PvPGN

Infobox_Software


caption = PvPGN running on Linux, Fedora Core 4 | name = PvPGN
developer =
latest_release_version = 1.8.3
latest preview version = 1.99 r384
operating_system = Cross-platform
genre = Open Source Software
license = GNU GPL
website = [http://pvpgn.berlios.de/ pvpgn.berlios.de]

PvPGN (Player vs Player Gaming Network) is a free and open source software project offering emulation of various gaming network servers. It is published under the GPL and based upon bnetd. PvPGN was a recommended project of the month in the August 2005 issue of [http://www.lpmagazine.org Linux+ magazine] .

It currently supports most features of all Battle.net clients (Diablo, Diablo II, , StarCraft, , , , ). It also offers basic support for Westwood Online clients (, , ). Westwood Online support is still very experimental.

A PvPGN Server can be used:
*When wanting to host a local tournament with local users and ladders.
*When wanting to maintain a local community of friends rather than playing on Battle.net.
*For people who want to play on a LAN but with Battle.net-like statistics. Various cyber cafes use a PvPGN server for this purpose.
*For people who want to play on a server within their country or local area, so as to reduce lag.

Supported Protocols

The list of supported clients and their minimum version required is:
*Battle.net
** Diablo I 1.09
** Starcraft 1.15.2
** 1.15.2
** 2.02
** Diablo II 1.09 and 1.10 (and unofficially 1.11b, 1.12a)
** 1.09 and 1.10 (and unofficially 1.11b, 1.12a)
** 1.21
** 1.21 (and 1.22.0.6328)
*Westwood Online
** Command & Conquer Win95 edition v1.04a (not supported in PvPGN 1.8.2, Beta in PvPGN 1.99)
** Win95 edition v2.00 and v3.03 (not supported in PvPGN 1.8.2, Beta in PvPGN 1.99)
** v2.03 ST-10 (Alpha in PvPGN 1.8.2, Beta in PvPGN 1.99)
** (not supported in PvPGN 1.8.2, Beta in PvPGN 1.99)
** 1.006 (Alpha in PvPGN 1.8.2, Beta in PvPGN 1.99)
** v1.001 (Alpha in PvPGN 1.8.2, Beta in PvPGN 1.99)
** (not supported in PvPGN 1.8.2, Beta in PvPGN 1.99)
** Nox v1.02b (not supported in PvPGN 1.8.2, Beta in PvPGN 1.99)
** Nox Quest v1.02b (not supported in PvPGN 1.8.2, Beta in PvPGN 1.99)
** Dune 2000 v1.06 (not supported in PvPGN 1.8.2, Beta in PvPGN 1.99)
** v1.09 (not supported in PvPGN 1.8.2, Beta in PvPGN 1.99)

Supported Platforms

*BeOS
*FreeBSD 4.x 5.x 6.x 7.x 8.x
*Linux 2.4 and 2.6 kernel
*Mac OS X 10.2 and up
*Microsoft Windows 5x/6x kernel, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Home Server
*Solaris
* Should support easily any POSIX platform (Tested on 32 and 64 bit platforms, various integer byte endings, etc)

Code style and development

PvPGN is written in C, and it currently is a highly scalable, mature piece of software, with records broken of over [http://www.enderzone.com/x10/images/stats/21041.png21,000 real-time connections] on the [http://www.enderzone.com Ender] server.

C++ Branch

Starting with PvPGN 1.99, PvPGN has been recoded in C++. This is an evolutionary not revolutionary process, thus the C code base is being converted to C++ one section at a time. This is not a fresh re-write. Also the new C++ branch is stored in an SVN repository as opposed to CVS.

Criticism

"Click" lag

Many users of PvPGN seem to believe that click lag issues with PvPGN are relevant to the host, this is incorrect. PvPGN uses a Peer-to-peer protocol which relies on independent hosting systems instead of a server like Counter-Strike Steam, which means the slowest peer on the network is the overall speed of every player. (It's impossible for a computer to see ahead in time.)

External links

* [http://pvpgn.berlios.de/ PvPGN website]
* [http://developer.berlios.de/projects/pvpgn/ PvPGN BerliOS project page]
* [http://pvpgndocs.berlios.de/ PvPGN documentation]
* [http://pvpgn.imigi.ro/index.php/Main_Page PvPGN wiki]
* [http://tracker.pvpgn.org PvPGN tracker and server list]
* [http://pelish.spfree.net/ PvPGN forums]
* [http://www.ok-security.nl/diablo2.html Diablo II server documentation]
* [http://sourceforge.net/projects/pvpgn-phputils/ PHP Utilities for PvPGN]
* [http://pelish.spfree.net/index.php?topic=27 PvPGN files mirror]
* [http://www.microzonex.com.ar/foros/showthread.php?t=1900 Installation Guide (In Spanish)]