Dedicated Server on Win2k3

[technik733]

When I try to run a LAN server on my Server 2003 Machine, I get the following: "Another instance of the game or the server is already running." and then it quits.

I've looked everywhere for a solution to this, and Google has nothing on it. Help me oh holy ones. :embarrassed:

Oh, and hi everyone. I'm new here.

[Vicky]

Hi. Are you trying to run multiple instances of the server and can you run it as a wan/live server?

[{XF}Lowsy]

Technik, H2server can only be run once, unless you specifically create 'instances' with unique names. type 'h2server /?' for more info (although it's not much).

When using multiple instances, you need to run the 'h2admin' program and tell it which specific instance you want to admin.

So check this out and lets us know how you made out..

[Syuusuke]

Is this the only (and your first) server?

I got that error too, but I realized I didn't have that LIVE thing installed...
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/0/5/505dd51c-ba8d-4569-a1ec-40cf2c4ef331/XLiveRedist1.2.0238.msi

Go!

[technik733]

No, this is the first instance I've tried to run, no I can't run a live server either, and yes it's my first server. I guess I'll try installing the live service. If I recall, there's a newer version than that, and I think I have it somewhere on this machine from install H2V... I'll get back to ya. =)

EDIT: No, my bad you linked me the right one... but I don't have time to install it right now.

EDIT: Nope, it didn't help. =/ I'm late now, so I have to run. Thanks, by the way.

[{XF}Lowsy]

It's one thing to get live connected, another completly to get passed the initial error you wrote about.


Just follow the readme section carefully and you should have no problems running the program. Again, connecting to live might be the next hurdle. Cross one bridge at a time..

[technik733]

I can't find anything about this error message in the readme though... or anywhere on Google, for that matter. I'm not terribly concerned with getting live to work, I just want the LAN service to work. Does anyone know how to fix this? :(

[icesick06]

Now did you set it up to already run the lan server as a service on server 2k3. Now it sounds to me like this is the case. You should be able to navigate to the server directory in the command prompt and then type h2admin -lan If you need to know if the service is running go to the run command and type services.msc. You should see one that says halo 2 dedicated server or something like that in there. hope this helps

[technik733]

Nope, I didn't create a service, and I double-checked to make sure. It seems like that would be the problem, but it's not. =/

[Syuusuke]

Are you using the latest files? (Just to make sure)

http://files.filefront.com/Halo2DedicatedServer+Oct+erar/;8787688;/fileinfo.html
^Courtesy of Vicky

[technik733]

Yep, I just downloaded the newest update this morning.

[technik733]

Help? :(

[Vicky]

Check in task manager if there is really another instance running and perhaps kill that one. In case it would be a service after all it will restart but at least you can see if it's really running already.

[technik733]

Nope, there is no process by the name of h2server.exe. I'm puzzled... :confused2:

[Vicky]

Yeah that's weird. Maybe you can provide more info.
- what do you type to start the server
- did you enter a serial for the server
- do you have a lot of other apps installed

stuff like that...

[{XF}Lowsy]

I think it's time to ask for a step-by-step from you.. Start from just after a fresh reboot and after you've logged in. Please provide the full path of any shortcuts you are running, and the details of the commands as you enter them.

Screenshots would also be helpfull of the task list..

[Syuusuke]

Go to Start > Run > and type Services.msc

When a window comes up, look for "Halo 2 Dedicated Server" or something like that. You might want to sort by name to make it easier to find.

If it's there, you can run h2admin -live and access the server as if you were using h2server -live. However if you want to remove the server off the Services, then you can just do -deleteservice -live

[technik733]

Alrighty then... After I reboot, VNC Server opens, as well as a memory monitor by the name of Freeram XP, as well as a little doohicky that updates my dynamic ip address on my no-ip domain (DUC20). Nothing else is running, but I'll post a link to a capture of my process tab in task manager. When I try running the server, I use the following command: h2server -lan
I'm just trying to get it to run a simple LAN server for now, so I'm not even messing with live.


Here's the link.
ftp://technik733.no-ip.com/untitled.jpg

EDIT: I almost forgot I'm running an ISS 6.0 ftp server on it also. Duh... I alrady looked at the services Syuusuke, and it's not even on the list, let alone running. Running h2admin doesn't do anything. When I run the server and then the admin, it looks like this:
ftp://technik733.no-ip.com/untitled1.jpg

[jcap]

Get rid of your memory manager...especially since you're on a server. Versions of Windows 2000 and later do a better job at handling their own memory than any other application. In almost all cases, no matter what memory manager you use, there WILL be problems and it ends up actually slowing down the computer. Get rid of it an try running h2server.

[technik733]

O_o Personally I think Microsuck is regressing with respect to how effective their software is, but that's irrelevant. I tried closing the memory program, and it didn't help. Any more ideas?

[{XF}Lowsy]

Active Directory... Do you have this running? If so, that's messed some other people up in the past.

Or maybe it's permissions. Are you trying to run this as a regular user, or as a local admin? Maybe there's a process running that you can't see, due to permissions.

[technik733]

Nope, Active Directory is off, and I'm on the local admin account. =/

[Syuusuke]

You know, I just found and installed my w2k3 and installed it (along with the dedi). When I tried to run the server in LIVE, it came up with the same exact error (made sure everything was updated, had a different LIVE account, etc.)

I realized that I didn't install the LIVE redistributable thing...and it worked after that.

I've mentioned it and you said you had it already...but maybe you'll want to reinstall it. Also, even though you're messing with LAN, I think you'll still need the LIVE thing because that service is the one that bridges your server's connection (LAN or LIVE) to Halo 2 clients.

[technik733]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you need LIVE installed to run the server too, but I've already reinstalled the whole thing, LIVE and all three times now. ='( This isn't the first set of problems I've had with this server install though... (Issues opening console files, even though mmc runs fine, and other quirks like that.) I might just wipe it and reinstall 2k3 server again. I have to make like 15 backup dvds though if I do. Ugh...

[Syuusuke]

Well before you do so...

Run in Safe-Mode with Networking and try it, if it works then there's something wrong with your 2003 server.

Also what version of of 2003 do you have? (Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, etc...) I mean, I don't think it matters, but it doesn't hurt to know.

[technik733]

Hmm... Ok, I'll try that. It's Enterprise, I believe.

[technik733]

No luck. =( Oh well...

[Syuusuke]

Do you have a vista machine? Try it on that?