Editing Servers

'''''See also: [[Manual/Multiplayer]], [[Manual/Multiplayer/Advanced]]'''''
== Server List ==

See a list of currently-active 0.8.1, 0.8.5 and {{current}} servers:

*http://dpmaster.deathmask.net/?game=openarena

It includes a "Find player" feature, too (you can type all or a part of a player's nickname or of a [[clan tag]]).

Older servers:

*[http://dpmaster.deathmask.net/?game=openarena&oldprotocol=70 0.8]
*[http://dpmaster.deathmask.net/?game=openarena&oldprotocol=69 0.7.7]
*[http://dpmaster.deathmask.net/?game=openarena&oldprotocol=67 0.7.6 and older]

=== Known Servers ===
This list is intended to provide extra information about the OpenArena servers.
{|class="wikitable" border="1"
!Server Name
!Location
!Requirements
|-
|[http://linuxiuvat.de Einherjer Europe Public FFA]
|Germany
|Public deathmatch server with statistics provided by pyqscore.
|-
|[http://q3axp.servegame.com/vsp/ House of Fragenstein FFA]
|USA
|[http://oa.goquake.com/ E+ OpenArena]
|-
|[http://oa-cl.ucoz.org OACL2010]
|Germany, USA
|ExcessivePlus v2.1+oacl addon pack
|-
|[http://www.superbots.org supeR,Servers]
|Germany
|None.
|-
|[http://rainbow.furver.se/ The Rainbow Networks]
|Germany, Sweden
|[http://www.gameupdates.org/details.php?id=1364 Map-pack required]
|-
|[http://www.arenawarriors.net/ ArenaWarriors]
|Italy
|Running [http://www.aftershock-fps.com/ AS] mod.
|-
|[http://cat-man-du.com/games/ cat-man-du.com]
|Amarillo, Texas, USA
|
|-
|[http://openarena.tuxfamily.org ROFL/tuxfamily]
|France
|Depends of the server, but usually nothing&nbsp;;-)
|-
|[http://www.openarena.eu/ openarena.eu]
|Amsterdam, Netherlands
|
|-
|[http://openarenaarg.smfforfree4.com/pages/openarenaarg/datos-del-server.php oaarg]
|Buenos Aires, Argentina
|
|-
|[http://openarenahelp.com omfg servers]
|Netherlands
| a place for fragging
|-
|[http://dchub.next-com.net/index.php/user_site/openarena-srv ncore.sk servers]
|Slovakia
|Local ncore.sk network servers powered by [http://www.next-com.sk Next-Com sro Slovakia] running 0.7.1 ctf and 0.8.1 ctf,dm,tournament
|-
|[http://clubbfg.com ClubBFG]
|Southeastern USA
|Running OpenArena version 8.1, open to the public, Mostly stock maps but set OA to allow downloads
|-
|[http://www.goquake.com WASP Servers]
|Atlanta, G.A., USA
|1 public Excessive Plus 2.2b server - "Americas #1 Server" - running OA version 0.8.8. The server runs no custom maps and can be accessed with or without the E+ Mod.
|-
| +] Frag hard [+
|Roubaix, France
|
This is an instantgib server with map [http://www.moddb.com/games/openarena/images/wrackdm17 wrackdm17], running OpenArena 0.8.5. For more information [http://dpmaster.deathmask.net/?game=openarena&server=94.23.66.93:27960 click here]...
|-
|[http://dpmaster.deathmask.net/?game=openarena&server=188.40.94.69:27965&css=http://www.arena-servers.de/testserverframes.css&showplayers=1&hidegames=1&hideheader=1 *rocket VS Insta]
|Germany
|This is an "instangib + rocket" server using [[Mods/Insta-RJ|Unlagged-RR mod]] (can be downloaded [http://www.fileplanet.com/122068/120000/fileinfo/Rocket-Rail-Unlagged here]). Running 0.8.1. Set OA to allow downloads.
|-
|[http://pownedclan.com/page.php?7 pownedclan.com V0.88]
|France
|32 Slots, public server, deathmatch. Running OpenArena 0.8.8, stock - no downloads.
|-
|The Cookie Jar
|Atlanta,  GA, USA
|A CTF/DM server running OpenArena 0.8.5. Offers custom votes for all weapons, instagib, rocket rail for CTF. Also a custom vote for Deathmatch. Mix of baseoa maps and custom maps. Requires auto downloaded to be on.
|}

===Tools===
Some useful multiplayer (client or server) related tools, that are not part of the game itself, are from third-party developers, etc.
====Server browsers====
External tools that help finding and launching online OpenArena games (a.k.a. ''server browsers'').<br />
<small>Note: for some info about the ''integrated'' [[server browser]], take a look to ''[[Manual/Multiplayer]]'' page instead.</small>
* '''''[http://dpmaster.deathmask.net/?game=openarena Dpmaster Realtime OpenArena listings]''''', a web page accessible with any web browser that allows to see many informations about the servers. It includes a "find player" feature, plus you can see all the online players [http://dpmaster.deathmask.net/?game=openarena&showplayers=1 clicking here]. It cannot predict the ping you will have on that server.
* '''''[https://arena.sh Arena.sh]''''': OpenArena server listing on arena.sh website. A useful webpage which shows OA servers (and of some other opensource games), with possibility to filter for country, humans, etc. From the "join" page it shows you the code to be copy-pasted into your OS command shell in order to launch the game and connect to the chosen server directly. It ''optionally'' provides an opensource ''launcher program'' to be installed on your machine, which catches commands from the website to more quickly connect to the server; it even allows to automatically download and install the game. The site also includes "feedback" feature to communicate with its developer.
* '''''[https://sites.google.com/site/monsterbrowser/ Monster Browser]''''', a server browser program for ''Quake3'' and other ''id tech 3-based'' games, which added support for ''OpenArena'' in version 0.9e. It's technically a ''QStat'' front-end and it allows to predict your ping. Available for Windows, as installer or as portable. It's possible to configure it to add menu entries to filter for specific mod. You can provide feedback by opening "issues" on [https://github.com/torhus/monster-browser its Github repository].
* '''''[http://www.qtracker.com/ Qtracker]''''', freeware server browser program (optionally you can purchase it for extra support). Supports [http://www.qtracker.com/games_supported.php many games]. It allows to predict the ping you will probably have on the servers. ''In case'' you experience problems accessing its website directly (maybe its firewall filters are too restrictive?), you can use [https://web.archive.org/web/20220810144432/http://www.qtracker.com/ ''Internet Archive'' to browse the site] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20220905112330/http://www.qtracker.com/downloads/Qtracker492.exe this link to download version 4.92] installer for Windows.
* '''''[https://github.com/Unity-Technologies/qstat QStat]''''', ''a command-line utility'' to query servers and master servers for ''a lot'' of games. With proper settings, it can be used to query OpenArena master server in place of the Q3 master server. Some server browsers actually act as ''graphical front-ends'' using QStat under the hood.
* '''''https://open-arena.tk/''''' - Another web interface showing OA servers.
* '''''[http://ioclan.site11.com/ OAcon]''''', Windows plugin for one-click connecting via a protocol ''(Does someone have a working link or a copy of the file?)''
* '''''[http://jocke.furver.se/rnlauncher/ RN Launcher]''''', open source server browser for Rainbow Network's OpenArena servers. Written in ''Python''. ([http://jocke.furver.se/rnlauncher/README Readme file]). (''Any working link about this one? Do the servers it refers still exist?'')
* '''''[https://xqf.github.io/en/ XQF]''''' (''qstat'' frontend), for Linux. Note: you may need to download the latest source code from its SVN and re-compile it by yourself, in order to see OpenArena threated as a standalone game; otherwise, with the pre-compiled XQF 1.0.5 (year 2006), one has to add the dpmaster OpenArena master server address to the Quake3 master servers list, and to manually set the correct protocol number.
* '''''[https://github.com/rdntcntrl/oaquery oaquery]''''', a ''Python'' script which allows to get server infos (e.g. ''python ./oaquery -m'' just returns a list of game servers IP:port, while using "-a" instead of "-m" also shows current map and connected players for each game server). <small>If run in Windows, to correctly see text colors you can use ''Windows Terminal'' app; in case you prefer to use classic ''cmd command prompt'' or ''powershell'' interfaces, you may like to add --no-colors parameter.</small>
* '''''[https://addons.mozilla.org/en/firefox/addon/oawire/ OAWire]''''', free (open source) [http://www.mozilla.com Mozilla Firefox] plugin for one-click connecting from the [http://dpmaster.deathmask.net/?game=openarena dpmaster web site]. Simple and effective. Source code [https://github.com/gabor-udvari/oawire here].<br />IMPORTANT: Firefox 57 ("Quantum") removed support for "classic" Firefox Add-ons, including this one: a new version of OAWire as "WebExtension" was under development, but there have not been any news since a long time.
{{hidden|header=For OAWire up to Firefox 56, expand this box|content=Latest OAWire version working up to Firefox 56: [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/oawire/versions/?page=1#version-0.1.3.1-signed.1-signed 0.1.3.1-signed-1.signed] from [https://addons.mozilla.org/en/firefox/addon/oawire/ OAWire Mozilla repository page].<br />
<small>Note: Firefox 29 removed the [http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/what-add-bar add-on bar] (see [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/what-happened-to-the-add-on-bar here for more info]): if you like to see the OAWire icon in the lower right corner of the screen, you can install [https://addons.mozilla.org/en/firefox/addon/the-addon-bar/ The Addon Bar (Restored)] addon, too (lastest version of it working up to Firefox 56: [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/the-addon-bar/versions/?page=1#version-3.2.9-compat-fixed-4 3.2.9-compat-fixed-4]).</small>}}
* '''''[[OpenArena Friends Finder]]''''' (OAFF), a ''Perl'' script to find players and allow to join the server they're on.
* '''''[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xibergy.oa&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS54aWJlcmd5Lm9hIl0. OpenArena Blast Friend Finder]''''' (OABFF), an ad-supported application for ''Android OS'' that helps you finding out on which servers your friends are playing. It isn't anymore available on ''Google Play Store'', but it looks like [https://www.google.com/search?q=openarena+blast+friend+finder various third party APK repositories still have its .apk file for manual install] (untested).
* '''''[http://www.agsm.net/ alternative Game Server Monitor]''''' (aGSM) <small>(from ''Internet Archive'': [https://web.archive.org/web/20220709015510/http://www.agsm.net/ aGSM home page]; [https://web.archive.org/web/20211206065753/http://www.agsm.net/download.php downloads page]; [https://web.archive.org/web/20200911062757/http://www.agsm.net/misc/agsm235c_setup.exe Download aGSM version 2.35c])</small>, a small win32 program that may check your favorite OA servers (add them as Quake3Arena servers. <small>It supports various games, but OpenArena is not yet officially supported: manually specifying OA servers as Q3A servers works though</small>). It shows servername, map, query-ping, server-variables and player-details.
* In the '''''[https://discord.gg/n3dTmzM OpenArena Discord server]''''' there is a "#servers" channel where a bot automatically updates a list of servers which have ''human'' players playing on them.

====Server managers====
Tools to manage a server :
*''[https://github.com/lrq3000/oamps OpenArena Multi-Purpose Server Launcher for Linux]'' (oamps.sh), an opensource automatic server maintenance tool that also extends GTV for OA, automating launch and connection of GTV, and listing GTV server on dpmaster.
*''[http://www.geeteevee.com/gtvreadme.php GamersTV]'', a free tool to retransmit matches, that was designed for Q3A. A version adapted for OA is available [http://zsensible.free.fr/openarena/gtv3-oacl_v0.9.9.zip here] (version 0.9.9). The OA version is included, with other server management tools, in "[http://www.superbots.org/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=707 Open Arena Server PowerPack v1.1.2]": [http://superbots.free.fr/superbots/files/OpenArena-Server-PowerPack_v1.1.2.zip download link].
*''[http://www.swiftpanel.com/ SwiftPanel]'', a free game server panel
*''[http://www.dviance.net/ap/ AdminPANEL]'', a free and opensource game server panel
*[http://opengamepanel.org/viewpage.php?page_id=13 ''OpenGamePanel''], another opensource game server panel
*''[https://github.com/OpenArena/gamecode/wiki/Admin OpenArena Server Administration]'' (also known as ''!admin system''), instead, is a system integrated within ''OpenArena'', designed to empower ''Server Operators'' and ''[[Clans]]'' in managing gameplay on their servers. You can find some help directly on the [http://code.google.com/p/oax/w/list wiki pages] of [[OAX]]. <small>Since the ''Admin System'' is derived from the ''[http://tremulous.net/ Tremolous]'' project (another [[ioquake3]]-based game), maybe you may find some more related info in the [http://tremulous.net/manual/ Tremolous manual] or in the [http://tremulous.net/wiki Tremolous wiki]...</small>
*''[http://www.bigbrotherbot.net Big Brother Bot]'' (B3), a server admin tool that allows to automatically send warnings and hint messages, and even kick or ban players that do not follow the rules. It is free and open source, has got a plugin system and supports various games, including OpenArena.
* ''[http://biowiki.dyndns.org/doku.php/openarena/maplistgen MapList Generator]'' is a very simple online tool that creates a simple ''map rotation script'' with the names of the maps that you enter in a text field.
* ''[[crcon|Crcon]]'', a lightweight cli rcon library build to provide access to OA servers through bash. Can be used to read input from server and run other bash commands.
* [https://github.com/lrq3000/map-manager ''Map-Manager''] is an opensource PHP5 web application to list maps and allow users to upload their own maps. The interface is similar to various Q3 maps repositories. The application is secured by various sanity checks, and there's no direct access to your server, a downloading tool is available in the samples/  folder (see documentation).
* [https://github.com/lrq3000/game-booking-manager ''Game booking manager''] is an opensource PHP web application to allow users to book your server(s) at the time they want and with the map/mod they select. Great to allow teams training, or organize competitions.
* [https://github.com/lrq3000/oa-game-rotator ''OA Game Rotator''] is an opensource tool to cyclicly change the configuration of your server. Can be used standalone to make your server run different mods at different times of the day, or in combination with Game booking manager to allow for server booking.

====Server statistics====
Here are a few gamelog parsers:
* ''VSP'': http://vsp.goquake.com/
* ''AEstats'': [https://web.archive.org/web/20080302191619/http://aeons.planetquake.gamespy.com:80/aestats/ aestats on planetquake] (internet archive) ([https://web.archive.org/web/20180725065853/http://www.ut-files.com/Stats/aestats-v5.39.zip Aestats v5.39 zip] - [https://web.archive.org/web/20080304191133/http://aeons.planetquake.gamespy.com:80/aestats/files/aestats-v5.39.txt txt help])
* ''[[oastat]]'', a versatile tool to convert OA logs into a PostgreSQL or MySQL database.
* ''Pyqscore'' is a Python script which reads OA logs and outputs an HTML file with numbers. You can download it from [http://sourceforge.net/projects/pyqscore/ here] and you can find the forum thread about it [http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=4151.0 here].
* ''Qscore'' is a tool which parses games.log file and exports the results as html (or txt, csv, xml): http://qscore.sourceforge.net/ A few other q3-and-compatible server tools are available in that page.

== Server Setup ==
'''OpenArena Servers''' are set up in the same way as Quake 3 servers.<br />
<small>Servers can be "dedicated" or not. If you simply want to have a quick match with your friends and then close the server, probably you don't need to run it in "dedicated" mode, and you could simply use "[[Manual/Multiplayer|Multiplayer - Create]]" menu to create an online game. If you want to use a "stable" sever, available to other players also when you are not at your machine, you should create a dedicated server.</small>

Basic Steps for creating a "[[dedicated server]]" include the following:
* upload OA to your server: this can be done via ftp, ssh/scp or whatever you prefer
* create an OA user account, do '''NOT''' run the server with root <small>(administrator)</small> priviledges (for security reasons)
* get / create a server config file (see example below)
* make sure your firewall/router (if any) allows connections to the OA ports. Default is incoming port UDP 27960 and outgoing port UDP 27950 (master server) + responses. 27960 can be changed during startup, master server port cannot.
* run the server and make sure it stays active when you log out, usually with the help of the ''screen''-utility under linux <and under Windows, is it possible?>

If you need more detailed instructions on setting up Q3A/OA servers, you may want to have a look at one of these guides:
* [http://dmitriy.us/blog/3/setting-up-an-openarena-server-on-ubuntu-linux/ Vindimy's guide to setting up an OpenArena server, english]
* [http://gameadmins.com/modules.php?name=Sections&op=listarticles&secid=1 Q3A Server guides at gameadmins.com, english]
* [http://www.holarse-linuxgaming.de/h2006/space/Quake+III+Dedicated+Server Q3A Dedicated Server Guide at Holarse-Gaming, german]
* [http://it.rcmd.org/networks/q3_install/q3_linux_server_howto.php Quake III Arena linux dedicated server HOWTO at rcmd.org, english]
* [http://oa.thedimi.net/tools/maplist-generator.php This script can create a map rotation file for you, english]
* [http://oa-cl.ucoz.org/forum/75-503-1 OpenArena Clan League 2010 General Config] : [http://superbots.free.fr/superbots/files/oacl-general-config_v1.1.2.zip download link] - a big package for admins who want to organize big events, with featured tools and instructions.
If you simply want to have a quick match with your friends and then close the server, probably you don't need to run it in "dedicated" mode, and you could simply use "[[Manual/Multiplayer|Multiplayer - Create]]" menu to create an online game.

Please note that all of these guides explain how to setup a '''dedicated''' server. This is a server that runs on a machine that is '''only''' used as the server: you can't play on a dedicated server. You need to start a game client <small>(even from the same machine, if you want, but this may slow down a bit your server's performances)</small>and join the server.  
<small>You can find some information about non-dedicated server mode in ''[[Manual/Multiplayer]]'' page.</small><br />
Note: ''sv_allowDownload "1"'' is enough to enable downloading from your server, but the classic download system allows only ''slow'' download rate: it is very advisable to enable ''[[HTTP download]]'' on your server.

===Server config example===

:sets sv_hostname "My OA server"
:sets sv_maxclients 16 // Total players slots enabled, for both bots and humans. How many human players you can support is related with your connection bandwidth (especially upload bandwidth) and your sv_maxrate value.
:sets sv_master1 "dpmaster.deathmask.net"
:seta sv_maxPing 400 // Clients with ping higher than this cannot connect.
:seta sv_minPing 0 // Clients with ping lower than this cannot connect.
:sv_pure 1 // If enabled, prevents clients from loading pk3 files that are not present on the server to guarantee compatibility. This should '''ALWAYS''' be 1.
://sv_maxRate is number of bytes per second. The integrated [[VoIP]] protocol requires clients to set their rate to at least 25000 to work. Although the GUI allow clients to set at maximum a rate of 25000, they can change it from 1000 to 90000 using console, so you can set sv_maxRate accordingly.
:seta sv_maxRate 25000
://Tip: If g_delaghitscan is used sv_fps should be 20 for best results
:sets sv_fps 25
:sets sv_allowdownload 1 // allow clients to automatically download from your server additional files that they may need to play on it
://sv_dlURL "<nowiki>http://www.yourwebserver.com/folder</nowiki>" // Path of a web space that contains pk3 files that clients can get with [[fast downloading]].
://g_password "<privpass for everyone>" // Set if you want a private server (everyone will need the password to be able to join)
://sv_privateClients "2" // slots subtracted from sv_maxclients (slots reserved for private clients). Not needed for a completely private server.
://sv_privatePassword "<privpass for privclients>" // Password required for reserved slots. Not needed for a completely private server.
:seta capturelimit 8
:seta timelimit 15
:seta fraglimit 35
:seta bot_minplayers 0 // If there are not enough human players, bots are automatically added or removed to have the specified number of players in the arena (or in each team).
://seta g_spskill 3.0 // Sets the skill level for the bots added by bot_minplayers. 1 = Hurt me plenty, 5 = Nightmare.
://seta rconPassword "<rconpassword>" // for remote ingame servercontrol: comment this line if you don't want to ''[[remote control]]'' your server. If you enable this, remember to customize the password!

://seta g_warmup 20 // Sets the time of the warmup at the beginning of the match.
://seta g_dowarmup 0 // Enables (1) or disables (0) the warmup time at the beginning of the match. Default is 0.

://seta g_motd "<message of the day>"
://seta g_quadfactor 3 // Modify the damage when using "quad damage" (default value is 3)
:seta g_inactivity 0
:seta g_allowvote 1

://Special vote restriction since 0.8.0
://The next three variables holds the allowed vote options, gametypes, and maps that can be voted for.
://seta g_voteNames "/map_restart/nextmap/map/g_gametype/kick/clientkick/g_doWarmup/timelimit/fraglimit/shuffle/" 
://seta g_voteGametypes "/0/1/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/" // Gametype 2 is not meant for multiplayer
://seta g_voteMaps "/ctf_inyard/oa_ctf4ish/hydronex/oasago2/" // No longer available in 0.8.5; if you want to specify a list of maps available for callvote, create a text file called "votemaps.cfg" instead
://If you want to allow every vote option, all gametypes, and all the maps you can write it like this:
://seta g_voteNames *
://seta g_voteGametypes *
://seta g_voteMaps *
://You can prevent the server from getting unrealistic time or fraglimits here (0 = no limit)
:seta g_voteMaxTimelimit 1000
:seta g_voteMinTimelimit 0
:seta g_voteMaxFraglimit 0
:seta g_voteMinFraglimit 0

://If you want to use unlagged functionality (since 0.7.6)
:seta g_delagHitscan 1

://You might want to count pushing players over the side of a map as kills. In that case:
:seta g_awardPushing 1
://seta g_awardPushing has been modified many times but as of 0.8.1 is still not that reliable. Rather reliable in 0.8.5 and default there.

://Special modes since 0.7.6:
://seta g_instantgib 0 // If enabled, players will have only railgun, with instant kill. If set to 2, also gauntlet is available.
://seta g_rockets 0 // If enabled, players will have only rocket launcher.
://seta g_vampire 0.25 //25% of Vapiric health (players will gain health when will hit their opponents)
://seta g_regen 5 //5 health per sec. (health will automatically renerate)

://Gametypes
:// 0 = Free For All
:// 1 = Tourney
:// 3 = Team Deathmatch
:// 4 = Capture The Flag
:// 5 = One Flag Capture
:// 6 = Overload (Obelisk)
:// 7 = Harvester
:// 8 = Elimination
:// 9 = CTF Elimination
:// 10 = Last Man Standing
:// 11 = Double Domination
:// 12 = Domination
:seta g_gametype 0

:set d1 "map aggressor; set nextmap vstr d2"
:set d2 "map oa_dm1; set nextmap vstr d3"
:set d3 "map oa_dm2; set nextmap vstr d4"
:set d4 "map oa_dm3; set nextmap vstr d5"
:set d5 "map oa_dm4; set nextmap vstr d6"
:set d6 "map kaos2; set nextmap vstr d7"
:set d7 "map oa_dm5; set nextmap vstr d8"
:set d8 "map oa_rpg3dm2; set nextmap vstr d9"
:set d9 "map oa_shouse; set nextmap vstr d1"
:vstr d1 // start loop at d1
://you can change gametype or any other variable like this:
://set d10 "g_gametype 5; g_instantgib 0; map oasago2; set nextmap vstr d1"
://"g_gametype" should always be before "map" or the map might load twice.

://From 0.8.8 and forward you can also set the [[g_autonextmap]] cvar that will randomly select the next map from a given mappool. 0.8.8 has got default mappools for all gametypes. Setting this ignores the map list above.
://set g_autonextmap 1

Since 0.8.5, admins can also set up ''[[custom votes]]''.

You can copy-paste the example config above to a plain text file (naming it, for example, "server.cfg"), put it in your "baseoa" subfolder, then run the program with <tt>+exec server.cfg</tt> option from your OS command prompt.

You can try various configurations, storing them into separate cfg files. Remember that many settings will be saved in your default ''q3config.cfg'' file when you quit the game, and others not.

If you want to know more about the ''pmove_float'', ''pmove_fixed'' and ''pmove_msec'' variables (that control how the in-game physics, in particular ''gravity'', is calculated), please read ''[[Game physics]]''.

''Note:'' You can find more configuration examples in the '''''[[Configuration examples]]''''' page: you can create your own cfg files ''mixing'' those examples with the standard configuration here above.

===Message of the day===
There are two options for displaying a "message of the day", ''with different effects''. You can use both of them, if you wish.

The first method <small>(if we want to call it somehow, let's say "the short motd" or "the original motd")</small> is to use the CVAR "<tt>g_motd</tt>" like in the example config file above. This message will be a simple all-uppercase white text line shown by the client ''during'' the "loading screen" (when connecting, reconnecting, or simply after a ''\vid_restart'' command), under the server name and the "pure server" lines. It is advisable to stay within 43 characters. The new text will be updated after the server will load another map or re-start the current one. <small>It is not shown when playing locally (on your own machine, in non-[[dedicated]] mode), but it is later shown when loading a demo anyway.</small>

The second method <small>(if we want to call it somehow, let's say "the extended motd", or "the new motd")</small> is to create a plain text file, name it "motd.cfg" and place it inside the ''baseoa'' folder: the content of the file will be printed on the screen of every client that connects, when it gets in the game (not ''during'' the "loading screen", but ''after''), for some moments (it will be shown again when the player will change team or switch to [[spectator]] mode, or after a ''\reconnect'' or when the map restarts). It allows to use [[text colors]] and multiple lines. It is advisable to stay within 40 characters for line and 18 lines (and remember that the message lasts for few seconds only). After you update and save the file, the new text will be immediately shown to the new connecting clients (no need to restart the server or to load another map).<br />
The ''motd.cfg'' file shown is the first found in this order: in your ''[[homepath]]\current_mod'' folder, then in your ''OAinstallation\current_mod'' folder, then in your ''homepath\baseoa'' folder, and then in your ''OAinstallation\baseoa'' folder. <small>This means that the game may print the ''motd.cfg'' file you previously set for ''[[baseoa]]'' also when you are running a [[mod]]: simply be careful to place the files in the right folders and do some tests. If you do not want a message of the day, you can simply delete the ''modt.cfg'' file, or save it empty (the latter method will prevent the engine from searching for a modt.cfg file in the next folder). For some info about the "[[homepath folder]]" location under different operating systems, take a look [[FAQ#Where are the configuration files saved?|here]].</small>

''Message of the day'' can be used, for example, to promote your web site, to generally invite users to be polite, to inform them about [[special game options]] or kind of [[game physics]] you enabled, to tell them about availability of [[custom votes]], as well as suggesting to them [[Tweak#Tweaking online gaming parameters|to tweak some network parameters]] to get best experience when playing on your server. If you are the server admin, it's your choice.

More, there are several third-party [[#Server_managers|server manager]] tools, that allow to automate sending of ''console messages'' to who is playing in the server, by using for example [http://www.bigbrotherbot.net/ Big Brother Bot] (B3).

''Note:'' both short and extended MOTD, as well as sv_hostname, are recored into [[demos]] and later shown during playback.

===Password-protected servers===
When you are a client, and you have to connect to a password-protected server, you have to set <tt>\password <text></tt> variable with the password (provided by the server admin), before connecting to it. Starting from OpenArena 0.8.5, you will be prompted for a password when connecting to a password-protected server, if you do not have the "password" variable set.<ref>If an ''old [[mod]]'' or a previous OA version is being used, you may not get the password request screen. Remember that you can always use the [[console]] to set the password, then <tt>/connect <server:ip></tt> (or <tt>/reconnect</tt>) to connect to the desired server. Some external "server browser" tools may include their own way to provide a password.</ref><br />
The in-game [[server browser]] can include or exclude private servers from the list. [[#Tools|External server browsers]] may allow to specify the password for the selected server before launching OpenArena.

To setup your own server as "private" (requiring a password to access it; for example, your own [[clan]]'s server), simply set a text for the <tt>g_password</tt> variable (e.g. <tt>\g_password "test"</tt>), and give <small>(email, forum, chat, telephone, fax, sms, voice, message in a bottle, ok you get it...)</small> that password to the players that will be allowed to enter the server. Doing this, the ''g_needpass'' variable will be ''automatically'' set to 1: your server will be hidden for clients that decide to hide private servers. Simply set g_password to empty (\g_password "") or "none" (\g_password none) to make your server open again.

You can also subtract a certain number of slots from the "sv_maxclients" total to reserve them for password-using clients, without the need to make the whole server private (allowing for a partially private server). To do it, use <tt>\sv_privateClients "<number>"</tt> to set the number or reserved slots, and use <tt>\sv_privatePassword "<password>"</tt> to set the related password.

''Tip:'' '''do not''' use "/sets" command to define ''g_password'' or ''sv_privatepassword'' variables, or they may be pubicly shown in server status info ("sets" flags a variable as "serverinfo" kind).

For info about the password to remote control your server, instead, please refer to ''[[remote control]]''.

===Bandwidth===
Every client connected to a server requires bandwidth, so how many players your server is able to host is limited by its upstream bandwidth. You must either limit the maximum number of players, or limit the players maximum rates, or both, so your server will never try to send more data to the players simultaneously than its upstream bandwidth allows for. If you don't, your players will experience severe lag in certain situations (the slowest connections usually experiencing the most lag because they're slowest to accept the servers data which leads the network to prefer the faster connections in case of data congestion). Valid values are between 1000 and 90000 bytes/sec, and servers can force clients' values to stay within optional ''sv_minrate'' and ''sv_maxrate'' values.

====Minimum bandwidth====
The Quake 3 engine was designed with analog modems in mind so the minimum required bandwidth per client is very small: about 3 kB/s (33K modem). At this low data rate clients lose lots of information (like sound events) about the game so the game is not very enjoyable; at a rate of about 5 kB/s (56K modem) the game is much more enjoyable so 5 kB/s should be considered a ''practical minimum''. If you intend to enable the servers [[VoIP]] features you should add 2 kB/s so the practical minimum bandwidth per player for a VoIP enabled server becomes 7 kB/s. And please take in account that ''[[Game_physics#Accurate_physics|accurate physics]]'' mode requires some more bandwidth than ''framerate-dependent'' or ''fixed framerate'' physics.

====Maximum bandwidth====
The maximum bandwidth per client is hard coded to 25 kB/s for internet games but this hard coded maximum can be disabled for LAN games by setting ''sv_lanforcerate'' to 1 (this enables "Optimize for LAN" feature). If you are running an ''internet-accessible'' server behind a NAT/router <small>-with server on a private network address like 192.168.x.x or 172.16.x.x-</small>, but ''not'' published on master server listings (not using "dedicated 2" mode... thus being an "hidden internet server"), you should set it to 0; else, you can leave it to 1 ("optimize for LAN" option does not work when using "dedicated 2" mode, to prevent internet bandwidth congestion). See ''[[Manual/Multiplayer#Optimize for LAN]]'' for more info.

====Bandwidth calculations====
A few reminders:
* Between 5 kB/s minimum bandwidth per player and 25 kB/s maximum bandwidth per player you've got a lot of leeway: on the same server you can host five times as many players on the lowest bandwidth per player than on the highest.
* Bandwidth is always expressed in a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SI_prefix decimal prefix] so for instance 1 Mbit/s is ''exactly'' 1000 kbit/s (and ''not'' 1024 kbit/s).
* Most connection bandwidths are expressed in kilobits/s while the ''Quake engine expects rates in bytes/s.'' <small>1 byte (over a digital line) = 8 bits, thus 5000 bytes/s means 40000 bps, 40 kbps.</small>
* When doing bandwidth calculations you should keep in mind to reserve at least 10% of the available bandwidth for overhead to assure there will be no data congestion (lag).
* Considering the above we can easily convert kbit/s to bytes/s while reserving 10% overhead by multiplying by 112.5 <small>(multiply by 1000 to convert from kilobits to bits, multiply by 0.9 to shave off 10%, divide by 8 to convert from bits into bytes: 1000 * 0.9 / 8 = 112.5).</small>
* "Maxplayers" (maximum number of players allowed in the server) is controlled by "sv_maxclients" variable <small>(this includes also possible players slots used by ''[[bots]]'', that do not require network bandwidth)</small>, which requires a map change/restart for the changes to be effective. "Maxrate" (maximum data rate sent to each connected client) is controlled by "sv_maxrate" variable.
** [[Bot]]s do not require bandwidth like human users (not counting the data about bots positions which is sent to game clients), but you still have to consider a thing depending from your ''sv_maxclients'' value: it is advisable to keep your ''bot_minplayers'' value ''lower'' than your sv_maxclients in team-free modes and ''lower than half'' of your sv_maxclients in team-based modes, otherwise new human players may not be able to connect to the server because it would be aleady "full"! 
* Your actual bandwidth may be lower than the nominal bandwidth of your ISP contract, and may vary due to many factors, e.g. ISP network congestion. There are various sites and tools which can be used to try to measure your bandwidth (just an example, http://www.speedtest.net). Many internet connections are "asymmetric", with your download bandwidth much bigger than your upload bandwidth... so pay particular attention to your ''upload'' bandwidth.
* If you run more servers instances over the same network connection, the ''total'' assigned to all servers should not exceed your bandwidth.

Formulas:<br />
How many players can I host at a rate of ''R'' bytes/s with an upload of ''U'' kbps?
: '''maxplayers = int( ''U'' * 112.5 / ''R'' )'''
: ''U'' = 1 Mbps upload, ''R'' = 25000 bytes/s '''->''' int( 1000 * 112.5 / 25000 ) = '''4'''
: ''U'' = 750 kbps upload, ''R'' = 5000 bytes/s '''->''' int( 750 * 112.5 / 5000 ) = '''16'''
I want to host ''P'' players with an upload of ''U'' kbps, what value do I set ''sv_maxrate'' to?
: '''maxrate = int( ''U'' * 112.5 / ''P'' )'''
: ''U'' = 2 Mbps upload, ''P'' = 12 players '''->''' int( 2000 * 112.5 / 12 ) = '''18750'''
: ''U'' = 500 kbps upload, ''P'' = 6 players '''->''' int( 500 * 112.5 / 6 ) = '''9375'''
I want as much players possible with a rate as close to the maximum rate as possible so I use my upload of ''U'' kbps as efficiently as possible?
: '''maxplayers = ceil( ''U'' * 112.5 / 25000 )'''
: '''maxrate = int( ''U'' * 112.5 / ''maxplayers'' )'''
::<small>ceil() means to round up if there is a fractional part (numbers behind the dot).</small>
: ''U'' = 1 Mbps upload '''->'''
:: maxplayers = ceil( 1000 * 112.5 / 25000 ) = '''5'''
:: maxrate = int( 1000 * 112.5 / 5 ) = '''22500'''
: ''U'' = 2.5 Mbps upload '''->'''
:: maxplayers = ceil( 2500 * 112.5 / 25000 ) = '''12'''
:: maxrate = int( 2500 * 112.5 / 12 ) = '''23437'''

==Running a Server==
You can "rent" a server from a service provider, or simply use your machine and internet connection to start a server by your own.
===Using hosting services===
The following companies offer OpenArena servers hosting, and charge for it:
* [http://www.maverickservers.com/ Maverick Servers]
* [http://jestservers.com/openarena-dedicated-servers/ JestServers]
* [https://ondemand.dedikewl.fr/ On Demand Game Server]
* [http://www.k-play.de/produkte_rechner.php K-Play Gameserver] (dead?)
<small>Note: ''OpenArena Team'' does not "certify" these third-party services. This does not mean that those services aren't good, but only that we don't test them.</small>

===Windows===
Place the config file (usually server.cfg) in %appdata%\openarena\baseoa\ (%appdata% is a variable in windows for "C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\application data").
Then open in command (windows-key+R, type cmd and hit enter) and type:
<OA program path>\oa_ded.exe +set dedicated 2 +set net_port 27960 +exec server.cfg +map aggressor

===Linux===
Place your server config file ("server.cfg", or whatever you named it) in ~/.openarena/baseoa/, then start it with:

/path_to_openarena/oaded.i386 +set dedicated 2 +set net_port 27960 +exec server.cfg +map aggressor

You might want to use an automatic script to start and stop it. ''[[InitScript]]'' page provides an example script to run your OA server as a service.

===Mac===
Take the server.cfg above and put it in ~/Library/Application\ Support/OpenArena/baseoa/, then start the server with:

/Applications/openarena-0.8.1/OpenArena.app/Contents/MacOS/oa_ded.ub +set dedicated 2 +set net_port 27960 +exec server.cfg +map aggressor

Consider running the server in a forked process. Use the command 'nohup', or use Ctrl+Z and enter 'bg' to background a running server. You can leave the shell now.

===Using Docker===
''[http://www.docker.com Docker]'' is a software which allows to deploy applications as standard packages ("containers") which run as isolated processes through virtualization at OS level (see also on [[Wikipedia:Docker (software)|Wikipedia]]). 

''Sago007'' (OpenArena coder) prepared a standard OpenArena 0.8.8 server image for ''Docker'', which you may use ''as an alternate way'' to run your own server, with simplified steps. Sago's container for a vanilla OA 0.8.8 server: https://hub.docker.com/r/sago007/openarena/ (see also [http://openarena.ws/board/index.php?topic=5249.0 dedicated forum thread]). Searching on [http://hub.docker.com Docker Hub], you may find more OpenArena containers, ''made by third party''.

''Docker Engine'' runs under Linux, however ''[https://www.docker.com/products/docker-toolbox Docker Toolbox]'' can be installed on [https://docs.docker.com/engine/installation/windows/ Windows] and [https://docs.docker.com/engine/installation/mac/ Mac OS X], with Docker Engine running in a Linux virtual machine through ''[https://www.virtualbox.org/ Oracle Virtual Box]''. Docker may also work with [https://docs.docker.com/engine/installation/cloud/overview/ Cloud services].

==Notes==
<references />

==See also==
* [[Manual/Multiplayer]]
** [[Manual/Multiplayer/Advanced]]
* [[Command console]]
* [[OpenArena Clan Roster]]
* [[Killing Sprees, Death Sprees and Multikills]]
* [[Game physics]]
* [[Configuration examples]]
* [[Map rotation script]]
* [[Tweak]], especially [[Tweak#Tweaking online gaming parameters]]
* [[FAQ#How can I organize matches with my friends all around the world? How can I talk with them?]]
[[category:Manual]]
[[Category:Configuration examples]]
[[Category:Tools]]
[[Category:Servers]]