FB Dedicated Server IP Alias Thread

[TX-Zen]

Copied from the portal page:

Request to the community
Nero, one of FB's many international members from South Africa is hosting his dedicated server in a datacenter. He would like to have remote access to the FB Dedicated server from his PC but is hampered by a lack of a static IP. His primary question is how to use a DNS alias instead of his IP in the part of the dedicated server that allows remote admin.

See this related thread in UBI:
http://forums.ubi.com/messages/message_view-topic.asp?name=Olegmaddoxreadyroom&id=ztudo

And his website here as well:

http://games.saix.net/cgi-bin/sgsbb/ikonboard.cgi?s=ba50337a1786afe6db2ed82e7d3d7da3;act=SF;f=150

What the intent here is to see if we can change to using DNS instead of an IP in this part of the CONFS.INI:
[Console]
;IP=20000
IPS=

Where normally you see IP=192.168.0.1 for example, we'd like to see something like IP=soandso.dnsalias.net instead.


TX won't be able to do any formal testing for another two weeks so any help the community can provide in the meantime to Nero will be appreciated for sure. If we can figure this out the whole community will benefit.





Spread the word gentlemen, I'd like to get this figured out.

TX-Zen
Black 6

[TX-Deck]

Willing to bet Oleg will have to change the code to make this happen.TX-Deck out.

[Monguse]

Hum.... Intriguing....The followng link contains Visual Basic 6.0 Source that explains How to Resolve a Hostname Into an IP Address http://www.mvps.org/vbnet/index.html?code/network/iplookup.htmAs a test,  I'd say compile the source code, get the resolved ip address from the test application and manually edit the CONF.INI file, then launch the FB Server.If it doesn't work ... more thinking. If it works great!. Then we take the executable and modify it so so it writes the resolved IP address to the CONF.INI file. I'd love to be able to play with this, but, I don't have a dedicated server and I have a static IP.Thought's, suggestions, comments?S~TX-Monguse

[TX-FlightRisk]

Also depends on whet the program is expecting. Is it expecting an Integer, Varchar, or Character? That would help. If it will take a string that’s a good start down the right path. If not......... possibly an additional layer maybe reference a second box in his place with his pc and let the second system resolve...........somehow. Sounds intriguing.S~TX-FlightRisk Black 3

[TX-Deck]

I'm thinking the console will actually have to make a call to the DNS service on whatever machine it is running on, in order for things to take off and connect to the right place.TX-Deck out.

[Monguse]

FlightRisk and Deck,

quote:[FlightRisk]... depends on what the program is expecting.... Integer, Varchar, or Character...

I would wager the expected field type is a stanard IP address expressed as a string. More than likely, the IP string is then tested by FB to see if it's a valid IP address.

quote:[Deck] ...the console will ... have to make a call to the DNS service ...

I agree Deck. What I left out of my post was how the user would post the edited CONF.INI to the datacenter server. Conceivably the small application could post the new CONF.INI file to the server using standard FTP protocols.I think it's doable, all that's needed is a guinea pig that meets the original criteria:

• Someone that has a DNS able to host a FB 1.11 dedicated server
• Someone that lacks a static IP wanting to host a 1.11 dedicated game offsite

In the meantime, can I get a copy of a CONF.INI? Sure would like to look at it.S~TX-Monguse

[NeroSA]

Hi GuysThx for the comments.Our server is in a remote location hosted by the official telekom company. They wont allow vnc access for security reasons.We dont have static ip's and as you are aware the dedicated server software (DSS) requires a static ip.There a a good few folk who would like to get this working.I have the DSS on my machine and will be more than happy to set up a server at a convinient time where tests can be done to see if remote access can be completed using a dnsalias. The only way i have tried so far is with a m8 of mine that sets it up and then we make changes to the files to try and get it to accept. No luck so far Im afraid. One of the problems I think is that if it was static ip's then its a plane A to B connection direct. (A = remote console, B = server)With a dnsalias, its A to B and C to B. (B being the dnsalias) Although you can type in the dnsalias addy in the DSS software there is a communication gap still between the 3 points. The concole (A) is looking for the server (C) ip directly from your remote machiine ip and not through B (dnsalias).Whether or not the server software itself recognises the dnsalias string or not is another issue. Anyway thats the way I am logicaly looking at it, from a totally layman perspective. Pls excuse me if its all bollox.Thx for the interest though, your comments are much appreciated.cyeNero

[NeroSA]

Soz, 1 more thing, if anyone wants files from the DSS just bump me on messenger  ( e_fudd@hotmail.com) no email checked on this addy. I will email them to you there or put them wherever you like.confs.ini file looks like this [NET]speed=5000serverChannels=16localPort=21000SkinDownload=1difficulty=193791serverName=serverDescription=checkServerTimeSpeed=1checkClientTimeSpeed=0socksHost=[chat]autoLogDetail=3[MaxLag]farMaxLagTime=10.0nearMaxLagTime=2.0cheaterWarningDelay=10.0cheaterWarningNum=3[Console];IP=20000IPS=LOG=1LOGTIME=1LOGFILE=logs.lstHISTORY=128HISTORYCMD=128LOGKEEP=1In the first file i have removed the ; from the first line as recommended by ubi.[Console]IP=20000IPS=Confc.ini looks like this[il2_console]title=IL2-CONSOLE[NET]localHost=[Console]IP=20000HISTORY=128HISTORYCMD=128LOG=1LOGTIME=0LOGFILE=logc.lstLOGKEEP=0[window]  width  =800  height =600  ColourBits =16  DepthBits  =16  StencilBits=0  EnableClose=1[GLPROVIDER]  GL  =Opengl32.dll[GLPROVIDERS]Open GL  =Opengl32.dllDirectX  =dx8wrap.dll[Render_DirectX]TexQual=2TexMipFilter=1TexCompress=0TexFlags.UseDither=1TexFlags.UseAlpha=0TexFlags.UseIndex=0TexFlags.PolygonStipple=0TexFlags.UseClampedSprites=0TexFlags.DrawLandByTriangles=1TexFlags.UseVertexArrays=1TexFlags.DisableAPIExtensions=0TexFlags.ARBMultitextureExt=1TexFlags.TexEnvCombineExt=1TexFlags.SecondaryColorExt=1TexFlags.VertexArrayExt=0TexFlags.ClipHintExt=0TexFlags.UsePaletteExt=0Shadows=1Specular=2SpecularLight=2DiffuseLight=2DynamicalLights=1MeshDetail=2LandShading=2LandDetails=1Sky=2Forest=1TexAnisotropicExt=0TexCompressARBExt=0TexFlags.TexAnisotropicExt=0TexFlags.TexCompressARBExt=0[Render_OpenGL]TexQual=2TexMipFilter=1TexCompress=0TexFlags.UseDither=1TexFlags.UseAlpha=0TexFlags.UseIndex=0TexFlags.PolygonStipple=0TexFlags.UseClampedSprites=0TexFlags.DrawLandByTriangles=1TexFlags.UseVertexArrays=0TexFlags.DisableAPIExtensions=0TexFlags.ARBMultitextureExt=1TexFlags.TexEnvCombineExt=1TexFlags.SecondaryColorExt=0TexFlags.VertexArrayExt=0TexFlags.ClipHintExt=0TexFlags.UsePaletteExt=0Shadows=1Specular=2SpecularLight=2DiffuseLight=2DynamicalLights=1MeshDetail=2LandShading=2LandDetails=1Sky=2Forest=1TexAnisotropicExt=0TexCompressARBExt=1TexFlags.TexAnisotropicExt=0TexFlags.TexCompressARBExt=1VisibilityDistance=2LandGeom=2Cye

[NeroSA]

Heres a link to download a little zip file that contains the,Server.cmdconfs.iniconfc.iniil2console.exehttp://www.gamers-inn.za.net/nero/Default DED.zipAll untouched from the default instalation of the DSS.