Server select empty when using wifi (linux) - Page 3

Pep · #1 05-27-2016, 08:08 PM

Zaela, you're the dog's bollocks!!

fb9 · #2 07-29-2016, 04:16 PM

Received a pm request to expand upon the mini instructions I had provided a few posts back on how to implement the middlemand utility that mighty Zaela developed. Figure if one person needs it now then untold may need it in the future. Us Linux rookies gotta stick together! :P

Middlemand by Zaela filters the EQemu server list to only display P99 severs -- often fixing the 'blank server selection screen' problem for Linux clients. Note, one can always just try connecting over and over until the servers do display (10-30 times?); tedious, but functional in a pinch! Note, Zaela has also released a 'eqemu login helper' utility that is similar. Link below for those wanting to try that -- I have never tested it. Classic middlemand has been nearly flawless for me. Can't comment further -- he's the mastermind.

Most folks I presume breezed through this install, but for us rookies it can seem a bit more daunting. This is not 'the one and only true way' to accomplish install, but should you to success. Merely [exactly] what I did, individual results may vary, acknowledge some possible shortcuts for the advanced cool kids. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Step 1 - Download Zaela utility.
Link to Image - Step 1 Download

Browse to https://github.com/Zaela/p99-login-middlemand
Click to download the .zip file. We presume your browser is going to automatically place it in your Home directory /Downloads. (~/Downloads)
If not, you'll need to figure out the 'where' and make adjustments.

Step 2 - Terminal Time.
Link to Image - Step 2 Terminal Commands

Step 2a) Under our user home directory, we make 'bin' directory to later place our compiled binary.

Code:

mkdir ~/bin

Step 2b) Navigate to where we downloaded the utility .zip file. As mentioned in Step 1, it will probably be under your ~/Downloads directory, unless you are configured differently or did something advanced.
When typing the commands, I'll list the 'full text' in the code block, but save yourself the trouble and use Tab key to auto complete text. For example, you can probably just type 'cd Down'<Tab> for this step. If Tab isn't responding then it means there are multiple matches and you need to give it a few more letters. For example, there is probably also a 'Documents' folder, so if you only did 'Do'<Tab> then it would not be certain which directory you are attempting to auto complete for. Along the way if you attempt a Tab shortcut, keep adding letters as needed so that auto complete will work -- you may already have some 'p99' created items that would require you to lengthen the text before Tab works. Capitalization matters for your directory structure, so don't try a lowercase 'downloads' for 'Downloads'.

Code:

cd Downloads

Step 2c) The middlemand download comes bundled up as one .zip file. We will extract it so the contents inside can be utilized. Hint, probably can 'unzip p99'<Tab> as a shortcut so don't have to type it all out. When the file is unpacking, you'll see it scroll a list of all the content being inflated/extracted.

Code:

unzip p99-login-middlemand.zip

Step 2d) Navigate under the newly extracted directory that contains the files. Hopefully by now you are catching on; try 'cd p99'<Tab>

Code:

cd p99-login-middlemand

Step 2e) It is now time to build the utility from source code. Remember your capitalization on 'Makefile'. A few lines will scroll while it processes.

Code:

make -f Makefile

Step 2f) Once compiled, the new program will exist under a 'bin' subdirectory, let's navigate there.

Code:

cd bin

Step 2g) Now we want to copy the compiled program to the bin location we created in Step 2a. Hint; 'cp p99'<Tab>'~/bin'

Code:

cp p99-login-middlemand ~/bin

Step 3) Modify eqhost.txt
Hopefully you know where you installed EQ at on your disk - For me, that start of that path is ~/.wine/drive_c/
I followed the instructions provided by mgellen in the link below; albeit happened to change the exacting path from \Program Files\Everquest to \Games\Everquest.
Figure out where your install is, and browse [or terminal navigate] to it so we can modify your eqhost.txt file with your favorite text editor.

You have already have a shortcut/shell script used to launch the game (again for me, from mgellen post) -- this script will probably contain the path as well. (See step 4 for example text).

This eqhost file comes bundled with the P99 patches, and contains the text:
[LoginServer]
Host=login.eqemulator.net:5998

We will be changing it so that instead of querying login.eqemulator.net for our server list [and having it fail], we are querying our own local computer for that list -- a local list generated by middlemand!

Code:

[LoginServer]
Host=localhost:5998

Note that when applying future P99 updates, you'll need to be mindful of this file wanting to be overwritten if not careful. It won't 'break' anything other than you'll no longer be taking any advantage of all this hard work. Simply 'never' overwrite the file, or modify once again to these newly correct settings.

Step 4) Launch middleman daemon during EQ runtime
One could manually execute middlemand ['~/bin/p99-login-middlemand'] (..which may be a smart way to test it at first to make sure thigns are working!) or even have set it up to always be running in the background, but I really groove on the automated Start-Stop solution provided by mgellen!

As mentioned in Step 3, you happened to follow existing mgellen steps then will have a .sh script that has some action such as:

export WINEPREFIX=$HOME/.wine/
cd ~/.wine/drive_c/blah/blah/pathTo/EverQuest
taskset -c 0 padsp wine eqgame.exe patchme 2>/dev/null

That /blah/blah/pathTo is just a sample -- depends on where you told the game installer to go to.

There is probably more to this file (such as comments), but those are the sample commands that are launching the game.

Following the echo pid/kill advice mgellen provided, we can configure our game launcher to automatically Start and Stop middlemand when playing the game. Formal link below, but cut to the chase for what I have.

p1999-middlemand.sh

Code:

#!/bin/sh
# Launch logonserver middleman daemon
echo Launch middlemand
~/bin/p99-login-middlemand & echo $! >/tmp/p99middle.pid

echo
echo Launch EQ
# if you don't have the script's cwd set, you get XML errors
export WINEPREFIX=$HOME/.wine/
cd ~/.wine/drive_c/blah/blah/pathTo/EverQuest

# Bind to one core of the processor and launch.
# The client will spew a lot of errors, especially every time
# you target a mob, hence the stdout/stderr redirect.
# You probably want to leave off the 2>/dev/null until you're satisfied
# everything is working.

taskset -c 0 padsp wine eqgame.exe patchme 2>/dev/null

echo
echo Close middlemand
# Kill logonserver middleman daemon
kill -9 $(cat /tmp/p99middle.pid)

Step 5) Test, try, enjoy!

Related links, thinkgs that helped me along the way:

Zaela: p99 middleman deamon
http://www.project1999.com/forums/sh...81&postcount=9
https://github.com/Zaela/p99-login-middlemand

Zaela: eqemu login helper
http://www.project1999.com/forums/sh...8&postcount=15
https://github.com/Zaela/eqemu-login-helper

mgellan: middleman only runs while EQ is running
http://www.project1999.com/forums/sh...?p=2166116#170

mgellen: Running EQ under Linux
http://www.project1999.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=14125

Few bonus notes:
As you'll find mentioned elsewhere for getting this working, VertexShaders=FALSE and WindowedMode=TRUE (plus correct resolution Width/Height values) were critical to getting the game working correctly at all for me. Find your eqclient.ini under the install path and make note of the follow settings. I used '....' to express bulk content that exists in the file but is not relevant us right now. Don't delete that content nor copy/paste exactly what I have below; just reference these values and make purposeful manual changes!
Note, my laptop display is operating at 1366x768 resolution. Your resolution may be different -- we'll want to look it up and make smart choices.

eqclient.ini

Code:

[Defaults]
....
VertexShaders=FALSE
...
WindowedModeXOffset=-1
WindowedModeYOffset=-19
WindowedMode=TRUE

[VideoMode]
Width=1366
Height=768
....
WidthWindowed=1366
HeightWindowed=768
WindowedWidth=1366
WindowedHeight=768

One way to look up your resolution is to use the xrandr tool at the terminal.
Run it to get display details. Add a '| grep current' to possible filter out the extra unneeded details;
Link to Image - xrandr Results

Code:

xrandr | grep current

You'll also note I have a WindowedModeXOffset and WindowedModeXOffset offset listed. These are to shift the Window 'Up and Over' so that it appears mostly fullscreen while being still in Windowed mode. You can manually do this via mouse click-dragging on title bar (might not be able to get 'small' enough numbers that way). My initial quick drag-drop approach resulted in numbers like 4 & -15; expect something along those lines in your file at first. Edit them to 'lower' values if you want to get that window perfectly tight against the edge.

The end.
Thank you for your time. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Old_PVP · #3 08-17-2016, 05:24 PM

I can't figure out how to get this to work... I have ran into this blank server screen all day due to my shitty hotel wifi. I am running Windows 10. Are there any quick install apps or do I have to wade through this mess of computer lingo?

Zaela · #4 08-17-2016, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old_PVP [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I can't figure out how to get this to work... I have ran into this blank server screen all day due to my shitty hotel wifi. I am running Windows 10. Are there any quick install apps or do I have to wade through this mess of computer lingo?

For Windows you could try this:

1) Download eqemu-login-helper
2) Run it (should pop up as an empty console window, keep it open)
3) Go to your eq folder and make a backup copy of eqhost.txt to restore later
4) Edit eqhost.txt to have the following contents:

Code:

[LoginServer]
Host=localhost:5998

5) Run EQ

I wouldn't give it much chance of success if the problem is shitty hotel wifi -- probably too many packets getting dropped, which the tool would be no help with.

ketzerei84 · #5 06-01-2017, 09:33 AM

This should be stickied instead of archived, middlemand still works like a charm. One thing thats happening to me though: ran my new .bat file through terminal, middlemand doesn't close because after EQ launches I get the following error in terminal:

Code:

 ERROR   - Mouse Wheel supported = TRUE

Edit: middlemand DOES close after eq is closed, it just stays running in the background until eq is closed.

Ruien · #6 07-25-2017, 11:03 PM

I finally found this tool. Thank you so much Zaela.

I actually had given up playing EQ a couple of years ago specifically due to the fact it took 50+ login attempts just to log in (I run under Linux).

2 minutes after finding your github page, the problem is solved, just like that.

tristantio · #7 09-08-2017, 10:50 PM

This tool is great, thanks - I no longer have to connect to a VPN to get the list (for whatever reason, running network over VPN seemed to correct the UDP problem with GNU/Linux wifi).

Priceline · #8 09-12-2017, 03:11 PM

another option, works for me at least, is to tether to your cell which is connected to the wifi.

whiteice217 · #9 08-28-2018, 04:37 PM

I needed to make the fix to my machine today and figured I would try to help clean up the mess of reposes to just a quick how to.

Step 1 get middlemand
go to https://github.com/Zaela/p99-login-middlemand and download the zip

Step 2 make a bin folder in your home directory "in terminal"
sudo mkdir /home/YOUR USERNAME HERE/bin

Step 3 navigate to downloaded zip file "in terminal"
if like me it should be in your /home/YOUR USERNAME HERE/Downloads

Step 4 Unzip the file "in terminal"
unzip p99

Step 5 navigate into new zip folder "in terminal"
cd p99-login-middlemand-master

Step 6 Make the file "in terminal"
make -f Makefile

Step 7 Move new file to the new bin folder "in terminal"
mv p99-login-middlemand /home/YOUR USERNAME HERE/bin

Step 8 modify eqhost "in terminal"
My location may be different then yours. But you need to go into your everquest folder under your wine directory. Below is an example.
sudo nano /home/YOUR USERNAME HERE/.wine/drive_c/'Program Files'/Everquest/eqhost.txt
Once here you should see

[LoginServer]
Host=login.eqemulator.net:5998

change it to

[LoginServer]
Host=localhost:5998

then save

Step 9 run EQ and then middlemand together
Launch EQ, then before login start middlemand by using terminal and this command ./home/YOUR USERNAME HERE/bin/p99-login-middlemand

Step 9.1 (Easy start mode) Run EQ and Middlemand at the same time with a single click
If like me you have a desktop icon for EQ you can have middlemand launch with it. Just edit your .sh for eq . You simply need to point the first section to middlemand and the second section to your EQ.exe. You can use the same commands just make sure you update your paths correctly

example

#!/bin/bash
/home/YOUR USERNAME HERE/bin/p99-login-middlemand &
echo $! >/tmp/p99middle.pid
cd /home/YOUR USERNAME HERE/.wine/drive_c/'Program Files'/Everquest
taskset -c 0 padsp wine eqgame.exe patchme 2>/dev/null
kill -9 $(cat /tmp/p99middle.pid)

update this part to your middlemand path
/home/YOUR USERNAME HERE/bin/p99-login-middlemand &

update this part to your eqgame.exe patchme path
cd /home/YOUR USERNAME HERE/.wine/drive_c/'Program Files'/Everquest
taskset -c 0 padsp wine eqgame.exe patchme 2>/dev/null

That's it. Now you can double click your EQ Icon and see the project 1999 servers while connected to wifi. I'll see you in Norrath

I want to mention those that helped me figure this out. I based much of this update on there hard work

fb9: Thanks for the expanded version. I did use parts of it in this update
Zaela: Thanks for the middlemand program. without it this wouldn't be possible
mgellan: Thanks for the directions for the .sh update

Hezron · #10 09-03-2018, 06:43 PM

I stuck at step 6 and a complete linux newb using mint.
When I try to use the Makefile command I get the following error code:

Code:

cc -c -o build/main.o src/main.c -O2 -Wall -Wno-strict-aliasing
In file included from src/connection.h:5:0,
                 from src/main.c:2:
src/netcode.h:10:10: fatal error: errno.h: No such file or directory
 #include <errno.h>
          ^~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
Makefile:30: recipe for target 'build/main.o' failed
make: *** [build/main.o] Error 1

I don't know where to go from here?