How to create a map server for your VU

[Froggy]

Finally I choose not to make a video, but explain in plain text.

 

Step 1: Create a FTP

You can use a ftp server software like FileZilla  or a NAS.

 

FTP with FileZilla server

Spoiler

- create an account ("SBMapuser") and a password ("SbN33dY0u!")

 

-select the folder ("SBmappackages") you want to give access, with read only access.

 

-create a SSL certificat (either by an external, registred Agency, or internal self signed)

 

-in server configuration, select  port and internal IP of the server 

 

-redirect port on the server adress in your router.

 

FTP with NAS 

Spoiler

Pre requisite:
The administrator of the Synology NAS is supposed to know how to setup https and certificates (recommanded for the SB Map Server.

 

- Setup your SB Map Server with a Synology NAS:
- In your Synology Filestation, create a shared folder ("SBmappackages")
- In the option "user" of your control pannel, create a user ("SBMapuser") with read only" authorization over the previously created shared folder.

- Create a password ("SbN33dY0u!").  Make sure that the user is allowed to access via FTP protocole).
- In the control pannel go to "File services" and select the "FTP" tab.
- In the "General" part click on advanced "settings".
- There tick the "Change root folder of the user" and click "Select user".
- Add your newly created user and check "Shared folder:" and then select the proper shared folder.

 

 

Step 2: create a domain name

 

-Use a Dynamique DNS service as NO-IP to create your domain address ("MyVUname"). They have a small program (DUC) that keep the DDNS up to date with your external ip. 

-try to acces to your server via a ftp client ( ie filezilla client), using domain name, designed user account name and password.

- if not succesfull verify that you firewall or anti-virus allow ports and applications.

 

Step 3: send configuration parameters to clients

 

- modify C:\Program Files\eSim Games\Steel Beasts Map Transfer Tools\Service\config\config.xml

 

Between the <servers> </servers> tag, they have to add  your server configuration (start with tag <server>  and end with </server>), like this

<server>
      <url>ftp://MyVUname.ddns.net</url>
      <username>SBMapuser</username>
      <password>SbN33dY0u!</password>
      <SSL>true</SSL>
      <!--  Set VerifyPeer to true if you have a certificate from certificats Agency (CA) only, either set to false) -->
      <VerifyPeer>false</VerifyPeer>

 </server>

- Save 

- Open Task Manager/Services and Restart the SBMappackageDownloadService.

 

Done

 

Edited May 8, 2020 by Froggy
Changed parameters application, as it seems everybody know how to add html in config files.

[Gibsonm]

5 hours ago, Froggy said:

Step 4 : Send the configuration file to those you want to give access to your server.

- overwrite the config.xml in C:\Program Files\eSim Games\Steel Beasts Map Transfer Tools\Service\config

- Open Task Manager/Services and Restart the SBMappackageDownloadService.

 

Done

 

 

I maybe wrong (happy to be) but I suspect that means those people no longer access the eSim one?

 

Arguably you'd then need to load alternate configs depending on whether you want to access the eSim one (for say TGIF) or this second one (or 3rd, 4th, etc. depending on how many are created across the community)?

[Froggy]

You add this to the existing servers in the config.xml

 

If they have already alternates servers, they know how to add the code to their config.xml

Edited May 6, 2020 by Froggy

[Froggy]

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!-- please see the 'readme.html' documentation shipped along the Windows Service application! -->
<configuration version="1">

  <!-- a list of available servers. the child elements to be used are protocol-dependent! -->
  <servers>
    <server>
      <url>https://esgm-maps.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com</url>
      <SSL>true</SSL>
      <!-- optional, if 'SSL' is set to 'true'. Actually verify the SSL certificate provided by the server (RECOMMENDED!).. -->
      <VerifyPeer>true</VerifyPeer>
      <!-- optional, if 'VerifyPeer' is being used. This is the absolute path to the file holding all valid server certificates -->
<!--
      <CertificatePath/>
-->
    </server>

    <server>
      <url>ftp://newdev.hg4vs.org</url>
      <username>mappackages</username>
      <password>***********</password>
      <SSL>true</SSL>
      <!-- optional, if 'SSL' is set to 'true'. Actually verify the SSL certificate provided by the server (RECOMMENDED!).. -->
      <VerifyPeer>true</VerifyPeer>
    </server>

    <server>
      <url>https://sbcomcommunitymaps.s3.amazonaws.com</url>
      <SSL>true</SSL>
      <!-- optional, if 'SSL' is set to 'true'. Actually verify the SSL certificate provided by the server (RECOMMENDED!).. -->
      <VerifyPeer>true</VerifyPeer>
    </server>

    <server>
      <url>ftp://507RCC.ddns.net</url>
      <username>********</username>
      <password>*********</password>
      <SSL>true</SSL>
      <!-- optional, if 'SSL' is set to 'true'. Actually verify the SSL certificate provided by the server (RECOMMENDED!).. -->
      <VerifyPeer>false</VerifyPeer>
    </server>
	
    <server>
      <url>ftp/darklabor.diskstation.me</url>
      <username>*******</username>
      <password>************</password>
      <SSL>true</SSL>
      <!-- optional, if 'SSL' is set to 'true'. Actually verify the SSL certificate provided by the server (RECOMMENDED!).. -->
      <VerifyPeer>true</VerifyPeer>
    </server>
</servers>


  <directories>
    <!-- optional. If not specified or empty %TEMP% will be used -->
<!--
    <tempfolder>g:\temp</tempfolder>
    <persistedjobsfolder>g:\temp</persistedjobsfolder>
-->
  </directories>
</configuration>

 

Edited May 7, 2020 by Froggy

[Ssnake]

As hinted, it's possible to have multiple servers in your local configuration (the servers will be queried for new maps in the sequence in which they are listed in the config file). A future update of Steel Beasts will add a dialog where you can directly configure your local config file without having to worry about XML syntax and formatting (or the fear to overwrite existing, other map servers).

[Gibsonm]

1 hour ago, Froggy said:

You add this to the existing servers in the config.xml

 

If they have already alternates servers, they know how to add the code to their config.xml

 

OK, but its not a simple case of "overwrite the existing config.xml"

 

Edited May 6, 2020 by Gibsonm

[Froggy]

10 hours ago, Gibsonm said:

 

OK, but its not a simple case of "overwrite the existing config.xml"

 

I think you did not read carefully.

I said to add (not replace) between the tag <servers> </servers> in the config.xml , where are all the servers configs, each starts and end with <server> </server> (without final S).

 

For those that have not already modified the file, they just overwrite the file with yours, and they are done.

The others extract the necessary data.

Currently there is not a bunch of maps servers other than originals one.

 

[Gibsonm]

On 5/6/2020 at 11:44 PM, Froggy said:

10 hours ago, Froggy said:

I think you did not read carefully.

I said to add (not replace) between the tag <servers> </servers> in the config.xml , where are all the servers configs, each starts and end with <server> </server> (without final S).

 

For those that have not already modified the file, they just overwrite the file with yours, and they are done.

The others extract the necessary data.

Currently there is not a bunch of maps servers other than originals one.

 

 

Well it seemed pretty clear:

 

Step 4 : Send the configuration file to those you want to give access to your server.

- overwrite the config.xml in C:\Program Files\eSim Games\Steel Beasts Map Transfer Tools\Service\config

 

But I guess it has been superseded.

 

In any case for the limited maps I intended to share (and their limited distribution) emailing seems the easiest option.

 

 

FYI: This Forum software is useless if you want to quote more than one item.

 

Edited May 7, 2020 by Gibsonm

[Ssnake]

Judging from some other forums I could mention, this is a boon. But I agree, it would be nice if the forum supported it better and people used quotes in a reader-friendly, responsible way.

[Froggy]

@Gibsonm edited procedure as requested, as it seems people are dumb enougth not to be able to adapt the procedure for their own case...

 

It's my last contribution for international communauty.

[Retro]

That would be a shame since this thread is super helpful