ArmA Windows Server

[luemmel 20]

Hello,

the current OFP Windows Server needs more or less a complette OFP installation plus the dedicated server file. In total it was aprox. 1 GB which have to be uploaded to a windows server to run the OFP server.

ArmA needs 3 GB free hdd space to install it. Does it mean that we have to upload 3 GB to run the ArmA Server?

[zyklone 1]

Hello,

the current OFP Windows Server needs more or less a complette OFP installation plus the dedicated server file. In total it was aprox. 1 GB which have to be uploaded to a windows server to run the OFP server.

ArmA needs 3 GB free hdd space to install it. Does it mean that we have to upload 3 GB to run the ArmA Server?

It's too early to say really.

But most likely yes.

The server needs to have access to the configuation data from all the addons to correctly simulate things.

However, depending on how the new addon verification system it might be possible to remove some texture data and stuff like that from the dedicated server.

Currently those are needed on the server to make sure the client is using the same files.

But really, 3GB isn't much and setting up server isn't something you do every day usually.

[luemmel 20]

But really, 3GB isn't much and setting up server isn't something you do every day usually.

I have only a 2mbit DSL line with 24kbs upload rate. For 3 GB I think I will need 2 or 3 days. Therefore I would prefer to have a downloadable standalone dedicated server. (3GB download is no problem, but upload

OK, we will see...

[anders^on 0]

Client verification seems like a poor excuse for a 3GB server. All the other multiplayer games I know of have dedicated servers with less or slightly more than 100 MB filesize.

Yet they still manage to verify the client's copy of the game. Probably because they use MD5 checksums instead of full files.

The upload of client data (native textures and such) in order to run a server is also exclusive to OFP and makes even less sense.

[benreeper 0]

But how would get the addon data, which is held in separate PBOs?

--Ben

[rekrul 7]

Obviously addons has to be uploaded to the server, just as with any mod to any game.

However, if your addon as client is making a pimped up hummer, there's no reason for all the other clients to DL it. That would cause havoc.

[X-Rolando 0]

Stand-alone server binaries = sweet as honey.

[5133p39 14]

Hello,

the current OFP Windows Server needs more or less a complette OFP installation plus the dedicated server file. In total it was aprox. 1 GB which have to be uploaded to a windows server to run the OFP server.

ArmA needs 3 GB free hdd space to install it. Does it mean that we have to upload 3 GB to run the ArmA Server?

Just a correction:

The data needed for OFP:Resistance dedicated server can be only about 590 MB (and maybe even less if you would make some changes like removing sounds and music, and swapping most of the textures with empty/small fakes, etc.), you don't need all the files, especially not the duplicated ones or their old CWC versions.

Without altering any of the original PBO, you can strip the installation size down to 590MB just by deleting unnecessary files.

But of course this doesn't say anything about how it will be with ArmA. But even if the size would be 3GB, you will upload it just once, so i don't see this to be much of a problem.

[X-Rolando 0]

It's not just a matter of size, but also a matter of legality. Sending or hosting these files (let alone running a server if you don't own a copy of the game) probably wont be looked down upon with much joy by all hosting companies.

Then of course there is the strange necessity of actually having to to install the game (either on a client pc or the server) prior to being able to host a dedicated server, which seems to me as a very sillily and archaic thing to do.

[crashdome 3]

I agree. It is archaic... but then so is OFP in terms of software years.

Truth is, we don't know yet if ArmA will be same method or not. I do hope not. I'd like to see it all packed together - even if it is still 1gb... the benefit is that (in luemmel's case) the server can download the 1gb faster from BIS site than he could upload it from home.

OR... he could ask someone to upload it for him... that's always an option.

[luemmel 20]

Truth is, we don't know yet if ArmA will be same method or not.

but i seems that it will be supported in the same way than OFP (same file structure)

http://www.armed-assault.eu/images/stories/10092006/files.jpg

[suma 8]

Roughly speaking, the answer is yes, you need most of the game data to be present on the server.

Both OFP and ArmA dedicated server needs quite a lot of data files, because there is a lot of simulation and AI computations performed on the server. For those you need all relevant information including collision information (which is part of p3d models) or even terrain surface information (which is quite huge in ArmA and is needed for the simulation to know surface properties at any point of the terrain).

While it might be able to provide a separate data set for the dedicated server with both model LODs and textures (excluded terrain surface type maps) reduced to bare minimum, the work needed to create such data is non-trivial and the results would most likely be sized somewhat between 500MB-1GB.

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

Roughly speaking, the answer is yes, you need most of the game data to be present on the server.

Both OFP and ArmA dedicated server needs quite a lot of data files, because there is a lot of simulation and AI computations performed on the server. For those you need all relevant information including collision information (which is part of p3d models) or even terrain surface information (which is quite huge in ArmA and is needed for the simulation to know surface properties at any point of the terrain).

While it might be able to provide a separate data set for the dedicated server with both model LODs and textures (excluded terrain surface type maps) reduced to bare minimum, the work needed to create such data is non-trivial and the results would most likely be sized somewhat between 500MB-1GB.

Will we be able to run servers without having to buy another copy of the game?

[rundll.exe 12]

I never seen any game where that was the case, so I think it will be the same as OFP.

[anders^on 0]

While it might be able to provide a separate data set for the dedicated server with both model LODs and textures (excluded terrain surface type maps) reduced to bare minimum, the work needed to create such data is non-trivial and the results would most likely be sized somewhat between 500MB-1GB.

That would be exactly the stuff everyone needs. A way to set up a dedicated server without the tedious uploading of client-side files.

BIS has been talking a lot about client-side multiplayer improvements, I think the server side is just as important when you want potential admins and hosting companies to make Armed Assault the multiplayer hit it deserves to be.

[luemmel 20]

Will we be able to run servers without having to buy another copy of the game?

I assume that it will work in the same way than ofp (In this case, yes, no extra copy needed).

but nevertheless it would be very helpfull if the community can download the needed files for a arma server from an internet host. (even it will have 2.5 GB).

[FCOPZ-illuminator 0]

ArmA needs 3 GB free hdd space to install it. Does it mean that we have to upload 3 GB to run the ArmA Server?

At this time i think, nobody has any problems with HDD space. Even 30 GB are not a problem... *gg*

[blackdog~ 0]

ArmA needs 3 GB free hdd space to install it. Does it mean that we have to upload 3 GB to run the ArmA Server?

At this time i think, nobody has any problems with HDD space. Even 30 GB are not a problem... *gg*

I think he's more concerned with the process of actually having to upload the entire game to his server.

Does anyone know if the server admin controls have been revamped? Will we have more tools on our side?

Just spent $900 on a server for this game, so it better be good

[KimTuomi 0]

I hope that the dedicated server installation does not require a copy protection check. For instance, my server machine at home does not have a CD/DVD -drive.

But this may be easily intervented; just leave the installation process out of the copy protection check. Then I could, for example, install it via a shared drive from another machine.

[luemmel 20]

we made some pratical tests....

to upload the needed files for a arma server with DSL 6000 it will take approx. 13h!

[FCOPZ-illuminator 0]

we made some pratical tests....

to upload the needed files for a arma server with DSL 6000 it will take approx. 13h!

LoL, did you upload 3 GB just4fun ? *hmpf*

How cares, one time during the night and finished....

[aussie dave 0]

If they are smart, they will have both Windows and Linux server files for download so ISP's can download and setup servers though the servers. Which is faster and less chance of corrupted files.

As most of the major games have server files downloads.

[shinRaiden 0]

This is all a silly arguement of nonsense. How many here have vastly more gig's of user addons than what BIS shipped for OFP, and whine and complain about having to upload BIS's data files, but don't bat an eye at uploading every variant of FFUR every time it get's tweaked?

[.kju 3244]

shinRaiden do you have any idea if/how much/when addons were and are used in MP - i doubt that.

also addons can be transfered server to server.

this is what this thread is about.

[pabruce 0]

What are system requirements for server under Windows? Is this known?