Suma, bis, more support for server admins

[Lt_Damage 0]

Suma, BIS, As a dedicated server admin, I am constantly faced with a very tough job. I believe it does not need to be so hard.

There needs to be more support for the dedicated server admins, we need commands to find information quickly. For example :

#userlist

- Displays awkwardly with very long time taken to search for specific user.

Suggestion:

#details <user number / name>

-Displays following details about user: playerid, connection number, ip address.

#ban <user number / name> <days> bans the user for specified number of days. The days part is not as important as the facility to implement bans immediately. Admin is often occupied with constantly kicking a user they plan to add to the ban.txt file.

#upload <local dir path \ map name.pbo> Many dedicated servers are hosted by companies that often do not have quick support response times. If a map is discovered to include a bug that impacts server performance / gameplay, this map could be fix and overwritten.

#removemap <map name> This command would be useful to remove problem maps from a server.

#restartserver This option would be useful as #shutdown can be a problem for servers that are not configured to automatically reload. This will allow an admin with login pass to restart the server, refreshing the map list.

#motd <insert message> This will allow important information to be displayed for players when connecting, allowing admin to keep players updated even when he is not online. This would be useful for advising players a new map is online, a new update is available from BIS, or any other useful information.

Note these commands should only be available to an admin with the login pass

Regards,

[Rage_Frost 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Lt_Damage @ April 03 2002,00:29)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"> Note these commands should only be available to an admin with the login pass <span id='postcolor'>

Looks around and says YES lol.

Thats all we need is some voted noob banning everyone on servers now.

[Lt_Damage 0]

lol.. imagine the chaos..

[BigQEd 0]

Yes I agree with these commands... would be nice.

A voted Admin should be limited to say Map changes... and kicks.

[suma 8]

I confirm I read this.

I am not sure what of it will be impelemented, but some seems to be easy:

#details <user number / name>

#ban <user number / name>

ban is easy (it is already implemented on non-dedicated server), but we were afraid to inlcude it to be easily accessible. Perhaps we were wrong.

As for other requested features (#upload, #removemap): I think there is little point in trying to duplicate remote-access services that should be common on any server, like file manipulation. If you disagree with me, please try to explain me more what is the problem.

[Lt_Damage 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Suma @ April 03 2002,17:09)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">As for other requested features (#upload, #removemap): I think there is little point in trying to duplicate remote-access services that should be common on any server, like file manipulation. If you disagree with me, please try to explain me more what is the problem.<span id='postcolor'>

The reason these commands are important to us is that in a lot of situations, the admin with the pass does not actually have direct access to the server. I am in Australia, my server is in NZ.

Giving remote-access service access is not the same as having the admin pass.

Once a bug is discovered in a map, it can take weeks for a request for it to be removed / updated to be completed. In this time server performance / quality of gameplay is effected.

To be able to simply managed files within the scope of the \MPMissions\ directory would be a major improvement.

Most game server hosting companies are quite happy to choose permanent admins to give the login pass to, so that server management can be handled by them, as they are in the best position to know the state of the server. But they will generally not give remote management access of their servers to ofp admins. This means requests for map updates take a very long time.

Now of course this option can be enabled in the server.cfg so that each company may decide whether this function is suitable for their admins. It's default can be OFF.

These commands would make administrating ofp servers much easier and keep the level of enjoyment of the game at high levels.

Regards,

[CRO200 0]

I agree damage, (howdy). as Australias only major ISP dedicated server admin, i find it is necessary to allow admins who do not have access to the server to be able to change maps in the rotation and add new maps. (the reason being is that the ISP's Main admin is too busy with other servers like CS, TFC, DOD etc to respond to and rectify mistakes in the OFP server. Also he is a very busy man as he looks after other major areas in the company.

It takes several days just for him to upload maps for us and it can be annoying. (of course, i get the blame being the admin)

Another valid command i suggest you look into is allowing the admin to set passwords for the server so wars can be booked.

At this stage, up to a weeks notice must be given to our Main server admin so he can change the password in the servers .cfg file. Allowing the servers admin to set a command like this can greatly easy the lead time to book a server.

Cheers,

JOE

[BigQEd 0]

#details <user number / name>

-This is a good idea. Especially added info such as IP address.

#ban <user number / name> <days>

-This is definitely needed! However I would suggest that when a BAN is done IN-GAME by an Admin it should be in the following format in the Ban.txt

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Code Sample </td></tr><tr><td id="CODE">

//BAN.TXT

123456 //PLAYERNAME DATE TIME ADMIN REASON

654321 //PLAYERNAME DATE TIME ADMIN REASON

321654 //PLAYERNAME DATE TIME ADMIN REASON

<span id='postcolor'>

#upload

-Not needed as much... as most Admins have FTP or other remote access to servers (or they should). I believe this would be a major operation for BIS to implement when we have much more important issues at hand.

#removemap <map name>

-Same as Upload... not a major issue for most Admins.

#restartserver

-Agreed... but may be difficult to actually shutdown the server and make it restart. Possibly it could simply kick all the players and clear the mission that is loaded.

#motd

-Not a major issue... many other issues should be before this. Not a bad idea... maybe option to allow MOTD to be changed by a Password Admin.

I think in addition to these... there should be 2 or 3 levels of Admins with certain abilities. Lowest being a Voted Admin. A Voted Admin should maybe be able to just Change Missions, Drag/Lock Players and Kick people.

I have a few commands to add:

#changepassword

-Be able to change the Access Password (if a password is present) would be nice. Only allow Password Admins access to this feature though. Or if you have multiple levels of Admins allow this to be set in the Server.cfg with settings.

#mictoggle

-This would allow the Admin to turn off/on all MICs if there is a lot of LAG in a certain Mission.

#mickey

-Display who is utilizing MIC so spammers could be caught. Or use (mic) beside everyones name in the PlayerList... like the (Admin) is currently.

[ALDEGA 0]

If you want to upload/delete missions, then I suggest you use a serverside script. For example, one in PHP. It's easy to do (I've actually seen it on certain websites, alongside a script which shows detailed info about the current state of the server). Any decent hosting company will allow you to run small scripts like these (if you ask).

[Lt_Damage 0]

BigQed, I think you are in a fairly unique situation where you actually RUN the company that the server is hosted on.

I however, am simply the admin of the ofp server, I have a password login, and I do a LOT of work to keep the server running but if I fix something, nothing actually gets changed on the server for weeks until the people at the hosting company have time for it.

Both myself (Admin of opflash.gameplanet.co.nz) and CRO (Admin of iPGN Dedicated OFP Server Australia) require this as we do not have the ability to use ftp. And I am very sure many other admins are in this situation.

Regards,

[Lt_Damage 0]

And without #motd how do I display a notice NOT to play 1-8DESERTAMBUSH because it crashes?

Or how do I remove the map to make sure people don't crash?

Everything I ask for has a reason, everything I suggest is based on solid experience running and OFP server.

Your point of view is noted, but as you RUN the server it is fairly obvious that these commands are simply just not important to YOU.

Regards,

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

A different idea:

A passwordlogin admin should be able to customize the veteran/cadet mode settings. Simply implement it at the choose mission screen where u can select veteran or cadet u can make an "edit" behind it.

This is because when playing in various tournaments they all have different settings, and you have to access the files on the server to change this. If we could just change it at the mission screen, our lives would be much easier

All the ideas by the others so far has been good, i especially like the "level of afmins" idea. Like in irc.

[N.o.R.S.u 0]

#reassign would be useful, same as #restart but you could take new players in.

[suma 8]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Lt_Damage @ April 03 2002,10:33)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I however, am simply the admin of the ofp server, I have a password login, and I do a LOT of work to keep the server running but if I fix something, nothing actually gets changed on the server for weeks until the people at the hosting company have time for it.<span id='postcolor'>

As someone wrote above, you can upload and delete files from specific directory by server-side script that will give you control only for given directory. I think it is easier to create a script like this than to include this functionality into OFP - and it can be created by anyone, therefore solution can be out quickly, without necessity of waiting for us to release patch.

I understand there is a need for tools like this, but I do not think they should be implemented directly in the game environment. I think there are some OFP-server management utilities that might help you. I do not know any links or exacgt names of such tools - if anyone wants to share his experience here, you are welcome.

[suma 8]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (N.o.R.S.u @ April 03 2002,11:58)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">#reassign would be useful, same as #restart but you could take new players in.<span id='postcolor'>

Eh? There already IS #reassign (and #vote reassign as well).

[ALDEGA 0]

http://www.wkk.dk/download.php?op=viewdownload&cid=2

Here you can find a server query script by [WKK]Gimbal.

It shows detailed info about the server: whether it's online or not, which mission is being played, number of players, etc...

If anyone wants an upload, delete script (note that I only do PHP), contact me and I will make one.

[Lt_Damage 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ALDEGA @ April 03 2002,22:26)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">http://www.wkk.dk/download.php?op=viewdownload&cid=2

Here you can find a server query script by [WKK]Gimbal.

It shows detailed info about the server: whether it's online or not, which mission is being played, number of players, etc...

If anyone wants an upload, delete script (note that I only do PHP), contact me and I will make one.<span id='postcolor'>

I would very much appreciate that Adega.......

I have no players on my server at the moment, because a competitor has an updated version of a popular map. :/

I was very much hoping for this sort of functionality but I agree with Suma in that while it is needed, (and I do feel the need), it maybe shouldn't be incorporated into the ofp code..

Damn, I'm really stuck now.......

[CRO200 0]

What about the client side password setting Suma.

So us admins dont have to contact our main admin and give a weeks notice for him to set pword for wars.

[kegetys 2]

I think mission uploading/deleting is better to be done by ftp or something. If someone can run an ofp server somewhere, what would stop him from running a simple ftp server there too?

For the #ban command, it should only be usable by "real" admins that login with a password, not to voted admins.

One thing that would be extremely useful would be directories under the MPMissions dir, which would also be visible in the mission selection screen... That way one could categorize missions instead of having a huge list of 1000 missions where you have to try to find the one you want to play. Maybe the directories would be named the same way as missions with the island name before it, ie. "Coop missions.abel" or so that the directories that do not have the "island tag" would be visible in the mission lists of all missions.

[sas_razor 0]

More support for remote adminsitration -

eg

change of password/s,

map upload and deletion and

alteration of combat option (3rd Person on/off)

would be very useful.

Our server sits behind a firewall that has only the four ports open required for OFP.

Administration for me consists of ICQing someone inside the firewall and asking them to use the intranet.

Can you begin a section for Dedicated servers on you forum - MP is close but not the same thing.

Thank - Razor

[ALDEGA 0]

Uploading/deleting maps is to be done with FTP or serverside script. This is really the best solution (for everybody).

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

Lol, ya.. but not very easy if theres no port open

[Lt_Damage 0]

Not easy at all.

I can't get ftp access, I can't get a script setup that allows me to upload. It is not that these things are not possible. It is simply that the game server hosting company doesn't "have" to, so they don't. I don't like to do a job halfway, so I've resigned as the admin. Hopefully things get easier in the future for everyone.

[BigQEd 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Kegetys @ April 03 2002,08:32)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I think mission uploading/deleting is better to be done by ftp or something. If someone can run an ofp server somewhere, what would stop him from running a simple ftp server there too?

For the #ban command, it should only be usable by "real" admins that login with a password, not to voted admins.

One thing that would be extremely useful would be directories under the MPMissions dir, which would also be visible in the mission selection screen... That way one could categorize missions instead of having a huge list of 1000 missions where you have to try to find the one you want to play. Maybe the directories would be named the same way as missions with the island name before it, ie. "Coop missions.abel" or so that the directories that do not have the "island tag" would be visible in the mission lists of all missions.<span id='postcolor'>

I agree... Uploading/Deleting should be done another way (i.e. FTP or PHP/ASP script). OFP can't be expected to do file transfers... hey, what's next a BIS Web and Email Server?

#ban should definitely be for 'REAL' Admins only. To allow 'Voted' Admins this capability could be BAD. Imagine a 'Voted' Admin with a vengence Banning all 'Real' Admins.

The multiple mission directory idea is a good idea. I agree that this would be cool... however, I wouldn't want this to take precedence over other things getting implemented...

[ALDEGA 0]

You should always be able to run FTP and serverside scripts. If your hosting company isn't cooperating, then you need to force them to cooperate If they really don't cooperate, get another host that allows you to do FTP/serverside scripts. Any 'decent' host will allow this