The server has the base practice code compiled into it. However, to use it you will have to have the robots that aren't included in this code. You will have to get them from Tedd Hadley (hadley@uci.edu). Please don't bother him unless you are serious about setting up a base practice server. Setting up BASE PRACTICE Getting the robot binary: Since the robot source code is quite a mess, I'll usually send a binary on request (email hadley@uci.edu) A few robot binaries are also located at ftp://ftp.risc.uni-linz.ac.at/pub/netrek/bin.misc/ config.h: #define BASEPRACTICE Note that the Vanilla Server version does not support practice stats, therefore it is compatible with normal server play. ./robots/basepdefs.h: Several #define symbols will need to be changed. Those that don't apply to your configuration can be set to "". RCMD -- this is used if the robots will be run on a machine other then the server, e.g. #define RCMD "/usr/bin/X11/xon" OROBOT -- the robot binary NICE -- the robots will be executed with this "nice" value REMOTEHOST -- remote host LOGFILE -- a directory name (not used normally) COMFILE -- commands file for robot oggers. The default file is included in ./doc/robot/og DOGFILE -- commands file for robot dogfighter. The default file is included in ./doc/robot/dog BASEFILE -- commands file for robot starbase. The default file is included in ./doc/robot/base DEFFILE -- commands file for robot starbase defender. The default file does not exist (I guess it isn't needed). RDOMAIN -- a common string that will show up in the robot players' machine name. This is used to determine if only robots remain in the game, in which case they'll be told to exit. .sysdef changes basepractice=1 will startup the basepractice code robothost=hostname the remote host for starting the robots It automatically sets the following defines, if placed on the end: chaos=1 so there's no restriction on starbases starbaserank=0 so you don't need rank confirm=0 so the ogg robots can get in. Trouble shooting: Some systems don't have localhost in the /etc/host.equiv file. You will notice that if you have a permission denied if you try rlogin localhost Add the name of your host to robothost in .sysdef for a fix. Check also if xon is executable and the RCMD define points to it correctly. Some systems don't allow xon (rsh commands) under root. You may detect that if "rsh localhost" works, but "rsh localhost ls" gives you a permission denied. There is no need for running the server under root, even Linux doesn't need it anymore.