Help with the software - Click here for Links

[FragMagnet]

I just downloaded Kaillera for the first time, and I'm completely lost as to what I'm supposed to do with it.

I figured out how to connect to listed servers, but apparently those already available are totally worthless to me, the lowest response time being about 500ms, and since the software is lacking any sort of useful help material I have no idea how I'm going to host a game myself for my friend and I.

If someone could help me out with this I'd be extremely grateful, as I'm dying to try it out but I'm honestly clueless about what I have to do.

[Kurgan]

The instructions should be included, if not check the main site. It's not very hard to use at all. Kaillera is not an emulator, it's a matchmaking service added to various emulators (or you can add it to your own open source emulator or if you're an emulator programmer).

The "server" is for hosting a server. You edit your conf file with your details and you have to know the IP of the machine you're running it on. Then you both need the same client emulator with kaillera support and you both join the server (helps if you have 3 machines, one for the server, and one for each client) and you need the same version of the game (and make sure the r0m is named the same on all sides, and correctly via the naming conventions recognized by that emulator!).

If you join a server from the list you just join and then fire up a game or join one, just make sure you all have the same client and same r0m or it'll desych.

Once you join it's pretty self explanatory, there's a create game box, you pick your game and they click join and then you click launch and wait to play. Of course if you setup mame (or whatever) properly offline first, it should work like a charm.

I'm surprised there are no servers close to you. Where are you located geographically? What is your connection type/speed?

Even those crazy kids from korea join US servers and muck about, and somehow it works for them. You're not downloading or uploading stuff while you play are you?

[FragMagnet]

If you could point me to all the right places for help and both the right versions of kaillera and the server and "the main website" everyone keeps mentioning, it would help a lot - as the only website related to kaillera I could find is written in pigeon english which I can barely understand - plus there were no server program downloads available there. Not any obvious ones anyway.

I live in Malta, and our internet connection to other countries really, really sucks. Maybe I'm just doing something wrong, but either way I just can't find out which is the right way. If you could simply point out the correct programs I'm meant to be using, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to make head and tail of them with your advice and a proper help file (or site, whichever). Thanks for the assistance.

[Kurgan]

If you could point me to all the right places for help and both the right versions of kaillera and the server and "the main website" everyone keeps mentioning, it would help a lot - as the only website related to kaillera I could find is written in pigeon english which I can barely understand - plus there were no server program downloads available there. Not any obvious ones anyway.

I live in Malta, and our internet connection to other countries really, really sucks. Maybe I'm just doing something wrong, but either way I just can't find out which is the right way. If you could simply point out the correct programs I'm meant to be using, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to make head and tail of them with your advice and a proper help file (or site, whichever). Thanks for the assistance.

Well then maybe the best way is to host your own server, maybe even on a Local Area Network if you can set one up in your home/business/school. Are you on "dial-up" (modem, 56k)? Some countries are limited to phone lines and thus their connections just suck, so I sympathize.

The "main page" is http://www.kaillera.com
That's the only "official" Kaillera site.
Download the server files from the download page (even if you're not going to use these, at least so you can read the included documentation, readme's, etc, read everything.

Read this page:
http://www.kaillera.com/faq.php#15
VERY helpful, and it's the official FAQ. Sadly Christophe isn't around anymore to answer questions really, but that's the best he's given you for now.

Now head on over to http://www.emulinker.com
Emulinker is a server replacement developed by Moosehead, it is independant of Christophe's project (Christophe Thiabult invented Kaillera, which is the online match maker program that works in mame32k, hkaillera and other projects, he doesn't program emulators). Emulinker page may have some material that may be of use to you, or at least a server you can try to join to see if you get a better connection. It's supposed to be more stable than the regular kaillera server.

http://www.anti3d.com is a resource page for kaillera fans, and it may have something useful for you, so check it out.

http://www.buddhateam.swissmame.net/DL.htm BuddhaTeam's page, hosts Hkaillera, which is the most up to date Mame32 client with Kaillera support, so I recommend it. He says his FBA port is good for people with slower computers (fewer games supported though) so that may also be an option for you if you wish.

Anyway that should get you started. You can also do a search on these forums for "server hosting" "host a server" "server admin" "server tips" or similar search phrases (without quotes, I don't know, whatever use your best judgement).

You may have to do trial and error, somethings work for some people but not for others, everybody's setup is a bit different. If you are behind a firewall or router you especially need to read the docs, and read up on how to open up/forward your ports if that's needed.

Visit http://www.whatismyip.com to find out your IP address too, that helps.

To get roms, visit http://dcplusplus.sourceforge.net and download DC++. You can then find hubs that cater especially to emulators, roms and whatever else you might need if you don't have the right games. Just be sure you both have the exact same files or it will desynch or have other problems. Also be careful as some hubs have strict rules and will ban you for looking at them wrong. But some are good, just be polite and read their rules, check your shares and you should be okay (usually they are nice to newbies at first, so get what you can early on!).

PS: Others perfer other p2p programs, newsgroups, or IRC (irc sucks for getting games IMHO), but whatever works for you. And remember, if you get caught with games you don't own, the president will deny all knowledge, blah blah blah...

[FragMagnet]

This rocks. You don't know how much grief you just saved me o.o forums really need to have links to the sites they're associated with - even though it's just a case of snipping off a part of the url - some people don't know how to do that (and I didn't think of it).

I seriously think there should be a sticky created with that information in it, as it's a big help for complete beginners such as myself. Thanks again so much.

[Geist]

I second the sticky Suggestion, It'll cut down on the Newbish questions... so to speak, we've all been there.

[Kurgan]

Done.

[FragMagnet]

Wow, this is awesome! My first thread and it's already stickied. I feel proud!

I'll stop spamming now Thanks for the help, it made things a whole lot easier for me!