Windows Master Server for Torque
by Kerry Enfinger · 07/21/2011 (5:14 pm) · 20 comments
The Torque Master Server was conceived and written because there were no other reliable graphic master servers for the Windows/Torque environment. The source has been written to be completely thread-safe with low resource overhead. Extensive testing was done on reliability and memory consumption. The graphical interface is based on the original C# project contribution of Ryan Mick www.garagegames.com/community/resources/view/20121
A trial download is available from my website. It will run for 30-days with a time-limit of 1 hour of use. After 1 hour, you will have to restart the master server in order to begin accepting packets again.
Settings include the ability to enable/disable logging, start master server when opened, start master server on OS boot, and change settings for port, heartbeat time limit, and spam flush/time/count/ban limits.
If you would like to purchase the master server, it is available for $50.00 (Indie or Commercial). You can download the trial and/or purchase the software at:
www.alteredrealitysoftware.com/catalog.htm
A trial download is available from my website. It will run for 30-days with a time-limit of 1 hour of use. After 1 hour, you will have to restart the master server in order to begin accepting packets again.
Settings include the ability to enable/disable logging, start master server when opened, start master server on OS boot, and change settings for port, heartbeat time limit, and spam flush/time/count/ban limits.
If you would like to purchase the master server, it is available for $50.00 (Indie or Commercial). You can download the trial and/or purchase the software at:
www.alteredrealitysoftware.com/catalog.htm
About the author
Owner of Altered Reality Software -- Bachelors Degree in Game and Simulation Programming -- Masters Degree in Database Management -- Currently working on Ph.D. in Computer Science
#3
07/21/2011 (9:45 pm)
Seems pretty cool! I get the response from the masterserver instantly, I'm just wondering how I change the settings like map and gametype? Other than that, very cool, I think I'll be purchasing this as soon as I'm ready for it in my project!
#4
The MissionType and GameType are set in the scripts of your game. Check the function OnServerCreated() in gamescriptsservergame.cs for more details.
07/21/2011 (9:51 pm)
@KrystianThe MissionType and GameType are set in the scripts of your game. Check the function OnServerCreated() in gamescriptsservergame.cs for more details.
#5
07/21/2011 (9:52 pm)
Got it thanks! Awesome tool! Really easy to use! 
#6
07/22/2011 (10:04 am)
I think you have credited the wrong Ryan. And I would like to know what wasn't thread safe about my master server code? I'm not trying to be snarky here but I just hate to see someone charge for something based on my code that I released for free to the community.
#7
The DataGridView update method was not thread safe. The method used of binding and unbinding the data will cause deadlocks during the lifetime of the program.
There were other problems with the server and session list updating which would error out the program.
These were critical issues after running the program for only a few hours.
Other problematic code that has been fixed with .NET 4.0 was no longer a viable option.
I tried to patch the original code to no avail. I wound up writing my own version of the server but I liked the use of a DataGridView for the interface. That is why I respectively give credit for the origin of the DataGridView for the GUI.
07/22/2011 (10:50 am)
Sorry, Ryan, about the last name mispelling. It has been corrected.The DataGridView update method was not thread safe. The method used of binding and unbinding the data will cause deadlocks during the lifetime of the program.
There were other problems with the server and session list updating which would error out the program.
These were critical issues after running the program for only a few hours.
Other problematic code that has been fixed with .NET 4.0 was no longer a viable option.
I tried to patch the original code to no avail. I wound up writing my own version of the server but I liked the use of a DataGridView for the interface. That is why I respectively give credit for the origin of the DataGridView for the GUI.
#8
Good luck with it Kerry, I hope you keep with it since a proven, reliable master server is really needed by the community. I was going to change from memory storage to db storage but the rate that packages can bombard the server makes it a bottle neck unless you have access to some beefy servers.
07/22/2011 (11:43 am)
Yeah, I had a feeling that the datagridview update would become a problem down the road and was hoping to get some feed back from people using it. There was a problem at one point with the lists causing an error reported by Richard Ranft but those were fixed. I still need to convert to the latest .Net tho, just haven't had time. I really wanted it to run as a service and then just connect to it with a giu for administration, but that a whole lot of different fun its self and the performance isn't stellar either way you go with database storage or remote object hosting.Good luck with it Kerry, I hope you keep with it since a proven, reliable master server is really needed by the community. I was going to change from memory storage to db storage but the rate that packages can bombard the server makes it a bottle neck unless you have access to some beefy servers.
#9
07/22/2011 (12:05 pm)
Thanks for the understanding, Ryan. I am currently working on adding live real-time data monitoring with graphing capabilities. This will allow the user to analyze server traffic for overhead and peak usage. 
#10
07/22/2011 (1:47 pm)
Nice work Kerry. This will save people some time, and more multi-player/related resources and tools are needed for Torque, to have a step closer to that make MMO button that people are in need of :) 
#11
08/28/2011 (4:59 am)
Im happy to purchaise this server. Easy to use. Ty Kerry for this server and your support.
#12
08/28/2011 (5:29 am)
Thanks for the comment, Daniel. 
#13
05/22/2012 (2:04 pm)
On this blog you list the indie license for $95, but when I go to your website, it lists the indie license for $50. Did you lower the price since this post? Is this Windows Master Server still supported / have there been any updates? 
#14
http://www.garagegames.com/community/blogs/view/21647
I should have corrected here, also. Thanks for the heads up.
I have been busy with the RecastT3D project for some months now (along with Ph.D. work). I hope to return to the Master Server code soon.
Kerry Enfinger
Altered Reality Software
05/22/2012 (2:25 pm)
Yes, I did lower the price. I posted about it in this blog:http://www.garagegames.com/community/blogs/view/21647
I should have corrected here, also. Thanks for the heads up.
I have been busy with the RecastT3D project for some months now (along with Ph.D. work). I hope to return to the Master Server code soon.
Kerry Enfinger
Altered Reality Software
#15
05/26/2012 (2:50 am)
Excellent! One last question though. Would you happen to have the basic system requirements for this master server program? It would be much appreciated!
#16
It will run on any Windows machine with .Net 4.0. Traffic will depend on bandwidth, processor speed, and RAM. It was written to have low overhead.
05/26/2012 (6:27 am)
@WestonIt will run on any Windows machine with .Net 4.0. Traffic will depend on bandwidth, processor speed, and RAM. It was written to have low overhead.
#17
05/24/2015 (8:13 am)
Has anyone been using this or is this project dead?
#18
05/24/2015 (9:01 am)
I used that, and it work well.
#19
05/24/2015 (10:03 am)
I just put it on a friend's server. Still works well.
#20
06/11/2015 (12:39 am)
works great, not much else to say.. 
Torque Owner Edward Smith
Silencersoft