Re: How to set up a server

[agamemnus]

Before registering... how do you actually set up a server, though?

[prissi]

Please refer to the first post in this thread: http://forum.simutrans.com/index.php?topic=6424.0

And of course you need a computer where you can run simutrans and which recieves messages at a random prot (by default port13353). If you do not understand this, setting up a server is not recommended, as it can comprimise your system.

[agamemnus]

Please refer to the first post in *THIS* thread.

None of that tells me how to actually set up a server...

If you want to set up a server, you need a connection with a decent upload, as a savegame transfer easily takes 1MB. Therefore at least 10MBit/s is recommended.

Nothing about how to set up a server.

Technically you need to make sure that port the server uses is open and forwarded to your computer (in case you have to connect via a router/ADSL/cable modem). The default port is 13353, but you can specify any other port, when starting the server.

Ok, I know the default port now.

When starting a decicated server on a remote machine, it is advised to compile it for yourself, using the posix backend. It will run without graphics, but will require much less CPU time, so it can even run decently on a virtual server.

Ok, I need to compile something myself. Not sure what "it" is.

There are some options in the simuconf.tab, which can/should be set for a server.

Code Select Expand


server_frames_ahead = 1 or 2
server_frames_per_step = 4
network_ms_ahead = 250 (maybe longer for cable modems)
server_frames_between_checks = 256
announce_server = 1
server_name = [set to your savers name]
server_comment = [enter something here]


Ok, server settings.

You should also go to http://simutrans-germany.com/serverlist/ and register your server there. Bookmark the link for editing, as it is the only way to remove a server from the list.

Ok, now I know how to register a server in the server list.

When selecting a pakset, you should either use a "standard" set or give a download for the entire modified pak. Please, remember that pak sets nightlies are updated every sunday night.

When creating a game, you can do as you like. Hoever, the time to download/save/load a game is somewhat ciritcal, as it will happen quite often. Therefore you might consider to create a map without trees and just distribute trees/forest manually.

If industry growth is enabled, but you still want some control about the locations of primary industries (coal mines, forest, ... ) you can place them also beforehand. When new undustries appear, they will try to connect to those first.

You should change the name of the public player to spectator and lock this player. All other stuff is with you.

Ok, server usability guidelines.

When starting the server, I use "simutrans -log 1 -debug 2 -server 13353 -lang en -load network1"
After a crash, you can restart the last state when the last client joined with "simutrans -log 1 -debug 2 -server 13353 -lang en". In such a case it will load the fiel "server-network.sve" from the user directory.

(The option "-lang en" is only needed on the dedicated server, as I cannot change the language manually there.)

Ok, now I know how to recover from a crash.


None of that tells me how to actually set up a server!! It gives me ideas on settings for the server and how to make it visible to everyone else, but not how to actually set it up!!!!

[jamespetts]

The "it" is the Simutrans code. The default binary builds include graphics. If you are running a pure server (i.e., a server which will never also be used as a client, but only ever accessed remotely), it is recommended that you use a special build without any graphics, as graphics are not necessary on the server, and the no graphics build is much faster. To get this version without graphics, however, you have to compile Simutrans from source, as no pre-compiled no graphics versions are available for Standard.

To set up the server, you have to execute the Simutrans binary on your server machine with the -server switch. (To know how to execute binaries on remote servers (and copy the Simutrans files over to the server in the first place), you might want to look at more generic instructions on setting up a game server. The details will also depend on your hosting provider). It is also sensible to use other switches to set the language, the pakset, and which game is loaded by default (Prissi has suggested some sensible defaults above). The best way of setting up a server is to create a new map locally in single player mode, and, when you are happy with the new map, upload it to the server, and run the Simutrans executable on the server with the -load [your new map's filename] switch. The example that Prissi gave above had your new filename as "network 1".

Once you have set up your server, you will need to register it in the list, as already described, so that people can see it when they want to play a game. I hope that this helps :-)

[agamemnus]

Thanks... I won't do this right away but I think I will give it a whirl later on.

[Dwachs]

None of that tells me how to actually set up a server...

What do you not understand??? Please be more specific or more polite. How to set up a server: connect computer to power supply and internet connection, turn on computer, wait a minute, start simutrans with server options specified. Thats all.

When starting the server, I use "simutrans -log 1 -debug 2 -server 13353 -lang en -load network1"

You could use these command line options as well or learn/ask how they can be modified.

[Ashley]

You may find this guide useful: http://measureofchaos.blogspot.com/2011/03/simutrans-server-administration-guide.html