DM Client Issues on PW Stand Alone Server

[Legacy_Grizzt]

               So, here's my problem. I can host my PW world on my own PC to the Internet and log on as a DM or Player without a problem and so can my other DMs for that matter. I recently had my PW module hosted on a dedicated server at JestServers.com. Since hosting, I cannot complete loading the start area as a DM. It loads about 75% then freezes and the server response times out. I have tried running other modules on the server and logging in to verify I haven't exceeded the 16k resource limit and the same thing happens. I check my server logs and it tells me DM Client: No. I go into my nwnplayer.ini file and verified there is a password. If I remove the password, the DM Client changes from no to yes, but of course I can't login. Again I can host just fine from my personal PC and logon as a player or DM no problem. One more thing, I can login as a player just not as a DM. My resources are at 12.9k, but again I can login as a DM when I self host. I have placed all the HAKs and TLK files for my module on the server as I am running CEP2.4. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
               
               

               
            

[Baaleos]

               

First off -

I don't know exactly what might be causing your crashing

Is there by any chance any onClientEnter logic keyed towards DM's? Any nwnx plugins?

 

Anyhoo.... having had a look at JestServers.com's pricing model for nwn.

I think your being taken for a ride - and not in the nice friday night drunken romp sort of way.

 

They are charging $36 for 10 User Slots in a nwn 1 server, they cite the expense at being the requirement of a dedicated cpu for the nwn2 engine?

Ummm... this is nwn 1, correct? why do we need to worry about the nwn2 engine?

 

If you were to host in Amazon EC2, you could get a Linux Server with 64 slots for around $10 - sure its not a dedicated cpu, but unless your running a huge server, you wouldnt need one.

Thats on the lowest spec machine of course (T2.Micro) - but even then, I have never seen a need for a NWN Module to use more than a T2.Small server on linux - because linux is alot more efficient with memory and cpu.

 

Even if you were to insist on a Windows server :

T2.Micro on windows would be around $13-14 per month for 64 slots.

 

T2.Small which is generally the windows bare minimum for hosting a big server, would still be less than $30 per month with 64 slots.

You would be totally in charge of your server, able to remote desktop, or ssh into the server and have the ability to debug these issues without worrying about the server companies infrastructure getting in the way.

 

I sublet ec2 servers to a few people - I basically take care of the setup, and then just charge people around the hourly rate I get charged + tax + some usage charges.

seeing this companies billing model made me giggle a little... im a little inspired...

Perhaps I should try their billing model...

 

I really recommend you don't stick with them - they are charging you way too much.

Either let me sort you out with a server or I would encourage you to try Amazon EC2 yourself.

EC2 does a hourly on-demand billing model - so you get charged only for when your server/machine is online. Allowing you to bring it down when your at work etc to save even more money. 

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Grizzt]

               Can you provide more info on this? I googled a place to host and that was all I could find. I do have a large PW over 500 areas and about 13k in resources. I don't know much about Linux so I may have to do windows. Any help would be greatly appreciated. It's not an oncliententer script otherwise why would it work fine while hosting on my own PC?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_kalbaern]

               

1) Can you log in as a player and not just as a DM?

 

2) Does the ping seem high?  Maybe they're just providing poor bandwidth, although, its reeeaaly poor to fail NWN.

 

If joining fails as both a DM and Player ...

 

3) Who provided the version of NWServer being used? If "them", make sure its the last 1.69 version and not a previous one.

               
               

               
            

[Baaleos]

               

I seem to recall people having issues with the DM Client before - something possibly relating to the DM Palette or something?

I cant remember specifics.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_kalbaern]

               

I seem to recall people having issues with the DM Client before - something possibly relating to the DM Palette or something?

I cant remember specifics.

There are some DM specific issues at times, but the OP said when they hosted themselves it was fine. So most likely its an issue with their new hosting service, either the actual service or files used.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Thayan]

               

Are you using NWNX? If so, disable all plugins just to test and see if that makes a difference. I had a similar login and crash problem awhile back because NWNX was trying to initialize the SQL database - which I didn't use.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Grizzt]

               

Here is what I know:

1. Running public IP standalone server version 1.69

2. NWNX2 with no plugins

3. CEP 2.4 installed on server

4. Ping is between 24 to 48

5. Player login works fine, but they had to change IP to allow this.(it didn't work the first time)

6. I can select my DM character and see my start area loading and the bar stops around 80% then times out

7. I have tried to run several other small modules with one area and the same thing happens

8. I can host and post to Internet on my private LAN with no issues

9. I have copied my nwnplayer.ini settings and NWNX2 settings exactly to the public server.


At this point the hosting company is telling me that it's a problem with Bioware's engine and there isn't anything they can do. Very frustrating!!

 

Here is the exact response the hosting company gave me.

On 2015-05-14 22:06:35 Jest wrote: 

I am not sure, but running a LAN based NWN server is different than a public IP dedicated NWN server.
LAN IPs skip a lot of steps in verification since it's on the same network range(For example in some games, you can use RCON commands without a password if you're on the same LAN as the server).
Bioware would be the one to ask that question on why that is and how to fix it as it's an engine level issue, not host.
------------------------------------------------------------

On 2015-05-14 20:34:40 Grizzt wrote: 

Why would it be bugged if it works fine on my own server?? I will try it, but does that mean I will not be able to log off as a DM without restarting the server every time?
------------------------------------------------------------

On 2015-05-14 20:29:58 Jest wrote: 

My Guru responded, they said it's a bug with the dedicated server program (NWN Dedicated Server)
They said to restart the server via TCAdmin, then try to connect with the DM client before anything else is done on the server.
If a client joins etc, it seems to bug up

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Grizzt]

               

Here is a copy of the log from when I tried to log in as a DM (towards the bottom), it shows me logging in but I never actually step foot in the start area.

 

[Thu May 14 18:42:42] Loading Module: Reconstructed_Nordock_2

[Thu May 14 18:42:42]---- Server Options ----

Max Players: 20

Char Levels: (1-40)

Player Password: NO

DM Login Enabled: NO

Server Admin Login Enabled: YES

Post Game To Internet: YES

Game Type: PW Story

Difficulty: 2

PVP Setting: PARTY

Vault: SERVER

Only One Party: NO

Enforce Legal Characters: YES

Item Level Restrictions: NO

Player pausing: DISABLED

Auto Save: Disabled

Saving Characters in Saved Game

---- End Server Options ----

HABD_DB: Restoring Scholar of Languages gives 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0

HABD_DB: Restoring Scholar of Languages Death=0 Bleed=0 XPLost=0 GPLost=0

HABD_DB: Restoring Scholar of Languages gives 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0

HABD_DB: Restoring Scholar of Languages iHP=0 iState=0 iRespawnTimer=0 iRaiseTimer=0

[Thu May 14 18:42:57] [APTS] SetTokenBool Error - Token boolean variable(fake) was not declared.

HABD_DB: Restoring New Player Shopkeeper gives 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0

HABD_DB: Restoring New Player Shopkeeper Death=0 Bleed=0 XPLost=0 GPLost=0

HABD_DB: Restoring New Player Shopkeeper gives 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0

HABD_DB: Restoring New Player Shopkeeper iHP=0 iState=0 iRespawnTimer=0 iRaiseTimer=0

[Thu May 14 18:42:57] [APTS] SetTokenBool Error - Token boolean variable(fake) was not declared.

HABD_DB: Restoring Messenger of the Gods gives 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0

HABD_DB: Restoring Messenger of the Gods Death=0 Bleed=0 XPLost=0 GPLost=0

HABD_DB: Restoring Messenger of the Gods gives 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0

HABD_DB: Restoring Messenger of the Gods iHP=0 iState=0 iRespawnTimer=0 iRaiseTimer=0

[Thu May 14 18:42:57] [APTS] SetTokenBool Error - Token boolean variable(fake) was not declared.

HABD_DB: Restoring Master of Subraces gives 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0

HABD_DB: Restoring Master of Subraces Death=0 Bleed=0 XPLost=0 GPLost=0

HABD_DB: Restoring Master of Subraces gives 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0

HABD_DB: Restoring Master of Subraces iHP=0 iState=0 iRespawnTimer=0 iRaiseTimer=0

[Thu May 14 18:42:57] [APTS] SetTokenBool Error - Token boolean variable(fake) was not declared.

HABD_DB: Restoring Singe the Scourge gives 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0

HABD_DB: Restoring Singe the Scourge Death=0 Bleed=0 XPLost=0 GPLost=0

HABD_DB: Restoring Singe the Scourge gives 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0

HABD_DB: Restoring Singe the Scourge iHP=0 iState=0 iRespawnTimer=0 iRaiseTimer=0

[Thu May 14 18:42:57] [APTS] SetTokenBool Error - Token boolean variable(fake) was not declared.

SpellLikeAbilityReady: Could not find valid ability in list (Spell ID=115).

nw_i0_spells: spellsCure() called

nw_i0_spells: RACE[3] SUBRACE[] NAME[Drarry Higfoon]

nw_i0_spells: NAME[Drarry Higfoon] was NOT undead or VAMPIRE.

nw_i0_spells: spellsCure() called

nw_i0_spells: RACE[3] SUBRACE[] NAME[Drarry Higfoon]

nw_i0_spells: NAME[Drarry Higfoon] was NOT undead or VAMPIRE.

nw_i0_spells: spellsCure() called

nw_i0_spells: RACE[3] SUBRACE[] NAME[Drarry Higfoon]

nw_i0_spells: NAME[Drarry Higfoon] was NOT undead or VAMPIRE.

Connection Attempt made by Grizzt (FFUPM7FU)

[Thu May 14 18:47:37] Grizzt (FFUPM7FU) Joined as Game Master 1

HABD_DB: Restoring GrizztDM Grizzt gives 0,0,0,0,8,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0

HABD_DB: Restoring GrizztDM Grizzt Death=0 Bleed=0 XPLost=0 GPLost=0

HABD_DB: Restoring GrizztDM Grizzt gives 0,0,0,0,8,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0

HABD_DB: Restoring GrizztDM Grizzt iHP=8 iState=0 iRespawnTimer=0 iRaiseTimer=0

               
               

               
            

[Baaleos]

               

There is definitely nothing happening in the following lines involving any nwnx plugins?

HABD_DB: Restoring GrizztDM Grizzt gives 0,0,0,0,8,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0
HABD_DB: Restoring GrizztDM Grizzt Death=0 Bleed=0 XPLost=0 GPLost=0
HABD_DB: Restoring GrizztDM Grizzt gives 0,0,0,0,8,0,0,0,,0,0,0,0
HABD_DB: Restoring GrizztDM Grizzt iHP=8 iState=0 iRespawnTimer=0 iRaiseTimer=0

If these lines are disabled - any difference?

What server spec do you use?

Windows / Linux etc?

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Grizzt]

               That's just the persistent HP system, it's always in my logs. I will try it regardless.


Windows based server.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Thayan]

               

The HABD system really should not be running for a DM. I'd recommend stopping or putting a return in the HABDOnClientEnter if it is called by a DM entering the module. It's calling to the database there, so it's possible if the DB is different across servers, that could be a problem.

 

What happens if you just launch the server normally, without NWNX? Can you at least login as a DM? Those results will pretty definitively say whether or not it is a NWNX problem.

 

If the problem still persists it would seem to be something with the scripting setup. In that case go to your nwnplayer.ini on the server, and change Enable Logging=0 to Enable Logging=1. Then crash the server, then check to find out what the lasts scripts were that were running. Those will be the ones you want to investigate for what they're doing when a DM causes them to run.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Grizzt]

               

Same results without NWNX, player can login, but not DM.  The server never crashes in this process by the way, its more like the DM Client is blocked from entering completely.  I have had 0 server errors or crashes.  I will try the logging, not sure if I can force a crash as I have never had one.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Grizzt]

               By the way, I uploaded the CEP2.4 base module and can't finish the login as a DM either. I know I need to fix that script, but I don't think that's the problem.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Grizzt]

               

The problem appears to be with CEP.  I can get to the DM Client on a non CEP2.4 module no problem....