This tutorial will help you configure your poker server and get it online quickly. First, however, it is important to understand a few networking concepts so it is recommended that you review these two sections before proceeding:
Assuming you've already installed Poker Mavens on your Windows PC, start the server module by double-clicking its icon on the Windows desktop or by selecting Start | All Programs | Poker Mavens 2 | Poker Mavens Server. The server module is divided into 7 tabs: System, Ring Games, Tournaments, Accounts, Connections, Logs, and Language.
Click the Ring Games tab and then click the Add icon on the Ring Game toolbar. Set "Auto online" to "Yes" and then click OK.
Click the System tab and fill in (by double-clicking or via the Edit button on the toolbar) the following property values in the Site Information section:
Site name - Enter a unique, descriptive name for your poker site, up to 50 characters in length
Site description - This is an optional longer description. You can leave it blank for now.
Site password - Enter a site password if you want to restrict who can login into your site. Otherwise leave it blank.
Site news - This is for displaying news or other information to your players. Leave it blank for now.
Directory listing - Select Yes if you want to put a link to your server in the server directory at PokerMavens.net. This feature is not available in the Trial version of Poker Mavens.
Directory key - If you purchased the Lite, Pro, or Gold version of Poker Mavens, enter the directory key from the email receipt that you received from Briggs Softworks. Leave this property blank if you are running the Trial version.
Support email - If you want your players to be able to send you an email message, enter your email address here. Otherwise leave it blank.
Support web site - If you have a web site, you can enter the URL here (starting with http://). Otherwise leave it blank.
Internet IP address - Click the Lookup button and Poker Mavens will attempt an HTTP connection to look up your Internet IP address. You may get a warning from your firewall software when doing so. Be sure to select "allow" or "unblock" if asked.
Auto lookup IP - Set this to Yes if your Internet service provider has not assigned a static IP to your account. The software will perform the Internet IP address lookup for you each time you put the game server online.
File port - Leave the default value of 8087.
Packet port - Leave the default value of 8088.
Local IP address - A list of IP addresses that the server can bind to will be listed. Typically this will be just one IP assigned to your network interface card plus the localhost (127.0.0.1), a special address that allows a computer to refer to itself. Check all the boxes you see in the list.
Max connections - Leave the default value of 50.
Max idle minutes - Leave the default value of 0.
Allow duplicate IPs - Set this to Yes if you want to test your server with two or more connections originating from the same IP address.
Allow duplicate PCs - Set this to Yes if you want to test your server with two or more connections originating from the same computer.
Allow remote administration - This feature is only available in the Pro/Gold version. Leave this set at No for now.
Administration password - Leave this setting blank for now.
Administration whitelist - Leave this setting blank for now.
Enable API - This feature is only available in the Pro/Gold version. Leave this set at No for now.
API password - Leave this setting blank for now.
API whitelist - Leave this setting blank for now.
Autostart server at bootup - Leave this set at No for now.
Data folder - Leave the default setting as is.
Play login chime - Leave this set at Yes.
Leave the remaining System settings at their default values for now.
If your computer is connected to the Internet through a router (or a DSL modem with a built-in router) then you must open up the file port and packet port in your router's port forwarding configuration so that they point to your Local IP address. Otherwise, the router will block all incoming connections trying to connect to your server. See the Firewalls and Routers topic for more information. If there is no router in your system or if you only want to test your server locally or inside your local area network then you can skip to the next step.
Click the Start button on the System toolbar to put your poker server online. You may get a warning from your firewall software when doing so. Be sure to select "allow" or "unblock" if asked.
Start up your web browser. If you are running the Lite, Pro, or Gold version of Poker Mavens and you set the Directory Listing setting to Yes in Step 3 then go to PokerMavens.net and connect to your server from there. Trial versions will be listed at PokerMavens.net/trial instead. Call up some friends and have them do the same. Otherwise, set the destination address in your web browser to your Local IP address. If your File Port is set to any number other than 80, you must also append a colon and that port number to the end of the URL (192.168.1.100:8087 for example). Anyone outside of your local area network must connect to your Internet IP + File Port instead (which is what happens automatically when someone connects from the server directory.
For instructions on how to login and play, see the Player Interface topics.
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