Hosting a Server - The Basics

DeathStarPC | 2010-03-04 23:30

[

points ]

(3 votes)

As we all know, Sauerbraten enables users to host servers. This is a quick forum post to teach you the basics of hosting one.

INSTALLATION

Sauerbraten comes complete with the bat (windows), and launcher (mac), you won't have to download anything if you want a server. However, if you want a fancy server, you'll need to use a server mod. The list below are just some of the mods:

QServ: https://github.com/deathstar/QServCollect
SpaghettiMod: https://github.com/pisto/spaghettimod
Remod: https://github.com/vasyahuyasa/remod-sauerbraten
Zeromod: https://github.com/andrius4669/zeromod-sauerbraten
SuckerServ: github.com/SuckerServ/suckerserv
Hopmod: code.google.com/p/hopmod

SETUP

Windows:
First off, you'll need to forward 2 ports to you hosting computers IP address, normally you can type your IP address into your web browser, this should bring you to router setup, once there find "Port Forwarding" then forward two ports: "28785" and "28786". The ports should be forwarded using TCP & UPD.

Once Sauerbraten is installed, right click it and select "show file location". You should see a file labeled "server-init", open it. Your whole server is configured here, you'll need to read the directions included in the file to finish the configuration. Once your done with configuration find the file labeled "server" its a bat file. Open that. If the Command Prompt window says "Master Server Registration failed: failed pinging server" then you've done something wrong, the server will be up but it won't be visible to anyone else that is not connected to your router. If it says "Master server registration succeeded" then your good! Keep that window open because the server will go down without it.

Mac OSX:

You'll need to forward 2 ports to you hosting computers IP address, normally you can type your IP address into your web browser, this should bring you to router setup, once there find "Port Forwarding" then forward two ports: "28785" and "28786". The ports should be forwarded using TCP & UPD.

Now, download the attached "server-init.cfg" file, unzip it and copy it to your desktop. Open sauerbraten, the "Sauerbraten Launcher" window should come up, in the launcher on the main tab you'll notice text that says "User Game Files" and right next to it there's a "Show..." button, click it. Now that your in this file you can put server-init.cfg there. Open server.init.cfg and follow the instructions included in the file to complete your servers configuration. Now your ready to start your server! Open sauerbraten again and click on "Server" from the launcher window, leave the fields that say "Description" and password and the rest blank. Click "Start". If the mini-terminal says "Master Server Registration failed: failed pinging server" then you've done something wrong, the problem usually has to do with port forwarding, the server will be up but it won't be visible to anyone else that is not connected to your router. If it says "Master server registration succeeded" then your good! Keep that window open because the server will go down without it.

Feel free to post any comments with questions, ill be happy to answer them.

Featured Comments:

Sub Zero | 2010-06-30 23:23
a few things i learned, i would run my server.bat with commands in them because the commands work just the same either in the server-init or in the server.bat (commands are: -d1 -c18 -g2 -p*** -n"namehere") (to explain to people who might read this what these commands do: -d1 (dedicating a server with var 1 for ingame server hosting) (-c amount of clients allowed at var 18) (-g2 amount of bots allowed ingame if not admin of server at var 2 bots) (-p password for admins) (-n for servers name)

Windecker | 2010-06-30 15:24
Just incase: If your one windows and you don't know your local IP, you can find it by opening the command prompt and typing ipconfig and hitting enter.
You should see something like this:  Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : ***.***.***
 IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100 
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : ***.***.***.*** 
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ***.***.***.***  
The local IP is the one labeled IP address.

skiing_penguins | 2010-06-30 13:35
for the ip forwarding part, put the local ip of the machine the server is on. for me it would be "192.168.1.100" NOT YOUR EXTERNAL IP.

Rating

points

(3 votes)

Attachment	Size
server-init.cfg_.zip	1.11 KB

Comments

skiingpenguins | 2010-03-05 02:37

I have created a slimmed down .zip for hosting a server. this .zip only includes to files needed to run a server on windows. i have also included a VBScript file (the launch.vbs file) to run the server without your command line window showing.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mtxmojdnv2q

Instructions For Use:
1. Unzip
2. edit server-init.cfg (may show up as server-init)
3. run either launch.vbs, or server.bat.
- launch.vbs is window-less (as in, there will be no window shown.)

Windecker | 2010-03-05 04:19

Please state whether the ports are to be UDP or TCP. People need to know.

( I'd say, but I can't recall... )

-Jake

SheeEttin | 2010-03-05 04:31

http://cube.wikispaces.com/Multiplayer+Guide#Server Hosting ?

DNL | 2010-03-05 16:09

im very sad ...

how to host server on Linux ???????

skiingpenguins | 2010-03-05 20:52

./bin_unix/linux_server

something like that..

Spiralz | 2010-03-05 18:49

how would one set an admin password...?

skiingpenguins | 2010-03-05 20:51

look at the server-init file...

Nathaldo | 2010-05-04 18:07

do i port it to start 28785 and finish 28786? My router (on windows) has a start and end. Help PLz

Nathaldo | 2010-05-04 18:17

Ok I went to the config file adn set everything up but it wouldnt let me save. It said access is denied. How do i save it or is that not necessary?

skiingpenguins | 2010-05-05 01:06

you must save the server-init.cfg file.. or there is no point in editing it. you're probably on vista if it wont let you save it. you should set yourself as the "owner" of the sauerbraten folder through your security tab when you right click the folder and go under "properties"

Nathaldo | 2010-05-05 02:06

No I'm on Windows 7. But I got around. I just saved it to the Desktop and moved it into the sauerbraten folder.

merge: ok one more question. I got it to say "Master Server Registration Succeeded" Now when on the game it says waiting for response. How long does it take to respond?

Windecker | 2010-05-04 18:28

Rather than making three comments, use the "Edit" button and add on to your first post.

First, your start and finish are likely to specify the port ranges. You can specify the first and last port in the range, and those and all between are opened.

Now, if access is denied to save router settings that obviously means you have insufficient privileges. Go figure. ;) The port settings MUST be saved, if they are not then what is the point of setting them? You usually need a password to access the router settings, or in some cases, you just need to enter a password to save them. If you do not know it, I can't help. ( Though... you could try entering the serial number of your router, if you do not know. Might work. )

To your third post: Almost Instantaneously.

Nathaldo | 2010-05-05 02:05

ok thanks:) one more question. I put an optional server message up, but when people enter my server, they dont see it. What did I do wrong? and How do I fix it?

Windecker | 2010-05-05 05:36

I suggest you read the Manual.

Look for "Message of the day"

Nathaldo | 2010-05-05 05:36

I looked and that just told me what i already did. any other advice?

Suicizer | 2010-05-05 05:26

wait till you got some more experience with cube engine 2...

SheeEttin | 2010-05-05 05:40

YEAH USE THE GODDAMN REPLY LINKS.
srsly, it's not that hard.

Nathaldo | 2010-05-05 05:42

what reply links?

Quin | 2010-05-05 17:27

ROFL

Windecker | 2010-05-06 01:35

*Face palm*

Calinou | 2010-05-06 12:10

How to do it on Linux ?
PS : Font is uber-bold in comment writing
FS|FM|Calinou

7thWarrior | 2010-05-07 09:27

if the binaries that come with the distribution in the bin_unix/ folder dont work, compile it for your system and run the binaries you get from those(which will be created in the bin_unix/ folder when you compile).

To compile, just extract the tar from the trooper edition(available on sourceforge) for linux. You will have to set the "configure" file in /enet to runnable (chmod it), run it, then go to the main folder, do a "make", and then a make install. It's all described pretty good in the documentation that follows sauerbraten.

to run the server you can do a start_server.sh file where you put something like this in:
#!/bin/bash
BOTLIMIT=10
PLAYERLIMIT=12

./native_server -n"Server Name" -p"password" -o1 -g$BOTLIMIT -c$PLAYERLIMIT

which you run with "sh start_server.sh" when you feel the need to host the most wicked game.

To not have it visible in the masterlist you can add a -m"localhost". This way it will try to contact the masterserver on your own computer, which wont succeed.

If you feel like having a message of the day you can add the following in sauerbraten/src/fpsgame/server.cpp, line 460 somewhere:

case 'h': setsvar("servermotd", &arg[2]); return true;

this way, you will have a nice message of the day to people joining the server, to add a message, add:

-h"Your message to joining people" to the sh I mentioned above

You also need to do this before you compile, since it's a change to the sourcecode.
To compile you will need gcc and maybe some dev packages, I dont remember atm, I hope it's relatively understandable.

EDIT: Oh and,

"If it says "Master server registration succeeded" then your good! Keep that window open because the server will go down without it."

is fixable by using the program "screen", which is very useful if you haven't got a windowmanager installed. screen keeps track of multiple terminals so you can leave them and close the terminal and come back to it later screen manual.

FischKopF | 2010-05-06 20:54

How can you make a server have 128 slots?
when i click on server.bat it does not say "Master server registration succeeded". why?
I already opened the ports in my router. and i'm on windows 7

RaZgRiZ | 2010-05-06 21:08

*facepalm*

maxclients defines the amount of available player slots.

"Master server registration succeeded" means that the server is up and running, fully functional. what the heck can you not understand from that? words? ever heard of google translate? ..

FischKopF | 2010-05-06 21:54

Nevermind i got it to work.

Gankal | 2010-06-30 04:55

Ok, I am using a wireless router. I got to the ip, I went to forwarding and it told me to put the server ip address. What do I put in here?

skiingpenguins | 2010-06-30 13:35

for the ip forwarding part, put the local ip of the machine the server is on. for me it would be "192.168.1.100" NOT YOUR EXTERNAL IP.

Windecker | 2010-06-30 15:24

Just incase: If your one windows and you don't know your local IP, you can find it by opening the command prompt and typing ipconfig and hitting enter.

You should see something like this:
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : ***.***.*** IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100 Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : ***.***.***.*** Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ***.***.***.***
The local IP is the one labeled IP address.

Sub Zero | 2010-06-30 23:23

a few things i learned, i would run my server.bat with commands in them because the commands work just the same either in the server-init or in the server.bat (commands are: -d1 -c18 -g2 -p*** -n"namehere") (to explain to people who might read this what these commands do: -d1 (dedicating a server with var 1 for ingame server hosting) (-c amount of clients allowed at var 18) (-g2 amount of bots allowed ingame if not admin of server at var 2 bots) (-p password for admins) (-n for servers name)

RaZgRiZ | 2010-07-01 08:11

these you describe are explained in the configuration docs. :3

Sub Zero | 2010-09-13 03:38

well, if it works, right raz?

afroninja | 2010-09-13 04:00

ive typed in my ip a bajillion times and it asks for a password ><

AtlasSteal | 2012-06-04 19:59

I have wifi and a router. Do forward both of them because I did. I still doesn't work. The thing is, I'm not even getting a "failed pinging server" window. All I'm getting is a "The application Sauerbraten as quit unexpectedly" It traced it back to "Sauerbraten.app/Contents/MacOS. I looked at the report and it under version it said "Version: ??? (???)" What does that mean? Finally, at the Server tab, down in the little black box it said "dyld: Library not opened: @executable_path/../Frameworks/SDL.framework/Versions/A/SDL" I put the "server-init.cfg" in the User Game Files. Does it need to go in the packages or base? I'm really not sure if I even port forwarded it right. By the way, I'm on Mac.

fetzjr | 2012-08-25 21:43

I have sauerbraten downloaded from sauerbraten.org

But i downloaded the MAC version because im on a mac
"Open sauerbraten, the "Sauerbraten Launcher"

Ummm when i look in my sauerbraten folder, im not seeing Sauerbraten Launcher. I have Sauerbraten, sourcecode, and README.html, well i open sauerbraten, then clicked the server tab, i ented it description of server (server name) and password and all that good stuff, then click start. Well i saw nothing along the lines of in the launcher on the main tab you'll notice text that says "User Game Files" and right next to it there's a "Show..." button, click it. Now that your in this file you can put server-init.cfg there. BUT I DID see advanced options, with just a blank space there for text to be written. What do i do?

AtlasSteal | 2016-12-26 06:45

Ancient post, I know. I cannot tell exactly what's fetzjr is saying in the above comment, but my problem is related to this. I am also on a mac, and since Collect (maybe even Justice) there has been no Sauerbraten Launcher window for me. I double-click the Sauerbraten Application, and it goes straight into the game. This window used to show up in Trooper edition, but since then it has not. Any reason or explanation as to why? Is it an error on my part? Is anyone else on a Mac experiencing the same problem? Is there a way to set up a server without having the Launcher available?

DeathStarPC | 2017-09-11 03:37

In Collect Edition, the launcher with the server hoster was removed from Mac OSX, it was a trooper feature. The mac developer, "baby-rabbit" stopped working on Cube 2: Sauerbraten so presumably it didn't work with the new OS version and they disabled it. Getting Cube 2 to compile on Mac OSX can be a pain.

I wrote the server mod, QServ from Mac OSX and it even has an installer. You might consider trying that to host a server easily.

https://github.com/deathstar/QServCollect