Noobie Guide For Amx Requested
eliotmat
Join Date: 2002-12-01 Member: 10350Members, Reinforced - Shadow
Join Date: 2002-12-01 Member: 10350Members, Reinforced - Shadow
in Tech Support
It would be awesome if some of the more experienced ops out there could post a noobie guide for AMX.
I run a server with AMX but run into a lot of problems. The amx.net website offers very little help with NS. Modns has many posts, but not many clear or comprehensive ones.
I'm almost ready to scream......so any help would be great.
I run a server with AMX but run into a lot of problems. The amx.net website offers very little help with NS. Modns has many posts, but not many clear or comprehensive ones.
I'm almost ready to scream......so any help would be great.
Comments
and what type of problems are you getting?
Regardless, you can download a fully working AMX with alot of NS plugins such as wave respawn and a few others like /res from <a href='http://rclelland.com/files/amx.rar' target='_blank'>My Site</a>
If you post any specific questions il be happy to answer <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I don't know how to compile the *.sma files into *.amx from my home computer.
How can I compile amx files for my linux server from my winxp home computer?
<a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=77701&hl=' target='_blank'>http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/in...topic=77701&hl=</a>
<b>As for the amx noobie guide........</b>
->it would explain the advantages/disadvantages to having amx or amxX.
->NS2AMX and its importance would be explained.
->Common pitfalls could be listed.
->compiler compatabilities amx/amxx documented
->useful/commonly-found plugins
The rest is pretty much covered in their respective install docs.
AMX is very confusing. Our server used admin mod (which is very straightfoward and easy to use) for over a year. The switch to AMX has been painful.
I know you like to post links to modns.org, but the threads in there usually end up full of uncompiled code (which most people have a hard time looking at). In all honesty natural-selection.org is where people look for help.
This guide would be a great asset to the non-voogru or non-nsarmslab server ops out there.
The links I posted in the other thread are directly related to compiling small to amx. The whole issue here is that you need to be compiling your own sma files into .amx to get it to work on your server. downloading .amx files from other people is NOT the way to go and will only result in trouble.
There is a reason the modns.org forums are full of uncompiled code. ALL AMX ADMINS ARE EXPECTED TO COMPILE THEIR OWN CODE.
The two links I provided in the other forum topic directly address how to compile code on your own box. It's even crossplatform and they have a web interface for your use.
Creating a 2ndary amx guide isn't going to help people who refuse to read the amx dox to begin with. Ditch the admin mod crutch you've been using. Actually read the two links I posted on amx usage and learn how to compile your own .amx files. You'll get a lot lot further.
I compiled my plugins. Thanks again.
Now reread the rest of my previous post.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->As for the amx noobie guide........
->it would explain the advantages/disadvantages to having amx or amxX.
->NS2AMX and its importance would be explained.
->Common pitfalls could be listed.
->compiler compatabilities amx/amxx documented
->useful/commonly-found plugins
The rest is pretty much covered in their respective install docs.
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
amx vs amxx(in billcat's view):
-amx:
Orig project
Older code
Un-maintained for ages and then suddenly updated by a previously mia dev team
Seems to get better reports of CPU usage to amxx.
closed source
old hooks into mysql, with little or no error checking.
-amxx:
newer project created due to stagnatation on amx
newer code, fresh direction
open source, public CVS downloads avaliable.
dev team seems open to outside suggestions and input.
detailed mysql error checking and updated mysql natives.
dedicated support for ns2amx code directly in amxx engine.
See <a href='http://www.amxmodx.org/chart.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.amxmodx.org/chart.htm</a> for more pros/cons of each. This is from the amxx team so take
it from that prospective. In my view amxx is the way to go for NS but several other NS admins I respect feel amx has a lighter CPU load and is more stable. I tend to think this is just them being more comfortable with the older code and most of the coders on modns.org are already coding stuff for the next release of amxx. Some are looking to drop support for the older amx afaik.
ns2amx:
ns2amx provides natives for amx plugins directly into the NS code. It makes it easier for amx plugin writers to get at functions and variables in the NS mod without having to know the exact NS cvar or function. You can still see people writing metamod plugins directly to the cvars in metamod but it's far easier and more common for people to do it in amx. ns2amx appears to be a moving target and gets updated often to provide coders with additional functions. If a given plugin that requires ns2amx won't work it's very possible that you need to update. See the NS2AMX-README.txt included in the ns2amx.zip for detailed instructions on installing in several different versions of amx. Post to modns.com forums for help: <a href='http://www.modns.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=117' target='_blank'>http://www.modns.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=117</a>
common pitfalls:
-not reading the amx or amxx dox. Can't say enough about this one. The amxx manual is very good and spells it all out in small letters for newbs to understand. See here for amxx, or find your own amx: <a href='http://www.amxmodx.org/doc/index.html' target='_blank'>http://www.amxmodx.org/doc/index.html</a> Print it out, take a sit on the shitter and read the whole darn thing. Please for the love of all that's good and right, do not try to implement amx without reading the dox.
-Depending on others for amx code. Because of the massive differences in amxx, or even amx0.9.6j to amx0.9.9 server admins must compile their own code to ensure that the hooks into their version of amx are compiled correctly.
-Getting ns2amx installed where plugins can find it. Not much to say here. Read NS2AMX-README.txt till it hurts and make sure it's someplace your plugins can find them when you compile.
-expecting amx to be as easy as admin mod. amx provides functionality admin mod was never intended for and could never even attempt to provide. admin mod code for ns on modns is ages old and ns mod creators tend to laugh at adminmod requests. there is a reason for this, read the dox, deal with the jump in complexity and realize that it comes with some major functionality boosts and will be worth the work
-cross-posting into the wrong forums. If you have an issue with amx or amxx, please post in their fourms. If you have an issue with a modns.org plugin.. POST IN THAT FORUM. Do not litter the ns boards with off topic posts about crap that 90% of the ns world doesn't care about. If your issue is with ns2amx post in that specific forums on modns.org. This may sound harsh, but you'll get loads more help in half the time, by the person who wrote the code in most cases, if you post in the correct place. You don't post into Chevy forums about your rice rocket even tho they are both cars, don't do the same here. When you post about server stuff on ns.org please keep it out of the TS foums and keep it on the general server forum.
compiler compatabilities amx/amxx documented:
Small language used for both amx and amxx. Amxx tries to maintain code compability with all amx modules but your milage may vary here. If you have issues with an amx mod not compiling under amxx that you didn't get off the modns.org forums I'd suggest posting on the amxx forums and asking for some help. If you get the plugin from modns.org post there asking for help. Most of the time you just need to change a native include in the plugin one way or the other and recompile. This is pretty much an issue on a plugin by plugin basis. Can't really document every plugin here.
Most of the time it's documented in the forum you download the plugin from off of modns.org. This is the single reason why it's important for all amx admins to compile their own code rather than depending on others for pre-compiled .amx files.
useful/commonly-found plugins:
This is pretty subjective. People who are into ns combat will find the MvM mods on modns.org useful while others will not. I recommend any plugin coded by cheesypeteza, he's a machine when it comes to plugins. Also, Steve_Dudenhoeffer posts some great stuff, including ns2amx.
Common favorites are:
unstuck - allow players to get themselves out of sticky situations that occur on NS.
ns_teamcommands - allow admins to move players from one team to another. amx_marine and amx_alien
Bug Fixes - plugin fixes numerous current bugs in the NS engine.
also, don't depend only on amx plugins for added ns functionality there are several good plugins that only require metamod, which if you have AMX running should be a no brainer to install.
Some good metamod NS plugns are is:
SelfWeld - makes HA trains lil easier. Good for smaller servers.
PhaseEQ - drop ammo and health into PGs for auto deployment.
MM_Serverops - Provide nifty lil icons to admins, regulars and others.
Waypoints Fix - make waypoints work as they should.
See modns.org for more details on the above plugins. Post there with questions comments or suggestions.
Thanks, man. Now, if only you can get that webbed in the general server support forum. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->