ET Servers and NEW maps

(SmokenStien) #1

UPDATE: My problem with the FTP has been solved, it was my FTP was sending the file as an ASCII file. The fact still remains that ALL the pk3’s have to downloaded that are in the cycle config on the server. I sure hope they change this if/when there is an update.
Thanks to all that have helped me with this!!! :drink:

I am running an ET server and have added some new maps to the server.
I like to help out mapers by running their maps and seeing what my users think of them, but there is a problem with the way the ET servers handle new maps.
For example last night I intoduced 2 new maps to my server and sat back and watched as users connected to my server to check out the new maps.
To my surprise all the users had to download ALL the new map PK3’s before they could join and play the map that was now on the server. :banghead:

I tried this myself, joining from my DSL connection to my server connection which runs on cable. I deleted the PK3 files before I joined to see if I truly had to download ALL the PK3’s that I had in there as extra maps. Sure enough I had to download both PK3’s before I could join!!

Can you imagine the download time that is going to happen when server admins drop in a few more bigger Pk3’s??

Why has this been done this way and not like other games that just send the now playing map?

The settings in the server config of sv_dl_maxrate 1000 is way too low as a default. Using this a 2.7 meg file takes over 15 minutes and only sends at a outstanding rate of 2-3 K/ps, I upped mine to the max of 25000 and now they are sent at 10-15 K/ps making that same 2.7 meg file a more bareable 2-3 minutes. But now with maps coming out at 7-10 megs and having to download ALL PK3’s on the server, this is going cause a lot of problems!!! :angry:

I have also tried using the wwwBaseurl to try and take some pressure off my bandwidth but there is one problem that I have found. When I upload the file to the web address the modified date is changed to when the server recieves it. The download to the client works well, but because of the modified date difference with the game server the client then crashes.

Does any one know of a way to FTP the files without the date beeing altered??

I sure hope this issue is addressed in any update (if any) so the admins can feel free to add as many pk3’s as they wish without having to tie up their clients downloading files they don’t want!! :bash:

(DG) #2

http://www.rtcw.jolt.co.uk/index.php?page=&action=show&id=3357#autodl

Hopefully it’s all accurate, I dont have filespace available that is suitable for that setup :frowning: Got bumped in the right direction at the least by Moron though :).

(SmokenStien) #3

Yes I know all about that, but did you read where if the modified date was changed it crashes the client?

Also he is wrong on setting the sv_dl_maxrate to 52000, have tried that and the most it will go to is 25000.

If you or any one knows of a way to get these files on an FTP server WITHOUT changeing the date then this option would work great!!

Thanks for the info even though it was mentioned in my first post. :clap:

(blown65) #4

In your server config set the download for a link to the files.

Like

www.yoursite.com/etmain/

make sure and have a directory named etmain otherwise it wont download. Put your pk3 files in that folder. Works like a charm and downloads at full speed. Of course your going to have to have webspace sufficient to do this. The max dl rate is ignored also when you direct the download to a www address.

(Migraine) #5

Im getting the EXACT same thing!

Hopefully there is a fix that doesnt involve a different ET installation per server … ?

(SmokenStien) #6

Why don’t people READ before posting responses like this??
YES I know it works, but if the web server doesn’t allow you to retain the files modified date then the clients crash as soon as they open the map.
I stated this in my original post. :bump:

(DG) #7

I’ve not heard anything about the ftp upload causing incompatibilities. There also isnt any reason I can think of for there being issues, since purecheck looks at the MD5 of the files, and also the same problem would occur if players had not installed ET at the exact same moment as the server was installed. I suggest files are being corrupted, however slightly, during the FTP transfer?

I have 3 servers running, one vanilla ET campaign, one ET stopwatch, one ET running KOTH and Silly CTF. To check i removed my koth pk3: joining either of the first two servers did not cause any download. Joining the server running SillyCTF did not cause the other server-installed custom map, KOTH, to be downloaded. While in the server, a player connected and after a minuite joined a team - asked how many maps he downloaded he said 1, and once asked he said he did not already have any custom maps.

All 3 servers are running off the one install, although each with its own fs_homepath. The map pk3’s are placed in the central etmain.

(SmokenStien) #8

Ok do me a favor dude, check the modified date on your FTP server and tell me if that date was changed from the modified date in the ZIP files of the maps that you uploaded.
My problem is that my FTP server changes the modified date to when I upload the files to the date and time that I upload them.
Downloading the files from the FTP is not the problem as the date is not modified from the FTP SERVER date.

I have had the files on there for the past 3 day’s and I’m getting the same reports from a number of users that as soon as the files are downloaded and the game starts to load the map their clients crash.

I have tried changing the modified date on my server to match the FTP dates and when the client downloads them they work fine, BUT if a client connects that uses the pk3’s from a zip downloaded from the links supplied by planetwolfenstien their clients crash, due to the modified date difference.
The difference is the modified dates that are on my game server machine and the ones that the clients have are causing crashes. :eek:

(Ozzie) #9

I am running a small server for our new clan. I post the new maps on our web server (different machine from game server) for members to d/l. The members d/l form the web server into etmain, then start ET. Just checked and the file date/timestamps are different on the webserver and the et server, I have not seen this issue. One issue I did see yesterday, a member d/l’d with IE, IE decided that it would ‘help’ the user and add .zip extension to the .pk3 file. The user then unzip’d the file and caused all knids of problems for him, and in the end his profile got deleted. I don’t think this related to you issue, but you might check anyway.

Again, the file dates on the webserver, ET server, and at least 3 clients are all different, and we had no client crashes last night running the new maps.

(SmokenStien) #10

This would suggest to me then that it’s the PK3’s that are listed in the cycle config file that are being downloaded and not just the PK3’s that are in the ETMAIN folder. Try setting up another server with the 3 PK3’s that you mentioned, and connect with a clean install of the client and see if only one (the map now playing) is the only one loaded!! Bet you’ll have to download them all before you get into the game. :drink:

(SmokenStien) #11

Are you running your server PURE?
If I set my server to sv_pure 0 then there is no problem at all, but no cheat checking either. :beer:

(Ozzie) #12

[quote=“SmokenStien”]

Are you running your server PURE?
If I set my server to sv_pure 0 then there is no problem at all, but no cheat checking either. :beer:[/quote]

Just checked the the server, and sv_pure is set to 1, crazy thought, could the FTP file be corrupted, or could you users somehow be d/l in ASCII, rather then binary? This can cause some strange things to happen!

(SmokenStien) #13

I’m checking into that now!! :bump:
I know I’m transfering them using binary.

Are you using a FREE web site for your FTP, or one that you own?
If so can you point me to it? :???:

(Ozzie) #14

I’m using my own servers w/static IP’s, but is is behind a DSL connection, so the bandwidth gets easily flooded especially when the new maps become available :banghead:

I looking into a cable connection, but my provider says that the currently have no equiptment to send me :banghead:

So I have agreed to keep the private for the clan members, sorry.

(SmokenStien) #15

Hey I understand that, but what I was asking is if you were using an off site FTP.
I have now found out that it was my FTP that was sending the file back as an ASCII file and not a binary, this has been corrected and it all works fine now!! :banana:
:drink:

Thanks to ALL that took the time to help me out with this!!

The fact still remains that you have to download ALL the pk3’s that are listed in the cycle config for that server, I sure hope they change this if/when a patch comes out.

:clap:

(Ozzie) #16

Actually, we have a mailing list for our members, when I post a new map, I send a note to the list with the URL to the new .pk3 file and utilize my web server for the transfer.

I agree that it is not good that ALL maps on the server MUST be on the client to connect. We have standard campaigns set to run in rotation, w/ vote used to start campaigns including the new maps. Does seem kinda silly to have to d/l maps that are not currently in rotation or running.

Anyway, glad to help, even if it was only a nudge in the right direction.

(blown65) #17

Why don’t people READ before posting responses like this??
YES I know it works, but if the web server doesn’t allow you to retain the files modified date then the clients crash as soon as they open the map.
I stated this in my original post. :bump:[/quote]

sorry, I skimmed it and didnt see it. So shoot me.

(SmokenStien) #18

[quote="blown65
sorry, I skimmed it and didnt see it. So shoot me.[/quote]

BANG

:bash:

(blown65) #19

BANG

:bash:[/quote]

:clap:

(Migraine) #20

can someone from splashdamage give us an answer on this?

Ive run a normal ET server (command line of “etded +exec campaigncycle.cfg”) - and it still forces the clients to download pk3’s in the etmain folder, wether they are being used or not. I dont have these maps listed in any configs readable to ET, so why are clients having to download them?