 super computors,, we dont really need all the grafics on the server! :cry: