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Master Server Problems

Name:	Jeremy Alessi
Date Posted:	Apr 27, 2006
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Throughout the development of Oust a constant headache has been the Master Server. It seems to list hosted games of Oust at random. Additionally, we had an issue at IGC where clicking on the Oust server and joining ... well the game would attempt to join one of the other games on the list. I change the search type to Any or Oust ... it doesn't matter. With Any of course I can see everyone else's servers listed and with Oust ... well depending on the night sometimes it shows up and sometimes it doesn't

I'm going through the code at the moment and looking at the console but nothing's really jumping out at me.

Received info request from a master server [IP:216.116.32.49:28002].
Sending heartbeat to master server [IP:216.116.32.49:28002]
Received info request from a master server [IP:216.116.32.49:28002].

I'm seeing this in the Console, so I assume the game is communicating with the Master Server just fine and due to the issue at IGC I'm assuming there's some sort of text/list problem. Whatever, the case no one was able to ping the master server and see Oust listed.

If anyone's got a headsup on this I'd appreciate it.

So, on top of general Oust development ... ;)

I picked up on TGB finally due to the bounties being offered. I did a tutorial the weekend they were offered without any experience (yes the tutorial is rough) but the best part is that now I'm moving full steam ahead on a break out clone with my own spin on it. I'm very excited now that I've got a handle on TGB. It's exactly what I wanted when I bought it last year ... I just never did anything with it because ... well without the level builder it's just not the same. Anyway, I should be posting more information about that game in the next few weeks. I want to have it done hopefully by mid-may. It won't be mind blowing ... but it should be a fun and complete casual game.

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David \"Fulcrum\" Wyand (Apr 27, 2006 at 15:44 GMT)

Have you changed your game type variable to something like "Oust", or "OustDemo"? If not, then you're lumped in with the TGE demo game. That's what I saw at IGC -- everyone forgot to change their game type.

And if you are ever in doubt, try the Master Server Monitor at www.gnometech.com and search on your game type. That should list all of the game servers the GG master server knows about.

Oh, and do you have bots in game? There is a filter option to not show servers that have bots, which could be causing you an issue.

- LightWave Dave

[edit]
Thought I'd include a link to my mini-rant on the IGC game type conflicts: www.garagegames.com/blogs/8341/8899 :o)
[/edit]
Edited on Apr 27, 2006 15:46 GMT

Allyn "Mr_Bloodworth" Mcelrath (Apr 27, 2006 at 18:43 GMT)

we also had alot of issues getting our server to list, and/or to be able to be connected to.

http://www.garagegames.com/mg/forums/result.thread.php?qt=43039

Even the out the box demo has issues.
Edited on Apr 27, 2006 18:44 GMT

Jeremy Alessi (Apr 27, 2006 at 20:00 GMT)

Yeah, changed game type to "Oust" ... at IGC you could see "Oust", click on "Oust", join server, and it would try to join one of the other games on the LAN. I'll look at those threads, thanks!

Jeremy Alessi (Apr 27, 2006 at 20:10 GMT)

Hmmm, when I use the gnometech monitor and search for Oust, it says:

Quote:

Game Type Master Server
Oust UP

Server List:
# Name Players Version
1 Timed Out -/- -

Any clues?
Edited on Apr 27, 2006 20:12 GMT

Allyn "Mr_Bloodworth" Mcelrath (Apr 27, 2006 at 20:15 GMT)

Getting listed is kinda easey, connecting...that a whole other ball game.

It does take a bit of time for it to show as "Not times out " lol, so try a few times.

Jeremy Alessi (Apr 27, 2006 at 20:51 GMT)

Well, when it does list ... connecting hasn't ever been a problem. Why is it so erratic though, it's like the master server has to be in a good mood or something! I mean, week to week I can get listed or not with no changes to the code.

Mike Kuklinski (Apr 28, 2006 at 01:28 GMT)

Well, I did post a revision of Ben Garney's master server a while back...

David \"Fulcrum\" Wyand (Apr 28, 2006 at 03:10 GMT)

@Jeremy
The Gnometech Master Server Monitor has a time out set to 2 seconds. I guess that would be a 2000ms ping. If the game server doesn't respond to the UDP packet we sent within that time then that game server is listed as "Timed Out". I don't bother trying to resend the packet to account for packet loss.

All the GG Master Server actual does is provide a list of game server IP addresses and port numbers. It is then up to each game server to respond to information requests for number of players, currently played map name, etc.

So I guess you could approach this from three directions. The first is on the client side. When you ask for game server information from the Master Server, output the results to the console. You can then compare the provided IP addresses and port numbers to the servers you know about. If a server doesn't show up in this list from the Master Server, then there is something between the Master Server and the game server.

The second step is if the above step worked ie: the IP addresses and port numbers look correct. Then you need to trace through the code that queries each individual game server. Is it that the response from the game server is timing out, or is it something else?

The third step would be on the server side. Any time the server is asked for information from the Master Server or a client, dump this info. You can then compare these results from the client to try and track down where the problem is. For example, when a client does a game server query, you should see the request go out on the client, the server receive the request and send out the response, and the same client receives the response.

All that can be a lot of work to do, but that's how I would approach it.

- LightWave Dave

Jeremy Alessi (Apr 28, 2006 at 06:26 GMT)

Yeah I know what it does. It's just strange how erratic it is. I'm thinking it must be something with my PC though. I've got all the ports forwarded etc... but there is definitely something up. I hosted on my Mac which is behind the same router and it works fine ... go figure!

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