Can I get help setting up a remote linux q2 server?

[beanstorm]

Can I get help setting up a remote linux q2 server please? 

[QwazyWabbit]

A lot depends on your hosting environment. What version of Linux is it?
Do you have shell access or is it all predetermined scripts and web access?
You will definitely need FTP access if they don't provide the Quake 2 binaries and media files already.
If they provide them, the best way to bring it up is to start it up as supplied, as a plain, unmodified server with only minimal changes to the server configuration for your personalizations. Once you have a plain server capable of running you can start and stop it to make changes and if you break it you will know what to undo.
Depending on the mod you want to run, you will need the mod DLL compiled for the flavor of Linux you are using.
I also strongly recommend changing from the original quake2 executable to the r1q2ded executable as soon as you proved your first start-up. The r1q2 server is more secure than the old quake2 was.

[beanstorm]

I just checked and shell access is an extra. Im not sure where the q2 folder should go. in public.html or the root? 
I have full ftp access. The host is www.justhost.com if that tells you anything.
 

[console]

I just checked and shell access is an extra. Im not sure where the q2 folder should go. in public.html or the root? 
I have full ftp access. The host is www.justhost.com if that tells you anything.

Usually a web host like that won't offer the ability to run a persistent server process like Q2.  I didn't see game servers mentioned on their list of services.  Do you have a reason to expect to be able to run a Q2 server on this host?


Regards,

[beanstorm]

Usually a web host like that won't offer the ability to run a persistent server process like Q2.  I didn't see game servers mentioned on their list of services.  Do you have a reason to expect to be able to run a Q2 server on this host?

  YEAH. The reason is, Im stupid. I thought because they offer unlimited bandwidth and webspace it would work.
Having said that, I did get a dedicated server running there last night until I messed with it and screwed it up. Cant say for certain it was ported properly because I never tried to join the game but I had a console running.

Thanks for your help guys.

much appreciated   

[QwazyWabbit]

Not stupid, just uneducated about what to look for in a hosting service. You want to look for game hosting or co-location (co-lo) servers. They are generally more expensive than those lowprice, high volume vanity web services. Most co-lo servers won't get you shell access unless you rent an entire server. Then it's a nice powerful underused linux box for Q2. Adding ventrillo or Teamspeak and a clan web page might be an option then, depending on what services the co-lo offers. of course, shell access means "dangerous" to newbish linux admins and the co-lo service might charge you an incident fee if they have to rebuild your system because you hosed it up. Getting them to push the reset button on your system will also cost extra.

Low-cost script based game servers are also available and they are more resistant to newb tweaks but Q2 is a very old game and most hosting services don't support it very strongly.

If you really want to toy with administrating your own server it's best to do it on your home system. Then you can learn the basics of just handling the game as a dedicated server without having to learn a whole lot of Linux commands at the same time. If you have a spare box, you can load Linux onto it and do it all there for free. A wideband connection and a dynamic DNS addressing service and you can host your own server depending on the TOS from your ISP. Best not to ask them any direct questions about it though. Most ISPs don't slap you with TOS violations unless you are really high profile on their traffic monitors.

[beanstorm]

I was coming to that conclusion. I dont pay for that host and I do have a spare pc
Thanks again, You guys are awesome.