FOSS gamedev and creative worlds

The wiki gives instructions for setting up a server using Linux and Windows, but doesn't mention OS X. However, the computer I want to use as a server is running OS X. I would switch it over to Linux, as I like Ubuntu and Mint better than OS X anyway, but it has a PowerPC processor, making it incompatible with mainstream Linux distributions.

Is there a way to set up and run an OS X Minetest server? I figgure it should be similar to running it on Linux, as OS X is UNIX and Linux is UNIX-like, but there are probably a bunch of extra steps (such as recompiling the game) since the OS X version of the game is outdated. Has anyone made this work or know how to make this work?

Thank you!

0gb.us wrote:The wiki gives instructions for setting up a server using Linux and Windows, but doesn't mention OS X. However, the computer I want to use as a server is running OS X. I would switch it over to Linux, as I like Ubuntu and Mint better than OS X anyway, but it has a PowerPC processor, making it incompatible with mainstream Linux distributions.

Is there a way to set up and run an OS X Minetest server? I figgure it should be similar to running it on Linux, as OS X is UNIX and Linux is UNIX-like, but there are probably a bunch of extra steps (such as recompiling the game) since the OS X version of the game is outdated. Has anyone made this work or know how to make this work?

Thank you!

1. REALLY bad idea to use Mac OS X!!!
2. I dont know...maybe its possible...
3. Why dont you just use Ubuntu?
4. Its much easier AND fast to use Ubuntu for minetest and other games....
like Left 4 Dead 2...
===L4D2 Frame Rate===
Windows (Direct3D) = 270 FPS
Windows (OpenGL) = 303 FPS
Linux (OpenGL) = 315 FPS
Mac OS X = 290 FPS
===L4D2 Frame Rate===

0gb.us wrote:I would switch it over to Linux, as I like Ubuntu and Mint better than OS X anyway, but it has a PowerPC processor, making it incompatible with mainstream Linux distributions.

Debian works with a lot of architectures including PowerPC -- it's not that hard to install and use too.

Here's a quick link to the daily "testing" installer with firmware, for PowerPC.

If you have a command-line terminal type in "minetest --server" then ta-da, you're done!

Sorry to revive this topic, but I'm considering it again. We sometimes get a lot of lag on my server, and it would be nice to be able to move it onto my more powerful computer.

I hope to get some time with the Mac soon, so I can get things running.

Ragnar wrote:

0gb.us wrote:The wiki gives instructions for setting up a server using Linux and Windows, but doesn't mention OS X. However, the computer I want to use as a server is running OS X. I would switch it over to Linux, as I like Ubuntu and Mint better than OS X anyway, but it has a PowerPC processor, making it incompatible with mainstream Linux distributions.

Is there a way to set up and run an OS X Minetest server? I figgure it should be similar to running it on Linux, as OS X is UNIX and Linux is UNIX-like, but there are probably a bunch of extra steps (such as recompiling the game) since the OS X version of the game is outdated. Has anyone made this work or know how to make this work?

Thank you!

1. REALLY bad idea to use Mac OS X!!!
2. I dont know...maybe its possible...
3. Why dont you just use Ubuntu?
4. Its much easier AND fast to use Ubuntu for minetest and other games....
like Left 4 Dead 2...
===L4D2 Frame Rate===
Windows (Direct3D) = 270 FPS
Windows (OpenGL) = 303 FPS
Linux (OpenGL) = 315 FPS
Mac OS X = 290 FPS
===L4D2 Frame Rate===

Okay, what makes it a bad idea to use OS X?

Also, I use Ubuntu on my laptop, but Ubuntu is not compatible with my PowerPC Mac server. As much as I prefer Ubuntu, it isn't an option.

Frame rate doesn't really matter, as this is going to be the server. I hardly ever even SEE the physical Mac, so I can't use it as a client. I use the Ubuntu laptop as the client. Also, it gets a frame rate of about 30, so according to your figures, OS X would be a better option for me at 290 frames per second.

Calinou wrote:

0gb.us wrote:I would switch it over to Linux, as I like Ubuntu and Mint better than OS X anyway, but it has a PowerPC processor, making it incompatible with mainstream Linux distributions.

Debian works with a lot of architectures including PowerPC -- it's not that hard to install and use too.

Here's a quick link to the daily "testing" installer with firmware, for PowerPC.

Okay, I'll have to tinker with that. I'm downloading the .iso now (as well as the AMD64 version, to experiment with on the laptop). The main issue is that I have an almost 200 gigabyte hard drive, and nowhere to back it up to. I don't do things halfway, so dual booting is not an option.

Thanks for the info, but I still have a question: If I'm not able to switch it to my favourite operating system, why switch it at all? I detest Windows, but OS X isn't bad. And I'd be swapping out the entire operating system just to run one application. It would be like me switching to Windows just to use Photoshop. (Admittedly, Photoshop might run in WIne. I'm not sure, I use GIMP instead. Also admittedly, switching to Debialn would not be stupid, where switching to WIndows would be. But you get my point.)

PowerOfMese wrote:If you have a command-line terminal type in "minetest --server" then ta-da, you're done!

That only works AFTER you have Minetest installed. I'm not even sure if Minetest will work on a Mac, there are no packages for it. Will it compile?

I always say that a home conection isn't the best for a public server; but--

Technically it's possible, but not s great idea

There is no current maintainer of an OSX build
(It would compile, probably minimal changes needed)
OSX has a fairly resource-intensiveGUI which is not the best idea on a server system


You should try YellowDogLinux, Fedora-based, a very nice PPC distro

Also look at http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/ports/releases/10.04/release/, http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/ports/releases/10.04/release/ and http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/10.04/release/

You said ubuntu for PPC right?

Calinou wrote:

0gb.us wrote:I would switch it over to Linux, as I like Ubuntu and Mint better than OS X anyway, but it has a PowerPC processor, making it incompatible with mainstream Linux distributions.

Debian works with a lot of architectures including PowerPC -- it's not that hard to install and use too.

Here's a quick link to the daily "testing" installer with firmware, for PowerPC.

I just finished installing Debian in my test environment, but I don't know how to install Minetest. Instead od a package download, the main download page says that it "can be found in apt", whatever that means. On a hunch, I tried running "apt-get install minetest" as root, but it did not work. How do I install Minetest?

tux_peng wrote:I always say that a home conection isn't the best for a public server; but--

Technically it's possible, but not s great idea

There is no current maintainer of an OSX build
(It would compile, probably minimal changes needed)
OSX has a fairly resource-intensiveGUI which is not the best idea on a server system


You should try YellowDogLinux, Fedora-based, a very nice PPC distro

Also look at http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/ports/releases/10.04/release/, http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/ports/releases/10.04/release/ and http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/10.04/release/

You said ubuntu for PPC right?

If you have a better option for running my server, I'm all ears, but I'm a poor college student. I don't have money right now, so I can't buy paid hosting.

Those Ubuntu downloads are old. Not to be picky, but I'd like to keep my operating system up to date if I can.

I will try YellowDogLinux when I have time, but I just spent most of my time for the day with my connection tied down by the Debian installer. I have a research project due today that I need to finish up.

Is a Fedora-based Linux going to be similar enough to my Debian-based laptop's operating system to get the two to communicate remotely? If I'm switching away from OS X anyway, it would be nice to be able to give the server instructions, and I don't have access to the physical computer very often.

EDIT: It also looks like there is not a Yellow Dog package available.

I just remembered that none of the packages are for PowerPC processors, so I'm going to have to compile regardless of the operating system. Swapping operating systems isn't going to help with that.

I had access to the server for a little bit, so I tried to compile it. However, Minetest wouldn't compile without irrlicht, and irrlicht wouldn't compile. I'm told it's most likely because irrlicht doesn't like PowerPC processors.

It looks like there's nothing I can do. Oh well.

Don't know what kins of server you were thinking of, but your welcome to join mine... It's new, and soon I'll be looking for an admin :-)

I actually already have a server running, and wanted to keep the world it's hosting. I was just going to swap servers for one with better hardware, so speed things up. If you care, it runs a bare-bones world, with little more than the default contents of stable minetest_game.

My list of things I look for in a server is actually pretty short. I'm looking for interact by default, a way to protect at least one area from vandalism without administrative help (Protector+ works), and no item_drop or hunger. Your server has all that, so it's perfect! Oddly enough, I've been having trouble finding servers that fit that minimal list of requirements. I'll definitely add yours to my list of hangouts!

I'm not sure offering me an admin position is such a good idea though. You don't even know me. For all you know, I could do some damage.