xHLDS launch options

Launch options go on the server's start command, for example ./hlds_run -game cstrike +map de_dust2 -pingboost 5. The server reads them once when it starts: to change one, change the start command and restart the server. On a hosted server, the control panel usually sets the start command for you.

-ignoresigint

Ctrl+C on the server's console no longer stops the server. It prints a reminder to type quit instead. Linux console only.

Since: xHLDS 3.15.0-hs.2.

When to change it: Add it if you run the server in a terminal or screen session and have stopped it by accident with Ctrl+C.

Technical details: Pressing Ctrl+C prints -ignoresigint is set: type "quit" to stop the server. Panels and service managers that stop the server the usual way can still stop it, and quit works as before.

-conhistory

Keeps the commands you typed on the server console across restarts, so the arrow keys bring them back after a restart too. Linux console only.

Since: xHLDS 3.15.0-hs.2.

When to change it: Add it if you type commands on the server's own console often. Without it the history is lost at every restart.

Technical details: -conhistory keeps the history in console_history.txt in the server directory; -conhistory <file> uses another file. The file can be read only by the account the server runs as. Lines that contain the word password, and lines you start with a space, are not written to it, but the arrow keys still bring them back until the server restarts.

-license

Uses a licence file at another path, instead of xhlds.lic in the server directory.

Since: xHLDS 3.15.0-hs.1.

When to change it: When you keep the licence file somewhere other than the server directory. Add -license <path> to the start command.

Technical details: The licence itself works the same wherever the file is: one licence per IP address and port, and the server does not run without a valid one. xhlds_license shows the licence in use, and xhlds_license reload reads the file again after you renew it.

-confilter

Uses another rules file for the console filter, instead of xhlds_confilter.txt in the server directory.

Since: xHLDS 3.15.0-hs.6.

When to change it: When you keep one rules file for several servers, or keep your configs somewhere else. Add -confilter <path> to the start command.

Technical details: The file is read at start-up and with xhlds_confilter reload, like the default file. If the file you name is missing, the console says so and no rules are loaded. It is a launch option and not a cvar on purpose: nobody can point the server at another file over rcon. The rule format is explained under xhlds_confilter.

-crashtest

Adds the xhlds_crashtest command, which crashes the server on purpose to test crash reports.

Since: xHLDS 3.15.0-hs.6.

When to change it: Only on a test server, for as long as you test crash reports. Remove it afterwards.

Technical details: Without -crashtest the xhlds_crashtest command does not exist, so nobody can crash a normal server with it over rcon.

-nocrashreport

Turns crash reports off: on a crash the server writes no report and sends nothing, and restarts as before.

Since: xHLDS 3.15.0-hs.6.

When to change it: Only if you don't want crash reports at all, for example if another crash reporter must handle crashes. Crash reports are for the Linux server.

Technical details: Without it, a crash writes a report and one console line (what crashed, the map, the uptime), then the server restarts as before. Reports are sent to Hostsrc's crash service on Hostsrc's network, and elsewhere only when xhlds_crash_owner is set. -nocrashreport turns off both the reports and the uploads, including reports left from earlier crashes.

-pingboost 5

A frame timing mode only xHLDS has: the server runs its frames at the rate sys_ticrate sets, evenly spaced. Linux only.

Since: xHLDS 3.15.0-hs.1.

When to change it: Try it when you want the frame rate your sys_ticrate asks for. Compare with your current mode using xhlds_stats, for the same time and with players on, and keep the mode that works best for your server. -pingboost 1 to 3 behave as in ReHLDS, so your start command can stay as it is.

Technical details: Set the frame rate with sys_ticrate (or -sys_ticrate), then add -pingboost 5 to the start command. xhlds_stats shows the frames a second you get and how many frames were late.

It needs both the xHLDS hlds_linux and the xHLDS engine_i486.so. With another engine the server prints Warning: -pingboost 5 is not supported by this engine, using -pingboost 2 and runs as with -pingboost 2. Other launchers may give -pingboost 5 their own meaning.

Players' updates follow their own schedule on the frames (xhlds_update_schedule).

Plugins that send a message every server frame send more at a higher frame rate. xhlds_datagram_budget keeps that from crowding out the players' world updates, and XH-D02 lines show when it happens.