Announcing D3Server v3 and betatester wanted

[DE-Hunter]

After 3 month of developing a new D3Server version I'd like to give you a clue about this new project. It's already stable and many features are tested well.



But still there's some left for testing so I'm searching for a reliable tester who really wants to find the final bug. Anyone interested? Catch me by email please.

New features:
- Support for an unlimited number of servers
- Detection of invalid player nicknames who uses a % sign; they get kicked automatically
- Detection of players who try to crash a server by fast observer on/off switching; they get kicked automatically
- Improved and fast Descent info loading (just the first launch will take some time)
- Build in remote console info server to support D3Client, a new remote console software
- Dynamic respawn times according to the number of players on a server.
- Improved internal data handling to reduce loading times.

Features supported since v2.x:
- Option to start servers automatically at program launch
- Scheduled launches and stops of servers
- Detects server crashes and restarts servers automatically
- Improved reliable PXO downtime guard (user, game and irc server)
- Optional automatic switch from PXO to TCP/IP mode on PXO downtimes
- Detection of hacked player nicknames and option to kick such players
- Support of a nickname list to ban players by name
- Option to download and update the hosts.deny file over the internet
- Option to start servers minimized
- Support of the Pyromania mod
- Support of all multiplayer settings and configuration types
- Support of the upcoming Descent 3 v1.5 patch
- Support of auto executing remote console commands at each mission/level start
- Support of logging of player names and IP addresses to file
- Support of logging remote console outputs to file
- Build in support of different game trackers (PXO, Kali, Descent.cx)
- Import of existing server configurations
- The program minimizes to an icon in the taskbar
- It's very small and consumes just little no. of cpu cycles

(DE)Hunter

[STRESSTEST]

I'll test for you, but the main question I have is:

Have you removed that blasted spam that the server sends to the clients when using your tool? Because that sucker is damned annoying!

[DE-Hunter]

@Stresstest: There's no promoting at the moment. I'll send You the latest build tomorrow. Thanks for helping!
(DE)Hunter

[Vertigo]

- Dynamic respawn times according to the number of players on a server.

THAT OWNS !!

[Suncho]

Yeah that's a great idea! I never would have thought of it.

[DE-Hunter]

I heard of that idea while doing v2. But I forget to implement that feature. A german player named Munk wrote about it in a post at the new ServerOps board last week. And this time I added that feature at once, hehehe! So now it's in and working. You can set a min. and max. respawn time which will decrease/increase linear when a player joins/leaves a server. It's simple but effective.
(DE)Hunter

[BUBBALOU]

Yeah that's a great idea! I never would have thought of it.

Yeah because it requires open minded thought and lack of lint in blocking your belly button both of which eludes you suncho

--Back On Topic--

Great Job Hunter!

[DE-Hunter]

@Stresstest: You have a PM.
(DE)Hunter

[slurpy]

how about sending me a copy?

[DE-Hunter]

@Slurpy: You have also a PM.
(DE)Hunter

[STRESSTEST]

replied

[DE-Hunter]

@Stresstest: replied.
@Slurpy: You have email!
(DE)Hunter

[Instig8]

An API or CLI for this application would be Shweet.

[DE-Hunter]

I heard many comments and suggestion over all 4 years of developing this tool. And it should be clear it never will fullfill all wishes any Admin has. So it definately not my intention to make an all capable app. I decided to offer just the features which are necessary to support game servers. That's the reason I didn't implement an internal remote client in the new version for example. Who needs a remote login should do that from different computer.
So please remember the tool should be small, fast and reliable (beside it's support for editing and running servers, hehe).

@ESA: You have a PM!

@Instig8: I'll maybe allow launching/stopping of preconfigured servers using an external client app.

(DE)Hunter

PS: I've 3 testers now which is more than I expected. Thanks for your offers to help!

[DE-Hunter]

@Bubbalou: Can't reach you by mail. Just send one again.

Status:
- Server switching on PXO downtimes fixed
- Detection of missions, scripts, netgames fixed
- Several internal improvements
- Added copy configuration button
- Edit button won't result in a new configuration anymore
- Equal game names are allowed now
- Multiple server selection for stopping added
- FPS, PPS, max. Players & MOTD defaults can be set in global configuration now
- Game type info added to server and configuration list
- Posting TCP/IP servers to PD enabled

[DE-Hunter]

Release will be on June 1th.

[Grendel]

Thanks for the heads up ! Looking forward to it.

[Sarge]

It supports 98?

[DE-Hunter]

About two month ago I used it under 98 and it worked. But I haven't tested it again since then.

[Do_Checkor]

I think that Sarge meant to apply the beta testers

[DE-Hunter]

As far as I know no beta tester uses 98 so I can only write my own experience, Martin!

[Do_Checkor]

I meant that it could be a good idea to assimilate Sarge as a betatester for Win98 / D3Server3. I think you misunderstood my last post...

[DE-Hunter]

It runs under 98 SE!

[Sarge]

Good! I didn't feel like being *assimilated* anyway...