W2K Dedicated Server Problem

[mhedl]

I've read the tutorials and successfully gotten a dedicated server running on a W2K Pro machine. It's a PIII 733 w/512MB RAM. I've also successfully gotten webadmin working.

There are a number of problems that occur when I run a dedicated server on this machine:
- Connection time is REALLY long, like 30secs or more for the 3sec countdown.
- players can connect successfully but can't movement is all but impossible due to some kind of wierd reset effect. (ie the player moves forward two steps but is immediately transported back to his starting position)
- sometimes, even after joining the game, the connected players can't pick up weapons or other objects (if they can move at all)
- you get the idea...

I originally thought that the machine wasn't up to snuff for running ut2k3 but on a whim, I ran the game normally, chose "Host multiplayer.." and turned off the "Dedicated" server option. In this mode, which should use up tons more machine resources, everything works fine! Players connect in normal timeframes, can move and interact with the gameworld as expected.

Is there an easy answer to this like, "Hey, you missed step X in the tutorial...", or is it a bug?

-mhedl

[Bry]

I dont know a 100% solutaion but try this
1)delete ut2003.ini
2)start a server usign a basic command line specifyign no ini. The server will make oen automatcially. Check that works fine.
3)Set the new ini up with minor changes i.e. player limit server name
4)check works fine
5)Set webadmin up etc
4)check works fine

try to pinpoint exactly what setting changes make a difference

[mhedl]

Bry,

Thanks for your reply. I tried following the steps you suggested but even with a fresh ut2003.ini with no mods (other than the ones for webadmin) I still can't get any kind of normal response from ut2k3 in dedicated server mode. The only way I can get the other machines on my LAN to connect to the server and actually play is to run ut2k3 in normal mode on my intended server (ie, the server has to be another player). Am I the only one to experience this?

Any ideas?

-mhedl

[DAMAngus]

Well I used to have this problem on a laptop of mine with UT, seems there was some sort of funky power management or something going on, I had 2 solutions then, they may work now,

1. if you are running ucc as a service, bump the priority of that service to high.

2. run a listen server from the gui and have the host as a spectator.

Option 1 is far more desireable.

Give it a try

[Link]

I've got the absolutly same problem as described, I've set up a LAN Server on my notebook (P3-M 866Mhz, 256 MB RAM, Win2k SP3).
I couln't solve it up to now.
btw I had the same problem with UT2k3Demo...

If anyone has a working solutions I'd be glad to hear about, I'll try the Win2kService thing...

[Link]

I tried the Win2k service thing but it didn't work.

I checked the 'stat net' with a client connected to the server: It seems that the server is sending hardly any packets to the client (300 bytes every now and then...)

I really can't figure it out, I never had any problems with dedicated server, I'm succesfully running HL & Q3A servers... :/

[LinuxRules]

I had the exact same problem with UT server (haven't tried UT2003 yet) on both a Win2K laptop and a WinXP laptop. Never did get it resolved...

I agree with DAMAngus that it is probably related to power management.

Here's and old thread on this same problem with UT:

http://www.ina-community.com/forums/showthread.php?&threadid=105995

[Killing]

yes this is a power management issue. You will need to try and disable all power management also ensure that you have extrenal power as most laptops will ignore power management setting when running on batteries.

[ZeroTolerance]

i have same kind of problem....took me till now to surf this far thru the site to find this post.....so there is a new post by me dated 11/29/ that gives a more detail explanation of my problems

but i am running win2k pro on a celleron 466 with 64mb ram

everything runs fine.....even players 2000 miles from me can play with very very very lil lagg......its just it takes FOREVER for maps to switch...and the server wants to shut down and restart for every map change

go figure...but id surely like to get rid of this frustrating and final bug of mine:S

[Kwikkordead]

i have same kind of problem....took me till now to surf this far thru the site to find this post.....so there is a new post by me dated 11/29/ that gives a more detail explanation of my problems

but i am running win2k pro on a celleron 466 with 64mb ram

everything runs fine.....even players 2000 miles from me can play with very very very lil lagg......its just it takes FOREVER for maps to switch...and the server wants to shut down and restart for every map change

go figure...but id surely like to get rid of this frustrating and final bug of mine:S

Zero Tolerance: more ram vastly improve your map load times. I think the minimum recommended ram is 128.

[ZeroTolerance]

thats what i have been told in my original thread......i guess the restarting of the server is routine....i just never noticed it b4 :O

im gonna go ahead and upgrade the ram to 256 and see how it goes....i think i may even upgrade the processor from a celleron 466 to an AMD K6-II 550mhz.....tweak my 2k OS services to where im not running any services i dont need...and hopefully the maps will change quicker

actually i dont mind the maps taking a lil longer to load...give me time to get up and run to the restroom....i just hate having some players on my server that eventually give up the wait........and on some big maps....like plunge and antalus...the connection will time out b4 the map is loaded on the server......

anyway....thanks for the suggestion...will report back when i do the update to let everyone know how it went

[LLEVIATHANN]

I have a UT2K3 server running on a Dell Isp. 8100 P3m 1Ghz 512mb ram. I had the exact same problems too. My first step to fixing it was killing XP Pro and going with 2K Pro. Next was to disable all power options in the BIOS and OS. Don't forget many laptops have power settings in the BIOS. I over looked that for the longest time.

Now everything is good. I still get a few "ghost" connections. I've noticed that those connections are really some fkd up spec. connections. The way around it that seems to work well is don't double click to join a server. Highlight the server and then click the "Join" button. I don't know why, but that seems to work.

I wouldn't worry too much about the speed. Mine seems to take forever to load and switch maps too. I think the mobile class procs that are in laptops just don't have the juice for smooth serving.