PunkBuster here we go...

[rudedog]

Now that Activision/IW has announced the addition to PunkBuster, I guess it's only fitting we have a dedicated area to discuss this new feature.

I've never admined a server that supported PunkBuster so I will be trying to learn a lot over the next couple of months.

We will be providing some links to Punkbuster FAQ's, How-Tos and general PB help.

I'd like to ask any of our active members to post your level of knowledge with PB. This way we know who to ask when we have some tricky questions / problems.

Please only post questions to these members here in this forum. You can not help others by PMing them.

I know I'm looking forward to getting up to speed with PB, I hope you enjoy the ride

[imported_Spive]

Is there any idea of whether PB will be fully integrated into CoD or will it be a standalone client and server program?

The only PB experience I have was when it was big with Counter-Strike and at that time there was a PB server that had to be running and each client had to lauch their PB client before they join the game server.

That method would not be ideal. Is it possible or is it expected to be built right into the game itself (and servers) so that each client would have PB installed and running without any special downloading or configuring needed?

[rudedog]

I don't know. I would hope they intergrate it like EA is doing with BF42's 1.6 patch.

I have an email into evenbalance with some questions. Hopefully they will answer.

[Rammer_DD]

it will be no trouble
you set it by cvars as any game has


it will come with a standard config for all the known cheats already too install

and a long list of custom settings it is going too be the best thing for cod

i will help any one with it i have run pb for as long as it has been out and just love all the options

[imported_Sac]

Indeed, I've missed all these features in the few months of admining CoD.

Looking forward to making use of the ban names list, cvar restrictions, pb screenshots and being able to easily apply bans across all our servers again. :smile:

I'm an experienced PunkBuster admin from RTCW and ET.

[Rammer_DD]

yes indeed now the game can be run the way it was meant too be played fair and honest

the best thing is you can progrm the game now how you want it too look --run --play
and no hackers lol

opengl hacks will be a thing of the past--- "vertigo" was the main culprit in wolf but when pb came he left and moved on too more
open games

[rudedog]

Thanks for the reply guys,

What about cpu overhead? does running PunkBuster add any CPU utilization? or bog your server down?

[Rammer_DD]

nope never had a problem like that
your server will report too the main pb servers like it does
with codmasters--it will send a heartbeat too and from the main
you can set the amount of time that pb sleeps betwreen heartbeats---

once you begin too work with it it will be easy too config
you can set the game varibles too there original values if a client goes outside them he is kicked at once

a lot of the same cvars for the quake engine can and do work in cod
you be surprised how far you can push the looks of the game

[Resolution208]

Is there any idea of whether PB will be fully integrated into CoD or will it be a standalone client and server program?

In RTCW, Punkbuster was fully integrated within the game itself. Clients had a choice to turn it "On", or "Off", and would helpfully guide users to turn it ON when they attempted to connect to a Server that required it. As CoD uses much of the Wolf 1.4 networking code, it is more than likely it is completely integrated within the executable.

PB uses very little bandwidth, and is suitable for use even on dialup connections. It periodically scans your Cvars for allowable ranges (which the server admin can leave as-is, or set to his liking), and checks the running execuable in memory for known hacks/cheats/patches/code modifications.

There is a nice feature by which the server admin can request a screen-shot of a client's system (in a small area), if the admin suspects any cheating/wrongdoing by that client. It is uploaded slowly as to not interfere with the game, and unbeknowst to the user under investigation.

PB also creates a unique GUID system for each client (based loosely on the CD key.. 1 way hash), so it's easy to ban a particular user, regardless of his IP address. His GUID/CDKey is what will be banned from your Server, either for a "time" (sv_pb_kick [slot] [minutes]) or "forever" (sv_pb_ban [slot]).

Having used PB under RTCW for many years, it s a welcome addition for any server Admin trying to keep the riff-raff from spoiling your server

- R208.

[Resolution208]

Thanks for the reply guys,

What about cpu overhead? does running PunkBuster add any CPU utilization? or bog your server down?

The overhead is inconsequental compared with the requirements of a single player. (30 Mhz per player for CoD is a good rule of thumb). I found virtually no operational difference between a 34 player server with PB, and running without PB. My CPU utilization remained basically the same. (~85% on a P3 800 Mhz w/34 Slots with RTCW).

- R208.

We must not forget PB is not fool proof. America's Army uses PB, yet most ladder still enforce running a 3rd party anti-cheat tool.

[Resolution208]

We must not forget PB is not fool proof. America's Army uses PB, yet most ladder still enforce running a 3rd party anti-cheat tool.

Agreed. PB only detects hacks that it (well, that evenbalance) knows about. There will usually be a lag time (from days to weeks) between an exploit appearing, and the time PB is updated to detect it. Thats'a good caveat to remember.

However, it's still good practice to have it running to quash the majority of the hacks out there. If ever in doubt, grab a screenshot or do a CVAR walk of the client system.

Software can never replace the diligence of a good server Admin. =)

- R208.

[Rammer_DD]

it may not be foolproof but it is a long way better now then it was
there are ways too catch people
through keybinds
cvar checks

once it gets here lot of admins can and will be right on top of it

[Deckoh]

Hi there, New to the Fourms, ive used PB with both SOF2 & ET, as well as the PBWeb tool.. any questions lemme know..

[imported_Boogieman]

Anticheat support is a natural step in the progress of any online game. And professional support in this area is critical in solidifying CoD's presence in the gaming community. We should welcome it with open arms.

No software solution will ever replace diligent and well trained admins. PB will be yet another tool in our arsenal to make CoD and its mods the best FPS experience available.

Thanks to IW and Activision for making this bold move.

I'm down with PB...RTCW, SoF2, ET...it's 100% better than jack squat.

[HankScorpio]

I ran a RTCW:ET server for quite a long time so I'll be able to help out. But honestly, there isn't much to it. I think the point that several people have made is a very good one: the best way to catch cheaters is diligence. Punkbuster won't do the work for you. It's a tool for server admins to help them do their job well. It's a very powerful yet easy-to-use tool, though. Lag is not an issue.

[IcIrIs]

Here is my knowlage bace on Punk Buster.

It is a very good anticheat that almost always gets the people that are cheating. But there are however hacks our there that trick it. (I dont cheat but I do alot of reading and I add file names to my server of hacks so that if someone has the hacks it kicks/bans them) The trick will let the people use hacks and they will not get caut with the hacks. It is a goo waste of money, but if it is a big company then it is ok. I will let PB run as will as both layers of anticheat on my server.

Layers Include:
Server Watch Anticheat
CI

I will welcome PB to my team of anticheat, but I will not be reling on it, so neither should you.

[imported_Killmore]

would i still be able to use my blood and sound mod w/ punkbust ay ?

[rudedog]

would i still be able to use my blood and sound mod w/ punkbust ay ?

Good question Killmore, what about the good client sided mods as well as say using a realism mod (serversided) with punkbuster?

Again, thanks for all the replies, glad to see most of you are up on punkbuster.

[thejerk]

would i still be able to use my blood and sound mod w/ punkbust ay ?

Good question Killmore, what about the good client sided mods as well as say using a realism mod (serversided) with punkbuster?

Again, thanks for all the replies, glad to see most of you are up on punkbuster.

The way it works, from my experience with ET, is it looks for specific cheats and hacks stored in a database which is updated periodically. So in other words, it won't be looking for mods and such that aren't deemed by EB to be cheats.

[5thMSSThunderDawg]

would i still be able to use my blood and sound mod w/ punkbust ay ?

Good question Killmore, what about the good client sided mods as well as say using a realism mod (serversided) with punkbuster?

Again, thanks for all the replies, glad to see most of you are up on punkbuster.

The way it works, from my experience with ET, is it looks for specific cheats and hacks stored in a database which is updated periodically. So in other words, it won't be looking for mods and such that aren't deemed by EB to be cheats.

It was my understanding that EvenBalance encouraged the running of "Pure" servers and that their ban lists/reporting of banned ip's was only available to those who ran servers in pure.
Was this so--will it be?
We run custom maps and custom scopes and are trying to package these pk3's so that we can run and play on "pure" servers.
If the incorporated PB which will be supported by the patch ONLY looks for known cheats and hacks, like transdoors, transbricks, whitewalls, etc, then how is it customizable to allow custom maps and custom scopes and nothing else?
Have never run PB before--appreciate this forum and all the input from you CounterStrike admins, et al

[Rammer_DD]

pb does not check the pk files
so you will still need to run pure server to catch t he pk3 dll changes
its still and will be up too the admins too decide if they want pure servers
it will be useless too run pb for there cheats protection -and open the server up for all the many things that can be done in the pk files
i look after 4 cod servers and it is a real problem too keep ahead of them
ive looked at many many videos too catch them
the best thing too do is run fraps or any good movie maker too catch them
the most common hack now is the fog hack on our servers it climbs each week
there were 5 this weekend --so things are getting worst fast
total since we put the servers online is 35 hack players all who have been blackiced from the servers
not sure how many there has been in all just too time consuming too record all the game play on all servers
one good way is if you see a player that is beating the rest by a 3
to 1 margin then he will get his play videoed and 9 out of ten times he also gets blackiced

[5thMSSThunderDawg]

Thanks Rammer-
Yup--was afraid that would be the answer!
Am watching 2 cod servers myself right now--don't get a chance to play much in spec mode! Bummer! Using demo to record my games when playing--deleting if I dont run in to anything/anybody --then spectator and screenies after trying to put myself in harms way with the suspect while playing qnd recording. It's a real hassle trying to keep a server hack free for sure!
Will post in forums if we come up with a way to run custom scopes AND custom maps and "pure" simultaneously. We have the map problem beat I think---scopes are next--that is the only exception to pure we want on our servers which are both sniper only.
The 3 to 1 rule needs to be flexible--it is not rare for some of our guys to whack on a bunch of newbies and run up some really high numbers--like 60/15 or 60+/20--of course that does not usually happen when there are other clan players in there.
Thanks again for the reply--by the way--do you know a fairly simple way to have no kill cam and a spawn-kill preventative immunity delay in DM? We have it done in TDM but can't get it to work in DM--thanks

[imported_Sparty]

I am so looking forward to having PB, even if just to get rid of the vast majority of cheaters who have the balls to use cheats on servers.
I've been running a CoD server now for a fair few months and have encountered a ton of dodgy high scores and wall shooting.
As far as scores are concerned anything from 10 - 20 for good players and obviously more when it's noobnation :wink:

Come on PB! Let's ave it! :!:

[imported_Boogieman]

The "pure" issue is something we'll have to address. Most mods or TC's prevent running pure leaving us little option. Once we have that level of support from IW for mod purity, PB should work fine.

Since PB support will be at the engine level, we will have to wait on IW to publish the patch - which means, unless IW works with the mod community prior to the patch deployment, many mods will not work upon release. That equals a TON of pissed-off players! Which in turn equals lots of admins without any hair nor sanity. :o

[Rammer_DD]

lol far as the hair i already pulled most of it out
sanity well its leaving at and alarming rate too

and there is a lot of good maps out there so we have too
wait and see what can be done after the patch
maybe they did address that

and mods for admins so too work with things will come around i hope
game is not that old yet so might take another 2 months too work out the bugs
least they have a head start on cod 2

[Storm]

Don't worry punkbuster is a great tool that only uses a little bandwidth and very little cpu utilization. I ran a server with quake 3 using PB, and it was great.
It does have a lot of settings for variables, we all definitely need to study up on them. (i honestly forgot most of them). PB is self updating, so it's easy for players as well as admins to use.
With quake 3 it found aimbots, wallhacks, field of view changes, as well as bots, illegal cd keys, illegal pk3. files, etc.
it's a welcome addition to COD

[SapperCHG]

PB Support cant come soon enough.



All hacks should be placed on a small island in the South pacific and firebombed.


Looking forward to the release.

[Mjr_Ripper]

if pk is intergrated into the paks for the game itself, would that mean that screenshots could be snapped from rcon control ?

As all remote screenshots require a client on the player, the game should when patched carry the client within so instant screen shots should be avialable? Am i on the right lines here, any further info would be appreciated

Mjr.Ripper....195.20.109.113:28960...24/7 everyone welcome

[imported_Sac]

The screenshots can either be triggered remotely with rcon, or automatically with the pb_autoss settings. The screenshots aren't normally available instantly, but should arrive on the server within a few mins.

[PYTHON]

Well is pb coming out any time soon i cant wait hehe.I cant wait we at {WFH} are a cheat free squad and we will have it on our server.Let me know when its due out thx {WFH}PYTHON Leader. :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: