Since bullet hasn't touched the sources for about five years, I (cj64) will try to resume the development of hlmaster. The next version of hlmaster will have a LOT of new code, adding boring new features like MySQL support (using SOCI), asynchronous networking (using ASIO), and a remote web-based administration interface. Oh, and the master server protocol will be updated to support Source, Goldsource, and even Rag Doll Kung Fu game servers, too.

To avoid getting any complaints from hlmaster's hardcore fanbase, I won't touch the CVS repository. All new source code will be placed into the Subversion repository. That way, if bullet ever decides to come back (please!) he'll be able to resume right where he left off.

On a parting note, I'd like to mention that VALVe's master servers are currently plagued with "fake" game servers (servers filled with spectating bots), in addition to those annoying "redirect" servers that serve no purpose but to cause extreme cranial discomfort. I'm researching methods of blacklisting malicious game servers from the master server list, and even giving master server adminstrators the power to ignore "join" requests from specified IP ranges. Any reasonable and well-thought suggestions as to solving this problem may be posted on the Sourceforge forum.

- cj64

This new version comes with partial support for the Half-Life ingame browser. It currently sends the full list even for queries with filtering rules. This should not cause any problems since Half-Life automatically filters the list on client-side.

Release notes

• Added basic support for the Half-Life ingame browser. Please note, that filtering does not work yet. HLMaster will allways send the total list.
• You cannot load more than 3'000 with --server-list anymore. The overall limit however is still 60'000.
• New commandline options (linux only):

  	-u, --user=USER		run hlmaster as USER.
  	-g, --group=GROUP		run hlmaster as GROUP.

• Now compiles on FreeBSD via configure && make.
• Minimized memory usage.

Download

• Linux package (.tar.gz)
• Windows package (.zip)

This is the first public release of HLMaster - which is a fully automatic master server for Half-Life based gameservers.

A master server receives hearbeats (pings) from accordingly configured gameservers, end thus, has an allways up-to-date list of servers. Users can access this list with tools like gamespy, QStat, bQuery, KQuery, ...

HLMaster is not yet another query tool! It's a server/daemon without any fancy graphical user interface.

License

HLMaster is free software, distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

Features

• Automatic addition/removal of gameservers. (hearbeats)
• Ability to load your own list of gameservers.
• Loadable IP-Filters, to keep unwanted gameservers out of the list.
• Custom gameserver limit (up to about 65'000).
• Access info logfile.
• Written in C/C++, full source-code available.

Runs on

• Linux (recommended)
• FreeBSD (read the special note)
• Windows 95/98/ME
• Windows NT/2000

Download

• Linux package (.tar.gz)
• Windows package (.zip)

Please note, that hlmaster is still rated beta. It's stable, but not yet tested like hell. If you encounter any bugs, please report them to bullet@users.sourceforge.net.

I would also like to hear about how it performs on high loads. The theoretical limit is at 65536 gameservers - although I do not think, it'll be able to handle that many.