Tag: Server Updates

2018 SL UG updates #2/1: Simulator User Group

Posted on by Inara Pey

D o X; Inara Pey, December 2017, on FlickrD o X – blog post

Update, January 10th: Subsequent to this post being published, the deployment plans for the RC channels were revised, and details have been add below to reflect this. My thanks to Kyouko for drawing my attention to the updated server deployment thread.

Server Deployments

As always, please refer to the server deployment thread for the latest news and updates.

There are no planned deployments for 2018 week #2. All channels remain on the same server release 17#17.12.01.511131. However, the Main (SLS) channel was restarted on Tuesday, January 9th, 2018.

There was no deployment to the SLS Main channel on Tuesday, January 9th, 2018, leaving it on  server release 17#17.12.01.511131. The channel was, however, restarted.

Following the original publication of this update, the server deployment thread was updated to indicate there would be a deployment to the major RC channels on Wenesday, January 10th: server maintenance package 18#18.01.08.511751, comprising internal logging improvements.

SL Viewer

The Alex Ivy RC viewer was updated to version 5.1.0.511732 on January 9th, 2018. All other viewers currently remain as per the end of week #1:

No Copy Exploits Update

An area of concern / upset for content creators has been the use of server exploits to generate copies of No Copy items. While a long-standing problem, the issue has gained a lot more coverage of late due to the frequency with people have been using various exploits to illegal copy and then sell gacha items. In November, the Lab closed one exploit used in generating No Copy items, and reported this, and the steps they put in place to help recognise when someone might be attempting to use it (see: Exciting Improvements to SL Fee Updates to Enable Even More).

Since then the Lab has continued to work on issues (see my SL project update from 2017 week #47). However, there have been mistaken claims that the Lab stated it had resolved “the” exploit, which is not the case – see the Lab’s blog post above), which Oz and Simon sought to correct in the meeting, with Oz Linden stating:

We never said we were sure we’d fixed all possible exploits, and we won’t say that because we might not know about them all.

Simon then added:

I know that statement and we deliberately and clearly said it wasn’t done. There was more work but we were making progress. I know a lot of people reading it probably wanted it to say (and mean) we fixed everything. We know we haven’t.

In terms of what more is being done, Oz said:

If I were to tell you now that we’re working on “method X” for object copying, I’d be letting people who might not know about it that it existed, and telling those who know how to use it to hurry up while the getting is good.

Other Items

  • New Linden: the Simulator User Group meeting on Tuesday, January 9th was joined by Bugsly Linden. A new member of LL’s QA team, he joined the Lab around a month ago – and is a former Second Life resident.
  • Group chat issues: there has been a noted uptick in group chat issues. Commenting on this, Simon Linden said, “We looked into group chat recently and did a few things that should have helped. [In the meantime] for group chat lag problems, please send in a support ticket – the group name is crucial as its most likely a specific server needs attention. Also [give the] time it happens, and the region you’re on. Sometimes it’s the region’s issue.”

2018 SL UG updates #1/1: Simulator User Group

Posted on by Inara Pey

Sol Existence; Inara Pey, October 2017, on FlickrSol Existence – blog post

Server Deployments

There are no planned deployments for the opening week of 2018. There are currently no DRTSIM projects on Aditi (the beta grid) awaiting promotion to the Main grid, however, there may be new RC deployments for week #2 (commencing Monday, January 8th).

SL Viewer Updates

There have been no SL viewer updates over the holiday period. This leaves the viewer pipeline as per the end of 2017:

  • Current Release version 5.0.9.329906, dated November 17th, promoted November 29th – formerly the “Martini” Maintenance RC
  • Release channel cohorts:
  • Project viewers:
  • Obsolete platform viewer version 3.7.28.300847, May 8, 2015 – provided for users on Windows XP and OS X versions below 10.7. This viewer will remain available for as long as reasonable, but will not be updated with new features or bug fixes.

TPV Updates

The following  third-party viewers updated over the holiday period:

  • Black Dragon updates to version 2.9.6.
  • Cool VL viewer updated to version 1.26.20.40 (stable), and 1.26.21.6 (experimental).
  • Catznip updated to version R12 on January 2nd, 2018 – see my overview for more.

My weekly viewer release summaries will resume from week #2, 2018.

SL Feature Summit

The next Second Life “feature summit” when potential projects and major updates for SL are considered / reviewed, is due to take place in February 2018. These meetings are generally held around every 6 months.

A look at Second Life updates in 2017

Posted on by Inara Pey

La Vie; Inara Pey, October 2017, on FlickrLa Vie, October 2017 – blog post

Each week through the year, I try to get to as many in-world and other meetings held by the Lab to keep an eye on technical developments and updates which are in the works for the viewer and the simulator, relaying the notable items via my SL project updates. As such, I thought it might be interesting to look back at some of the technical changes and updates have come our way in 2017.

Visible Projects

The year started with everyone still getting their heads around 2016’s Project Bento, which reached release status at the end of that year, bringing with it a much extended avatar skeleton with masses of new bones allowing a range of new animations and opportunities for more diverse avatar looks that used bone animations rather than resource-heavy options such as alpha flipping and so on.

Thus, 2017 – or at least the early part of it at least – saw many Bento releases hitting Second Life, from animal avatars through to Bento-enabled avatar mesh heads and hands which offer a greater range of expressions and natural motions, natural jaw and mouth movements to go with Voice or with text chat, and so on. Given the interest in Bento, I offered a behind-the-scenes look at the project from a personal perspective, having been an observer of the work from the initial closed development work all the way through the open beta to release.

I eventually made the move to a Bento head in September 2017, after extensive fiddling with demos from all the major makers, with (r) Lelutka proving to be the best in terms of maintaining much of my “original” (aka “2010 onwards”) look (l), as I played with the demo model & test skin)

The Bento project gave rise to several potential follow-on projects, of which the three most popular among creators at the Bento / Content Creation meetings were: supplemental animations, to allow smooth interaction between animations as a result of conflicts arising between the extended bone groups (currently on hold), animated mesh – eventually renamed “Animesh”, and bakes on mesh – with the latter two becoming a particular focus of the in-world Content Creation User Group meetings, together with the Environment Enhancement Project (EEP).

Animesh is a means of animating rigged mesh objects using the avatar skeleton, in whole or in part, to provide things like independently moveable pets / creatures, and animated scenery features via scripted animation. It involves both viewer and server-side changes. It can be used with any object (generally rigged / skinned mesh) which and contains the necessary animations and controlling scripts in its own inventory (Contents tab of the Build floater) required for it to animate itself. During 2017, the focus has been on getting a basic Animesh capability working in Second Life, which by the end of the years saw a project viewer at an advanced stage of development. 2018 should see this move to RC status, and the project as a whole move to release. A potential follow-on project may then see the capability extended to allow more in the way of NPC creation through Animesh.

Animesh allows you to take rigged mesh objects, add animations and controlling scripts to them, associate them with an avatar skeleton, and have them run in-world without the need for any supervising viewer / client

Bakes on Mesh extends the current avatar baking service to allow wearable textures (skins, tattoos, clothing) to be applied directly to mesh bodies as well as system avatars. This involves server-side changes, including updating the baking service to support 1024×1024 textures (but does not include normal or specular support). Once this initial work has been completed, an intended follow-on project to actually support baking textures onto mesh surfaces. This has yet to fully defined in terms of implementation and when it might be slotted into SL development time frames.

Environment Enhancement Project is a set of updates to Windlight settings, etc. These include the ability to define the environment (sky, sun, moon, clouds, water settings) at the parcel level; a new environment asset type that can be stored in inventory and traded through the Marketplace / exchanged with others; scripted, experience-based environment functions, an extended day cycle and extended environmental parameters. This work involves both a viewer updates (with a project viewer coming soon) and server-side updates.

While 2017 didn’t see the deployment of many high-profile user-facing projects, it did see a considerable amount of back-end work take place, not all of which was necessarily user-visible, and some of which also affected the viewer. In summary this work included:

  • A complete overhaul of the simulator code build process, including upgrading the Linux OS for the simulator servers – the first of such rounds of OS update.
  • Moving most of the remaining SL asset (inventory items) handling from UDP messaging through the simulators to HTTP delivery via the CDN.
  • Increasing Region capacity (avatar numbers), with a perk for Premium members.
  • Announcing a major initiative to move all the Second Life services into the cloud, if possible. More info came through a TPVD meeting and Tara Hernandez, Senior Director of Systems and Build Engineering at Linden Lab, touched on the project in a presentation at AWS:Invent.
  • Changing how multiple, repeat teleport requests made via scripted HUDs were handled to reduce the impact such requests have on region performance.
  • The start of a project to revise the complexity calculations (in-world objects and Avatar Rendering Complexity) to make them more accurate / stable and reflective of the true cost of rendering items – this work is still ongoing.
  • Continuing work to eliminate exploits use to crash regions and to make the simulator code generally more robust, trying to curb illicit content copying, etc.

The Viewer

Much of 2017’s focus on the viewer was directed at moving it to 64-bit for Windows (whilst also maintaining a 32-bit version as well) and for Mac OS X. Started in 2016, with a significant overhaul of the viewer build process and its associated libraries, the first project viewer release for the 64-bit viewer – code-named Alex Ivy (aLeX IVy = LXIV = 64) – arrived in early January, with work continuing throughout the year to refine the viewer, work out issues in the build process, and move the project towards release status – which should now happen in early 2018.

The 360-snapshot viewer received an overdue update which, while suffering from pro resolution issues, did streamline the production of 360-images. This was the only update to the viewer in 2017, leaving it as project viewer status. More work will be forthcoming in 2018.

The revised snapshot floater in the July 2017 360-snapshot project viewer

The Lab also restated their desire to continue with Linux, by offering a Debian build of the viewer – but only with the help ogf the Linux community.

Other updates for the viewer in 2017 included custom folders for uploads, the launch of a new release candidate branch of the viewer specifically to manage fixes and updates to the viewer’s rendering pipe, the first pass at improving region / estate ban lists for estate owners,  the viewer’s avatar rendering options (right-click context menu and Preferences > Graphics) were improved to allow users to better define how avatars around them are defined. New region / parcel access controls were introduced and a WORN tab was (finally) added to the inventory floater. There was also the ongoing series of Maintenance RC releases throughout the year, aimed specifically at fixing bugs and issues, which in 2017 gained their own code-name series, each one being named for an alcoholic beverage.

Other Updates and Changes

You can follow my updates on SL technical developments and updates through the likes of my weekly SL project updates and weekly viewer release summaries (which also cover TPV releases).

 

SL project updates week #51: server, viewer

Posted on by Inara Pey

Cherishville; Inara Pey, November 2017, on FlickrCherishville – blog post

Server Deployments

There are no planned deployments for week #51. This will leave the grid running on server release 17#17.12.01.511131 (link to SLS summary page).  However, given the RC channels have not been restarted in the last two weeks, there may be a rolling restart for all three RC channels on Wednesday, December 20th.

SL Viewer

The Nalewka Maintenance RC viewer updated to version 5.0.10.330111 on Tuesday, December 19th. This adds a further 11 fixes and updates to the viewer since the initial release of the viewer RC.

The Project Render Viewer updated to version 5.1.0.511446 on Monday, December 18.

The Alex Ivy 64-bit RC may also get an update during the week. However, at the moment the remainder of the SL viewer pipeline remains as per the end of week #50:

  • Current Release version 5.0.9.329906, dated November 17, promoted November 29th – formerly the “Martini” Maintenance RC – No Change
  • Release channel cohorts:
  • Project viewers:
  • Obsolete platform viewer version 3.7.28.300847, dated May 8, 2015 – provided for users on Windows XP and OS X versions below 10.7.

User Group Meeting Dates

With the holiday season on us, users group meeting dates are as follows:

  • Simulator User Group: next meeting: Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018, 12:00 noon.
  • Open-source development group: Wednesday, December 20th; Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018.
  • Server Beta User Group: Aditi, Thursday, December 21st, December 21st; Thursday, January 4th, 2018 – both at 15:00.
  • Content Creation User Group: Aditi, Thursday, December 21st; Thursday, January 4th, 2018 – both at 13:00 SLT
  • Third-Party Developer Meeting: Friday, January 12th, 2018, 12:00 noon SLT.
  • Web User Group: Friday, January 5th, 2018, 14:30 SLT.

SL project updates week #50: server, viewer

Posted on by Inara Pey

Groenland Kangamiut; Inara Pey, November 2017, on Flickr Groenland Kangamiut – blog post

Server Deployments

As always, please refer to the server deployment thread for the latest news and updates.

  • On Tuesday, December 12th, the Main (SLS) channel was updated with the server maintenance package previously deployed to all three RC channels. 17#17.12.01.511131 comprises “internal improvements”, which should not result in visible changes for users.
  • No deployment is anticipated for the the RC channels on Wednesday, December 13th, leaving them on server package 17#17.12.01.51131. A potential deployment to the BlueSteel RC was cancelled, “I found a nasty little bug nest late last night,” Mazidox Linden reported at the Simulator User Group meeting, “Had to halt the move to RC.”

SL Viewer

Two viewers were updated by Linden Lab on Monday, December 11th, 2017:

  • The Alex Ivy 64-bit RC viewer updated to version 5.1.0.511248.
  • The Animesh project viewer updated to version 5.0.10.330058.

The Alex Ivy RC viewer release notes contain the following information, worth reproducing here:

Windows: there are now separate 32-bit and 64-bit builds for Windows.

  • If you use an HD 2000 or 3000 series video card on Windows 10, choose 32 bit
  • Otherwise, choose the one that matches your copy of Windows

If your computer can run 64bit, and most can, you will get better performance and fewer crashes running a 64 bit Windows and Viewer. If you chose the wrong one, the viewer will upgrade you again the first time you run it to the correct one (if you think it made the wrong choice, please file a bug in jira). This build further refines the determination of what is “the best” platform for your system.

Mac:  the Mac build does not support 32-bit Macs (this is permanent, and not really a change since it’s been some time since LL supported OS X versions that would still run on a 32-bit system).

  • This build shows two icons on the Dock when running. The first one is a new launcher/monitor process (SL_Launcher) that checks for updates; the second is the viewer itself, but both are labelled “Second Life Viewer”. If you are going to pin the icon on the Dock, pin the first one or you’ll get a warning each time you launch. We hope/plan to get this sorted out so that only one shows.
  • Video media (QuickTime) usually does not play (the media handling is now the same as the Windows viewer).
  • The volume of web based media (e.g. YouTube) doesn’t change based on your distance from the source.

Linux: there is no Linux viewer yet. We hope to begin work on addressing this with the community after the release of the Mac and Windows versions.

The release notes for the Animesh project viewer include a summary of the key changes from the previous version of the viewer:

  • Animesh objects should now display correctly as impostors, using the same rules that avatars do currently.
  • Fix for a crash triggered by unchecking the animated mesh check box for an Animesh attachment.
  • Fix for Animesh attachment getting removed after teleport.
  • Fix for some of the cases where animesh graphics state could get corrupted.
  • Various clean-ups and optimisations.

The rest of the SL viewer pipeline remains as per the end of week #49:

  • Current Release version 5.0.9.329906, dated November 17, promoted November 29th – formerly the “Martini” Maintenance RC
  • Release channel cohorts:
    • Wolfpack RC viewer arrived, version 5.0.10.330001, released on November 30.
    • Voice RC viewer, version 5.0.8.328552, October 20 (still dated Sept 1 on the wiki page).
  • Project viewers:
  • Obsolete platform viewer version 3.7.28.300847, dated May 8, 2015 – provided for users on Windows XP and OS X versions below 10.7.

 

SL project updates week #49: server, viewer, e-mail verification

Posted on by Inara Pey

Borneo; Inara Pey, November 2017, on FlickrBorneo – blog post

Server Deployments

  • On Tuesday, December 5th, the Main (SLS) channel was updated with the server maintenance package  17#17.11.17.510835, previously deployed the three RC channels. This comprises:
    • IMs sent to an off-line resident will only be sent to verified email addresses.
    • Internal Changes to Outgoing Emails.
  • On Wednesday, December 6th, the three RC channels should be updates with a new server maintenance package, 17#17.12.01.511131, comprising “internal improvements”.

E-mail Verification

The Main (SLS) server deployment sees a further step in the Lab’s plan to reduce the volume of e-mail traffic it generates by only sending e-mails to those addresses Second Life users have actually verified as being valid with Linden Lab (see Making Email From Second Life (More) Reliable).

With this deployment, and if you have not verified your preferred SL-related e-mail address with Linden Lab, you will no longer receive off-line IMs as e-mails. So, if you haven’t already done so, ad wish to continue receiving off-line IMs as e-mails from wherever they originate in-world, make sure you have verified the e-mail address recorded in your viewer  with Linden Lab. Should you require detailed instructions on how to do this, please refer to my blog post Important: verifying your e-mail address with Second life.

SL Viewer

The Project Render Viewer updated to version 5.1.0.510978 on December 4th (although the wiki page still lists it as dated November 30th). All other viewers remain unchanged from week #48 at the time of writing:

e have been no SL viewer updates since the end of week #45, leaving the current viewer pipelines as follows:

  • Current Release version 5.0.9.329906, dated November 17, promoted November 29th – formerly the “Martini” Maintenance RC
  • Release channel cohorts:
    • Wolfpack RC viewer arrived, version 5.0.10.330001, released on November 30.
    • Alex Ivy 64-bit viewer, version 5.1.0.511060, December 1.
    • Voice RC viewer, version 5.0.8.328552, October 20 (still dated Sept 1 on the wiki page).
  • Project viewers:
  • Obsolete platform viewer version 3.7.28.300847, dated May 8, 2015 – provided for users on Windows XP and OS X versions below 10.7.

Marketplace Listings Issues

For the last 10 tens there have been on-going issues with Marketplace items becoming unlisted/ associated with their related items. The issues have been subject to continuing investigation. The Lab has also been attempting to recover listings as investigations have continued. On Monday, December 4th, the Grid Status Page was updated:

Identified – We have identified a solution to this matter and are actively working through the support cases and JIRA tickets that have been submitted. If you have been affected by the issue (Marketplace listings unlisting) and have not reported it to us yet, please file a support case. Thank you again for your patience as we slay this dragon.

To which Oz Linden added, during the Simulator User Group on Tuesday, December 5th:

We found and fixed some problems and repaired many listings. I won’t claim we found all problems because I have no way to be sure of that (ever) … Anyone who lost a listing should file a support ticket. We have a process in place to recover the listings we can. So far I believe that’s most of them.

Enhanced Environment Project

Rider Linden is working on the Enhanced Environmental Project (EEP), which comprises a number of changes to how environmental (Windlight) settings are handle. They include the ability to define the environment (sky, sun, moon, clouds, water settings) at the parcel level; a new environment asset type that can be stored in inventory and traded through the Marketplace / exchanged with others; scripted, experience-based environment functions, an extended day cycle and extended environmental parameters.

This work, which involves both viewer and server-side updates, is generally part of my CCUG meeting updates. However, Rider is still considering how best to convert existing custom Windlight settings people have created into inventory assets. If anyone has any ideas on how to make this work, to please file a JIRA for the Enhanced Environmental Project, and ask in the description that it be brought to his attention.