I need to understand something for Lite version's capability

[heng]

I am a new user for SmartFoxServer. And I have tried using Lite version for trial development. Everything works fine except few things.

Sometimes I found if a user leaves the client application for long, server will automatically remove that user. Is there any setting I can do to prevent this?

I made a server application using flash MX, to listen users' rerquests and send commands. For sending commands, I used enterframe method to send out the current status of the "server timer", basically it has 1-100 frames. So all logined users able to follow the server timer. But the server application seems like responding slower and slower every commands it send out. I have doulbt whether this method makes it slow or too many users at the same time run locally can cause this problem also. Please advise me.

Anyway, I like this software very much. Hope I can use basic or pro version. Please advise me which version I should go for.

[Lapo]

Hi heng, welcome.

Sometimes I found if a user leaves the client application for long, server will automatically remove that user. Is there any setting I can do to prevent this?

Yes, the server has a "cleaning function" that runs periodically and removes all idle users and connection.
You can change the settings by altering the value of the MaxUserIdleTime in the config.xml file.

By default it is set to:

Code: Select all

<MaxUserIdleTime>600</MaxUserIdleTime>

the value is expressed in seconds. So 600secs = 10 minutes

I made a server application using flash MX, to listen users' rerquests and send commands.

mmm... this is not clear to me... a server application in flash? Flash cannot act as a server, only as a client?
Could you explain this a little bit better?

Thnx

[heng]

Many thanks for your prompt reply.

The server application that I mentioned maybe not correct in programming term. What I meant was I created a flash application so called a contoller, which will send out the timer's status in "object", so other users' timers will follow accodingly. It works prefectly, but this is not the problem. The problem is the flash application which sends out the object by using

onEnterFrame=function(){serverTimer.s=timer._currentframe; myServer.sendObject(serverTimer);};

So, from here, other users' timers can listen to this object. But it's lagged every minute it runs, seems like it taking a lot of memory and alot of uncleared "cache" running behind. Unless I close it and run that flash application again.

If you feel wrong with my method, please advise me.

[Virusescu]

Why would you need to send the timer 30(or so - depends on your frame rate) times each second? It's just insane for your bandwidth .
You only need to send the timer when the game begins. Each user's application can count by it's own, don't you think?

[goodguy20k]

Welcome aboard! Glad to see a new forum memeber!


Virusescu has a point. You probably don't want to send out that information that often. Can you slow it down? In my reading of your posts, I think you are saying that you want to syncronize some timers. If so, my main question is, how accurate must these timers be? Can you tell us if this is for a game, a syncronized video, or such? If you give us a little more info, we might be able to help you more.

Again, welcome to the awesome SmartFoxServer forum, and I hope you find the help you need.

[heng]

Yeah, way to go. What you said was true. It's not neccessary to syncronize other timers as you said. After I changed to standalone timer for each user...it still meets what I want.

Actually I am doing a simple casino card game. There was a dealer who controlled the players timers at all time. Once time's up, the dealer's result will be shown. I did it because I wanted to control all players with one timer. But until I received reply from Lapo. I found I've made a dumbest mistake. I should make the dealer to track the status of others timers instead controlling all players by sending timer status. Something's wrong with the logic of the game....Now the game works perfectly after I changed it to standalone timer for each player. I still fresh in doing multimedia game... I shouldn't stick to "counter strike" game's concept. I made it too complex. Lapo has refreshed my brain once again!

OK, I have few questions wanna ask you guys.

It's there a possible to make Counter Strike-like multimedia game?

What's is the limitation of the free Lite version and what's the differences between purchased and the free download.

Can I use the free version for online multiuser applications or games?

[heng]

sorry...I should thank to Virusescu. He showed me a way to overcome the problem. I have missthanked to Lapo...haha

[goodguy20k]

Glad you got it working. I'm off to bed, but I'm sure Lapo will give you a running compairison of Lite, Basic, and Pro SmartFoxServer.

[Lapo]

What's is the limitation of the free Lite version and what's the differences between purchased and the free download.

The Lite edition does not use the same server engine of the BASIC / PRO and it is limited to 50 max users.
We created a the Lite as a learning tool with all the basic tool necessary to start building multiplayer apps and games.

If you need more power you should look into the BASIC and PRO. Their features are clearly compared here >> http://www.smartfoxserver.com/products/

Technically there's no difference between the "trial" versions and the commercial ones. The only difference is the max. number of concurrent clients they can handle. The trials allow 20 max users.

With an "unlimited" licence you'll be able to handle many thousands concurrent clients, even on a single cpu server machine.

Hope it helps