Server help

[johnnyblaz20]

I installed a h2 service in my windows server 2003 machine. I can not figure out how to start the service so i can log on with the admin.exe. It keeps telling me another service is already running but i look in services and there is no h2server service running. I think i'm just leaving a step out or something.
Help please?

And how do i create a .BAT file in order to run Vicky's server tool?

[Syuusuke]

How to make a bat:

Get a 3 and a half inch wooden sti-

Oh batch files...

The directory where your Halo 2 Dedicated server is installed...right click somewhere and create a new text document. Name it to h2admin1.bat (make sure its still not a text file...) Then right click it and go to Edit and in that space type (without quotes) "h2admin -live". After that you'll want to create a shortcut to it on your desktop so you don't have to go through a bunch folders just to open it...

Your server...
1) Did you install the latest LIVE update on that machine?
http://files.filefront.com/XLiveUpdaterar/;9237348;/fileinfo.html
2) Did you update the server files?
http://files.filefront.com/Halo2DedicatedServer+Oct+erar/;8787688;/fileinfo.html
3)Go into Services and make sure there's no Halo 2 Dedicated Server running.

I'm having the same problem...if you really need to and don't want to pursue figuring out why it says "Another damn instance is running" then you can create a service "h2server -createservice -live" and you can use h2admin to monitor it. Actually you can use the App to monitor it.

[Vicky]

You don't need a .bat to run my tool, the tool can find the admin window(s) through their window name'.. Carefully read the instructions included, you got it but lost it half way or so.

[johnnyblaz20]

I'm assuming my problem is that i dont have the latest live update. I do have the latest server update though. I created a service but in services it's not running. Actually it says its automatic. I had a DS running on a vista machine so i dont know what i'm doing differant and was able to run the admin.exe with no problems. I'll just go through Vicky's server tool info again and maybe i don't have a problem atall.

Edit: also now when i try to connect to the service with h2admin.exe it says the service must not be started. How so i start the service? That seems to be my whole problem.

[Syuusuke]

You said you created it already...did you check if it really is started in Services?

It should "provide awesomeness".

[johnnyblaz20]

Yeah, it says the "provide awesomeness" thing but it does not say started. But it does say Automatic. I'm just wondering why i can't log on with the h2admin.exe. It's frusterating because i did have my server running on vista before. I just want to be able to run the server app by vicky.

[Syuusuke]

That part about "provides aweso - Nevermind.

As said before, you don't necessarily need the h2admin console thingy to be up to run the app...

Also, when you click on Halo 2 Dedicated Server, does it say "Start the service" on the top left of the window" or "Stop / Restart the service"...

[johnnyblaz20]

When i click on the halo 2 dedicated server where? I try to start service in command prompt and in services. NO go.

[Syuusuke]

Uhh not in command prompt...Services as in...

Start > Run > services.msc
or
Administrative Tools > Services

The one you were in before.

[edit]
Though in cmd prompt, you can type services.msc and it'll pop up.

[johnnyblaz20]

Says "could not start service "service name" error # who gives a.

And did not do anything

I'm thinking of regressing to server 2000 because i had no problems with the server on Vista.

Edit: I dont know if it fixed the problem because i dont have time to test my server but i found out that my router has a problem letting me connect to live. It's the linksys wrt54g. And it said i have to turn off the UPnP and it should solve my problem.

Another edit: Didn't help. I've came to the conclusion that my entire problem is to do with the service not starting. An error 193 shows up and it says the service can not be started. Also i can not get the Command Prompt to use my server folder as the active directory.. Its stuck at c:\documents and settings\admin, thats also annoying.

[Vicky]

In case you want to be able to run custom maps later on, i'd suggest you try running the server from the console first. Somehow it seems that when you run a server from a console first, and later as service you're still able to run custom maps.. and not if you install/run the server as service right away.

[johnnyblaz20]

How do i run it as a service? Do i just do the server -live thing?

[Vicky]

That shouldn't be hard to find, you got it running from a console then?

[johnnyblaz20]

Oh sorry i just woke up on my last post. I can get it installed as a service but every time i try to start that service i get an error. I don't know how to start it as a console. I tried following the directions but couldnt get it atleast. I'm just thinking i need some updates for my server2003.

Also i remember when i had my server running on vista i could chand the cmd prompt to use my server directory as the active directory but i can't now for some reason. Maybe its just because i can't get the service started , i dont know but i'm getting annoyed and i'm installing windows server 2000 tomarrow if i can't figure this out.

[Vicky]

What error do you get? If you (for some reason) can't change the dir of the command prompt it starts in, make a batch file that does cd "\program files\microsoft games\halo 2 dedicated server" or if you installed it somewhere else put that dir in. Then you'd just need to run that to go to your ded dir. Just do h2server -live in the server dir from the cmd prompt to run it non-service.

[johnnyblaz20]

I'm not really sure how to create a batch file. I was told by someone just create a text file and change the .txt to .bat, but if thats correct how do i dirrect it to that directory? Do i put that directory in the text file before changing it to .bat?

Oh, the error occurs when i try to manually start the service in Services. Ofcorse thats when i try to run it as a service.

Do you think i might have something set wrong? This is my first time using windows server.

[Vicky]

I'm not really sure how to create a batch file. I was told by someone just create a text file and change the .txt to .bat, but if thats correct how do i dirrect it to that directory? Do i put that directory in the text file before changing it to .bat?

Lets do that easier, goto start-programs-accessories, rightclick command prompt, do copy, in explorer go to your h2v-server dir, paste it there. Run that one. If you want it on your desktop, rightclick that created shortcut, select Send To... then select Desktop.



Oh, the error occurs when i try to manually start the service in Services. Ofcorse thats when i try to run it as a service.What error?


Do you think i might have something set wrong? This is my first time using windows server.Be sure to be logged in as administrator i guess.

[johnnyblaz20]

An error 193 shows up and it says the service can not be started when i try to manually start the service in services.

[Vicky]

Tried a google on that error? And just to make sure, did you install live and a service pack (if not included yet) on your server?

[johnnyblaz20]

Yes i did but i'm going to make sure it was the latest version.

Are the updates on a sticky here latest updates?

[Vicky]

No sticky, in december was the last update though.

[johnnyblaz20]

I can get it to run as a non service operation but i can not run the server as a service. I'm wondering if i have to start another service or change a setting. Does my server have to run as a service or can i run it as a console along side of vicky's tool?

Edit: I do have the server running on console and that works for me. My server comp is in my bedroom and gaming comp is in my living room. Both running on the same network. I can connect to Vicky's tool from my gaming comp but the problem is i can not stay connected to live long enough to even join a game. Do i need to forward some ports on my router, or change the port my game or server runs on?

Or is it because i'm on the same live account that i'm getting kicked off in-game?

[Vicky]

I'd make a 2nd account for your server yes, gamertag will be the servername. I have port UDP 3074 forwarded to my server. You should be able to use the tool without running the server as a service with the latest version, the only thing that you can't see is the map+gametype. If you'd use a batch file to start the server and call it H2Admin1.bat (follow the included readme) it should work.

[johnnyblaz20]

I did create a batch file correctly but when i click on it nothing happens.

[Vicky]

What's in the batch file and where is it located? (and what should it do?)

[johnnyblaz20]

Well i created a batch file in the halo 2 server directory and i just put h2admin -live in it.

I'm running an autoupdate on my server computer, hopefully that will help me run halo's server as a service,
if not i'm gonna install windows server 2000, or 2008 if you think it would be better.

[Vicky]

In case you can't get it running as a service yet, put h2server -live in the batch file. H2admin won't do much unless there is a server-service to connect to.

[johnnyblaz20]

I think i just found the solution to my problem, I have to edit the regestry path of my halo 2 server service for some reason. I installed the service correctly i'm sure but the problem is that there are no quotations in my service's directory so it's looking for c:\program instead of the correct directory, Either i'm gonna edit the regestry "i have step by step directions to do so thanks to the computer admin at my work". Or reinstall in a new location like maybe c\server or something.

[Vicky]

Not sure if you're on the right track but perhaps you'll get it going that way. If you mean there are no quotes around the imagepath of the server in the registry, mine hasn't either.

[johnnyblaz20]

I agree, it shouldnt cause a problem, but the reason i believe it's true is because a file was created as c:\program. And that is one of the issues that is related in the article i found.

Vicky, i was just wondering what OS you are running your server on?

[Vicky]

Windows server 2003 + service pack 1. No extra things like active directory or such, pretty much a clean install.

[johnnyblaz20]

Well putting quotation marks around the directory in the imagepath worked. I am now able to run the server as a service.