====== Running the server ======

===== In a window =====
Start menu > LORD Server > **LORD Server (console)**, or run ''lordsrv.exe''. The server runs while that window is open. Typing ''quit'' stops it, after asking.

===== As a Windows service =====
A service runs with no one logged on and starts with Windows. Any of these installs it:
  * **Windows service** in the installer, or the MSI with ''SERVICE=1'';
  * Start menu > LORD Server > **Install as a Windows service** (and **Remove the Windows service**);
  * ''service install'' or ''service remove'' in the console;
  * in a Command Prompt in the server folder:

^ Command ^ What it does ^
| ''lordsrv -install'' | Install the service "LORD Server" and start it. |
| ''lordsrv -uninstall'' | Stop the service and remove it. |
| ''lordsrv -start'' | Start it (or ''net start LORDServer''). |
| ''lordsrv -stop'' | Stop it (or ''net stop LORDServer''), and wait for the games to save their players. |
| ''lordsrv -d <folder>'' | Use another server folder (for testing a second copy). |
| ''lordsrv -pause'' | Wait for Enter before closing (used by the Start menu items). |

Installing or removing a service needs administrator rights; Windows asks for them. If the server is running in a console window when the service is installed, it is stopped first (its players are saved) and the service takes over.

The service's name is ''LORDServer''. It runs as LocalSystem, starts automatically, and Windows restarts it a minute after a failure (not after a normal stop).

===== The console of a service =====
Open **LORD Server (console)** as usual. When the server is already running, the console attaches to it and the title bar says ''[attached]''. ''quit'' then closes only the console; the server carries on. ''shutdown'' stops the server.

If the server stops or restarts (an upgrade, ''restart'', settings saved), an attached console waits and attaches again by itself; Esc closes it.

The console reaches the server through the **admin port**: ''AdminPort'' in ''lordsrv.ini'', 2399 by default, on this computer only (127.0.0.1). The server writes a new key to ''lordsrv.key'' each time it starts, and only a program that can read that file can use the port.

===== Stopping =====
Any of these stops the server. Each one disconnects the players first, and their games save them.
  * ''quit'' or ''shutdown'' in the console;
  * ''lordsrv -stop'' (Start menu > **Stop LORD Server**);
  * ''net stop LORDServer'' for the service;
  * a file called ''lordsrv.stop'' in the server folder.

Only one server can run in a folder at a time; the file ''lordsrv.run'' is held open while it runs.

===== When the server starts =====
It reads ''lordsrv.ini'', loads the accounts (''users.dat'') and BBSes (''bbses.dat''), makes any new game folders from the template, and starts listening. The log shows each step and any notes, for example:
<code>
LORD Server 1.4 starting in C:\LORDSRV\ (service)
game A: Legend of the Red Dragon (C:\LORDSRV\games\A\)
listening for telnet on port 2300
listening for rlogin on port 5130
note: RLoginAllow is blank, so anyone can rlogin as any user name
</code>