Windows VM Appliance PT Server

[bobsobol]

Just to note that the idea of making a Priston Tale Virtual Machine Server Appliance interested me so much that I already started work on a Windows 2000 Server Appliance especially for PT Development.

It's base language is Korean, so using notepad natively is realised:-

And that should point out to anyone who is still insisting on using Notepad just what lengths they would have to go to to read those configuration files the way the Korean developers do.

There is a "legal" way to distribute Windows Server Appliance VMs, so I may still be able to share this development with you. The copyright solution is SysPrep.

What SysPrep does is to remove all licensing information from the image before you distribute it. This means that while I can install and configure the server and it's software for you before archiving for distribution, I can also remove my registration and it will require you to insert your Product Key (CD-Key, Serial Number or WHY) before you can proceed to use it.

As it stands, that would require you to have (or find) a key for Windows 2000 Advanced Server, but I could restart with any OS. (I think I have, legally acquired, keys for most MS software) The one I used for this actually belonged to an employer I know isn't using it now, but I don't mind using that because of the "out of warranty" status of the product, and it's respective key. Once it's wiped out, you can use any valid key you may have access to. The question of legal usage is then down to you, and how legally you acquire access to the key.

I chose 2K Advanced server because it is already "abandonware", and because it has advanced support for all the features that you may want in a PT server. But any Windows 2000 is capable... they just may not be as optimal.

I have set it up with Multi-lingual user interface and already created accounts configured for English and Japanese as well as Korean.

As you can see, the user name for each of these accounts is "user" in their respective language. (all be it unaccented Romanised version to make login to any account easy on any keyboard layout ... most illustrate QWERTY mapping from what I've seen of Arabic and Chinese keyboards)

I can, would, and still will (if there is enough interest) add Português, Russian, French, Spanish, Chinese, (hmm, Simplified or Traditional ... or both? I can, but should I?) Arabic and Hebrew and I can add any other language MS released a Multi-lingual user interface pack for. I've installed them all anyway, it's just a matter of pre-configuring a user account to use it, because getting keyboards, DOS and Windows code-pages as well as program and menu translations (such as they are in 2K, since they aren't as complete as the ones in XP / 2003 ... note the menu in Explorer and the Internet Explorer icon in the "Korean" account ^_^) set up right.

I've also added freeware tools from MS and 3rd parties which make things better / easier on 2K. (so, zip folders work even though MS forgot to include them in 2K, and you have Command Prompt options for folders and Hard Link / Junction options and the ability to mount archives and ISOs, read Word / PowerPoint / Excel / PDF etc.) I've also added GDI++, which provides anti-aliased font rendering which (unlike Microsofts ClearType) is actually usable on East-Asian typeface.

I've popped in the popular CFF Explorer Suite, various VS redistributables, configured .Net frameworks and IE as far as 2K supports and so on. I have added all the Platform Debug symbols for 2KSP4, and will probably include OllyDbg as well, but if I set it as the JIT Debugger or leave the MS SDK JIT Debugger I'm not sure. (The MS Debugger is pretty good, and can be very helpful in determining why your server is crashing, compared to Olly)

Now then, on to the poll.

Would you prefer I stop here and port the project to 2000 Workstation, or regular Server Edition instead of 2000 Advanced Server?

I have to ask, because you're going to have to provide the license key, and it will matter what key you can get hold of. The image is over 3Gig, so I'm not posting 3 different versions of it, and I'm not at all sure I can make something like an AIO in this form. (If it was Vista+, then I probably could, but even XP / 2003 isn't that handy from a sysprep image)

If you can access several keys to use, then you can make multiple choices. I've also included the option to vote not to bother. If it's too hard to locate a key you can use safely, then please use that. This will take quite some effort to set-up, and there is no point if people would still rather find a copy of XP and setup on that from a regular release. Thanks.

I'd also like to ask for any recommendations for a good IIS only web site set to include for basic operation of a PT server. I'd like to include only a basic service, so you can develop what-ever you want on to it. So something that can create accounts, allow Clans and Bless Castle, and show SOD scores. I don't need to be filling the image with administrative control panels or community content management and such. ^_^

[Vormav]

I have to ask, because you're going to have to provide the license key, and it will matter what key you can get hold of. The image is over 3Gig, so I'm not posting 3 different versions of it, and I'm not at all sure I can make something like an AIO in this form. (If it was Vista+, then I probably could, but even XP / 2003 isn't that handy from a sysprep image)

Is it not that all 3 using exactly same kernel and files? The difference is in what they install.
I just wonder if there is a way to make all 3 in one. Maybe via some "automated" installation process. Windows + PT Server included. People "hacking" windows CD/DVD to upgrade soft and making it install CD/DVD again, e.g. Windows XP where IE is replaced by FF and have all SP installed.

[bobsobol]

Yup... OEM install. That's mostly how I'm developing the install in the first place. Integrate Service Pack, hotfix, IE etc. Automatic account creation and so on.

I can integrate Priston Tale and SQL install as well. My thought was that if it is to difficult for someone to follow PPT install wizard, then it would be too difficult to install a customised Windows 2000 install CD which will necessarily ask all the same questions plus the usual Windows ones.

Still, I really don't see why either are so difficult for someone who believes they can manage and / or develop an MMO server.

As a pre-installed VM you only need to turn it on and log-in, and the server is running. You can log in to it's IP with your browser, create an account and then go and play the game. Having said that, after it is syspreped, you have to put your product key in, and (presently) indicate your CAL entitlement and such.

The only reason I think people struggle with PPT is that it is only suitable for 2K / XP / 2K3 on an x86 processor. I can't imagine how anyone could struggle with anything else. (if they use the alternative kPT executables) Yet... the vast majority of people seem to find it "impossible" to successfully set up a working PT server right now.

Why is that?

[Vormav]

I'm not sure if XP (IMHO RAM is a problem on 32bit OS) release would not be better than 2K. Everyone have XP CD KEY ;) and its not like this release is dedicated to developers... To users who would like to play with few friends? But words like SQL or hex editor sounds like from other planet.

Why is that?

Fallout 1 retarded low intelligence character returns water chip. - YouTube


PS. Can I use your Personal PT in Linux release?

[bobsobol]

I'm not sure if XP (IMHO RAM is a problem on 32bit OS) release would not be better than 2K. Everyone have XP CD KEY ;) and its not like this release is dedicated to developers...

Well, I probably wouldn't make the server anything that players would want to play. I wouldn't include any of the things they like, coz that doesn't interest me. XD

Rather, I would want it to be a good base that "developers" would want to make a type of "plug-in" update to. It should get a client download link on IIS, and developers be able to update the client and server in their plug-in.

I considered how I could make it easy for developers to create such a plug-in, that would allow reasonable compatibility with those of others, so you could build them up. (more of my differencing tech, most probably)

I also considered XP when the call came down about abandonware. But as XP is still in production I would want to include full WGA and want nothing mentioned on the forum about stopping it interfering, breaking it, fixing XP updates etc. and would want nothing to do with supporting anyone who is trying to use it after they have done something like that them self in order to get their XP key to work... Sadly, I don't have enough faith in humanity to believe that our forum would not rapidly become flooded with such posts.

Can I use your Personal PT in Linux release?

If you mean, do you have permission, then of course you do.

The files aren't much different to a blend of Operz jPT and Shagpubs Mini-kPT with massive merging of translation files. I doubt you particularly want those.

The setup script is mostly about getting SQL and ODBC installed and set up correctly without asking any more questions than absolutely necessary. The source is included, and the documentation explains important parts that people may want to change. So if I didn't explicitly state that people could adapt and re-use it, then I certainly implied it.