BG crashes

[LePresident]

For a period, BG was constantly crashing.
DarkMyst stated it would be related with the Aldernest_2 map.

So, in order to fix this, I removed Aldernest 2 from the server, just to see if it was the cause of our crashes.

And............ I made a big mess

In fact, I just renamed the aldernest_2.pk3 to aldernest_2.bak.
But I did not change any config file, I forgot.
So I renamed the file back aldernest_2.pk3, back in the saddle.

Then I had a look in the config files.

The objectivecycle.cfg file was still referring to aldernest_2.pk3.
So the renamed aldernest_2.bak was not found.
After renaming it aldernest_2.pk3, I hope this is fixed.
Well, in fact this should not be a real issue, since objectivecycle.cfg is not executed by server.cfg.

The mapvotecycle.cfg file was referring to aldernest.pk3, not aldernest_2.pk3...
I think that was the source of all thoses crashes...
Fixed.

Everything should be ok now, or at least I hope so

Btw, is there a possibility to avoid this ?
I mean, this surprises me. No file_exists_check in ET ? that's a basic security feature, so... weird !
Is it possible to configure ET to check if a file exists before loading it, or any other security ?

[LePresident]

Another mess today.

Since BG seemed to be stable, I tried to modify some textures, and everything went wrong.

Whatever I change, jpeg or targa file, I get a crash.
I did the same thing for the halloween and xmas packs, and I had no issues.

Nothing special, just modifying textures with gimp, then modifying the pk3 file with PakScape.
But this time, no way, crash, crash and crash again.
I don't get it !

First, I thought it was the jpeg files, cause as soon as I modify a jpeg file, the server crashs.
But with the targa files, it only boots for one map, then crash after !

I cleared all my modifications, so the server is stable now, but still...

Any ideas ?

[ZonElax]

I am not sure about the crashes but it may have to do something related to JPEG images. When you save them be sure NOT to make them progressive, I have had similar issue in the past. If you're using GIMP 2 you will see advanced options and you can toggle the window there

I have made some mods and it didn't crash on me yet. Good luck.

[LePresident]

Thanks ZonElax, I will check that in the future.

I took the time to think about it...
I have the latest version of Gimp, and did not change any parameters or whatever,
Gimp was not updated, at least since xmas pk3s, the last update is 28.10.2019,
Same for PakScape, no changes/updates,
I tried to modify textures in pak0.pk3, so they are valid...

But, I tried to paste a new layer with a png file over existing textures, and I used the same png for all textures.
The only thing I can see is that this particular png is faulty...

Too bad, it's a TWC one...
This one :



I will investigate later...

[Mystik]

Why are you modifying the pak0 itself? Just add the textures with a new pack?

[LePresident]

Why are you modifying the pak0 itself? Just add the textures with a new pack?

Oops, sorry, seems I was not perfectly clear...

I tried to modify textures in pak0.pk3, so they are valid...

I mean...

1. I extracted textures in jpeg or targa format from the pak0.pk3 file,
   
2. copied them on my hard drive,
   
3. modified them with gimp, adding a new layer with the TWC png file,
   
4. exported them, in the same format, to an existing file twc_bg_graphicpack.pk3, which I created myself a while ago, designed to contain BG's specific graphics,
   
5. then uploaded the twc_bg_graphicpack.pk3 file on the server
   

Then troubles began...

The twc_bg_graphicpack.pk3 was already existing on the BG server, since I created it something like 3 months ago, and since them, everything was working fine.
I just updated it with some new stuff, with a similar process used to create the halloween and xmas sound and graphics packs.
And it worked with the halloween or xmas packs, and just failed now for an undetermined reason.

Sorry, I hope I have clarified the situation

[Echo.]

I mean, this surprises me. No file_exists_check in ET ? that's a basic security feature, so... weird !
Is it possible to configure ET to check if a file exists before loading it, or any other security ?
[/quote]

Had a little smile, don’t forget that this game is very, very old
Maybe can we just simply dev it by our own ? This isn’t hard, since VPS are using Unix, so, deving a simple shell wouldn’t be hard ?

[LePresident]

Maybe can we just simply dev it by our own ? This isn’t hard, since VPS are using Unix, so, deving a simple shell wouldn’t be hard ?

Thanks god, no ! We have enough troubles like that, I don't wanna create another mess


Anyway, I think I found what was the issue :
I tried to modify the mineflag textures or the flagpole textures.
And then... crash...

I removed these textures.
It seems to work...