"Pure Virtual Function Call" Problem/Discovery!

[Grey Echo]

I'm having an issue on my server, ~Grey Echo's Zombie Inn~, that has lead me to here. I've been error checking my harddrive and registry, my router and ISP, and everything comes down to this mod.

Recently, I've been getting "Time Outs" and "Connection Closing" errors from ALL my clients, most of the time 2 or 3 at once at a time. It happens around every one minute or so where they leave not by their own will. On my website, http://www.freewebs.com/redbaroninn , I have an error reporting section and of course people have been posting that this is happening. I've done all I can but it seems it cannot be solve. What I found interesting however is that these "Time Outs" and "Connection Closing" problems are caused by one thing: "Runtime Errors: Pure Virtual Function Call" caused by the Zombie Mod. I have the latest version and I see that this is suppose to be fixed, but it's actually not as all you guys have seem to have done is disguise is almost, maybe not on purpose, but that is what you have done in the process. I know this because all the error reportings I am gettings say that they are all getting this type of Runtime Error when they "Time Out" or "Connection Closes". I don't know exactly why this all started up now, but it did seem to just a few days ago.

I'm not sure if anyone has been having the same problem and I'm sure people have, but this cannot be tolerated. I cannot host a server that has a flawed Zombie Mod on it (as much as I love this mod, that's why I made my server host it), it's as simple as that. I've done everything, even switched computers and ISPs to see if those were causing it with no luck. I KNOW it's the Zombie Mod, so supplying me with information when I give you information would be nice. Here's what I know about these types of Runtime Errors (via all the research possible I've done on them):


This error is caused by all or just some the following, and it ALL makes sence...

- Incorrect programming by a patch or the application itself (I.E. 2+2=5, etc...).
- Unfinished data that was requested by the application.
- Code that doesn't match what the application requested.
- Code that simply doesn't make sence.
- Code that cannot be read by the application or shouldn't be read at all.

You see, I think what you guys need to do is fix something in your cfg files. I've heard taking out the Zombie Mod stuff from the Server.cfg often fixes it, so you guys probably messed up somewhere in the configuration editing and it needs to be fixed. I request that you come out with a patch ASAP to fix this as the problem seems to be growing and growing and even causing more and more lag on my server from all the errors as I'm sure it is on others. I've played on other Zombie Mod servers and they complain of having the same issue I am and wether it is for better or for worse they say they want it fixed as well.

I don't mean to come of as a jerk, but seeing my research coming right back to you was a little disapointing you see as I was expecting it to be more on the lines of fault. Thanks for reading and I hope a solution is found (if there isn't one already available) so that I may continue hosting my Zombie Modded server for some time.

- Grey Echo

[personaljihad]

I don't get those. My server crashes every day to every 3 days.

[icebreaker]

Neither do I well my server got updated 5 days ago and since those 5 days it hasn't crashed once !

[MoOnLiGht]

if my server crashes, it will restart automatically with first started map
i only see that, when i playing on it

[icebreaker]

Sadly for my server is that if it restarts it restarts on de_aztec and I have no clue how to change that cause if it would change to maps by name it should start up on cs_assault

[MoOnLiGht]

i use this line to startup:

./srcds_run -game cstrike +map zm_map-of-your-choice -maxplayers 20 -port 27018 -tickrate 66

[icebreaker]

Oh but that's ur own server, yeah I rent the server

[MoOnLiGht]

your provider use the same line to start ..
ask him to change the map in it

[Grey Echo]

No no...those errors occur for clients, not the server itself people.
Anyway, I may have found a solution. I'm looking into this workaround now.

[c0ldfyr3]

This has been answered before.

ZOMBIEMOD IS SERVER SIDE.
In laymans terms, this means it only interacts with the server and not the client directly so if it was causing the crashes they would be server side.

The only things which can cause these crashes are...
1) Maps. A flaw in a map, or maybe not even a flaw, it could just be something which causes an error in the client code when used in a certain way.
I know of one of the HL2MP maps, where if you shoot a certain piece of furnitre just right it makes the physics in the map go absolutely mental. I/ZombieMod did not make the maps.

2) Models. These are also downloaded to the client from the server and are the only other thing which could be causing client crashes. I/ZombieMod did not make the models.

Server crashes are a problem which still continue to be the thorn in ZombieMods side and will be dealt with in due time.
I have been going through some of the biggest changes my life is probably ever going to see and ZM has had to take a back seat for a little while.
I will be trying to hunt down the server side crash bugs, and I will be adding some of the features people have been requesting.....soon =)

[Grey Echo]

That sounds good. I'm running some diagnostic tests to help you then now to find out exactly what are causing these errors in the Zombie Mod (Maps or Models). I'll get back to you when I have the results and hopefully they'll come in handy when you decide you are ready to fix them.

[Grey Echo]

Well I have something alright but it isn't pretty. I've concluded that it is the Zombie Mod causing the problem...not the maps, models, nothing like that...the mod itself is the problem. Let me explain:

This is the process I went through. Every dash represents a step where I tested the server with two other people for around 10 minutes each to find the cause of this error:

- Built the server with the hldsupdatetool
- Added Mani Admin Plugin
- Added MetaMod
- Added Zombie Mod
- Removed Zombie Models
- Activated Zombie Mod

This is where I couldn't continue because this is where the other two got runtime errors; Activated Zombie Mod. I made a clean install of a server and went step by step witht he latest versions of all you see above and when I got here, runtime errors occured. Even when I closed the server a runtime error occured and it was the same one my clients were getting before.

You see, I didn't even get time to add maps or models as it simply crashed before I could. This means, sadly, that the mod itself is to blame. Therefore I'm not sure how much this experiement will aid you here, but this is the conclusion I've come to and I hope you fix it when you come back to support this mod.

Please reply.

[c0ldfyr3]

So, where exactly could ZombieMod be hiding on the client to cause these errors?

[icebreaker]

Just a question, did anyone else notice that this only happens on his server ?
I mean, if it would be the mod itself, he wouldn't be the only one having that kinda problems, would it ?

[Grey Echo]

I'm not the only one having these problems if you read what I've been saying. I've gone around to a couple of my zombie hang-outs and they say they get reports of 2 or 3 people getting Runtime Errors a day or so. I think what might be the problem is autodownloading the models of the zombies because most of these errors seem to occur when someone is running past a zombie, shooting it, etc and often times downloading the models from a site manually fixes the problem. Even if the models are disabled and removed from the download list, they are probably still somehow accessed by accident, explaining why it occured when it did in my tests. People here on the forums have even reported time outs and connection closes, which, as I stated, is connected with these runtime errors, it's just that I'm getting the most out of anyone I talked to, but that doesn't mean other people still haven't had the same problems because they have.

Also, it says this in your History page for version of the Zombie Mod:

1.1.0

- Added new cvar zombie_headshots_only.
- Added new cvar zombie_balancer_health_ratio.
- Added new cvar zombie_balancer_player_ratio.
- Added new cvar zombie_balancer_type.
- Added new cvar zombie_balancer_min_health.
- Changed zombie_help_text to include the website address.
- Fixed rare crash bug. (Pure Virtual Function Call)

So it probably just wasn't fixed like you thought it was or perhaps you accidentally made it happen in a different way than it was before by fixing it. Quite simple to comprehend and completely natural.