FSopen Server

With GameSpy no longer working I've tried hard to come up with a better way to list FSX sessions in one place. FSopen Server lets you add descriptions of what your server is intended for and automatically posts details onto our session page so other players can find your game.

Extra Features

If you host FSX multiplayer games you will know how frustrating some things are. Kids flying F18 fighters when you want to control Heathrow, players broadcasting on all frequencies or just shouting at random. We wrote FSopen Server to help fix all these problems leaving you to enjoy your session. The extra features are free for up to 10 users, after that your session continues to be listed but the extra features are disabled.
NEW TeamSpeak3 link to change channels automatically.
ATIS can now be used in sessions.
Runway Guard. Kick players spawning on runways.
Bandwidth monitor. Check you're not overloading your connection.
Create hop lists for players to fly along.
Highlight and autokick planes that use to much bandwidth.
Record an announcemnt to play back to users joining your session.
Retrieve the latest Metar for any airport.
Autokick pilots spawning at an airport controlled by ATC
Pilot assitant and flight strips now work in any FSOpen session
Auto kick players broadcasting on all frequencies
Flight plans can now be filed
View your players on google maps.
Embed maps and reports into your own web site.
Auto kick players attacking your server by injecting planes.
Auto close any friend requests
Auto post message every 60 seconds
Auto close any friends requests
Add active ATC info into messages
Assign admin privelages to other players
Admins can kick players from within chat
Display a list of last 5 people to talk
Gliders are auto-kicked on joining
Choose if you want to auto kick extras/F-18s/Trikes or any other standars fsx plane
Players can check their callsign
Permantly ban players based on their Gamespy or IP address.

Requirements

Firstly you need to sign up to be a member on this web site by downloading pilot assistant. You will need a userid and password to start the software.
Ideally the software works best if you run your fsx server on a dedicated PC. Chat commands will not work from the machine that is hosting the software.
The software works by intercepting network traffic to and from the fsx host. To enable this to work you need to install a low level driver first.
Download the appropriate version of WinPcap from here

When you have installed WinPcap, and probably re-booted your PC, then you can install FSopen server from this link

Instructions

The software itself is very easy to use.
Once running the software will listen for player activity. When a player joins you will see them listed in the application.
Important: Start the server before you start your session. If a player joins before you start then they will not be listed
To grant yourself or others admin rights just click on admin against the GamespyID.
After that all other commands are proccessed via the chat window in fsx.


This is a list of all the available commands and how they work.

Command	Description	Example
!Help or !H	Lists all the available commands. If you are not sure what the listed command does typing just the command often tells you.	!Help
!Callsign or !C	Will show you your callsign as seen by ATC. Normally this is the first 3 characters of your airline plus the flight number. If you choose none for your airline this will be your tail number. If you leave your tailnumber blank then ATC will see you as your GamespyID and I'd question if you are in the right server!	!C
!Mic or !M	Lists the last 5 people who transmitted voice in the session and how long ago they last spoke. ATC use to identify users speaking with incorrect callsigns or idiots.	!M
!Tower or !T	Register that you are taking over an ATC position You should pass in another 40 characters that decribes the location and frequeny you are using. Its useful to type in the ICAO code of the airport, its name and the freq. If you want to make a correction simply use !T again. This information is then included in the information post in the chat window every 60 seconds. Note: Power users should use Flight strips instead of !Tower	!T EGHH Bournemouth Twr 125.60
!StopTower or !S	Removes an active ATC position and stops posting the info in chat. No other parameters are required.	!S
!Flightplan or !F	Submit a flightplan so ATC knows your intentions The bot already knows your plane and callsign so this is not required Using the format below. ICAOFrom ICAOTo IFRorVFR FLorAlt Remarks ICAOFrom The ICAO airport code you are departing. e.g. Birmingham is EGBB ICAOTo As above for your destination. The codes need to be real or the bot will reject. If you are staying in the circuit use the same airport code for both. You can also use CIRC if you wish. FlightRules Enter V or VFR for visual or I or IFR for Instrument FLorAlt For a Flight level type FL180 or F180 or just 180 For an altitude just type 5000. Flight levels and altitudes need to be sensible or the bot will reject it. Remarks (Optional) You may type what you want for remarks. This could be a list of VORs you intend to use, how many circuits you intend. Just anything you might want to pass on to ATC. Note: Consider using Pilot Assistant downloadable in pilots section for more effective flight plans	!F EBGG EGLL IFR FL130 Via BNN VOR !F EGBB CIRC VFR 1000 3 Circuits
!Admin or !A	Grant admin status to another player. The format is !A GamespyID You do not have to use the full GamespyID, just enough to make it unique. e.g. to grant access to player Willow7852 you could type !A 785. You must be an admin yourself to grant others.	!A Dames
!Ban or !B	Kicks a player and bans him forever. The format is !B GamespyID You do not have to use the full GamespyID, just enough to make it unique. e.g. to Ban player Eric1974 you could type !B 197. You must be an admin to Ban players.	!B Josh
!Query or !Q	Retrieve weather information for an airport The latest Metar for the aiirport is returned. These are real world metars but if your session is using real world weather then the information will be the same.	!Q EGLL !Q KLAX
!Information or !I	Lets Admins change the automatic message posted in the chat box.	!I This server will be restarting at 20:00 to change the weather for tonight's event
!Packets or !P	Lists any players slowing down your network/server Restricted to admins. Press !P and all players transmitting more than 200 packets in the last 30 seconds are listed. Standard fsx planes should be less then 200. I've seen some planes with nearly 2000. Planes like this can kill your server!	!P
!Hop or !R	If hops are enabled on the server will give the pilot an airport ICAO code to fly to. Once the pilot lands and stops at that airport the pilot will be given the next hop to fly.	!Hop
!List or !P	Lists the player number and the players gamespyID if known. Restricted to admins. Sometimes users join with unusual names that make it hard to kick like ÐÊÈõ In this case !List might show: 22 gilli7 26 ÐÊÈõ 33 kreg1978 In order to kick or ban this player you could use his list number e.g. !KN 26 or to ban !BN 26	!L

Scripts for your web site

List your server higher by linking to fsopen.
If we do not attract new people to the fsopen sessions page then multiplayer will die. We need to share our users within our community or they will go elsewhere. Use this link to advertise our sessions on your web page, on fsx forums, on facebook etc. The link should include your HostID. All hits from your link will boost your ranking on the session page. I have taken steps to prevent this from being abused! Copy and paste the code below in your web page You need to Log on to see the code.
Google Moving map
Copy and paste the code below in your web page You need to Log on to see the code.
ATC and Pilots on line
Copy and paste the code below in your web page You need to Log on to see the code.
Flightplan
Copy and paste the code below in your web page <iframe width="650px" height="680px" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="http://www.fsopen.co.uk/gwt/shared/flightplan/" > </iframe>
Server online/offline
Copy and paste the code below in your web page You need to Log on to see the code.
ATC Log
Copy and paste the code below in your web page You need to Log on to see the code.

FAQ

Nothing works
Check fsx is using the standard ports of 6112 to 6122. You should never need to change this. Players connecting to you also need to use the same ports.

Players can't connect
Make sure the server and players wanting to connect have installed service packs 1 & 2 or are using the acceleration pack.

Players still can't connect
Tell your players to use the standard ports 6112 to 6122 as well. People change them due to mis-information on the interweb.

Players still can't connect
People connect to your external IP address. This gets as far as your router. You should manually configure your router to forward incoming UDP ports 6112 to 6122 to the internal address of your fsx server. It is best to assign an address that doesn't change on your server so the rule doesn't either.
It is important you don't open everything or use DMZ settings etc or your risking any machines on your home network to attack.
Drop me an email if you need help with this for a small fee.

Players still can't connect

Check that your firewall on your server is letting UDP 6112 to 6122 in and out.

The bot is not posting information
The bot works by simulating mouse clicks and keystrokes. I noticed that an active Teamviewer session can stop the bot from working. This will be because both FSOpen server and teamviewer are trying to control the mouse's position.

Bot not responding to commands
The bot only listens to commands sent to the server. Therefore you cannot type commands on the server itself.

Players are not listed on the FSopen web site
Players are only added to the server when a user joins a game. Make sure you start FSOpen server before you start your fsx session.

I need a feature added
Drop me an email at dave at fsopen.co.uk.

Change Log

Date	Change
30/7/13	Addded optino to allow gliders into a session.
10/1/13	Launched TeamSpeak3 link.
15/12/12	Added !Information command for admins.
12/12/12	Added weather types to session information.
10/12/12	Ability for hosts to add web addess, connection details for TeamSpeak etc
1/11/12	Added feature to allow sessions using missiles etc.
10/10/12	Added Runway guard to kick lpayers spawning on runway
16/6/12	Added bandwidth monitor.
9/6/12	Added !Hops to the server.
7/6/12	Usernames now mapped to flightstrips like full version.
4/6/12	Fix to sopt incorrect kicks on some planes joining.
29/5/12	Fix to bug kicking players when using fsx voice in sessions.
30/11/11	White list added.
19/10/11	Ability to automatically kick players generating excessive network traffic.
3/10/11	!Packets feature added
23/7/11	Added ability to record and play back automated announcment for new players joining a session Added !Q to retrive weather(metar) information Made more multi threaded to improve responsiveness.
21/6/11	Pilot information now updates to web every 30 seconds(Previously 60) Added token generation for admins Host must specify language of session.
15/5/11	System now works if chat window is in un-docked mode.
13/5/11	Auto kick players spawning on runway added.
9/5/11	Pilot assistant and Flight Strips now work with any FSOpen session
4/5/11	Pilots can now file flightplans Option to kick pilots transmitting on all frequencies Intergration with Google Maps Fixed language bugs for Italian, Dutch etc.
26/4/11	Anyone trying to inject planes into your server to crash it will automatically be kicked now. A few other performance enhancements.
27/1/11	Added facility to Ban people forever. Use !Ban command or use console to edit ban lists.
11/1/10	Finally fixed bug where some commands were not read by the server. I'm happy at last!
10/1/10	Improved handling of incoming packets. Prevent paste into info box.
9/1/10	Added ability to auto kick Extra 300s, F-18s and trikes.
6/1/10	Fix to stop multiple posts in response to network problems causing command packets to be re-transmitted Prevent user from publishing session on fsopen if they are hiding auto post message.

Tips for hosting

Use a dedicated machine with fsx to be a host. Host using a control tower as this consumes less resources then a plane.

Use the standard ports of 6112 to 6122. There is no reason to change them and fsopen server ony supports this range anyway.

The only inbound changes to your router's firewall or antivirus software firewall is to allow UDP 6112 to 6122. Another reason not to change from the defaults. If you don't do this your session will be listed in red in gamespy. All other connections are outbound only and this is normally allowed by default for firewalls.

On your server turn all the detail down to minimum and 10 frames per second.

Go to speedtest.net or similar and check the bandwidth for your servers connection. Upload speed is the most important for hosting and is commonly only about 1Mbit. Every player that joins needs about 50Kbits which means 1Mbit will only support about 20 users before packets are dropped. More sessions are now using 128k voice but this means you will need about 150kBits per user. Yes the voice is much better but 1Mbit will only support 7 players.

Watch out for non standard fsx planes. Some were not made with multiplayer in mind and can transmit 10 times (or more) network traffic. If you have 1Mbit upload just one of these planes can result in your server being overwhelmed. FSopen server can be tailored to kick these planes as appropriate.

Don't forget about everthing else using your internet can kill your session. If your girlfiend is watching youtube she'll be eating up your upload bandwidth. As a rule of thumb, whatever speed you download at, 5% - 10% is required as upload. Obviously torrent software can kill connections. Don't use it!

If upload speed is limited consider getting a router that offers good QOS (Quality of service). I bought one that lets me reserve a fixed amount of upload bandwidth for UDP 6112-6122. Doesn't matter what anybody starts doing then.

Upload speeds are key to good sessions. High speed interenet is rolling out and some of the upload speeds are just awsome! If you're really serious look at hosting with an isp but that's very expensive.

Where bandwitdth is tight, disable the sharing of aircraft.

Any questions or suggestions please use the forum on this web site.