FSinn - World Caribbean Gateway

Transcription

FSInn – Handbook of Operations
Flight Simulator French Development Team
Introduce
F.S.IN.N
FLIGHT SIMULATOR
INTERNET NETWORK
HANDBOOK OF
OPERATIONS
Public Beta Version
2004, August
CONTENTS
Page 1 / 33
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
2
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
5
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
6
6.1
7
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
7.8
INSTALLATION ........................................................................................................................... 6
Required configuration..................................................................................................... 6
Network config - Firewall ............................................................................................... 6
Installation........................................................................................................................ 6
QUICK STARTING....................................................................................................................... 7
Copilot menu .................................................................................................................... 7
Processing Aircraft window during starting .................................................................... 7
Starting the multi-player session ...................................................................................... 7
Connecting to a server for online flights .......................................................................... 7
INNSETTINGS WINDOW : PARAMETER SETTING ............................................................... 8
General button .................................................................................................................. 8
FSFDT button and others networks.................................................................................. 8
Peer to Peer button............................................................................................................ 9
Options button .................................................................................................................. 9
Sound Opts button .......................................................................................................... 10
Aircraft Repository button.............................................................................................. 11
Current aircraft button .................................................................................................... 12
General defaults button................................................................................................... 12
Email button ................................................................................................................... 12
FSInn using................................................................................................................................... 14
Inn Control Panel............................................................................................................ 14
Inn FlightPlan ................................................................................................................. 17
Inn Chat .......................................................................................................................... 18
Inn Weather .................................................................................................................... 19
Inn ATC/ATIS Dialog Box Look and Feel .................................................................... 20
Inn Plane......................................................................................................................... 21
Inn Radar ........................................................................................................................ 22
COMPATIBLE SOFTWARES .................................................................................................... 23
Procontroller .................................................................................................................. 23
ServInfo........................................................................................................................... 23
TeamSpeak server........................................................................................................... 23
FSNavigator ................................................................................................................... 23
LOGICIELS INCOMPATIBLES................................................................................................. 24
Zone Alarm ..................................................................................................................... 24
HOW AND WHY FSINN ACTS UPON FLUIDITY.................................................................. 25
The network traffic ......................................................................................................... 26
The firewall .................................................................................................................... 26
The weather .................................................................................................................... 29
Aircrafts.......................................................................................................................... 30
the aircraft basis.............................................................................................................. 30
Settings ........................................................................................................................... 31
Inn plane ......................................................................................................................... 32
Conclusion...................................................................................................................... 33
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Introduction
The FSFDT team is proud to present you today the first FSInn public beta version, a
software intended to the FS2002 and FS2004 pilot’s connection to the various existing
networks.
We developed FSInn to satisfy our passion for the flight simulation, using the best of
the available tools, and creating them when we thought we could bring major innovations.
All of our software are, and will remain free, because our pleasure is to share out our
passion without constraint or reserve with the “simmers” community, based on
enthusiasm of many voluntary contributors, of which we modestly belong.
We initially apply to the French-speaking community, one of the strongest and
dynamic because developers are French☺, and because we thought she will help us to
efficiently complete FSInn, correcting quickly the remaining youthful mistakes, despite a
preliminary test period, gathering a lot of pilots, coming from various French-speaking
VA.
We’re relying on you to help us introducing to “the rest of the World” a final perfect
version, which will allow the whole world pilots to fly on any network, without knowing
about the essential tool complexity.
But first of all, we hope you will share with us, using it, the great pleasure we had
while conceiving FSInn.
Flight Simulator French Designer Team
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FSInn is a standalone software for Flight Simulator FS2002 and FS2004.
Be advised : remote requests
FSInn includes 3 features allowing remote access to remote FSFDT server, or other servers
of your choice, depending on your settings.
one access is to get your public IP to solve Peer to Peer address resolution when
behind routers.
one access is to query a server, currently FSFDT, to receive data about an installed
aircraft on your computer. The exchange is done anonymously, except in case of erroneous
aircraft. We download data from a remote server to get ICAO aircraft designator, ICAO airline
designation, aircraft specs for aircraft installed in your FlightSimulator. To exchange aircraft
data, we generate a single aircraft ID. This ID generation algorithm may fail, this is why,
during beta test, when you have an erroneous aircraft, you must allow us to get back your
email address, so we can contact you to ask for information about that particular aircraft… to
help make FSInn better. In any case, except for erroneous aircraft while in beta version, we
are able to tell which aircraft you have on your computer.
one access is to get or submit flight plans. The flight plan engine or interface will be
provided as source to any organisation or VA that wish to integrate a FSInn compatible flight
plan management engine to their website. While submitting or getting flight plan, we use your
email address. This address is a light ident mode to know who submitted the flight plan, and
to retrieve later your private flight plan.
Be advised : Peer to Peer
Peer to Peer is a feature enabling you to fly in real time refreshment with fellows while
connected to a normal network.
Peer to Peer is made to transfer faster data from one aircraft to the other, and avoiding
servers to use massive bandwidth just for your convenience.
Peer to Peer doesn’t use any personal and/or coded data, we are ready to provide as much
as necessary informations about it.
Be advised : UPnP routers
FSInn supports UPnP router from any Windows version, from Windows 98 to Windows 2003.
FSInn is also able to run without UPnP or with UPnP disabled.
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FSInn uses UPnP to automatically map port forwarding from UPnP routers to local computer,
without any router specific setting.
This port forwarding is used for Peer to Peer inbound connections.
We generally use the port 10239/UDP, a usually used port.
FSInn doesn’t map any sensible port thru UPnP, like WINS ports.
The opening of this port is to activate peer to peer; FSInn also works without Peer to Peer.
Feel free to analyse and to do reverse engineering on our network traffic exchange, we will
reply firstly to any request about it.
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1 INSTALLATION
1.1 Required configuration.
FSInn works :
with Windows 98, Windows 2000, NT, XP
with FS2002 and FS 2004
from 56 Ko analog modem to DSL modem
although FSinn can be settled alone, it is advised to also install FSCopilot to benefit from all
options. You will find FSCopilot on the website www.mcdu.com
if you use a firewall, it will be necessary to carry out an adjustment giving access to an
accurate port
if you use WindowsXP, it will be necessary to activate UPnP.
1.2
Network config - Firewall
In order to perform a Peer to Peer connection, FSInn uses the by default UDP/10239 port
(which you can modify in the parameters later on). For that, it is necessary that UPnP of your
computer was activated, it may be the case by default. If not, your will find two utilities on the
FSFDT site, one that check the status of your ports and one that activate or deactivate UPnP
under Windows XP.
If you’re directly connected to Internet : nothing to do, except to check your firewall,
allowing UDP/10239 to connect the web.
If you have a UPnP router : nothing to do, everything is automatic for all of your
computers if they all have a different UDP port.
If your router is not UPnP : verify if a firmware exists for your router that allows it to have
UPnP. If not, you have to dispatch each UDP port for the concerned computers.
On WindowsXP, you have to check that UPnP is active. In order to verify it, download the
software at http://www.mcdu.com/download/unpnp.zip It tests your UPnP status and
allows you to activate if necessary.
You
can
check
your
UDP
ports
http://www.mcdu.com/download/aports.zip
1.3
Installation
FSInn is provided with an automatic
installation file.
You can choose the install directory of
your choice
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status
with
this
software :
2 QUICK STARTING
Before the first starting, the “General” window of FSInn Settings and the “E-mail” window
must be fulfilled. See Chapter 3. These parameters will remain memorized for the following
flights.
2.1
Copilot menu
In the Copilot menu, one click on “Inn Control Panel” allows the opening of the main FSInn
window.
The FSInn Control Panel is the main window, the software’s dashboard.
2.2
Processing Aircraft window during starting
As soon as the Inn Control Panel starts, FSInn will update the aircrafts database. Wait a few
moment. The duration of this update depends on your Internet connection.
If a plane has a non compatible aircraft.cfg, an error message will warn you.
2.3
Starting the multi-player session
A click on the FSInn yellow rectangle allows the starting of the FS
multi-player session. It is the same as to declare the session by the
"Flight/Multiplayer/Connect” FS9 menu. FSInn does it for you.
Warning, FS9 currently does not allow to stop the multiplayer
session while clicking the FSInn rectangle.
In the event of a problem, to stop a multiplayer session, it is
necessary to go through the “Flight/Multiplayer/Disconnect” FS9
menu.
2.4
Connecting to a server for online flights
When the multiplayer session is started, the FSInn rectangle
becomes green. It is then enough to select the server of your
choice, FSFDT, IVAO, VATSIM… The rectangle of the concerned
network becomes green when clicked :
YOU ARE CONNECTED, READY FOR AN ONLINE FLIGHT
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3 INNSETTINGS WINDOW : PARAMETER SETTING
The parameter settings of FSINN is done during the first use, it is no more necessary to
come back there for the following flights, except for the transfer rate in “Peer to Peer”,
especially during the patrols flights.
3.1
General button
Callsign : fill in with your callsign.
Users Infos : fill in with your name and first name, followed by the ICAO code of the airport
where you are virtually based ☺ ex : for Paris = LFPG
SELCAL : leave FR and FS , click on « test » to hear the alarm.
SELCAL is a tool allowing the controller to transmit data or instructions on HF radio, when
flying over areas not covered by VHF radio (Atlantic, African desert, Polar flight...)
3.2
FSFDT button and others networks
It is in this part that you will be able to configure the networks on which you wish to fly (IVAO,
VATSIM, FPI) or a private server used for training (FSFDT, CyberAvia...)
For the moment, it is deactivated and the software is locked on one or two servers which are
used for the Beta version tests.
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3.3
Peer to Peer button
Here is the window where you can set the Peer to Peer transfer rate which makes possible to
have an improved fluidity with the surrounding aircrafts.
The recommended settings to have the best balance between the loss of frame rate (FPS)
and fluidity are as follows:
Users equipped with 56 Ko RTC modem, notch the box “Modem 56 Ko (2Hz)”
Users equipped with DSL modem or router, notch the box “DSL 128 (10 Hz)”
The 40 Hz frequency is only advisable for pilots who wish to fly in patrol with a very
high flow and a top-of-the-range configuration PC.
Change NAT resolver : nothing to change
Advanced IP/Host : nothing to change
Advanced Port : allows to change the Peer to Peer access port in case of multi connection
or home network computers using a router.
3.4
Options button
Allow FSInn to auto connect to FS2004
FSInn automatically runs when starting FS (only with FS2004).
With FS2002, apply the following steps :
Run FS2002,
Choose “Copilot” button in the main menu and run Inn Control Panel,
After a moment depending on your aircraft library, the Inn Control Panel window opens,
Choose “Flights” in the FS main menu; choose Multiplayer connection, the window opens,
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Fulfil the player name, the callsign, the IP address is 127.0.0.1, TCP/IP protocol,
Click on “Search”
The FSInn session appears, already selected,
Click on “Join”.
With FS2004, in case of FS2004 was installed on a hard drive over D:, it’s possible that the
auto-connect function don’t run, and you have to proceed manually.
SELCAL Enabled :
The aural signal of an HF message (also called SELCAL) is active.
Dynamic Lights Enabled :
The dynamic lighting of other aircrafts is active. This function will be removed in the final
version.
Try to resolve planes with exact model installed first :
If the option is checked, FSInn will seek the exact plane declared in priority. Recommended
for the highest and medium configuration.
If the option is stripped, FSInn loads a standard aircraft with low resolution texture.
Only use lower Models
To ease the small configurations, this option makes possible to load, in addition of generic
FS planes, texture coming from aircrafts PAI, AIA, myTraffic, Flight One AI, which have a
lower resolution.
3.5
Sound Opts button
Normal Chat message Signal enabled
The aural signal indicating that a message in text mode has been received
Guard Message for other Double Signal
The double aural signal indicating that an advice message in text mode has been received
COMM Message Signal
The aural signal indicating that a message on frequency COM1 or COM2 in text mode has
been received
UNICOM Message Signal
The aural signal indicating that a message on the Unicom frequency in text mode has been
received
Scanner Message Signal
The aural signal indicating that a message on the Scanner frequency in text mode has been
received
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Private Message Double Signal
The aural signal indicating that a message on the private frequency in text mode has been
received
ATC in range Warning Signal Enabled
The aural signal indicating that an advice message of entering a controlled area has been
received
Multiples ATC on different network in range alerting Signal Enabled
The aural signal indicating that a controller is present in the area of flight on various servers
(in case of multi network, not yet implemented)
3.6
Aircraft Repository button
It is the centralized management of the ICAO data base of the aircraft (30 000 aircraft).
Synchronise aircraft data with aircraft repository at each FS start up : during FSInn
starting, allows to check the agreement between the aircrafts installed in your FS and the
ICAO data base, so that the aircrafts are recognized by their ICAO code, in particular for the
management of the flight plans and the aircrafts in peer to peer.
If you do not add any more aircraft in your FS, you can uncheck it. In the event of later
installation you will have to synchronize this function to avoid the appearance of unsuitable
aircraft.
Modify aircraft repository URL : allows to change the address of the engine of ICAO
management of the aircrafts.
Reload FS Aircraft Now : allows the manual download of aircrafts and their
correspondences, in case of an aircraft installation without leaving FS.
Reset aircraft ID : will be removed after beta
Resync aircraft repository now : allows to compare the aircraft basis existing and qualified
with those installed in your FS. If an aircraft is not known in the basis, this one is incremented
and one of the FSDT members will allocate him a corresponding ICAO code so that the “not
identified aircraft ICAO = ZZZZ” code is replaced at once by a valid ICAO code.
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3.7
Current aircraft button
Allows to identify if the used aircraft is known in the centralized basis; in this case “ZZZZ”
announces that this aircraft is unknown. The pilot may come back to “Aircraft repository”, and
make a resynchronization by clicking on Resync aircraft repository now.
3.8
General defaults button
Allows to choose, amongst the aircraft installed in your FS, the default plane you wish to see
when the aircraft in network is not known in the aircraft basis on the server.
The choices carried out in the screen above, are only examples of default planes. You are
free to choose the plane of your choice.
3.9
Email button
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During synchronization, if an aircraft is not recognized, the centralized basis will identify it. An
aircraft.cfg analysis can be necessary; the email address allows the developers to contact
the pilot in order to regulate the problem and to qualify the aircraft in the basis.
In beta version, it is essential to collect the maximum of information. In release version, the
pilot may not fulfil these fields.
We have seen all the options for parameters settings. They were carried out once for all.
At the time of a new installation of a higher version or after an update, these settings will be
preserved, except after a complete de-installation of the software.
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4 FSInn using
Online flight interface
4.1
Inn Control Panel
The Control Panel allows you a fast access to the main functions of
FSInn.
The Control Panel can be hidden or closed without disturbing the
network’s operation.
It can be called by a function key (keyboard short cut) which you would
have preliminary programmed in the FSCopilot’s Settings. (see table
hereafter).
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Connection:
With FS2004 :
As soon as you start FSInn, this one checks if a Multiplayer connection
already exists, without any action from you. If it is not the case, FSInn will
start for you a multiplayer session. If you did not preset an automatic
connection, you just have to click once on the yellow FSInn button.
If you manually disconnect FS from multiplayer session and you want to
reconnect, you just have to click on the yellow FSInn button and this will
recreate the multiplayer session.
With FS2002 :
Choose “Copilot” in the main FS menu.
In Copilot, choose and run « In control panel ».
After a moment depending on your aircraft library, the Inn Control Panel
window opens.
Choose “Flights” in the FS main menu, choose “Multiplayer connection”, the window opens.
Fulfil the player name, the callsign, the IP address is 127.0.0.1, TCP/IP protocol.
Click on ”Search”.
The FSInn session appears, already selected,
Click on “Join”.
Each rectangle of the Control Panel is coloured.
Yellow FSInn : means that FSInn is not started (no multiplayer
connection).
- Green FSInn : all is ok. Nothing more to do, except a click to
connect to the network of your choice !
Squawk (on the right of FSInn) :
The letter S on the right FSInn framework is the label of the Squawk
mode.
S means Standby (Orange)
I means Ident (Yellow), and will come back to N (Normal) a few
seconds later. A double click makes turn to Ident mode.
C means Mode Charly (Green)
You just have to click on the label to change from S to C, and vice versa.
Networks (5 lines under FSInn):
FSInn can accept up to 5 networks.
To connect itself on each network, it is enough to click on one of these networks.
FSInn allows connections to more than one network at the same time, this
possibility is locked for the moment, in order not to disturb the other networks
during the phase test, but it will be activated later.
Amongst the networks provided in FSInn, 3 are public networks (IVAO, VATSIM, FPI if
they accept Fsinn on their servers) and two positions can be used for internal networks
like certain virtual airlines (compatible FSD Network).
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The rectangles for networks are coloured in:
Yellow means off-line
Green means connected
Red indicates an error occurred during connection (the error is
indicated in the dialog box of FSInn Settings).
Meteorology:
The first time you connect to a network, the Wx label will appear in
green on the right of the rectangle of this network. Indeed, by
default, it is the weather server of this network which will be
selected. These labels work in conjunction with the labels “No Wx”
and “FSInnWx”.
All these labels allow you to select a weather server.
2 colors can be displayed :
Green means “active”
Red means “inactive”
The FSD type networks are able to manage the planes; however, to provide
simultaneously the weather data for some special flights, it is possible to generate a
specific weather. This is why it can be significant to select the weather server
corresponding to the network used for your flights.
”CAVOK” means that you disconnect from any weather server in network, giving you
back a nice weather, so as to optimize fluidity. It enables you to use a local third program
for weather generation like ActiveSky, FSMeteo or FSMetar.
”FSInn Wx “ is an engine of weather generation independent of any flights servers. This
weather is the synthesis of several sources of weather information in order to obtain a
higher degree of accuracy. Its use is rather reserved for the good configurations such as
DSL because an important file is loaded at the beginning of the connection to this
network. After initial loading of the data, this server is more powerful than the others.
“MULTI“ is an option intended to give back fluidity for the slowest configuration, at the
time of arrival on airports with many connected pilots. While clicking “MULTI” it becomes
red No MP. Other aircrafts disappear from your sight, giving you additional fps, but other
players continue to see you allowing them to move ensuring the safety of the flights ☺
The graduated horizontal cursor makes possible to regulate the range of research and
display of the planes in multiplayer flights. That does not act on the radar detection which
you will see further.
The lower part:
The lower part of the Control Panel indicates your callsign, your IP address,
the port
used and, in brackets, the number of planes in your immediate environment. The range
can be settled by means of the cursor which increases up to 200 Nm (set at 150 in our
example).
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The right blue column allows to recall all others windows from the Control Panel.
Set
FP
Cht
ATC
Wx
Pla
Rad
opens the InnSettings window
opens the Flight Plan window
opens the Chat window
opens the ATC window
opens the Weather window
opens the Plane window
opens the Radar window
The FSInn Control Panel was conceived to be as simple as possible, so as to gain access to
the main functions needed for the on-line flight.
Initially the Control Panel was planned for multiple connections on several networks but, as
specified previously, for the tests period, this function will be locked.
Multiplayer connection
An “Inn Settings” option allows automatic connection at FS starting.
(see OPTIONS paragraph 3.4)
4.2
Inn FlightPlan
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Flight plan
The flight plans are persistant and are sent to ServInfo and to the ATC softwares. METARs
are quite up to date compared to the flight plan. The flight plan basis works from FSInn.
FSinn integrates a function which allows to directly import the flight plan in FSNAV. You only
have to export the pdv from FSNAV, it is automatically fitted into InnFlightPlan
CAUTION
:
- If you want to submit flight plans to the data base, it is necessary that you filled your email
in “Settings” in order to be identified.
- When you are on ground and you open the flight plans, by default, the Departure field is
already filled in the search of plans. It may be, in this case, that you do not find a flight plan
regarding this airport.
- You only see your own flight plans, and those validated by the administrator in the back
office, flight plans suited to your aircraft (based on ICAO code), and flight plans
corresponding to the departure and arrival airports if fulfilled when launching the search.
4.3
Inn Chat
Inn Chat allows talks in text mode, either with controllers on COM1 and COM2, or on the
Unicom frequency, or in private.
The command to open a private channel is: msg F-xxxx hello.
Inn Chat creates an F-xxxx window which allows speaking in private with a member of the
network.
To close these talks, you only have to click on the small cross in top on the right, taking care
to be on the good window☺.
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The “All” channel allows to watch over all the frequencies including the private talks. A colour
code and information text warns you on which channel to emit the answer.
4.4
Inn Weather
Inn Weather replaces ACSR for the weather forecast. It permits to have the last METAR of
the departure, arrival and alternative airports if a flight plan was send.
You obtain by default the weather forecast of the surrounding airports which have an active
weather station.
While entering the ICAO code of an airport in the white higher box, and while clicking on the
“SPECIFIC" button, you obtain the METAR of the requested airport.
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4.5
Inn ATC/ATIS Dialog Box Look and Feel
The management panel of the online controllers, according to their aerial coverage and your
current position.
First appears the network on which the controller is. With term, you can have several
controllers occupying the same position on different network (IVAO-VATSIM-FPI)
A colour code specifies the type of control in place (TWR=red, APP=Orange, etc.). In the
same way, a display informs you of the controlled zone compared to your vertical and
horizontal situation.
An audible alarm is heard when you get in a zone covered by a controller; you can deactivate
it while clicking on the bell at the end of the line; it is automatically deactivated when you set
the frequency of the controller.
If you are in a controlled area, FSInn sends up an automatic request of the ATIS. By double
clicking on the position of control, the radio frequency changes on the FS
radio (allowing InnChat to communicate in text mode on COM1 COM2), and if you use
TeamSpeak, you are connected on the suitable audio channel.
You can choose the COMM channel by clicking on the desired one.
To obtain the ATIS of an airport, click on the controller of your choice and click on button
ATIS
The SELCAL function is not implemented yet
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4.6
Inn Plane
Current plane
Here is the aircrafts list you could see in a 5 Nm range.
A green square means that the aircraft is in peer to peer with the refreshing rate
indicated on the right side (2 Hz in theory). In red are the aircrafts which are not in peer
to peer, the fluidity will therefore be random.
A red square can also mean that the connection port is not opened by the firewall, or
that UPnP of Windows is not activated.
By double clicking on the green square of the plane of your choice, you activate the
“turbo” peer to peer function, your aircraft and the one in blue exchange now their data
with a 10hz frequency, therefore a fluidity gain, ideal for the patrol flight.
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Inn Plane / ICAO Defaults
It is a list which automatically increases at each time you cross a plane from which
ICAO code is different from ZZZZ, and that was not automatically solved with the
planes present in your computer.
4.7
Inn Radar
Inn Radar, in its current version, allows to locate the surrounding aircraft, either for the
avoidances, or for the grouping (case of the patrol).
The scale extends from 2 to 400 Nm, allowing to cover all flight phases.
Functions of the buttons in the upper menu bar :
L : allows to display callsigns
A : allows to display altitudes (FL)
S : allows to display speeds (in ten knots)
H : allows to display the surrounding aircrafts either according to your own heading, or
compared to the true north.
In the above example, ISO658F flies 3000 ft with a speed of 110 kt
You can resize the window as you want with the lower right corner “handle”.
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5 COMPATIBLE SOFTWARES
5.1
Procontroller
To be connected as an ATC controller.
Keep free to connect like ATC for tests on FSFDT network.
For that, you can use ProController, waiting for a better free software.
You can be connected as many times as you want it to.
The single user is : 111111
The password is : password
You are an administrator by default.
The server address is : 213.186.39.102
Enter in ATIS, first line, the TeamSpeak server address and the channel used.
Example : www.mcdu.com/LFLL_APP
5.2
ServInfo
You can adjust SERVINFO for our test server.
In Options/Connection Parameters, choose : Custom Network 1
Network name : FSFDT
Locator path url : http://www.mcdu.com/whazzup
5.3
TeamSpeak server
A permanent TeamSpeak server was installed for the duration of PreBeta and then Beta of
FSInn.
Client software TeamSpeak 2 RC2
Server address : www.mcdu.com
Password : fsfdtfsinn
5.4
FSNavigator
The range of the visible planes in FSNavigator depends on the adjustment of the cursor
"Multiplayer range" in the lower part of the Inn Control Panel.
Fsinn integrates an export module of flight plan from FSNAV towards Inn Flightplan.
Use the Export menu in FSNav, a new option is available : FSInn.
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6 UNCOMPATIBLE SOFTWARES
6.1 Zone Alarm
Zone Alarm analyses all the packages, it is a heavy consumer for the CPU (up to 38%), and
it slows down the network traffic. In case of online flight with several aircrafts, the CPU load
is considerable, and the frame rate (fps) falls down tragically. Moreover, it can reject the peer
to peer connection.
The FSFDT Team strongly advises against Zone Alarm using, and will not insure any support
to users of this software.
You can use, instead of it, the following softwares :
Kerio:http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_home.html
OutPost Firewall : http://www.agnitum.com/download/outpost1.html
Securitoo http://www.securitoo.com/fra/pages/accueil.php
Those operate without any problem with FSINN.
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7 HOW AND WHY FSINN ACTS UPON FLUIDITY
One of the most frequently asked question to FSFDT support, about FSInn, relates to its
influence on FS performances, meaning the famous ‘frame rate’ we can watch with ‘Shift+Z’
keys.
Many parameters exist, acting on FS fluidity, and a profusion of documents were written on
this subject (forums,…). Our mind is not to explore this question exhaustively, but only to
describe how FSInn acts upon fluidity.
So, afterwards, we’ll consider that your displays parameters are adjusted to your
configuration (CPU, sceneries, aircrafts…), and that you use FS in better requirements
(about 25 fps). We’ll only tackle the FSInn specific effect.
Of course, the frame rate displayed in FS is the outcome of all elements acting on it
(sceneries and mesh complexity, resources consumed by your aircraft/panel, weather
density and complexity, CPU resources used by other softwares, visible aircrafts texture
complexity, number of connected players…). In what followed, we will look upon 3 feasible
slowing down reasons, separately devised.. But it is obvious that the whole slowing down
results from the overall possible causes.
In almost of the situation, if the FSFDT support advices were followed, users being under a
fall in fps no longer notice, most of the time, no more loss in FS fluidity (some particular case
will be discussed later).
So, if you come under this subject, be optimist, you’ll have great chance of success…
There are 3 main ways FSInn can disturb fluidity :
- The network traffic, notably in peer to peer, that indirectly influences fluidity, consuming
CPU resources (striping FS of a fraction of this resource),
- The weather, wealthy and more complete than in FS basis version, or than in other
existing networks,
- Other pilots aircrafts, that can be accurately depict, including moving parts (whereas
‘older’ networks or AI Traffic shows lighter simplified aircrafts).
We’ll begin with the first point because, if mismanaged, it can lead on a ‘dramatic’ drop in
frame rate, until FS become unusable. This fps fall is often independent of the weather, the
scenery or mesh complexity. In this case, we have to look over the firewall.
In case of more progressive loss, mostly due to the ‘visible’ aircrafts numbers, we have to
look over the peer to peer adjustments, and fit them with your configuration.
Then, we’ll see the two last points, concerning the ‘lightest’ equipments, for which we’ll have
to overhaul your graphic card performance, and see again the aircrafts build-up (complexity,
details) you use to show other players.
First of all, to clear the most serious reason…
Page 25 / 33
7.1
The network traffic
One of the characteristics of FSInn, which constitutes one of its major advantages, is that it
enables you to see the other planes with a great fluidity while preserving a high level of
detail. The `replenishment' can indeed reach 40 Hz (40 times a second), whereas it is
normally 0,2 Hz in ` standard' with FSD servers used on the networks.
To obtain these performances, without overloading the servers unnecessarily, FSInn
establishes when that is possible, a peer to peer connection between you and each close
plane. This connection is established as soon as the distance which separates you from the
closest aircrafts allows you to distinguish the details from this plane. It is leaved as soon as
this distance is too large. Indeed, it would be useless to refresh several times a second a
simple point on your screen.
These peer to peer traffics between you and each close plane are added to the ‘normal’
traffic between you and the server, which does not vary.
By default, the peer to peer display frequency is fixed by FSInn at 2 Hz (2 times a second).
You can see this value displayed in blue beside the closest planes in the Ìnn Planes'
window. If you want to increase or decrease this value, it is necessary to modify the selected
option in the `Peer to Peer' window inside Ìnn Settings', so setting the maximum value of
refreshing rate.
This additional traffic can indirectly influence the FS fluidity, because it causes an additional
use of your processor (CPU). However, under normal conditions, the additional load imposed
on the CPU remains relatively weak, and the processing capacity leaved by your computer to
FS drops only slightly. Of course, this additional traffic (and thus the corresponding load of
the CPU) increases with the number of closer planes. In difficult situation, with more than one
ten planes, which can be the case if you are near a very attended airport, moreover with a
complex scenery, and if your configuration is light or average, the effect can be noticeable.
We’ll discuss this point further…
Nevertheless, for information purposes, some users could see up to 20 close planes
in peer to peer, without any fps visible effect. It is my instance, with a P IV 2.8 GHz and an
ATI Radeon 8500 graphic card, and FS 2004.
7.2 The firewall
In almost of the drastic case of fluidity reduction, the `firewall' is involved.
In brief, the firewall supervises and protects the accesses to your computer since and
towards the network. It blocks the attempts to connect, except in the cases for which the
authorization is explicitly granted. These authorizations, corresponding in general to a
standard use (browser, mail…), are contained by default in your firewall configuration or are
added voluntarily by you.
The first normal effect of a firewall can thus be to block the attempts to connect in peer to
peer. In this case, the planes, even the nearest, appear with a red indicator in the Ìnn Plane'
window and you cannot enjoy this FSInn functionality. This is normal, and you have to carry
out the firewall parameter setting to authorize these connections.
Page 26 / 33
Unfortunately, some firewall are not only settled to authorize or not connections, but are
allotted in the mission of supervising the exchanged contents. It is especially the Zone
Alarm case, one of the main causes for calling the FSFDT support.
We do not intend to sentence nor to even criticize Zone Alarm here, even if we do not always
conceal our opinion on this product into private. But…
… the direct consequence, analysing the exchanged messages contents, is that it
causes a considerable additional load imposed on your processor.
In many cases, the ‘traffic jam’, which Zone Alarm imposes on your CPU, completely
asphyxiates Flight Simulator, which must be satisfied with the ‘crumbs’ of the CPU remaining
resources.
Possibly, this function of monitoring the contents is useful (supposing it is efficient) in some
occasions (mail, chat…). We do not want to judge it, but we note that its use is incompatible
with FSInn.
If you choose to use FSInn, and that you also use Zone Alarm, there is no other solution for
us, at present time, to advise you to completely uninstall this one (setting it ‘out of order’
does not seem to be enough).
In any case, we cannot ensure to support you on fluidity if you choose to keep using
Zone Alarm.
Once Zone Alarm removed (or another firewall of the same style), and if you have a rather
light configuration, it remains you to read the continuation …
By default, the peer to peer display frequency is fixed by FSInn at 2 Hz (2 times a second).
You can modify this parameter in ‘Peer to Peer’ sub-menu of ‘Inn Settings’ menu.
In the left part, select the appropriate option. It is the maximum frequency that will be used in
‘turbo’ mode (see further). If fluidity is falling down, lower the threshold. If you still have
quickness to spare and that you wish more fluidity, raise the threshold, while remaining within
suitable limits, beside your Internet connection.
To give an idea, if you flight next to a friend, with a speed of 600 km/h (to simplify
calculation), you move 10 km a minute, or about 160 meters a second. Between 2
refreshments 2 Hz, the covered distance is thus 80 meters (and your friend as much).
If your speed differs from 60 km/h (always to simplify), your relative displacement is, is 8
meters between 2 refreshments…
In the same conditions, but in ‘turbo’ mode, frequency 20 Hz, the relative displacement
between 2 refreshments is only 80 cm.
It is thus necessary to suit, if possible, the refreshment rate to the situation… especially
according to the speed difference between you and the other aircrafts.
Page 27 / 33
If after all, the FS fluidity is problematic, for example landing on an airport where several
planes are, you can click `NO WX' in the Inn Control Panel window. You will not see any
more the other aircrafts, but on the other hand, they will continue to see you. That can
enable you to recover the necessary resources for a good airplane control in short final …
You can also, in the despaired cases, clear of a too hard weather, while clicking `CAVOK’.
You will then have a more economic ‘CAVOK’ weather…
If that’s not enough… Hmmm … make your economies and change your machine ☺ …
Page 28 / 33
7.3 The weather
The weather provided by FSInn is wealthy and more complete than which is given you either
locally by FS, or by the network server with a ‘classic’ pilot. Precipitation and clouds are likely
to be heavier. That results in a larger number of objects to represent on your screen and thus
requests more graphic resources. In this case, it is less the CPU than the capacity of your
graphic card to follow the movement which matter. You will note a special fall of frame rate if
you are on external view and moving the angle of vision.
If fluidity drops too much in your mind, checks and modifies your weather display
parameters. All parameters shown in the following window influence the FS fluidity. You have
to find the good compromise …
Page 29 / 33
7.4 Aircrafts
FSInn enables you to see the other players’ aircrafts, with all details, including moving parts,
lightings…. If you have the related plane (in the FS àircraft' directory), it is possible (but not
compulsory) that the ‘external’ plane whom you see is strictly identical to that which its owner
can see.
Let us notice that it is not the case, neither for the local FS AI traffic, which uses ‘light’
models and textures, nor for the ‘classic’ pilots who also use simplified planes (CSL, …).
With FSInn, it is your own choice …
You can see the other planes with a maximum of details and their original textures, or with
‘light’ textures and a low level of detail. The good choice must take into account your desires,
and the kind of flight you like (flights in patrol, 36 000 feet IFR, VFR in a group…) and also,
unfortunately for some pilots, your graphic configuration performances.
You have, for that, several adjustment possibilities…
But let us speak about the aircrafts management with FSInn …
7.5 the aircraft basis
As soon as you connect to the multi player session, i.e. when launching FS2004, or
launching the FS2002 session, FSInn notices the planes present in your FS directory, and
sends corresponding information in a data base located on our server. If this aircraft is not
already present, FSInn allots him a single identifier and registers it. We then validated this
recording (checking if we have enough information on the type, the ICAO identifier, the
model, the livery...). The data base classifies all the aircrafts according to their similarities
from the type (piston, turbo, jet…), to the different variations by the various manufacturers,
payware or freeware.
There are two types of aircrafts in our configurations:
those made to fly, with a panel and active controls,
those only shown, either in network, or in local FS AI traffic.
The seconds one are lighter, i.e. less detailed, with simpler textures. Their interest is that
precisely, they are simpler to display for FS, and thus consume fewer resources.
Our data base integrates these two plane categories.
Each plane is thus identified in a single way, looking for all its characteristics.
When another pilot appears in your multi player session, our server sends its identifier
towards your own FS. These identifiers were normally loaded on your computer by FSInn
(Settings/Aircraft Repository).
FSInn can now choose, among the existing planes in your configuration (FS ‘Aircraft’ subdirectory), the one corresponding to the characteristics defined by this single FSInn identifier.
FSInn does not duplicate the plane from the other pilot basis, it can only display one
you have yourself.
It can be exactly the same plane as the other pilot if you wish it, and if you have it, or a
representative one selected according to his characteristics and the FSInn options further
described.
How to choose? You have a compromise to make:
Either you want to see a maximum of details of the other plane, the same ones as if you flight
it yourself. In this case, it will be as heavy to represent as yours. And if there is about twenty
of it, that will consume 20 times of graphic resources necessary to display your own plane.
Either you are satisfied with a simpler display of the other aircraft, satisfactory (generally, you
see the other planes moreover far than yours) and less consuming in resource. You thus
save fps while having a rather realistic vision of surroundings.
It is precisely the principle of ‘AI’ type, such as those proposed for example by `Project AI', or
such as older `CSL' used in general by SquawkBox, which propose a good compromise. But
to enjoy it, to have the choice, it is necessary that you installed these planes in your
configuration… For obvious reasons, FSInn cannot provide them on his own initiative.
Page 30 / 33
Therefore, do not hesitate to charge a lot of ‘AI’ type aircrafts in your configurations.
That will enable you to choose …
Let us suppose, for example, that you have on your machine only one Boeing 737, very
beautiful and complex, bought several tens of €uros, and of which you are very proud.
Obviously, this very detailed plane, on which you can see traces left by the shocks with
mosquitos, as well as the coffee spread on the instrument panel, does consume many
resources. When you use it alone, no problem. But so now, with FSInn on the network, you
are in LFPG with 25 other B 737, and you display all of them with their spots on the nose, it is
clear that your machine will be dragging!
Before you condemn FSInn, thus try to help it allowing you to make the best compromise
realism / consumption.
How to…?
7.6 Settings
One of the first things to do when you discover FSInn, after having charged the plane
identifiers from our data base, is to go in `General Defaults' sub-menu of the Ìnn Settings'
menu.
With this window, you can choose which aircraft you will display if the plane identifier
transmitted to FSInn does not correspond to any of the planes installed on your machine.
‘Overall default' will be displayed if it does not have any information on the type, the most
serious case. The other choices correspond to the minimal knowledge of the aircraft type.
Take care not to choose too ‘greedy’ planes in resources as default aircraft. They will be
displayed as soon as another pilot comes in range with an unknown plane. It might be a lot of
them ! Rather choose ‘AI’ type aircrafts…
Go then in the ‘Options' menu. The ‘squares to check’ located on the right side enable you to
indicate FSInn your choice concerning the realism/fluidity compromise above mentioned :
Page 31 / 33
‘Try to resolve planes with exact model installed first’ option corresponds to the choice of
highest realism. Ensure that your processor is well ventilated ☺ …
‘Only use lowres model’ corresponds to the choice of maximum fluidity, with a sufficient
realism. Ensure that you downloaded a quite good quantity of AI type aircrafts …
7.7 Inn plane
You can still decide which aircrafts to display show the closest planes when you are
connected. For that, click on the ‘Inn Planes' menu, or on the ‘Pla' square in the ‘Inn Control
Panel' window…
When selecting an
aircraft, FSInn allows
you to know its
accurate name (such
as sended by other
pilots), the selected
aircraft, and the one
displayed to you.
In the opposite example, the aircraft to be
displayed is a ‘CyberAvia’ Airbus A320-200.
FSInn selected the same aircraft (since
present in the local configuration).
To favour fluidity, we choosed to display a
‘ProjectAI’ Airbus A320-200, by clicking on
the right side of ‘User Select’ and selecting
the aircraft.
Page 32 / 33
7.8
Conclusion
That’s it ! We tried to give you the ways to make the best choices obtaining the maximum
pleasure with FSInn. The reports we had from beta testers make us think that a large
majority of users can obtain very satisfactory results.
We ensure a support if these advices were not enough. Find us on our TeamSpeak server …
www.mcdu.com password : ‘fsfdtfsinn’
If it is not yet sufficient for you, then bye and thanks having tried it…
Of course, we are sorry that FSInn is not able to accelerate considerably your FS version
and to double your frame rate. If we could do it, we would have already done it. We are not
able to either fulfill all the functions we offer you with FSInn without consuming the least
resource.
You should know that we try to give the best we can, including for the slowest configurations,
and that our goodwill is unbounded to help each one finding an acceptable solution, insofar
as he is ready to provide a minimal effort on its side.
So long on the networks !!!
Page 33 / 33

FSinn - World Caribbean Gateway

Transcription

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