Your CO2 Private Server Checklist

Hey there, my name's Spirited. I joined the community late 2009, and started developing for Conquer Online private servers in 2011. I may not be the most experienced with the public sources, but I do have quite a bit of experience programming for early sources and from programming my own sources. Below is a checklist of what I believe you absolutely need to know before starting a Conquer Online private server. If you're being referenced here, then chances are you're missing a key requirement.

1. Basic Programming Experience: This is extremely important (unless you plan on not changing your server or fixing bugs). All of the sources here are unfinished due to the amount of work required to complete a server project (a year+ of work). One college semester of computer science or the first few pages from a tutorial website is usually enough to debug basic functionality issues. If you have no programming experience, it is best to back out completely until you feel confident that you can understand basic conditional statements and code blocks. The programming language we mostly program in here is C#, but you really can't go wrong as long as you study C#, Java, or C++.
   
   
2. Port Forwarding: In Windows and all operating systems, ports are openings for internet programs to communicate with your computer (and others if broadcasting). Most routers block ports in the incoming (broadcasting) direction, so it's important that you forward those ports. Forwarding the ports a Conquer Online private server uses will allow you to broadcast your server from your home computer. Here's [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] commonly used to assist newcomers with their ports. A way around this is using a free VPN like Hamachi (somewhat recommended) or a paid VPS (not recommended).
   
   
3. Local & Public Static IP Addresses: First, when port forwarding, you might notice that it asks for your computer's local IP address, given by the router. It's important that the address stays static. Usually in your LAN settings, routers have the option to configure static local addresses. Finally, a public IP address is required for others to connect to your server via your router. Find your IP address [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. This address usually changes every 6 months, so if your router allows static public IP address configurations, make your address static. A way around this is using a free VPN like Hamachi (somewhat recommended) or a paid VPS (not recommended).
   
   
4. English: Most high-level programming languages use English keywords to instruct the computer in different ways. Knowing English allows you to better understand and remember what keywords do. Being able to communicate with other members about problems you might be experiencing is also a huge plus, since we are primarily an English community.
   
   
5. Interest & Common Sense: This might sound silly, but if you don't have an interest in computers, it's best that you let your computer savoy friend set up and manage a server for you or that you play an existing server, advertised in [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. If you can't search a file for text using Ctrl + F, or can't find your server's configuration file, chances are you shouldn't run a server. Server owners who have no knowledge or desire to learn how to correctly maintain a server never succeed or end up paying heavily for other programmers to help them succeed. It isn't worth the money when you can support an existing server.

If you're sharing this thread, you may add anchor names to the end or your link to link directly to a checklist item above. The tags are: programming, forwarding, static, english, and interest. If you find this useful, link it to someone in need. Cheers!

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Also some nice points to look at after reading Fang´s post.

Learning how to code is never a bad choice. Once you know how to program many things in everyday life get so much more clear in how they work, why they work the way they do - this doesnt only apply to tech relatet stuff. Its like training your mind to think different, you will be able to analyze problems and fix them in your mind - even if its just imaginary / theroetically - feels good to understand why the line at an ATM is so long for example and not to blame it on the ppl in the line but rather the ATM :D

I for myselfe found more efficient ways to do my everyday tasks by sorting them better and evaluating the required time. Its weird how programming changed my daily routine while not even touching the PC :D

Anyways,

Code.org gets you into coding in the easiest way possible, drag and drop programming with games. I held 12+ hours of code in my area and saw anyone understand the basic principles of programming within that hour (ofc there are exeptions, some are not intressted at all)

Just check out the tutorials, I mean its free afterall.

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Originally Posted by Y u k i [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] Also some nice points to look at after reading Fang´s post.

Didn't that thread stay a sticky for a long time.. why isn't it? :O

Nice checklist, but about the port forwarding part: I'm pretty sure most routers don't "block" outgoing connections. If that was the case, you wouldn't be able to connect to use your internet at all. Are you sure you didn't mean incoming connections?

Some do by default yes, and in some cases your ISP blocks traffic on specific ports too.

Perhaps instead of Basic Programming Experience could be Intermediate Programming Experience since you are far from ready to program stuff in it with just basic experience.

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Originally Posted by turk55 Perhaps instead of Basic Programming Experience could be Intermediate Programming Experience since you are far from ready to program stuff in it with just basic experience.

I started with basic programming experience and started programming NPCs / debugging basic systems on my own. I asked questions, but nothing like what's asked by people with no experience what-so-ever. At a very minimum, basic programming is required to at least understand what the developers are talking about in question threads.

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Originally Posted by turk55 Perhaps instead of Basic Programming Experience could be Intermediate Programming Experience since you are far from ready to program stuff in it with just basic experience.

The first time I used TheCOServer source (yes, it's before LOTF, like 5-6 years ago ?), I didn't even know that it was coded in C# and required compilation :p I had basic knowledge (xHTML, PHP), so I was kind of able to understand conditions / loops... But I wouldn't understand why it wouldn't update the server :p Meh, I think it's not ideal, but I learnt while working on sources and started to understand. A basic programming experience is fine if you have motivation and if you are able to learn by yourself. Else, I would say an intermediate programming experience is the minimum.

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Originally Posted by Spirited Fang I started with basic programming experience and started programming NPCs / debugging basic systems on my own. I asked questions, but nothing like what's asked by people with no experience what-so-ever. At a very minimum, basic programming is required to at least understand what the developers are talking about in question threads.

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Originally Posted by CptSky The first time I used TheCOServer source (yes, it's before LOTF, like 5-6 years ago ?), I didn't even know that it was coded in C# and required compilation :p I had basic knowledge (xHTML, PHP), so I was kind of able to understand conditions / loops... But I wouldn't understand why it wouldn't update the server :p Meh, I think it's not ideal, but I learnt while working on sources and started to understand. A basic programming experience is fine if you have motivation and if you are able to learn by yourself. Else, I would say an intermediate programming experience is the minimum.

Thing is I was talking about running a server, should of read better. :awesome:
And I started with LOTF, I started understanding some C# but was far from creating my own stuff without asking for help. Few years later I started with HTML, PHP, Javascript etc. which quite helped me improve. Now programming schoolprojects in Java though, but I have to admit those few months that I have been working with Java really helped me improve my programming techniques.
And like you I didn't know you had to compile at first, let alone using a IDE. Opened them with Notepad and wondered why it didn't work. But yeah everyone has to start somewhere.
Motivation is the key to success :P

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Originally Posted by turk55 Thing is I was talking about running a server, should of read better. :awesome: [...]

I was running a server at that time, although not knowing how to edit it.

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Originally Posted by CptSky I was running a server at that time, although not knowing how to edit it.

I am pretty sure you ran into trouble. ;o