Can the mappers that know how to put all of the relevant files in the .bsp show the other mappers how to do the same thing?

The reason I am asking this is because of the .bz2 compression thingy. For those of us who want to run your custom maps on our servers it's a whole lot easier to zip up and convert a single .bsp file than all of the miscellanous files and make sure we put them all in the right places again.

Thanks,

JCC

I've never seen bz2 files in DOD - are you sure you're not confusing DOD with BIA? bz2 files are the compressed installation files for BIA:EiB.

We use bz2 map files on our server as the compression greatly decreases the download time for clients who do not have a map. Also, you'll notice the smart server admins store map files on a separate box so that those clients connecting and downloading do not adversely affect the server bandwith load for others already playing on the server. Win-Win w/bz2 compared to old method.

Uvhausen

We also use .bz2 format on our server. It works great.

Yep b2z rocks, look for a tool called csrsc, it checks your webserver for any files that are missing and copies them from game server and converts to b2z on the way.

We have dod_dust on our source server which is around 130MB in uncompressed form but still get a server to fill with it on as due to fast downloads and big file compression it doesnt take too long to get it down.

When I look up csrsc in Google it says it's a trojan and a virus.

Where did you get the program? It sounds like a nice program. However, I'm a little leary about looking for it after reading up on csrsc.exe

JCC

can mappers release maps as .bz2? i don't even know how they work or what they do, besides being a sort of compression format. i did read somewhere though that servers automatically zip maps up as a .bz2 and then convert it back to bsp on the player's pc, if that's how it works. if it reduces filesizes i'd obviously want to release a map this way, instead of a 60mb bsp.

I'd be happy if mappers used pakrat or some similar program and packed all their stuff into the bsp. That would make it a little easier for server ops to install the maps on our servers. We just need to bz2 your bsp and upload it.

But in all honesty (that spelled right?) even if you don't its not that hard to install the maps. People are getting lazier now a days. Next thing you know they'll want mappers to upload their maps directly to their servers. :D Ok just kidding there. Seriously though it was a lot tougher installing maps for DoD 1.3 . I haven't had a hard problem with any maps for source yet. Except maybe figuring out the .res file problem with verdun_b3 but that wasn't that hard. You mappers do all the hard parts by designing and making the maps.

Originally posted by Jimmy Crack Cor
When I look up csrsc in Google it says it's a trojan and a virus.

Where did you get the program? It sounds like a nice program. However, I'm a little leary about looking for it after reading up on csrsc.exe

JCC

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=294849&highlight=csrsc


No virus, just a really handy little app

No, mappers shouldn't distribute anything in bzip2 format. It's solely the job of server administrators to compress their files if they feel inclined.

If you're worried that server administrators will be turned off because they have to compress the billion files that your map is comprised of, you're releasing it incorrectly. You should be using bspzip and distributing just a bsp file.

Edit: Oh hell, I read this wrong. that CSRC thing is probably adequate, but if you're really concerned, you can use bzip2 itself, which you can download from www.bzip.org.

Originally posted by [SAS]==Colster==
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=294849&highlight=csrsc


No virus, just a really handy little app

Thanks for clearing that up, and for the link!

JCC

How do I make the bsp a bz2 if i dont own the server. Like i just give the map to my friend who owns the server. Also will the bz2 make it easier to upload to the servers ftp or w/e.

http://www.dayofdefeat.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=56906

Also these are the people who make csrsc whatever, and it is not a virus/trojan.

http://brainless.us/

Originally posted by TheMiede
How do I make the bsp a bz2 if i dont own the server. Like i just give the map to my friend who owns the server. Also will the bz2 make it easier to upload to the servers ftp or w/e.

Use the bzip.org compressor to make it a bz2, and yes it will decrease how long it takes for YOU to xfer the files and your server op, and the players who connect......


Using the bzip tool AFTER using pakrat to put all of your necessary models, etc into the bsp itself would now help decrease your total transfer time altogher, all around the board.


This means less internet traffic in general which is a good trend, helping keep upgrading costs to a minimum by using bandwidth efficiently.

Honestly, I can install a map no matter how it's packaged, but not everyone knows as much about the game itself to be able to do so. And making a single .bsp.bz2 file for your map would only make it simpler for your map to be distributed and played on. That's all.

Do it however you like, it's just more economical in the long run to use the single compressed file.

Ozz

Originally posted by Jimmy Crack Cor
Can the mappers that know how to put all of the relevant files in the .bsp show the other mappers how to do the same thing?
JCC

One reason I dont zip it all into the BSP is that my map is already 21MB with the Flak88 Model etc it becomes 26MB,

I think the most popular map so far has been Anvil and that uses the Flak88 as do alot of other maps so the theory from me is that most ppl already have this model hence why I leave it out to make on server downloads quicker.

My custom content like target decal and overview I incluse in the BSP as they are pretty small.

You're absolutely right, the biggest problem with using Pakrat is you can easily end up including files that already exist, even standard dod files for example.

You can be selective and just include your actual custom ones tho, and don't worry too much about size.

Most servers that are set up properly bzip all their files and host them on a seperate server, we have dod_dracula which is 90MB in uncompressed form and ppl seem to get that down in minutes

I understand where you are coming from [oap]Agent_S & [SAS]==Colster==.

I guess I'm looking for a way that the entry level custom map game server can easily add, you the mappers, custom maps with the least amount of struggle possible. I will continue to do what it takes to host custom maps on our server because it's what we like to play. I just think there some out there who will shy away from it as they might think it's too hard to set up.

Remember not everyone comes in as an expert server operator, we all started at the bottom so to speak.

I do want to thank the custom mappers for finding a way to bring us these maps in spite of not having the correct tools(fgd).

Keep up the great work, JCC