Map D/L from server problems

[Box Cutter]

I hope this is the appropriate place for this question so here goes. I have added a few custom maps to my server (some from tcd, so ty d-o). I noticed alot of them require the use of overlord.wad or maybe another .wad named after the map but when I try to download the map from the server (being in game and changing the map and letting it D/L to my computer from there) It seems to download all the files fine except for the .wad file and I get an error saying it couldn't open said .wad file. Now if I put the file directly into my dod folder on my pc it works fine. So how do I get these .wad files to download to me and other players from the server when the map changes like all the rest of the files? I put the .wad files (ex. overlord.wad) in the dod folder on my server where all the other .wad files are. Any suggestions? TIA.

[orbit]

You need to create a res file in your maps folder. So, let's say the name of your map is dod_lag.bsp. You'll want to create a file called dod_lag.res and in there put the location of the wad file relative to the DoD install. IE: If the path was /home/user/hlds_l/dod/overlord.wav, then your dod_lag.res might look something like this:

overlord.wad
sound/misc/hurt.wav
maps/dod_lag.bsp

Do this for every map requiring orverlord.wad (so people that join the map while in play won't crash).

Using the game to download the files is pretty slow, you should look at putting these on a website, and redirecting downloads to there. If you need help setting that up, just post here again and we can walk through it.

-O-

[Box Cutter]

Thanks for help with the .res I am trying to that now and hope it works. As far as downloading from a site I have tried the sv_downloadurl command but couldnt get it to work.

[Wilson [29th ID]]

I've experienced this problem too. Simple solution - download the map somewhere else. Try www.907th.com or google it - usually if you find another download it will automatically grab the wad for some reason.

[orbit]

I have no issues with the sv_downloadurl. Just make sure it has the same structure as your dod.

For example:

sv_downloadurl "http://my.dod.com/downloads/dod/"

If you go to the above with a web browser, it needs to look like your top level DoD directory.

dod_northbound.wad
maps
models
overviews
overlord.wad
sound

Basically, it should look exactly like your dod install, except it will only contain those specific files that your server has (you 'could' include the entire dod distribution as well, minus the server.cfg and such, but that's a huge overkill).

-O-

[Box Cutter]

I think I get it. I will try it again. Thank you

[orbit]

I think I get it. I will try it again. Thank you

You'll still need the res file on your server for all the specific files for that map.

[Box Cutter]

so if I have sv_downloadurl in my server.cfg does it disable any downloading from the game server and only look for stuff from the web space where I have sv_downloadurl directed to? Do I have to do anything to trigger downloading from the web space other than adding sv_downloadurl "path" in my server.cfg?

[orbit]

No, it doesn't prevent downloading from the game. You would have to disable that with:

sv_allowdownload 0

If you have sv_downloadurl defined, it will try that method first, then fall back to local server. Using the URL is very quick, as it uses the fastest speeds that the http server and the user can handle. 10mb files can be downloaded in about 20 or so seconds for a DSL user. Much faster than the 4 mins it will take from the game.

If you have a lot of custom maps, it make sense to get the sv_downloadurl working. This way, you don't lose potential players that get fed up with downloading huge maps, only to find out there's nothing but bots playing.

-O-

[tegu]

Also if your sv_downloadurl is on the same host as your server, you will find your download speed usually will suffer more than if it is a seperate host.

I have a gameservers server and tried using their free website to do the downloadurl. It was faster but definately not optimal. Then I got my own website and host for that and the speeds increased amazingly.

Definately pay attention to orbit and the rest of these guys telling you about the .res files. The game will not download a .wad file to the client without it. It just wont happen.

You can make this easiest on yourself with resgen. It automatically creates the res file for you. If you need help with that. Just let me know.

[{SR} *Raggy*]

http://www.thezproject.org/downloads/resgen/resgen_2.0.2.tar.gz
Theres a place to download resgen. It is the linux version

[diamond-optic]

i always heard that resgen added files that didnt need to be in the .res

[{SR} *Raggy*]

Yeah I think it does do that. But it is way easier to do that way rather than going and writing all the names of models and sounds etc

[=|[76AD]|= TatsuSaisei]

i always heard that resgen added files that didnt need to be in the .res

resgen only adds what it sees as need from within the bsp.... now what you might have heard, was that back in the day before a map could actually have the textures compiled right into the bsp, a mapper had to distribute the wad files used for the map.... now, the problem that was occurring was that it used to list ALL the wads you had loaded in HAMMER, whether or not you were actually using the wads on the specific map you were making... so when the mapper compiled the map, it was listing ALL the wads listed in HAMMER, which would include wads not needed for the map, but resgen WOULD pick this up and list them... so the only thing resgen would possibly add, would be unneeded wad files....

NOW, the one main issue or complaint I personally have with resgen is the fact it does NOT list the files used/needed for overview maps or text files, these you always have to add in yourself....

[Box Cutter]

I created the .res with ease and all is well, but thank you for the additional info about resgen.

With sv_downloadurl must I disable sv_allowdownload? Or can I leave sv_allowdownload as 1 and it will use sv_downloadurl first before it tries to look for info to download from the game server?

[orbit]

No need to disable sv_allowdownload. You can use both. If it cannot find the file at the http site defined in sv_downloadurl, it will fall back to the local server.

I disabled my sv_allowdownload, but I have a lot of custom maps with custom wads. If a user aborts in the middle of a download, it corrupts the game so that when the map comes around again, he either doesn't have a complete bsp, or incomplete wads. Since valve doesn't overwite pre-exiting files...well, that's were the problem starts.

It crashes steam horribly, and forces the user to reboot.

People will wait 30 or 40 seconds to download a map, but 6 and 7 minutes and you're playing russian roulette.

-O-

[Box Cutter]

If I am using sv_downloadurl do I place the .res files to download the .wad on the web space or on the game server?

[Box Cutter]

does sv_allowupload need to be on to use sv_downloadurl?

[orbit]

*.res file needs to be on the game server. I sometimes include it on the web server as well, just in case someone needs to know what files go where.

sv_allowupload I believe is only used if you want to allow custom sprays on your server. The client must upload the file so that it can be seen by everyone.

-O-

[diamond-optic]

i read somewhere that if you have res file on both the gameserver and the webserver.. that your files will download twice

[Box Cutter]

well I have sv_downloadurl setup and wow what a difference in D/L time for the players. I havent yet tried it on a map that requires a .wad that I have a .res setup for. Hope it works though.

[=|[76AD]|= TatsuSaisei]

If a user aborts in the middle of a download, it corrupts the game so that when the map comes around again, he either doesn't have a complete bsp, or incomplete wads. Since valve doesn't overwite pre-exiting files...well, that's were the problem starts.

While it is true Steam will not overwrite an existing file, it will NOT save a partially downloaded file. If a player aborts or cancels a download in progress, that file currently being downloaded is simply discarded. It is not saved as a partial file, or rather it has NEVER done this with me.

I used to occassionally delete large wad files and bsp files before joining my server so that I could "gauge" the download speeds for that specific night.

[=|[76AD]|= TatsuSaisei]

i read somewhere that if you have res file on both the gameserver and the webserver.. that your files will download twice

I have read something like this myself in the past but never saw it actually happen. I keep all the res files on my web host and have never experienced an issue such as this though.

Now something I did read before was that some people are kind enough to manually list the res file itself within the res file, so that the current res file is sent to the client along with any of the other custom files necessary for the map. This is done to help spread the map and make it easier to add to another server. This I used to do while I only had a handful of maps, but eventually I got so many maps it became burdensome to manually edit each and every res file, so I stooped...

[Box Cutter]

is it best that I put the .res on the web space or on the game server? Also if I put maps on the web space and not on the game server when I use command amx_map will it recognize the map name if it is only on the web space?

[=|[76AD]|= TatsuSaisei]

is it best that I put the .res on the web space or on the game server? Also if I put maps on the web space and not on the game server when I use command amx_map will it recognize the map name if it is only on the web space?
You NEED to have the res file located locally (ON the game machine) AND any maps (bsp files) and its resource files (mdl, spr, wad, etc...) you wish to run. If your game server is missing any of the crucial files, especially the bsp, then the server will choke and likely crash.

[Box Cutter]

|= TatsuSaisei;1931']You NEED to have the res file located locally (ON the game machine) AND any maps (bsp files) and its resource files (mdl, spr, wad, etc...) you wish to run. If your game server is missing any of the crucial files, especially the bsp, then the server will choke and likely crash.

So all the custom maps files I have on the web space has to pretty much be a duplicate of what is on the game server?

[Hell Phoenix]

Well you only need the files from maps (none of the valve files). But sometimes its easier to just make a copy if its not too big (and delete the stuff you know you dont need...addon dir etc).

[PenDragon]

I sometimes include it on the web server as well, just in case someone needs to know what files go where.

i read somewhere that if you have res file on both the gameserver and the webserver.. that your files will download twice

You only need to have .res files in your game server's directory...not your sv_downloadurl webserver. You should really remove those files from that webserver and just keep copies in another location on your webserver/site for people to access individually if they really want.

[Private Dyin]

The files and structure of your game server should be exactly the same on your web server. As far as I remember if the file isn't found on your webserver it will not look for the files on your game server anymore. I've missed a .mdl file on the webserver and it doesn't download eventhough its listed in the .res file and its on the gameserver. Allowdownload is set to 1.

I like to make the .res files from scratch because resgen puts in everything it finds in the bsp. A lot of that stuff has to be deleted later. You don't have to list .mdl and .wav files in your .res files anymore. Those will automatically be downloaded. I think if you do list them the server will try to download them twice.

I've also found if you put the .wad files on the first line of your .res file they won't download so I always put something else first.

[tegu]

pardon my ignorance and I dont think it is this time, but isnt the use of sv_downloadurl not a 1/0 option but instead a sv_downloadurl "http://get.your.damn/files/here"

[diamond-optic]

pardon my ignorance and I dont think it is this time, but isnt the use of sv_downloadurl not a 1/0 option but instead a sv_downloadurl "http://get.your.damn/files/here"

yes it is...