When URL Redirect Starts Working

Post by **iluvquake4** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 1:38 pm

I think it would be a big mistake to go live before the patch. The service is for when url-redirect and downloads work. We have to wait for the patch to fix it.

Post by **iluvquake4** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 1:45 pm

http://zerowing.idsoftware.com/linux/doom/AutoDownload

Here's an example of a Doom 3 server that I ran using ROE (the Doom 3 expansion). I was hosting the url redirect at http://mouse.umk-inthegame.net

set net_serverDownload 2 // Allows clients to download files from site
set net_serverDlBaseURL http://mouse.umk-inthegame.net
set net_serverDlTable 'd3xp/D3 uterlimits2.pk4;d3xp/dm1e.pk4;d3xp/dracotorre_dm1.pk4;d3xp/dvrc.pk4;d3xp/gwdm1.pk4;d3xp/map_thomasc.pk4'

The server's maps were in d3xp (they were expansion pack only maps).

The website had the files in http://mouse.umk-inthegame.net/d3xp

As a client connects, the game looks at the server config and downloads each file as per the table, for example:

http://mouse.umk-inthegame.net/d3xp/D3 uterlimits2.pk4
http://mouse.umk-inthegame.net/d3xp/dm1e.pk4

Etc...

We would just simply have to give people about 3 text lines to put in their server configs (with additional lines for for mods such as q4max).

I'm not sure if it would be possible, but some kind of web wizard would be nice. Server admins clicks on files (a list on the left or right that shows all the available map/mod/skin files from quake4world.com/files) -- then he/she selects the files that are used on the server and pushes a generate button. It could automatically generate the text for the sequence of files. Then he/she simply copy pastes the information into a server config. Does that make sense?

:icon31:

Post by **Hex** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 2:02 pm

While a autoconfig generator might be nifty, It may be bordering upon overengineering this project. (needless dev time, for minimal gain/usability) It really is just editing a line in the config for which maps you want to make availabe via download. As shown on the zerowing page linked above, here's a copy/paste from a running doom3 server. I suspect the Q4 autodl will be the same.

set net_serverdownload "2"
set net_serverDlBaseURL "f t p://ftp.mhgaming.com/doom3/pk4s"
set net_serverDlTable "base/methdm1.pk4;base/methdm2.pk4;base/z13d3dm2.pk4;base/map_thomasc.pk4;base/mancer01.pk4"

I think you should finalize this product now and make it available to doom3 server admins - this will give you practical experience and troubleshooting on it prior to the q4 patch...

I'll be happy to provide ftp mirror when this finally gets up and running, btw.

Post by **iluvquake4** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 2:08 pm

I'm not sure most server admins will know how to do this. It seems complicated at first and it's very easy for a simple typo to break everything. A little web wizard would prevent that. :icon31:

Post by **Hex** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:17 pm

heh, ok.

When we're ready to put up some servers and link up some download mirrors so we can get our FFA on, I'm in.

Post by **KMG** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:47 pm

So everything is fairly similar to the Doom 3 system? That is all I was hazy on, was whether or not there were any nuances unique to the Quake 4 cvars that I should be made aware of. If everything is infact the same then it all should be roughly straightforward. As for an interface to create a config, it seems that it would be rather simple to create a sort of mod shopping cart system. Download a file and add it to your list of elements to be inserted into a dynamically generated config upon "checkout." I'd make sure to stay away from the "shopping cart" motif of course, because it could scare away prospective users of our free service

Iluvmymac wrote:5. Can we have multiple backends for mirrors?

I am suddenly beginning to realize the depth of this question.

A server's autodownload cvars will only accept one hosting server, correct? This seems to compliment a server administrator having a person hosting space for his own files, in the case that a public service like ours may not have access to everything he needs. While our service would be much safer and more secure for the client (also a good reason for admins to advertise their use of our service within their servers), if we were missing any popular files, then any admin that wished to use one of these resources, many of which may be plenty reasonable only not hosted on space for various reasons, would have no way to provide for an autodownload.

I kind of overlooked the fact that an admin had to commit to a single fileserver. Unless of course some type of php redirect can be implemented which would compatible with the autodownload system, but that seems very doubtful (still I would love a Doom 3 server for a test subject). Is there something here I am not seeing?

I also just had a thought. What do we think about a server registration system? Admins could submit their servers to a public database. They could have standard information like the server name, IP, admin contact, and also a description (probably similar to the MOTD) like what gametypes and maps are usually in the rotation, and server rules etc.. Hell, I could probably integrate one of those server tracker scripts if we really wanted to go crazy. Important though is that here is where an admin could list the custom files on his server and where to get them. That way if he could not go with the full autodownload due to different hosting locations, he could at least send a client to this page with a list of all his server and file info. It's just a thought, maybe we should just stay the course for now, but this is another future option for expansion. After all, we don't want our site getting stale.

Other than that, this opening up to Doom 3 files idea seems rather tantalizing. We could get some experience under our belts. While it might not yeild tons of traffic, it would at least give us enough to work out any kinks beforehand, in addition to getting our name out there (hopefully enough).

Anyway, thanks for the info guys, and I'm glad we are already seeing some interest in this project.

kmg

Post by **Hex** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:50 pm

Assuming we're technically proficient, we can have multiple sites that mirror the data. A q4serveradmin will simply choose one of these sites to use. (if the autodl implementation remains as it is in D3.)

If a q4server admin wants to use this download offering, then its on him to get his custom pk4s uploaded to that primary download site.

About testing for D3, I'm ready when you are. Just let us upload pk4s and give us the URL and we can start testing.

Post by **Lenard** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:26 pm

That is all up to iluvmymac.

Post by **iluvquake4** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:51 pm

I'm just offering a machine with unlimited 10mb bandwidth. The rest is up to you guys. :icon31:

Post by **KMG** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 5:27 am

Hex wrote:About testing for D3, I'm ready when you are. Just let us upload pk4s and give us the URL and we can start testing.

Sure, we can do this if we have a fileserver to use. Iluvmymac, would you be willing to give us access to your fileserver for testing purposes with D3 files? I believe it would really help streamline the process once the patch is released and we go live.

kmg

EDIT:

Now that I think about it, I'm going to lock the uploads for a couple minutes and work on my PHP FTP stuff just so that I have it ready. I'll use some random space I have. Hex, I'll give you moderator access so you can upload some files for testing. You also have access to review so that they are accessible on the public list. Give me some feedback while you're at it

kmg

Post by **Hex** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 4:10 pm

KMG you gots a PM

Post by **iluvquake4** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 6:45 pm

I have to setup the server first. Do you just want straight Centos Linux on it or do we need CPanel, etc.?

Please advise. :icon31:

Post by **KMG** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 2:21 am

Just straight linux should be fine. PHP is good too.

Post by **KMG** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 2:33 am

We just had our first successful autodownload test on a Doom 3 server from some borrowed hosting space, so that's good.

kmg

Post by **iluvquake4** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:32 pm

BTW: They were nice enough to change my username upon request. I sold my Mac to make a better gaming rig. :icon31:

Post by **KMG** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:18 am

Killer.

Post by **iluvquake4** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 8:53 pm

Now that the beta patch is out and fixes downloads (?) we should hook up and setup a machine.

I got a Dual Opteron, 4 gig RAM, RAID 5 machine we can use and I'll hook it up to 10mb unmetered Cogent. Cheap bandwidth but that's okay since it's just for file transfers. I use Internap for gaming servers.

Do you have MSN Messenger?

You can also find me in irc.quakenet.org in #quake4 and #q4max as "escapedturkey".

Keep in mind I'm often AFK working so it may take awhile for me to see your PMs.

:icon31:

Post by **KMG** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:22 am

files.quake4world.com wrote:Quake 4 Files is now operational!

Thursday the 23rd of February, 2006

That's right, Quake 4 Files is now live and operational! Everybody spread the word and start uploading those files as soon as possible.

Thanks to EscapedTurkey (http://www.escapedturkey.com) for the amazing fileserver, and Quake4/Quake3world (http://www.quake4world.com / http://www.quake4world.com) for all their support and webspace. You guys are a real asset to the community. And how can I forget all the users on the Quake3World forums? You guys are great, thanks for all the input and all the wonderful work.

Anyway, now what we need to do is get the word out there! We will be working to make contact with authors and server admins in the days to come, so, if you feel the need, chip in and let people know. Thanks in advance.

Let's get some files on here guys.