Wippien Guide?

[Jeremy Jeffreys]

Is there a guide for Wippien use and FSInn on FS9? If not would some one be so kind as to write a quick how to. Thanks,

[Dirk Homan]

The installation of Wippien depends on what OS you use. XP is pretty much straightforward, but Vista, Win7, and 64bit systems require some tinckering. The idea of Wippien is to provide a one-stop application for VPN, Chat, and conferencing. With the new servers and clients we are developing it requires a P2P network between players. Wippien is more stable than Hamachi and doesn't have nay restrictions. It also allows direct sharing of files with each other. With 64 bit systems you need to install the 64 bit driver found on the Wippien website download page. In other than XP you also hav eto run it as administrator at least once or disable that feature, my recommendation, on your entire system. There are also some hoops to jump through with Vista and Win7 in order to open up a public or shared folder. You can read documentation by googling or ask someone here for specifics. It's no different than setting up a share on any network. You control who has access and to which folder. With this there is no need to use the freeware file dump sites and put up with the cookies and advertisements. When asked for an account just create an account name, your choice, and leave the rest at default then click on test then OK. Once the account is created click on the plus sign and add contacts. If you want you can request to be added to lvflyer, that's me, since I'll be hosting servers and such. My connection is up pretty much 24/7 and you can send a message to me anytime. See you on Wippien.

[Dirk Homan]

Looks like we are in need of some basic understanding of what a VPN is and what the benefits of using one are.

A VPN is a virtual private network. It allows a network connection between two or more computers across the internet from anywhere in the world to act as if the computers are on a private network in the next room. It solves the issue of having to forward ports when the computers are behind a router, which is required to use private netorks like FSHOST and other multiplayer environments. FSINN acts like a VPN of sorts, but with lots of baggage.

A VPN can be established using native Microsoft operating systems, but tends to be complicated. If you've heard of inviting someone to connect to your computer from outside to work on it, that is a VPN used along with a program like PCAnywhere, Crossloop, or UltraVNC etc. UltraVNC has come in handy for me in many situations where I have had to help others configure computers and software. I've even flown a friend's Flight Simulator on their computer when they weren't available to deploy to a particular location.

Hamachi used to be the freeware software that was commonly used, but it turned out to have too many limitations and used too many relays which increased ping across the network. The higher the ping the choppier the connection. Wippien, a play on the initials VPN in Swedish, is a multi-functional program that combines VPN, Chat, Voice chat, Instant Messaging, and file sharing in one package. You can route all your instant messaging from Yahoo, MSN, etc through Wippien and never have to see another ad.

Wippien, unlike Hamachi, is open source and freeware. Freeware has some drawbacks, like forum support and peer to peer support, but has flexibility to change when the author has time to work on it and unlimited peer connections. Because parts of it are Beta, like voice chat, it isn't always efficient. I and my constituents have been using Wippien for a year now and I find it is no worse than Hamachi and most the times is better and more stable. When testing a connection between computers with tracert there is only one hop between computers. Of course the ping time is related to the internet connection and can vary in different parts of the world, but the performance is no different than if you had connected directly between operating systems as many corporate networks do.

Why use a VPN?

As described above, a VPN can solve lots of issues with port forwarding.

It can provide an easy way to share files without limitations and having to take the chance of being infected with malware from file sharing sights.

Direct communication without using Teamspeak or other program.

Using custom software that provides enhanced special effects that all who are connected can see, like the actual targets being hit with explosions.

Sharing a cockpit of bombers so one teammate can act as bombardier.

Seeing the bullets fly past the windscreen as a fighter attacks. Seeing missiles or SAMS coming at you.

Having the option when in a private mission in military airspace to use a private server, avoiding all the groans and hiccups of FSINN and VATSIM.

Enhanced training with multiplayer missions in FSX

Will a VPN help with P2P?
Yes it will but there are some hurdles to overcome, as there are in any of the mentioned scenarios. You have to control the P2P using FSINN, which has no support and there are some big bugs in it. For example double images and the big one is lights and gear showing on and down when they aren't. Some images even show folded wings when there aren't any. What's bad about lights being on? For B2 or high altitude bombers all the fighter has to do is look up and he'll see big bright landing lights and if night he will see running lights with big bright landing lights even though the bomber is in stealth and using subdued lighting. I don't know about fighters, but with FSINN calling the shots I don't think you can control the lights. FSINN does its best, but it is flawed with no hope of solving these issues.

So what is the answer?
I don't know, but many other organizations are moving to private servers when in mission mode. FSXMultiplayer forum runs a private server 24/365 that anyone is welcome to use, but it requires forwarding ports for those behind routers. With Wippien one of us can run the FSHOST or native multiplayer server and still be on VATSIM as a group without the need of forwarding ports. In addition when in multiplayer mode you can have direct communication with your co-pilot. Unfortunately the native shared cockpit is limited to one crew member unless you want to buy a commercial cockpit sharing software.

Do you need a VPN?
No, but I hope you can see it has its advantages.

What about security?
Security with all VPNs are dictated by your operating system's network security. If you share one folder with your Wippien contacts then that is the only folder they can see or access. If you only want them to have read only access that is your choice. Security level is up to you.

I hope this has cleared up some mis-conceptions. If you have any questions I will try to answer them, but this whole area needs further research and I don't have all the answers.

[BRIAN PRYOR]

And to emphasize... from a vUSAF standpoint there is NO official use VPN client out there. We have people testing the technology for use but there are no formal plans to making Wippien or any VPN client a mandatory item.

It has it's benefits but there are some pitfalls. Any VPN client usage is 100% optional/voluntary.

[Dirk Homan]

I never implied we were. It is not needed, but makes life a whole lot easier for some.

[Jon Bailey]

Don't want to really hijack the thread, but when I read comments like that from the upper brass it really pisses me off. The vUSAF used to be the bemchmark for all things military flying, but now we are just another VA that participates on vatsim. We should be pushing for the developent of technology to enhance our type of flying, but when the management makes a comment like that, for us the guys who are trying new things to make the vUSAF expirience more fun at more realistic, why bother?
There are many advantages that a VPN brings to the table over just a regular vatsim connection, Dirk as mentioned some, but there are many others. If you have every flown a formation flight, with all members connected to eachother in VPN, it's just awesome You can fly feet away from eachother, not a half a mile away or so. Also I'm going to jump on the FSX multiplayer bandwagon here for a minute. In a nother place I fly we use FSX multiplayer exclusivly. And the difference is amazing, and with the VPN handling the connection, you can stay connected for hours, with a stable connection, that is ultra smooth and just plain fun. Also with a VPN connection, you can use third party programs, that run outside of flightsim, that for instance, can launch a SAM missle at you, and cause damage. The same ith A2A weapons, lock the target up, and pull the trigger, other player goes boom. A2G bombing, you can see everyone's bombs impacts, and can adjust your bomb run accordingly, you can even use a FAC and work a flight of strikers to target. AWACS, there is a radar client out there that a player could act as AWACS controller, and be range control, etc, with out having to use vatsim ATC client, or be a VATSIM controller. It's a seperate window on the panel, and it simulate what the AWACS contoller see, you can assign, all aircraft in your airspace unique sqwack codes when they hit the range or your controlled airpsace, Just like the real AWACS and VATSIM guys do. Air to Air Refueling, can be done, with tanker that has a visable extending boom, and when the pilot hits the contact spot on the boom, fuel transfer's, it's fun, and hard work, but it can be done, I've seen all of this in use, flown with it, and enjoyed the hell out of it.
Flight training, there are a few trainers out there right now that use the shared cockpit technology to it's full ablity, and the IP pilot sitting in the back seat, can see everything the student is doing, but can also simulate failures that the student has to correct. Want to teach some one how to do a particular manauver, or give a pilot check ride. What a better way, than too share the cockpit with the student, or other player.

But before someone screams this all for FSX, that part is true. But there has to be a way that send the same data to players in FS9,( but personally I would recommend people to jump to FSX and ditch FS9). I know there is a ton of vUSAF members using FS9 for a variety of reasons. But there are members of the vUSAF who are quietly working in the back ground, to bring this capablilty mentioned above to all vUSAF members regardless of choice of sim. The biggest limiting factor using this technology, is crappy VATSIM pilot client. I would like to encourage the upper brass of dumping VATSIM for vUSAF wide excercises, like red flag and the like. And use VATSIM, for transit flying, flight training ,etc, basically all non combat flying. I have heard that the vUSN does just that, all non combat ops are on VATSIM, and combat ops are on private servers. I would love to see us do the same. But it becomes very dishearting to continue developing programs to enhance the expirience of vUSAF members, if upper brass has the same attitude they have had forever. Membership is down, monthly flying is down, we need to try something different to bring everyone's enthusiasm back, because the status quo is just not working.


Just a bored viper pilot expressing his opinion.
vCAPT Jon Bailey

[BRIAN PRYOR]

Jon, the other place is most likely 'Southern Air' , where you and Dirk are the upper brass there. Your reply is not unexpected in content or timing.

Until the word changes you have the 'upper brass''s opinion of Wippien. This doesn't mean we can't evaluate it , test, and if we find a workable solution explore making it an long term option. I remember similiar barking a few months ago with Hamachi this appears to be the latest in a long line of 'solutions' discovered in recent times.

Here are some of the issues we come up with. It doesn't work flawless for anyone with latency. Me and Shadow have been trying it out and while we can connect directly for MP when we use Wippien we have to restart the flight in FSX a dozen times over. So before you accuse the upper staff of not trying these technologies out get your facts straight.

We go with what works, if a handful of vital people can't use the program then we can't adopt it. It's as simple as that. Also it doesn't benefit anyone to switch solutions every couple of months.

Also not every vSOA mandates the requirement of Wippien or other P2P programs. When we get into items such as RFA2010 we cant force it upon the other groups to download and use a technology. Picture if the roles were reversed. What if vUSN uses Wippien, vRAF uses Hamachi, and we use some third option. Who's technology do we choose to use.

As said before we have to go with the common technology each group uses and the only one we've found that everyone uses is VATSIM.

New technologies aren't off the table, just not likely to be adopted fully until all factors and concerns have been met and a resolution done.

[Robert Phillips]

This is an interesting set of threads to say the least, meaning this one and the other concerning peer-to-peer replacements.

First off I will be very blunt and state for the record that this club has not lost any significant number of people nor is the level of activity dropped significantly, and if you feel your information is contradictory to that point, I would love to know your source as mine is based on empirical data collected by our database that is extrapolated from membership applications, submitted mission reports and etc. At most what you see is the normal “cyclic” of a club of this nature, activity drops during the summer months as does membership to slight extent and picks up again in the fall winter months. We average 130 members, flight hours in the slowest point is near 800hr for the month with winter period topping out near 3000hrs per month. Again cyclic and based on events as well, all without the help of ANY concentrated recruiting efforts, it’s all based on your presence and professionalism enough said on this topic.

As for our operations in general, with exception of (1) one proposal in ten years, all of our events and activities have been held on VATSIM, I gave permission to research a single solitary event for the club offline on a private server and the research indicates there are to many hurtles to make the effort worth it.

In reference to VATSIM, since the VSOA is leaderless and depending on whom the BOG appoints, the future of the VSOA is uncertain to say the least as is our relationship with them…

As for new technologies, we, meaning any of the past or current air staff, never discouraged development of new ideas and programs, quite the contrary. Therefore I am quite intrigued to say the least when one speaks of the “top brass has the same attitude forever”.

The fact that we still only support FS9 verses FSX is quite simple, we have always gone with the lowest common denominator of technology and FS9 is more prolific than FSX due that fact that FSX requires newer and more powerful computers… as people upgrade we will move onto the new platform. For now there are no plans to drop FS9 nor are their solid concrete plans to make FSX “official” simulator of the club.

As for these specific technologies being discussed, neither myself, Ben (as he never mentioned it) or the air staff to my knowledge, have ever received a proposal, briefing, project overview etc on any new technology of this nature, members have been permitted to test and evaluate (at their own risk) such items during our events and use our forums to discuss them without our hindering the process however, if it continues to breed discontent, that can be remedied very easily… To avoid such intervention, I ask everyone to keep the discussion professional or take it off the forum to a more appropriate media.

Now, for the time being there is no “official” or mandated adoption of this technology nor is there any prohibition. I to find the possibilities intriguing and bright however, the technology will have to be proven stable and easy to use for everyone before any “adoption” will be remotely considered.

Now I will close my input on this discussion by stating that if I have not made my position clear on the topic to feel free to email me, as for the remainder of this thread, I ask that everyone keep the discussion professional.