Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

This is a great mod/plugin. However, I'm having one issue I can't seem to resolve.

I'm having a slight issue with Mean Loader when I logoff the computer, the server(s) are also shut down; but then the ML plugin restarts them back up (as if HLDS had crashed). In other words, when I log off the server computer and people are playing, they'll have to reconnect to the server. They get the message that they've been disconnected because the server is being shutdown. This happens on both Windows XP & Server 03.

Is there something I overlooked or some kind of workaround? Thanks.

Least of my problems but wondering if anyone knows a fix:
Even though the "window = show" in the .ini file, the consoles do not show up when logging onto the computer via Remote Desktop Connection.

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

What kind of server are you running? Is it a steam server, or a non steam server? For example is the server run from user@domain\counter-strike or another folder that is not under any of the steam folders?

Also, what happens when you log back in after the each HL server instance has restarted, then log off again - do the server instances shutdown again?

Unfortunately, a remote login won't show the console by default. There's probably a work around but I don't know of one myself. My guess is that there may be a security setting that will allow the console to appear. You can test it out to see if the console appears when you start the process from the remote session - I think it will.

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

depending on where you are running the server, why dont you use/enable switch users, it will continue the proceses for that user and will allow you to go back or to log into theirs, with a lil lag though since almost double the processes will be running... [you can only do this, I think, if your using XP]

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

Thanks both of you for responding.

I'm running the stand-alone version of the Steam server (the one that installs to C:\HLServer, not the C:\Program Files\Valve....).

The servers are not restarted at any logon. They are restarted at every logoff.

Thanks, I'll play around with RDC some more, but I have other ways to access the server where the consoles do show up.

Here is what my MeanLoader.ini file looks like (-all the info above):
All of the Command Line variables are in the Autoexec.cfg (just FYI, all these work fine)
Only difference is that the map is '2fort' and a different port for the TFC server. Also, that's not the real password, so don't get excited visitors. :D

You're right; switch users does work with Windows XP. However, this server will be residing on Win Server 03. I was using an XP box until I'm able to migrate it over to Server 03. However, you can't switch users using a remote connection util, but 'disconnect' (which still keeps the servers active) does about the same thing. You can't 'disconnect' from Server 03 like you can with XP.

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

The "switch" between users is only available for Windows XP (and up).

XP or not, I'd like to figure out why the sick freak's processes are shutting down because they should not do that.

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

Something else I just noticed, maybe it might help you, maybe not. When I changed the line in the meanloader.ini to "Window = hide" the console windows still appear (even after a restart).

I did this to see if hiding the windows would keep the servers running when I logged off. Seeing that the console windows still appear, my guess is that either Windows and / or HLDS are ignoring some of the commands that MeanLoader is sending to them.

You'll guys will be able to tell me because I've done very little programming (I just work in systems support). So I can only tell you what I'm seeing and go to you guys and see what ya think.

Edit (I'm just listing some troubleshooting steps I've taken, maybe that'll spark an idea):
On the "Properties" page in the "Services" Snap-in, assigning the (mean) service to log on using another account (XYZ account) also closes the servers at log off of the Admin account.

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

I'll have to digest this a little longer, but a quick comment is that if you have any mapped drives that exist only when logged in, that may be a reason for a server shutdown when you log off because the mapped drives will dissapear. However a problem with mapped drives should only happen if the drives are being used by the apps which are shutting down.

The "Window = hide" thing is a known problem that I'm working on. I may (and I stress may) have a solution. I'm just about to give it a test and I hope my server won't crash and burn ...

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

I disconnected all network drives on both XP & 03, still does the same thing.
I even tried running the (mean) service in Windows 2000 (fresh install) on Virtual PC, and that too shuts down the servers when I logoff.

That's OK. This is a non-issue for me. I was just trying other options to try and fix my problem and noticed that this setting didn't work.

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

I know the server loader works fine on windows 2000. There's either a security setting to change or perhaps it has to do with the type of application you are running. I have had trouble with some apps that won't work unless manually launched.

What is Virtual PC? Is that the app you are trying to load?

Is the service logging in as "Local System Account"? If so, what are the security settings for that account?

What happens when you restart your Win XP/2K server? Does the loader launch all the apps OK in the background with no one logged in? If so, then what happens when you log in, then log back out, do the apps shut down in that case?

Finally, did you set the Windows server to automatically log you in on start up, or does it take you to a log in prompt?

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

I donno what to tell you there. All I can tell you is the Windows 2000 was a base, clean install with the default settings.

Virtual PC is an application that allows you to run multiple Operating Systems on one workstation (basically running multiple PCs on one PC). Many companies use this app for testing, configuring, and checking for compatibility before they push out an app to all the companies' workstations. It's not a boot manager or anything like that. You run VPC from your host operating system and you can run any version of Windows you want (and even a few other OSes). http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx

I have been using Windows Server 03 (because that will be the OS ServerLoader will ultimately be installed and running on) and Windows XP on Virtual PC. All clean installs with the default settings from factory CDs. I do, however, have an actual Windows XP computer I've been using as a temporary server and I've also been using it for testing my HLServer config. Everything I'm telling you has been replicated on multiple operating systems and on two different computers.

I'm running VPC on my main desktop's host operating system. So I'm not at all trying to get MeanLoader to run VPC.

The Mean Server Loader is logging in as "Local System Account." As for permissions, it's whatever the defaults are. I don't even see username or group called "Local System Account" in Computer Management.

Going into Start -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services. The Service name "(mean) Server Loader" startup type is 'Automatic.' I shutdown my Win Server computer and reboot. Once Windows Server finishes booting up, the HLDS servers do startup without anyone logging on (I also see the servers in the LAN tab in the Steam app of my XP computer). I can then log on to the Win Server computer and the HLDS server console windows show up and have been running fine. Then I click Start -> Log Off -> Log Off, the HLDS servers are also closed as Win Server is returned to the Log on screen.

At this point, the XP computer with the Steam app then says 'There are no servers running on your local network.' If I wait a minute or so, the HLDS servers reappear (restarted).

Also, if I am playing on the XP computer, when I log off of Win Server, in the upper right it says "WARNING: Connection Problem." If I wait a min (allowing time for the HLDS server to restart) and then type "`" to bring up the game console and type "reconnect," I then reconnect to the server without a problem. I can also logon to the Win Server computer again, and still remain in the game.

I have to do some sort of logon to all of the operating systems. For '03, that is CTRL+ALT+DEL, using the Administrator account, and typing in my password. For the XP PCs, it's clicking my name in the Welcome screen and entering my password.

Thank you.

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

each time you log off, even in XP all your processes are terminated, its just how it is. each time you log back it it starts the processes agian, even most system ones...

the only way to continue running these process is switchuser in xp...

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

I can log out from Windows 2000 and keep all my processes running that are started by the server loader.

However I just noticed that the HLDS process shuts down! Nuts.

Everything else stays running, but not HLDS. It never used to do this when I first tested the serverloader. I wonder if its something I did to the serverloader, or if it's something that was done to HLDS?

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

really? hmm... I could of sworn that XP shuts down its processes because each time I log off, if theres a program not responding it wont log off until I terminate it... Ive even watched the Windows task manager terminate almost all of my processes b4 logging off...

But also, botmeiser, check my post in Configuration topic...

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

I think it's prob a change to HLDS. IMHO- Steam changed alot of things (mostly for the bad). I think I still have an older version of HLDS, so if I get sometime in the near future, I'll test it out and let you know what I find.

I know that XP doesn't shutdown it's processes because you can still use a remote desktop util (like Remote Desktop Connection or pcAnywhere) to connect to a PC while it's logged off. I also run IIS on my server (an app that's used for hosting webpages also available in XP) and that service (process) stays active so people can continue to view your site while the computer is logged off. The same holds true for automatic Windows Updates and Anti-Virus software.

I know (mean) ServerLoader stays active because the servers are restarted while I'm logged off.

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

Ok so your saying that when you log off the servers simply restart, I thought you were saying that they just stopped... then whats the problem really?

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

The problem is they shut down.

Seriously though, I have two problems. The first problem is that the "_readme1st.txt" file states with this program...
The second and biggest problem is that the people playing on the server, when I logoff, essentially get kicked off. They don't get a message like 'you've been disconnected because server is shutting down,' the game just stops. As I stated in an earlier post, they only get a message saying "WARNING: Connection Problem" in the upper right. I know most people have no idea that means.

As someone who is trying to get people who don't play CS that often (or have never played) to play on my server, I need to have a flawless server. It's like advertising; I'm trying to draw people to my product, not fend them off. If there is one little thing they don't like or are annoyed with, they're not coming back often (if at all).

I'm getting people to play that probably won't play on many other servers except mine. They don't want to play with people they don't know (at least a first). Not to mention if they kept getting a cryptic message every time I logoff my own server, wouldn't that be a pain in the a** for you and discourage you form playing on my server???

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

The server loader always stays running because it is designed to be loaded and installed as a service (just like IIS, MS SQL, Terminal Services, etc). You can view the installed services (and control them) from the control panel, under "administrative tools", "services" (Win 2000/XP).

The apps that the loader is designed to run are NOT loaded as services because they are not designed to function as services. Instead they are designed to run inside of a logged in user session with an interface. The server loader tries to get around the limitation by running the apps as if run by the system user account, which by default is always logged in (but without a user interface). The INI setting Userinterface = Yes allows the process to be interactive with other logged in sessions.

note: you can try setting UserInterface = No to see if this resolves the shutdown on logoff problem - I have not tried this yet myself with HLDS.

Now, I have some other options to try out which may resolve the problem of certain apps terminating when a user logs out.

The best way to see what you apps are doing when you log out, is to look at the meanloader.log file. It will record attempts to restart a terminated application, so you can tell which of your apps terminiate when you log out, and which continue to run.

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

Sorry. That didn't work either.

mEAnLoader.ini:
mEAnLoader.log:
When it says "Attempting to restart..." is when I logged off.

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

server is shutting down msg is when the program is when the server cloeses without an error. (IE you want it to turn off)

but since it says connection problem, that means the server either disconnected or froze. Couldnt it be possible that when you log off it resets the internet or maybe theres something that causes an error when you shut down, ie maybe a process needed or something

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

I believe this was addressed in an earlier post. Most notably, post #10 of this thread. http://forums.bots-united.com/showpo...8&postcount=10. Please reread.

If I login to Win Server right after I logged off, the HLDS console is going through the startup routine and it's usually at the point where it says 'Downloading security module...' Download of the security module only happens once while the server is running and that is when it's first started.

I also addressed, the test versions of Windows I'm using are base, clean installs. So, if there's the possibility of another process causing HLDS to shutdown, it's something that's in the default installs of Win 2000, XP Pro, and Server 2003.

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

I've confirmed that my HLDS server is shuting down on log off, so the problem is not unique to sick freak's situation. When the server loader was first built, hlds at the time did not shut down, so something was changed and my guess is that it's with hlds itself.

I tried a few options to work around the problem, but no luck yet.

Re: Servers are closed when logging off PC
 

Thanks for all of your hard work.

Please let me know if you do find a solution.