Players getting booted from Coop

[PatrickAWlson]

I have been doing PWCG for coop for some time.  In that time I have had a few complaints about the game booting players.  I can't do anything to resolve the issues because it happens in the game code.  No error messages, just booted.

 

I have seen this happen when the plane is not owned.  However, in the complaints that I have received the poster states clearly that the plane is owned.  

 

Any ideas?  I know that MP lets people use any map as long as they own the plane.  SP you must own both the plane and the map.  What are the rules for coop?  What are the reasons besides plane or map ownership that will cause the game to boot a player?

 

[DD_Crash]

The DangerDogz  have run coops with members not owning the modules but can play the map.

[DD_FT-]

Usually, players can get 'booted' like this due to networking issues (internet connection) - the bigger the mission file, the bigger the chance it will not load fpr them.

Game restart can help, cleanup of the clients Multiplayer\Cooperative folder may also help. (I'd rather use 'loose connection' than 'get booted' here)

Could also be an issue with the hosts' port forwarding settings.

 

And indeed what Crash said: You do not need anything specific when connecting to a coop server. If you do not have the planes in the coop, then they show up unavailable, ie. with a lock symbol on them. Client can still join and enjoy the coop as a spectator.

 

Best to try and not offer/host the .mission file. Delete it. .msbin file will do fine, and is much smaller. 

[PatrickAWlson]

Appreciate the feedback.  PWCG mission files are huge (the biggest ones exceed 800K lines of text) but PWCG does create msbin files as well.  

[AEthelraedUnraed]

As someone who works at an ICT helpdesk (ever seen The IT Crowd? That's pretty much my life), my honest advice is to just largely ignore complaints like these. Send them a message saying that the error is caused by the IL2 code itself and not PWCG, and that if they have any issues, they can contact IL2 support.

 

PWCG just creates missions. If the mission files are valid, the game loads. As soon as the game loads, the problem is with IL2 itself and not PWCG. It really isn't! As you state yourself, the errors happen in the game code. So for your own sake, don't try to look too deep into issues like these. Been there, done that (TBH, still doing it occasionally, I actually *do* try to help my customers), and it's just a bad idea.

[Irishratticus72]

1 minute ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

As someone who works at an ICT helpdesk (ever seen The IT Crowd? That's pretty much my life), my honest advice is to just largely ignore complaints like these. Send them a message saying that the error is caused by the IL2 code itself and not PWCG, and that if they have any issues, they can contact IL2 support.

 

PWCG just creates missions. If the mission files are valid, the game loads. As soon as the game loads, the problem is with IL2 itself and not PWCG. It really isn't! As you state yourself, the errors happen in the game code. So for your own sake, don't try to look too deep into issues like these. Been there, done that (TBH, still doing it occasionally, I actually *do* try to help my customers), and it's just a bad idea.

Have you tried turning it off and on again? 

[AEthelraedUnraed]

2 minutes ago, Irishratticus72 said:

Have you tried turning it off and on again? 

Don't get me started. Only today, I had a customer who, during a Skype call combined with a TeamViewer session (a remote access solution, where I can temporarily control the customer's PC), completely out of nowhere suddenly rebooted the PC. Apparently, she wanted to show that she couldn't login using a different account that she had access to.

 

It goes without saying that rebooting doesn't go very well with either Skype calls or TeamViewer sessions.

[PatrickAWlson]

25 minutes ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

As someone who works at an ICT helpdesk (ever seen The IT Crowd? That's pretty much my life), my honest advice is to just largely ignore complaints like these. Send them a message saying that the error is caused by the IL2 code itself and not PWCG, and that if they have any issues, they can contact IL2 support.

 

PWCG just creates missions. If the mission files are valid, the game loads. As soon as the game loads, the problem is with IL2 itself and not PWCG. It really isn't! As you state yourself, the errors happen in the game code. So for your own sake, don't try to look too deep into issues like these. Been there, done that (TBH, still doing it occasionally, I actually *do* try to help my customers), and it's just a bad idea.

 

In this case this thread is doing what I can.  I have never seen an organized discussion around these issues and thought I would bring it up.  Even if it is not acted on I the code any time soon it's good to understand the coping mechanisms that others employ.  I don't know them myself as I do not play online.  If I can get a list of possible corrective actions then I can at least point people to them.

 

Restart is always a favorite  

[Jason_Williams]

Make sure the necessary ports are open on his router.

 

To be clear, there is no known bug where users get "booted" from COOPs outside of general internet instability. 

 

Jason

[AEthelraedUnraed]

4 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

If I can get a list of possible corrective actions then I can at least point people to them.

The usual suspects. Have those people got the correct ports opened, as Jason says? Do they have a stable internet connection? Do other online services work? What's their ping and network speed? Does the server have a stable internet connection? Is anyone nearby downloading a movie by any chance? Are both server and client up to the job (good enough hardware)? When are the players booted (immediately upon joining, or at a later point)? Does it only happen when playing a certain mission (e.g. one generated by PWCG) or does it happen for all missions? Do they use any mods? Are both client and server using up-to-date versions of IL2, Windows, the BIOS and the network drivers? Did they "Verify integrity of game files" if using Steam, or re-install if not? Are those players also getting booted when joining different missions on different servers? Different missions on the same server? The same mission on different servers? Can other players join the troublesome game/server?

 

Those are the questions I would ask if I were to troubleshoot a similar issue. Without the answers, it's very hard to actually find the issue, unless a large amount of booted players helps to pinpoint it to a specific problem by sheer volume (e.g. all issues happening on one specific map or in one specific situation). In most cases though, asking these questions should give you some idea of what the problem is and quite possibly even directly help in solving it.

 

Whatever the issue is, I find it highly unlikely that a player getting booted is directly related to PWCG, so I think you can safely refer those people to the Technical Issues and Bug Reports section. It's very possible that someone with lots of multiplayer experience knows what might be going on and can help them. Unless of course you want to play the nice guy, which is completely fine too

[Mikestriken]

11 hours ago, Jason_Williams said:

Make sure the necessary ports are open on his router.

 

To be clear, there is no known bug where users get "booted" from COOPs outside of general internet instability. 

 

Jason

If the host (me) has his ports forwarded, but the client (my friend) doesn't will he still be able to connect?

 

My ports are forwarded: (copying and pasting it from my router page so I didn't make any typos)
 - 28000 (TCP & UDP)
 - 28100 (TCP only)

 

I own the following DLC:

 - Battle of Moscow

 - Battle of Stalingrad

 - Battle of Bodenplatte

 - Battle of Kuban

 - FW 190 A-3

 - La 5 Series 8
 - Blazing Steppe Campaign

 - Fortress on the Volga Campaign

 

He owns:

 - Battle of Stalingrad

 - Battle of Bodenplatte

 

For planes owned I only select what we both have (the mission still generates a bf 109 F2, which I have to swap out for a F4 for him manually):

Allies:
 - IL-2 1942

 - LaGG 3 series 29

 - P47D-28

 - P51D-15

 - Pe-2 series 87

 - Spitfire Mk IXe

 - Tempest Mk V series 2

 - Yak 1 series 69

 

Axis:

 - Bf 109 F4

 - Bf 109 G14

 - Bf 109 G2

 - Bf 109 K4

 - Fw 190 A8

 - He 111 H6

 - Ju 87 D3

 - Me 262 A

 

I then create a game and make the server, BUT when he tries to connect he kicked back out to the Cooperative/Dogfight menu.

 

I have already tried a full reinstall of the game and PWCG which didn't work.

 

I tried the example co op mission which failed and he got kicked the same way.

 

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Do they have a stable internet connection?

Yes.

 

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Do other online services work?

Yes, we have been playing regular dogfights a lot instead.

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

What's their ping and network speed?

Cannot answer RIGHT now, since he went to bed but we were playing Dogfights just fine with no ping issues if that helps

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Does the server have a stable internet connection?

Yes

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Is anyone nearby downloading a movie by any chance?

Middle of the night so no.

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Are both server and client up to the job (good enough hardware)?

i9 9900K, GTX 1070; not sure about client ATM

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

When are the players booted (immediately upon joining, or at a later point)?

Client enters a loading screen (the pretty portrait one after "downloading files") for a couple minutes and then when the loading screen finishes it immediately crashes to dogfights/cooperative.

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Does it only happen when playing a certain mission (e.g. one generated by PWCG) or does it happen for all missions?

Happens when using the Example mission as well. When I try to connect to his hosted game however my cursor turns into the loading cursor and the game freezes; I think this is because his ports aren't forwarded however.

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Do they use any mods?

Nobody is using any mods. Follow-up question should we check the enable mods button in the settings for PWCG to work, cos I don't think either of us have checked it.

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Are both client and server using up-to-date versions of IL2, Windows, the BIOS and the network drivers?

Yes we are.

 

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Did they "Verify integrity of game files" if using Steam, or re-install if not?

I (host) did a fresh reinstall of IL-2 and he (client) did not do anything.

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Are those players also getting booted when joining different missions on different servers?

I tried connecting to "TarikiHongangi M1GP" on map "kyoten_messer_v1.3pre6" with "0/84" players and I got through the loading screens but when I entered the lobby for that server all I could see was the leave server button... not sure if that is just a feature for that server or what cos I don't own it.

As for my friend I will ask him to try when next I speak with him.

On a side note is there a way for me to host a server on the same computer but as a different application (like how one would make a minecraft server lol) I would like to try that if possible to solve this problem.

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Different missions on the same server?

Have tried many different versions of the PWCG maps and it still doesn't work. Also tried the example mission to no avail.

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

The same mission on different servers?

Don't have a method of testing this really. His ports aren't forwarded and he doesn't know how to get into his default gateway.... I only have 1 computer.

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Can other players join the troublesome game/server?

Haven't asked/nobody to ask to try it; would anyone in this forum be willing to help me? Discord: "Mikestriken#2182" add me.

 

 

I will attach the Generated PWCG files, not that anyone needs them since it is clearly an IL-2 problem and not a PWCG problem

Der Blitzkrieg.zip

[PatrickAWlson]

@Mikestriken Thanks for the detailed response.  For the question: should you enable mods to use PWCG - no.  

 

The problem sounds like it is on your friends side.  

The files are very helpful if others are willing to do a test run.  There could be something in the mission that is wrong.  If there is then it is not a common occurrence and would not explain why the presumably much smaller sample mission failed as well.

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

19 hours ago, Jason_Williams said:

Make sure the necessary ports are open on his router.

 

To be clear, there is no known bug where users get "booted" from COOPs outside of general internet instability. 

 

Jason

I have same problem for years now, I can host any mission from the game, players can join and use chat (i see all messages) but they don't see my plane or AI. I can see destruction they made on ground objects. I have all ports open and redirected to my box. Tried many setting on router/windows but they do not help. Strenge ,but I'm not alone with that problem.

 

[Jason_Williams]

32 minutes ago, 1PL-Husar-1Esk said:

I have same problem for years now, I can host any mission from the game, players can join and use chat (i see all messages) but they don't see my plane or AI. I can see destruction they made on ground objects. I have all ports open and redirected to my box. Tried many setting on router/windows but they do not help. Strenge ,but I'm not alone with that problem.

 

 

Sorry that's not what Pat is talking about. 

 

Jason

[CaptainFlemme]

The other thing to check to host coop - I know because I had that exact problem - is IP adress configuration into il2 setup menu.

 

You need to be sure that Il2 knows the correct local adress (generally something like 192.168.X.Y, the same as the one used for port forwarding).

It's in : SETTINGS -> MULTIPLAYER -> Use IP.

 

Good luck !! 

Edited May 12, 2021 by CaptainFlemme
Spelling error

[Mikestriken]

3 hours ago, CaptainFlemme said:

The other thing to check to host coop - I know because I had that exact problem - is IP adress configuration into il2 setup menu.

 

You need to be sure that Il2 knows the correct local adress (generally something like 192.168.X.Y, the same as the one used for port forwarding).

It's in : SETTINGS -> MULTIPLAYER -> Use IP.

 

Good luck !! 

WHY HAS NOBODY SAID THIS BEFORE!? Everyone keeps mentioning the ports and that's it.
I haven't tried it yet but I SUUURE AS HELL WILL NOW! lol

[AEthelraedUnraed]

2 hours ago, Mikestriken said:

WHY HAS NOBODY SAID THIS BEFORE!? Everyone keeps mentioning the ports and that's it.
I haven't tried it yet but I SUUURE AS HELL WILL NOW! lol

Well, because this is the General Discussion forum and not the Technical Issues or Multiplayer forum, where those people with knowledge about this stuff reside.

 

You have a very generic problem that can have a hundred different causes. There's half a dozen members above who tried to help, but that doesn't mean we know all about everything. I for one, despite my experience with ICT support, only rarely play online and have never tried coop, so I can only give generic advice.

 

We try to help you - we honestly do. But that doesn't mean we can solve everything instantly 

[DD_Arthur]

4 hours ago, Mikestriken said:

WHY HAS NOBODY SAID THIS BEFORE!? 

 

Well you know what IT help desks are like!

[PatrickAWlson]

Something I always come back to when things like this happen: is the setup process documented?  If yes, I would like to know where so I can point people to the docs.

[Mikestriken]

7 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Well, because this is the General Discussion forum and not the Technical Issues or Multiplayer forum, where those people with knowledge about this stuff reside.

 

You have a very generic problem that can have a hundred different causes. There's half a dozen members above who tried to help, but that doesn't mean we know all about everything. I for one, despite my experience with ICT support, only rarely play online and have never tried coop, so I can only give generic advice.

 

We try to help you - we honestly do. But that doesn't mean we can solve everything instantly 

Well what I meant was when people ask if your ports are forwarded they should also mention this lol
But I also just wanted to say this may have solved the issue (don't know yet as I haven't tried it yet) ? the question was more rhetorical than anything, wasn't trying to sound mad ? 

Edited May 13, 2021 by Mikestriken

[Mikestriken]

Well....

16 hours ago, CaptainFlemme said:

The other thing to check to host coop - I know because I had that exact problem - is IP adress configuration into il2 setup menu.

 

You need to be sure that Il2 knows the correct local adress (generally something like 192.168.X.Y, the same as the one used for port forwarding).

It's in : SETTINGS -> MULTIPLAYER -> Use IP.

 

Good luck !! 

You sir, hit the nail on the head as it were

 

Problem number 2... This question isn't exactly appropriate for this SPECIFIC thread so please point me to a more suitable thread that is still relevant to PWCG's mod.

The problem is that I am getting Server Overload errors while playing the game w/ my friend.

 

My specs:

 - i9 9900K @ 3.6 GHz

 - GTX 1070

 - 32 Gb RAM

ISP: Spectrum w/ 343 Mbps down, 41 Mbps up at 15 ms latency

 

With this setup I figured that it would be fine to run the game with as high a density as I may want and ya kr, be exorbitant with my use of system resources.

 

Is there a way for me to dedicate more resources to the server, I don't see a way for me to do that in the menus of IL-2. Is it possible to create a separate application to run a dedicated server where I can dedicate more resources? Is the server being overloaded because my upload/download/ping isn't good enough and I shouldn't care about finding a way to dedicate more resources to the server as it won't fix anything?

 

Thanks ?

[coconut]

5 minutes ago, Mikestriken said:

With this setup I figured that it would be fine to run the game with as high a density as I may want and ya kr, be exorbitant with my use of system resources.

No, AIs and in particular bombers are very resource-heavy. It's a CPU issue, not a memory or bandwidth issue. Reduce the ground objects and/or plane density, or overclock your CPU if you haven't already.

[CaptainFlemme]

28 minutes ago, Mikestriken said:

You sir, hit the nail on the head as it were

 

 

Glad it worked ? !!! For your second problem, IA fighters & especially bombers put a strain on the system - you need to try what are your system limits. But with your setup it should be quite good  !

[BlitzPig_EL]

Don't worry too much about the server overload message.  I get it all the time when I host DFs for the BlitzPigs.  I have lots of things going on in the missions, so this message is a constant thing.  We just keep playing and ignore it.

[AEthelraedUnraed]

1 hour ago, Mikestriken said:

Is there a way for me to dedicate more resources to the server, I don't see a way for me to do that in the menus of IL-2. Is it possible to create a separate application to run a dedicated server where I can dedicate more resources? 

I have no experience with it, but it should be possible. From JimTM's mission manual, page 167:

 

You can install and update a free dedicated server (called a "DServer") to run multiplayer missions. You can install the server on a remote PC or on a local PC, including the same PC that IL-2 Sturmovik runs on.
Note: 
• There is already a DServer in your IL-2 Sturmovik game directory under \bin\game. However, you cannot run that server and fly IL-2 Sturmovik at the same time. By installing a separate DServer, you can run it and IL-2 Sturmovik at the same time. If you just want to run the DServer included with IL-2 Sturmovik, proceed to Configure a Multiplayer Mission Server to Run Missions (pg. 169).
• Running IL-2 Sturmovik and a DServer at the same time, on the same PC, can reduce the DServer performance. Performance reductions can cause visual problems and other adverse effects in the mission. The more complex the mission and the more players that join, the more the DServer performance is reduced.

 

For details how to obtain this program and the account, read the mission editor manual:

 

[PatrickAWlson]

2 hours ago, Mikestriken said:

Well....

You sir, hit the nail on the head as it were

 

Problem number 2... This question isn't exactly appropriate for this SPECIFIC thread so please point me to a more suitable thread that is still relevant to PWCG's mod.

The problem is that I am getting Server Overload errors while playing the game w/ my friend.

 

My specs:

 - i9 9900K @ 3.6 GHz

 - GTX 1070

 - 32 Gb RAM

ISP: Spectrum w/ 343 Mbps down, 41 Mbps up at 15 ms latency

 

With this setup I figured that it would be fine to run the game with as high a density as I may want and ya kr, be exorbitant with my use of system resources.

 

Is there a way for me to dedicate more resources to the server, I don't see a way for me to do that in the menus of IL-2. Is it possible to create a separate application to run a dedicated server where I can dedicate more resources? Is the server being overloaded because my upload/download/ping isn't good enough and I shouldn't care about finding a way to dedicate more resources to the server as it won't fix anything?

 

Thanks ?

 

If it's a PWCG mission that you are running, I personally never use high air density.  I have a similar CPU and 2080.  Great Battles is very CPU bound.  I find medium air density offers more than enough air activity.  If I am doing bomber or ground attack careers I prefer low.  High ground density is not as taxing but still probably too much.  

 

Short version - try medium air density.  

[Mikestriken]

22 hours ago, coconut said:

No, AIs and in particular bombers are very resource-heavy. It's a CPU issue, not a memory or bandwidth issue. Reduce the ground objects and/or plane density, or overclock your CPU if you haven't already.

I will try overclocking and seeing if I can get away with just this.

20 hours ago, BlitzPig_EL said:

Don't worry too much about the server overload message.  I get it all the time when I host DFs for the BlitzPigs.  I have lots of things going on in the missions, so this message is a constant thing.  We just keep playing and ignore it.

Do you ignore airplanes rubber banding across the skies as well lol. I really only saw 1 enemy AI so I cannot say to much on this but at least when I was flying in formation with my buddy we both reported seeing each other constantly jittering back and forth.

20 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

I have no experience with it, but it should be possible. From JimTM's mission manual, page 167:

 

You can install and update a free dedicated server (called a "DServer") to run multiplayer missions. You can install the server on a remote PC or on a local PC, including the same PC that IL-2 Sturmovik runs on.
Note: 
• There is already a DServer in your IL-2 Sturmovik game directory under \bin\game. However, you cannot run that server and fly IL-2 Sturmovik at the same time. By installing a separate DServer, you can run it and IL-2 Sturmovik at the same time. If you just want to run the DServer included with IL-2 Sturmovik, proceed to Configure a Multiplayer Mission Server to Run Missions (pg. 169).
• Running IL-2 Sturmovik and a DServer at the same time, on the same PC, can reduce the DServer performance. Performance reductions can cause visual problems and other adverse effects in the mission. The more complex the mission and the more players that join, the more the DServer performance is reduced.

 

For details how to obtain this program and the account, read the mission editor manual:

 

Thanks, I am looking into this. I submitted a support ticket asking for a 2nd copy of the game for free to install another IL-2 installation to run the DSever in conjunction with first installation running the game (following the manual's steps). This is only valid if it allows me to dedicate more resources than usual to the game but still worth a try, thanks!

19 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

 

If it's a PWCG mission that you are running, I personally never use high air density.  I have a similar CPU and 2080.  Great Battles is very CPU bound.  I find medium air density offers more than enough air activity.  If I am doing bomber or ground attack careers I prefer low.  High ground density is not as taxing but still probably too much.  

 

Short version - try medium air density.  

Interesting to know that increased ground clutter won't tax my system as much; I assume this is because a lot could be static objects such as AAA batteries/Howitzers which don't require the CPU to constantly calculate parameters that would impact the position of the thing.
 

I have changed the Air Density to medium, but I want to try Overclocking my CPU to see if that solves it; even if it works I may find that your recommendations are better however, I want to see if my PC can run it ?

 

I do have 2 more questions for you but I will ask them in other threads.

 

Thanks everyone for your help, it has been invaluable!

And Patrick your mod is AWESOME! Thanks SO MUCH!

Edited May 14, 2021 by Mikestriken

[BlitzPig_EL]

I don't get rubber banding very often, it mostly happens when one of our international members is having a bad internet day.

 

Umm...  active ground units, like AAA, trucks, tanks, etc... most definitely are a draw on your machine when hosting.  I will advise that more the more RAM you have the better.  In my experience, if you want to host on your own machine, 32gigs is the requirement.  I could not run the kinds of missions I like to make with 16gigs.

Edited May 14, 2021 by BlitzPig_EL

[Mikestriken]

9 hours ago, BlitzPig_EL said:

I don't get rubber banding very often, it mostly happens when one of our international members is having a bad internet day.

 

Umm...  active ground units, like AAA, trucks, tanks, etc... most definitely are a draw on your machine when hosting.  I will advise that more the more RAM you have the better.  In my experience, if you want to host on your own machine, 32gigs is the requirement.  I could not run the kinds of missions I like to make with 16gigs.

I have 32 Gbs, how do I dedicate more to the server? or is it automatic?

[BlitzPig_EL]

No idea.  All I know is that when I had 16, I could only host the smaller maps, with limited numbers of AI.  Going to 32 has totally opened up the game.  Oh, I don't use the DServer.  I just host directly from the machine I play on.

 

I toyed with the idea of a second machine to host on, but just cannot justify the expense of another high end machine to host on the weekends for the small numbers of the BlitzPigs that still "fly".

[Beebop]

On 5/12/2021 at 1:27 PM, Mikestriken said:

WHY HAS NOBODY SAID THIS BEFORE!?

"I'm sorry, my responses are limited.  You must ask the right question"  - Dr. Alfred Lanning

[71st_AH_Rob_XR-R]

On 5/12/2021 at 2:42 AM, Mikestriken said:

On a side note is there a way for me to host a server on the same computer but as a different application (like how one would make a minecraft server lol) I would like to try that if possible to solve this problem.

Yes, use the DServer.exe launcher, great application in your bin folder IIRC.