No .SDS file after saving mission

[LachenKrieg]

Cannot find the .SDS file after saving a Deathmatch mission. All the other files seem to be stored in the /Dogfight folder with no .SDS file. Any suggestions?

[DD_FT-]

The .SDS file is a config file for the dedicated server. 

It usually sits in Multiplayer folder, but can be stored elsewhere (I think)

You can edit it in Notepad, but it's usually created via dserver.exe

 

It basically lists all the mission files the Dserver needs to host, and thus can create a constantly running dedicated server, rotating a set of missions at a set interval - time or scoring wise...

 

[LachenKrieg]

2 hours ago, DD_FT- said:

The .SDS file is a config file for the dedicated server. 

It usually sits in Multiplayer folder, but can be stored elsewhere (I think)

You can edit it in Notepad, but it's usually created via dserver.exe

 

It basically lists all the mission files the Dserver needs to host, and thus can create a constantly running dedicated server, rotating a set of missions at a set interval - time or scoring wise...

 

DD_FT, I would just like to say thanks for all the support you give to this community. I remember you responding to a number of questions I had after first joining the IL2 GBS. I am sure there are many here that appreciate your support.

 

Yeah, going back to my question, the file doesn't exist anywhere. I have done a search of my hard drive, and there is no .SDS file with the mission name.

 

At the moment, I am doing a fresh reinstall of the IL2 game to see if that changes anything, but not sure what to make of this.

 

If you can think of anything else I might be missing, I would certainly appreciate the help.

 

Cheers.

[JimTM]

The .sds file is not created when you save a mission. It's created using the DServer.exe application in your game directory under the /bin folder or you can copy, rename, and edit one of the example .sds files under /data/Multiplayer (e.g., DServer_dogfight_default_config.sds). The .sds file is used to configure the stand-alone DServer (i.e., not the in-game server) to run one or more missions. You can find more details in Chapter 11 of the editor manual. You may want to use NotePad++ (free) to edit the .sds file rather than NotePad because I think there are some cases where NotePad may corrupt the file.

 

There is also more editor help under "Mission Editor and Multiplayer Server Guides" in the Il-2 Resources post.

Edited June 2, 2023 by JimTM

[LachenKrieg]

On 6/1/2023 at 9:26 PM, JimTM said:

The .sds file is not created when you save a mission. It's created using the DServer.exe application in your game directory under the /bin folder or you can copy, rename, and edit one of the example .sds files under /data/Multiplayer (e.g., DServer_dogfight_default_config.sds). The .sds file is used to configure the stand-alone DServer (i.e., not the in-game server) to run one or more missions. You can find more details in Chapter 11 of the editor manual. You may want to use NotePad++ (free) to edit the .sds file rather than NotePad because I think there are some cases where NotePad may corrupt the file.

 

There is also more editor help under "Mission Editor and Multiplayer Server Guides" in the Il-2 Resources post.

Jim as always, thanks for your help. It has been awhile since I last did this. Now that I have the server working again I am able to join, but anyone else that tries gets a #10017 file transfer error. They obviously have a problem accessing/uploading the mission file. How do I fix that?

 

Thanks

I have checked the .list file and the path is correct.

[JimTM]

18 minutes ago, LachenKrieg said:

Jim as always, thanks for your help. It has been awhile since I last did this. Now that I have the server working again I am able to join, but anyone else that tries gets a #10017 file transfer error. They obviously have a problem accessing/uploading the mission file. How do I fix that?

 

Thanks

Look in the .list file for your mission, which tells you the exact path and folder that your mission needs to be in on your DServer. 

Edited June 3, 2023 by JimTM

[LachenKrieg]

3 hours ago, JimTM said:

Look in the .list file for your mission, which tells you the exact path and folder that your mission needs to be in on your DServer. 

So this means you have to download the game file twice in order to use the Dserver? At the moment I have a single copy of the game on my hard drive with shortcuts to the game, the editor, and the Dserver. The mission files are stored in data/multiplayer/dogfight, the .SDS file for the mission is stored inside the multiplayer folder. Is there a way to avoid having to install the entire IL2GBS folder twice?

 

Thanks again.

[JimTM]

3 hours ago, LachenKrieg said:

So this means you have to download the game file twice in order to use the Dserver? At the moment I have a single copy of the game on my hard drive with shortcuts to the game, the editor, and the Dserver. The mission files are stored in data/multiplayer/dogfight, the .SDS file for the mission is stored inside the multiplayer folder. Is there a way to avoid having to install the entire IL2GBS folder twice?

 

Thanks again.

 

Sorry, I did not notice that you had checked the .list file when I made my last post. Can you confirm that your .list file contains lines like "filename="multiplayer/dogfight" with the files for your mission listed on each line after "dogfight/" (e.g., filename="multiplayer/dogfight/yourmission.eng","b2f5bbf6").

 

You do not have to download the game twice unless you want to run a separate DServer from the DServer that comes with your game (not the server you run inside the game, which is not the DServer). In that case, you can get a free, stripped-down version of the game from the developer (see "Install and Update a Multiplayer Mission Server" in Chapter 11 of the editor manual). You can install the free DServer on the same PC as your game or on a different local or remote PC. Wherever you have the DServer, make sure that it has the same path and folder as the PC where you saved your mission (i.e., whatever the .list file specifies).

 

I'm not sure how you are running your current DServer included with your game and flying at the same time. Are you using a separate login id from your game login id. My understanding is that you cannot run the game and the DServer at the same time using the same login id. Note that if you run a DServer (either the free one or the one that comes with your game), you may experience performance issues if your mission is complex or there are many pilots flying on the server.

 

Perhaps, go through Chapter 11 to understand DServers better and make sure you are following the procedures for DServer setup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 3, 2023 by JimTM

[LachenKrieg]

6 hours ago, JimTM said:

 

Sorry, I did not notice that you had checked the .list file when I made my last post. Can you confirm that your .list file contains lines like "filename="multiplayer/dogfight" with the files for your mission listed on each line after "dogfight/" (e.g., filename="multiplayer/dogfight/yourmission.eng","b2f5bbf6").

 

You do not have to download the game twice unless you want to run a separate DServer from the DServer that comes with your game (not the server you run inside the game, which is not the DServer). In that case, you can get a free, stripped-down version of the game from the developer (see "Install and Update a Multiplayer Mission Server" in Chapter 11 of the editor manual). You can install the free DServer on the same PC as your game or on a different local or remote PC. Wherever you have the DServer, make sure that it has the same path and folder as the PC where you saved your mission (i.e., whatever the .list file specifies).

 

I'm not sure how you are running your current DServer included with your game and flying at the same time. Are you using a separate login id from your game login id. My understanding is that you cannot run the game and the DServer at the same time using the same login id. Note that if you run a DServer (either the free one or the one that comes with your game), you may experience performance issues if your mission is complex or there are many pilots flying on the server.

 

Perhaps, go through Chapter 11 to understand DServers better and make sure you are following the procedures for DServer setup.

 

Looks like the .list file is complete:

 

filename="multiplayer/dogfight/armor_test.chs","ac4a44f7"
filename="multiplayer/dogfight/armor_test.eng","b2ea3003"
filename="multiplayer/dogfight/armor_test.fra","4f25a123"
filename="multiplayer/dogfight/armor_test.ger","cd4ab096"
filename="multiplayer/dogfight/armor_test.pol","9ddc4ca3"
filename="multiplayer/dogfight/armor_test.rus","a79ade30"
filename="multiplayer/dogfight/armor_test.spa","4e64e446"

 

Yes, the Dserver has a different login from the login I used to launch the game. I first launch the Dserver and then open the .SDS file with the mission I want to run, and the Dserver logs in using the correct server login and password. I then go to the game launcher and login using my game ID. I can then access all single player/multi player modes. I can see my Dserver in the MP list, and am able to join the server and occupy any vehicles I want. But when someone tries to join my server with me, they generate the file transfer error.

 

I would prefer to be able to use the editor, Dserver, and game from a single IL2GBS folder if that is possible. Do you think the reason for the error is because I am running both the game and the Dserver from the same folder, or could it be something else? 

 

[JimTM]

15 hours ago, LachenKrieg said:

...

I would prefer to be able to use the editor, Dserver, and game from a single IL2GBS folder if that is possible. Do you think the reason for the error is because I am running both the game and the Dserver from the same folder, or could it be something else? 

 

 

You can use the editor, Dserver, and game from a single IL2GBS folder, but you may run into performance issues if your mission is complex and there are many pilots on your server. For the best performance, it's better to run the DServer (i.e., the separate free version) on a separate PC.

 

Try opening your mission in the editor and resave it. Otherwise, see this post and this post for other ideas. You can also do a Google search on 10017 in the forum, like so:
 

site: https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/forum "10017"  

 

I don't remember if port forwarding issues cause a 10017 error, but you could double check that. Port forwarding has caused some people no end of grief in the past so keep your fingers crossed. I'm not much help in that area. 

 

FYI, it's best to backup your mission files somewhere and then delete the .mission file from the folder that the DServer accesses to run the mission. This is because that file can be large and can take a while to download to each pilots PC when they join the server. The DServer will run the smaller .msnbin file instead. The .msnbin file is generated when you save your mission.

 

 

Edited June 4, 2023 by JimTM

[LachenKrieg]

Okay, all good stuff Jim, thanks so much.

 

The thing is, I now recall I had the exact problem when I first joined in 2020. I was advised at that time by another member the issue was the single folder, and sure enough when I downloaded it again to run the Dserver from the second folder it worked.

 

I can't say I understand why that is, and based on your explanation above, it should work from a single folder.

 

In terms of the mission size, this is a very basic mission with two FakeVehicleFields 500m apart.

 

Anyway I am really glad to have reached you again, and will try all of the above.

[JimTM]

13 hours ago, LachenKrieg said:

...

The thing is, I now recall I had the exact problem when I first joined in 2020. I was advised at that time by another member the issue was the single folder, and sure enough when I downloaded it again to run the Dserver from the second folder it worked.

 

I can't say I understand why that is, and based on your explanation above, it should work from a single folder.

...

 

I have a feeling that we're getting crossed up on terminology. When you write "run the Dserver from the second folder",  I assume you mean "open the DServer included with the paid game (i.e., DServer.exe in /bin/game) and run a mission saved under \Multiplayer\Dogfight (or a subfolder of that one)." 

 

Can you give the full path to your original mission that did not work ("single folder") and the full path to your resaved mission that worked ("second folder").

 

Given the assumption above, I expected that running the DServer from the paid game on a mission in the paid game folder \Multiplayer\Dogfight (or a subfolder of that one) would work, although I have never done it that way. I have always run a DServer from a separate install of the free version of the game installed on the same PC as the paid game (e.g., C:\Program Files\1C Game Studios\IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles - DServer). I save my missions using the editor in the paid game and copy them over to the exact same folder on my free DServer install (if the exact folder does not exist, I create it on the free install version). I only used the free DServer for simple tests so I was not concerned about performance issues.

 

I hope that confusing mess helps. 

Edited June 5, 2023 by JimTM

[LachenKrieg]

9 hours ago, JimTM said:

 

I have a feeling that we're getting crossed up on terminology. When you write "run the Dserver from the second folder",  I assume you mean "open the DServer included with the paid game (i.e., DServer.exe in /bin/game) and run a mission saved under \Multiplayer\Dogfight (or a subfolder of that one)." 

 

Can you give the full path to your original mission that did not work ("single folder") and the full path to your resaved mission that worked ("second folder").

 

Given the assumption above, I expected that running the DServer from the paid game on a mission in the paid game folder \Multiplayer\Dogfight (or a subfolder of that one) would work, although I have never done it that way. I have always run a DServer from a separate install of the free version of the game installed on the same PC as the paid game (e.g., C:\Program Files\1C Game Studios\IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles - DServer). I save my missions using the editor in the paid game and copy them over to the exact same folder on my free DServer install (if the exact folder does not exist, I create it on the free install version). I only used the free DServer for simple tests so I was not concerned about performance issues.

 

I hope that confusing mess helps. 

Just read the chapter on Dserver, and it is very clear I need to download the separate install of the free game to run and fly at the same time. But on following the instruction below, the only option I have from my profile page on IL2 website is a download link for the IL2 setup (160mb). When I run the setup file, it wants to install the entire 47GB game. How do I get just the DServer version to download?

 

 

Obtain and Install the DServer
Do the following:
1. Log in to your DServer account at http://il2sturmovik.com/ and click the Profile link on
the top right of the page.
2. Click the Download link on the right side.
The DServer version of IL-2 Sturmovik is downloaded.
3. Install the DServer version of IL-2 Sturmovik on the PC that will run the DServer.
If you want to install the DServer on the same computer that you fly IL-2 Sturmovik on,
create a separate directory for the DServer install. For example, create directory
C:\Program Files (x86)\1C Game Studios\DServer.

Edited June 6, 2023 by LachenKrieg

[JimTM]

2 hours ago, LachenKrieg said:

Just read the chapter on Dserver, and it is very clear I need to download the separate install of the free game to run and fly at the same time. But on following the instruction below, the only option I have from my profile page on IL2 website is a download link for the IL2 setup (160mb). When I run the setup file, it wants to install the entire 47GB game. How do I get just the DServer version to download?

...

 

Did you already receive a key for the free separate DServer account (not your paid account)? The instructions for that come before the ones you posted above.

 

I'm not sure if the separate DServer download is any smaller than the paid version. It looks like the paid version of the game, but you cannot fly any planes in it. You can only run the free version of DServer.exe and update the DServer by running the free version of launcher.exe.

[LachenKrieg]

21 minutes ago, JimTM said:

 

Did you already receive a key for the free separate DServer account (not your paid account)? The instructions for that come before the ones you posted above.

 

I'm not sure if the separate DServer download is any smaller than the paid version. It looks like the paid version of the game, but you cannot fly any planes in it. You can only run the free version of DServer.exe and update the DServer by running the free version of launcher.exe.

Yes I did the request and received the login credentials and so on. The thing that it lets me download though is the full game. The instructions above mention the DServer version, but what gets downloaded is the full game/editor/Dserver. If I launch the game from that folder and use my game login, I can fly/drive planes/vehicles.

 

 

Edited June 6, 2023 by LachenKrieg

[JimTM]

I'm not sure if something has changed, but here's my understanding:

1. You login to the 1CGS website using your free DServer account email and password and download the free version of the game from there.
2. You install the free game to a different folder than the paid game (the free game is about the same size as the paid game).
3. If you run the game (launcher.exe or Il-2.exe) from the free game /bin folder, the game opens but you cannot spawn into a plane. You run launcher.exe only to update the free game when the paid game is updated by the devs.
4. You run the DServer in your free game by running DServer.exe from the /bin folder of the free game.

If your experience is different then I don't know what's going on.

[LachenKrieg]

On 6/3/2023 at 4:28 PM, JimTM said:

 

 

... you can get a free, stripped-down version of the game from the developer ...

 

 

I think you have described it pretty accurately Jim. I guess I was thinking the stripped-down version was going to be smaller.

[JimTM]

14 hours ago, LachenKrieg said:

I think you have described it pretty accurately Jim. I guess I was thinking the stripped-down version was going to be smaller.

 

It's "stripped down" in terms of functionality.  

[LachenKrieg]

22 minutes ago, JimTM said:

 

It's "stripped down" in terms of functionality.  

What didn't make sense to me is that I can open the IL2 game included with the free version and use my game login to access all SP/MP game modes to fly/drive all planes/vehicles. I was under the impression you couldn't use the free version to access your game account, but I guess because it is a full version of the game it is possible. It is only when a player logs in using his/her free Dserver credentials that they won't have access to the game.

 

This is the text the Dev team wants us to use when we request a Dserver:

"1. login to your account at il2sturmovik.com/
2. follow this link il2sturmovik...upport/request/
3. put this as the ticket title: DSERVER please
4. enter the text of the ticket as follows:
Hello! Please, provide me with a special account that I would like to use to host a dedicated server. I know that such account would not let me play the game and that it doesn’t have planes on it, and I acknowledge that such account is the property of 1C Game Studios."

 

The question I have is why we need 2 copies of all the files (maps/planes/vehicles) on the same HD? 

[JimTM]

1 hour ago, LachenKrieg said:

What didn't make sense to me is that I can open the IL2 game included with the free version and use my game login to access all SP/MP game modes to fly/drive all planes/vehicles. I was under the impression you couldn't use the free version to access your game account, but I guess because it is a full version of the game it is possible. It is only when a player logs in using his/her free Dserver credentials that they won't have access to the game.

...

 

You can only login with your paid account to one version of the game at a time, so it doesn't matter if it's the original install or the free version. It will allow you to fly/drive. However, your free DServer account is limited to using the DServer only.

 

1 hour ago, LachenKrieg said:

...

The question I have is why we need 2 copies of all the files (maps/planes/vehicles) on the same HD? 

 

You need two copies only if you intend to run the free DServer and fly/drive at the same time on the same PC. The alternative is to not install the free DServer and use your free account to run the DServer included with your paid game, but you seem to have experienced issues doing that. 

[DD_FT-]

Try and run the mission via 'create server' within the game itself.

See if people can join that mission. 

And if so... then stop using DServer. Just host from the game itself. 

 

In my opinion, there is absolutely no point in running a DServer from the same PC as you are running the client from.

(Why would you? What is the purpose? The Dedicated Server is a good way to run the game on a system that does not have proper gaming graphics. Running it on a system that has is... a waste. You are stressing your CPU even more by running it next to your Game - it's an extra process. You can do the same hosting from within the game. Basically.)

 

Good Luck, Have Fun!

 

[LachenKrieg]

2 hours ago, JimTM said:

 

You can only login with your paid account to one version of the game at a time, so it doesn't matter if it's the original install or the free version. It will allow you to fly/drive. However, your free DServer account is limited to using the DServer only.

 

 

You need two copies only if you intend to run the free DServer and fly/drive at the same time on the same PC. The alternative is to not install the free DServer and use your free account to run the DServer included with your paid game, but you seem to have experienced issues doing that. 

Jim, I hope I'm not taking up too much of your time with this, and really do appreciate all the answers you have provided.

 

But yeah, the issues as I said are really just when someone else tries to join my server. I am able to register my server by login with my Dserver credentials, and then log into to the game using my paid game account credentials from a single folder. I can see my server on the MP server list, join and play. But like you said, the issue is when someone tries to join my mission, they generate the error even when the mission is very simple.

5 minutes ago, DD_FT- said:

Try and run the mission via 'create server' within the game itself.

See if people can join that mission. 

And if so... then stop using DServer. Just host from the game itself. 

 

In my opinion, there is absolutely no point in running a DServer from the same PC as you are running the client from.

(Why would you? What is the purpose? The Dedicated Server is a good way to run the game on a system that does not have proper gaming graphics. Running it on a system that has is... a waste. You are stressing your CPU even more by running it next to your Game - it's an extra process. You can do the same hosting from within the game. Basically.)

 

Good Luck, Have Fun!

 

Hey thanks again DD_FT, that is something I have never tried.

[JimTM]

1 hour ago, DD_FT- said:

...

In my opinion, there is absolutely no point in running a DServer from the same PC as you are running the client from.

(Why would you? What is the purpose? The Dedicated Server is a good way to run the game on a system that does not have proper gaming graphics. Running it on a system that has is... a waste. You are stressing your CPU even more by running it next to your Game - it's an extra process. You can do the same hosting from within the game. Basically.)

...

 

There's a couple of use cases:

• You want to test a multiplayer mission on your own or learn the multiplayer setup process and you don't have a second PC (that's me when I wrote my manual)
• You want to run a fairly simple mission with limited players (that's me again when I tested the flag capture scenario from my manual)

Otherwise, it's best to have a dedicated PC.

1 hour ago, LachenKrieg said:

Jim, I hope I'm not taking up too much of your time with this, and really do appreciate all the answers you have provided.

...

You're welcome LK.

 

Edited June 7, 2023 by JimTM