[bukkit guide] Switching to snapshot server

Switching between bukkit & mojang's snapshot server

Table of contents
- what are the issues?
- what is the solution?
- for the windows users

What are the issues?
Because I wanted to test out the snapshot for 1.5, I decided to download the latest mojang server build and ran it with that one. I noticed one huge issue: the nether and the end were reset! After a few minutes, I discovered why: bukkit saves the nether and the end in seperate folders: world_nether/, world_the_end/. In those folders, you'll find the normal DIM-1/ folder for the nether, DIM1/ for the end. The mojang server loads the nether and the end from the default location: within the world/ folder. It meant that, each time I want to switch to the snapshot, I'd had to copy-paste my nether and end folder to the mojang server, and back if I wanted bukkit back. Not that convinient.

Another issue are plugins, too bad, can't do anything about that one. I only use my own greylist plugin, when I use the mojang server, I just check good that the whitelist is correctly set up. So this is only an option for vanilla servers I suppose..

What is the solution?
coldandtired came up with a very simple solution for this issue: symbolic links. You'll just make a link between the bukkit folder, and say it ahs to use the mojang folder. This is how you do it:
all these commands are performed from your server main dir. Also make sure your server is not running while doing this.

creating a backup never hurts

Code:

mkdir backup
cp world/ world_the_nether/ world_the_end/ backup

remove the mojang's DIMs

Code:

rm -r world/DIM1 world/DIM-1

copy the bukkit DIMs to the mojang folder

Code:

cp -R world_nether/DIM-1 world/
cp -R world_the_end/DIM1 world/

remove the bukkit DIMs

Code:

rm -r world_nether/DIM-1
rm -r world_the_end/DIM1

create for each DIM a link

Code:

ln -s world/DIM-1 world_nether/DIM-1
ln -s world/DIM1 world_the_end/DIM1

And that's all, now you created a link from the bukkit folder, to the mojang folder (which is the world/ folder, if you haven't noticed yet, bukkit uses this one too, but only for the overworld). Next time bukkit asks for the nether, it will go in the world_nether/ folder, and be redirected to the world/DIM-1 folder.

For the windows users
Spawnstah mentioned that this is also possible on Windows using the mklink command. I unfortunately am not able to test this out, but if some could, here is what he told me:

Code:

C:\Users\billgates>mklink
Creates a symbolic link.
 
MKLINK [[/D] | [/H] | [/J]] Link Target
 
        /D      Creates a directory symbolic link.  Default is a file
                symbolic link.
        /H      Creates a hard link instead of a symbolic link.
        /J      Creates a Directory Junction.
        Link    specifies the new symbolic link name.
        Target  specifies the path (relative or absolute) that the new link
                refers to.

Zip

 

This will work on OS X and any other Unix server, too (*BSD etc).

 

Oh yes, I'll change that, thanks =)

 

Symlinks works in windows too, just use mklink.

 

I don't know, never tried it on windows, the only thing I know on Windows are shortcuts, which don't work. Are you sure it works on all versions? home edition, professional,..

zip

 

Win2000 had junktions, win XP also + linked from the ResourceKit.
Vista and forward have mklink (i think in all editions, I'm always using Pro or better so not used to Home Edition).

Code:

C:\Users\billgates>mklink
Creates a symbolic link.

MKLINK [[/D] | [/H] | [/J]] Link Target

        /D      Creates a directory symbolic link.  Default is a file
                symbolic link.
        /H      Creates a hard link instead of a symbolic link.
        /J      Creates a Directory Junction.
        Link    specifies the new symbolic link name.
        Target  specifies the path (relative or absolute) that the new link
                refers to.

C:\Users\billgates>

Sorry, didn't mean to highjack your thread. Just wanted to mention that this should be possible to do in Windows also for those who run that.

 

Oh sure, I love to learn new things, I'll mention it in the thread, however I won't be able to test how it works, but I'm sure google will find an answer if people want it to know =)