CREATE A ZONEMATCH SERVER

~H}{RW~ MasterReaction · CREATE A ZONEMATCH SERVER

I have been collecting information on Dungeon Siege ZoneMatch server. Dungeon Siege support form Microsoft is scheduled to be officially retired this year. This is for tracking mainly and any help or ideas.

Dungeon Siege Mainstream Support Retired 4/10/2007.

We only have 3 months left before Microsoft can tell us that product is no longer supported. I have 2 support cases going right now with them on the zonematch server log in problem. However the people I talk to are software technicians not server technichians and have no idea who I need to talk to. One case is currently closed with a status of unresolved.

I am willing to set up zonematch server for the community and know that the server does nothing more than manage log-in, friends list, basic settings, and game lists. The bandwidth for gameplay is from the users so a good business class DSL with a dedicated static IP should work for this purpose. I don't even know what database they use!

I do not know what tables DS uses on port 2300 or what format the data should be provided back to DS. It is not XML because XML was not really used when DS1 came out.

Ok some information I have collected.
[zonematch]
{
zone_server = "dungeonsiege.zone.com";
zone_server_port = 2300;
news_server = "motd.dungeonsiege.zone.com";
news_server_port = 80;
news_server_file = "/news/news.txt";
autoupdate_server = "autoupdate.zone.com";
autoupdate_proxy = "autoupdate.zone.com";

}
A simple mod will allow us to change the news, and zonematch server.
dungeonsiege.zone.com resolves to 207.68.189.104. When I look up the IP block owner at the ARIN WHOIS database I get this:
I see one piece of usefull information. The admin phone number 1-425-882-8080. I will call them to see if they can fix it and give me a lead to get some documentation of building a DS zonematch server.

OrgName: Microsoft Corp
OrgID: MSFT
Address: One Microsoft Way
City: Redmond
StateProv: WA
PostalCode: 98052
Country: US

NetRange: 207.68.128.0 - 207.68.207.255
CIDR: 207.68.128.0/18, 207.68.192.0/20
NetName: MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-BLK
NetHandle: NET-207-68-128-0-1
Parent: NET-207-0-0-0-0
NetType: Direct Allocation
NameServer: NS1.MSFT.NET
NameServer: NS5.MSFT.NET
NameServer: NS2.MSFT.NET
NameServer: NS3.MSFT.NET
NameServer: NS4.MSFT.NET
Comment:
RegDate: 1996-03-26
Updated: 2005-06-29

RTechHandle: ZM39-ARIN
RTechName: Microsoft
RTechPhone: +1-425-882-8080
RTechEmail: noc@microsoft.com

OrgAbuseHandle: ABUSE231-ARIN
OrgAbuseName: Abuse
OrgAbusePhone: +
OrgAbuseEmail: abuse@microsoft.com

OrgAbuseHandle: HOTMA-ARIN
OrgAbuseName: Hotmail Abuse
OrgAbusePhone: +1-425-882-8080
OrgAbuseEmail: abuse@hotmail.com

OrgAbuseHandle: MSNAB-ARIN
OrgAbuseName: MSN ABUSE
OrgAbusePhone: +1-425-882-8080
OrgAbuseEmail: abuse@msn.com

OrgNOCHandle: ZM23-ARIN
OrgNOCName: Microsoft Corporation
OrgNOCPhone: +1-425-882-8080
OrgNOCEmail: noc@microsoft.com

OrgTechHandle: MSFTP-ARIN
OrgTechName: MSFT-POC
OrgTechPhone: +1-425-882-8080
OrgTechEmail: iprrms@microsoft.com

~H}{RW~ MasterReaction

the Mechwarrior community has replaced the zone match server and we can do the same

Take a look at
http://www.mektek.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=56335

Sizzoragame

sh#@ what can we do Crying or Very sad

~H}{RW~ MasterReaction

No worries yet. It's just a precaution

~FCO~ Mr GigGles

Hey theres this guy that lives near me and works at best buy for the tech help i could ask him and see if he could help with anything.

India Blaze

Yep i saw that gas file too, it is in Logic isn't it? Yes we can change it easily with a mod. Very Happy

~H}{RW~ MasterReaction

Sup iBlaze good to see you bud.

~FCO~ Mr GigGles

Sooo whats going to happen i have seen severs at stores for around 100$

Â«SWÂ»ÃÃŠ]V[Ã˜Ã‘

I won't let the DS ZM go down...I'll figure what I can do, I got some friends that deal with those types of things, I'll talk with them about this stuff, ok...But keep working on it everyone, we need a working DS server.

~Peach~

Locus Go f%$k at youre own Poject craphole site that is screwed up.

Idiot.

Sizzoragame

(-LÃ¸Ã§ÂµÅ¡-)

I honestly love that picture. I have it saved on my computer, tbh. I've listed it as a "classic" on PjBoo Hoo's website.

It's pretty funny that Peach/Sizz has no problem posting off topic to flame me, but can't bring him/herself to spell out "fuck." Also, your website is empty, Sizz.

~H}{RW~ MasterReaction

Off Topic Ninny. Keep it in the general stuff.

Sizzoragame

Wicca

Hey everybody....thnx Mr.Giggles for moving my post...i missed this topic somehow...don't know ur forum very well...
there is much info here and im happy to c it...if there is anything i can du to help just let me know...maybe we can take donations for the server somehow so the cost is absorbed...MasterReaction I was wondering if you could post your post about this in the LGC forum so that ppl know whats going on with this problem...and the steps that HKRW are taking to try to resolve it so that everybody that wants to can still play DS Cool

~H}{RW~ MasterReaction

Hey Wicca.

Thanks for stopping by. Well basically the DS server should remain up untill the product life cycle of LOA is gone.

Then they will shutdown the zone server for it and DS1 is part of it. Go ahead and post if you like. If any good ideas come of it add those comments here if you don't mind.

Thanks.

Wicca

Ty MasterR.....will be in touch and in the meantime iv posted this link in our forum.... Smile

~Naidi Girl~

Master is there a comand line way to start Dungeon Siege for a network internet game. If there is then you could use your DS Chat program to get the IP addresses of the people in the room and use a command or button or somthing to start DS in internet game mode with that IP address. Who knows it would be a start wouldn't it.

I know there are some command line options so maybe we can research this a little bit.
That is if you have time to work on that program. I know you a busy little guy with your little dwarfs and all.

Wicca

Hey everybody.... Master, so far i haven't had a lot of positive feedback on my post in our Forum, but Stand Off was telling me some ideas....he didn't post them though so maybe somebody might want to post to him to ask him about it...sorry cant remember everything he told me but it sounded good Wink

bella · COMPLAIN TO GAS POWERED GAMES NOT MICROSOFT

I am sorry to tell u all this but a few of my members and myself have spoke to Microsoft and Zone is no more. Gas Powered Games apparently pulled the plug on it. it wont be going back up. Now I am praying this is all wrong but like i said we have spoke to Microsoft and they cant tell us anything about it cuz they say zone is not Microsoft it is gas powered games so we call gas power games and all we get is voice mail and leave a message to get no call back. we have posted in the gas powered games forums with no response and we have emailed gas power games with no response ..... it looks like Microsoft is right they pulled the plug on the server for zone!

feel free to contact them maybe if enough of us do they will change minds?

Gas Powered Games
5000 148th Ave NE, #200#
Redmond, WA 98052-5135 US

Phone: 425.522.1600

~H}{RW~ MasterReaction

Hey Naidi I like that idea. I have to look into the comand line options. Im sure I can build somthing that gaters all connected IP's in the chat program and kick off ds with it.

It is all possible. I may have to add a few rooms to the chat server also if we all start to use it.
And if you do complain be sure to use your LOA install ID not DS1 the product life cycle for DS1 has been over and MS or GP have no intention on giving support for it.

Huib-Bloodstone

Give me the big picture here ??

~H}{RW~ MasterReaction

Hey Huib. Here is what I am thinking and what I found out so far.

In the DS chat program I can add a form for hosters to "Register" their host. That would dump into a SQL server table. They could then go in and chainge IP, game name or delete their host registration all together any time they wanted.

Now for the other users using the DS chat program. There would be a button that updates their "prefs.gas" file with all hosts and game names from the SQL server table and launch DS. Once they go into Internet game all the hosts would be listed there for them to choose from with the game names.

It sucks I know but there is no command line option to start an internet game with a specified IP address. It's a start at least. Let me know what you think or if you guys have any other ideas.

Huib-Bloodstone

it is a idea, but i think the zonematch server is a ISA server.. you know a addon with windows server 2003..

It is already there Cool

But it would be cool to create this yourself and build on it... you don't have to use a program to get information into a sql server Wink

just use a website

~H}{RW~ MasterReaction

True but it would be nice to go along with the chat. Plus I could easily have it write to the prefs.gas file with a software program. It could search for the file and update it with the current list of hosts.

Anyway just a thought.

Wicca

Sounds good to me...anything is better than what we have now Wink

We are using ur DS Chat as well...we have it on our home page for download... Smile

Huib-Bloodstone

well it doesn't matter how, we need a easy system so all kind of people can use the program/site..

I can tell you this, isn't not 2 klicks with your finger and you have a working program Wink

~H}{RW~ MasterReaction

I guess DS does not read the prefs.gas file wich is strange because all of the information is listed there. each time you exit DS it does save it.

So does anybody know where DS reads it's information from when you start the game.
prefs.gas has everything from blood, gamma correctoin, game host names, and internet IP games.

Huib-Bloodstone

Lol

nice one

Lets start @ the begining
--

Well i started a internet game and it saves all my ip adresses..

[game_settings]
{
allow_new_characters_only = false;
allow_player_pausing = false;
allow_start_selection = false;
difficulty = 2;
drop_on_death = 1;
enable_jip = true;
game_type = pvp_no_teams;
map = multiplayer_world;
map_world = regular;
player_limit = 8;
time_limit = 0.000000;
}
[internet_history]
{
ip0 = 192.168.1.100;
name0 = "! ! ! ! ! www.araff.net - pvp-nd";
}
[start_locations]
{
multiplayer_world = elddim;
}
[zone]
{
autosignin = true;
game_view_type = 0;
gameslist_filters = 32256;
gameslist_filters_value = 114176;
username = "huib bloodstone";

~H}{RW~ MasterReaction

Yes that is where I was writing the info to Huib. Basically take all the ips and game names form the SQL database and write them here.

internet_history]
{
ip0 = 192.168.1.100;
ip1 = 192.168.1.101;
ip2 = 192.168.1.102;
ip3 = 192.168.1.103;
name0 = "! ! ! ! ! www.araff.net - pvp-nd";
name1 = "! game name 2
name2 = "! game name 3";
name3 = " game name 4;
}

For the SQL table I was thinkin of the following fields 7 fields. The HostIP and game name are only needed to populate the prefs.gas and the rest would just be helpful for other players.

PlayerName
Password
HostIP
GameName
FromTime
ToTime
TimeZone

Huib-Bloodstone

hehe yea

CREATE A ZONEMATCH SERVER

COMPLAIN TO GAS POWERED GAMES NOT MICROSOFT