[Howto] Setup an symlinked Arma 3 epoch server.

[Firedragon]

Setting up an symlinked Arma 3 epoch server.
My rough modified version of ""

Downloading the needed files.
Install Arma 3 Server or if you are going to run the client on same system install Arma 3.

Download the Epoch Server http://epochmod.com/download_server.php and extract the .zip file.
Place it anywhere you like i placed it in the root off C:\
C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.*

Download the Epoch Mod http://epochmod.com/download.php and extract the .zip file.
Copy @Epoch to your epoch server directory.
C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.*\@Epoch

Download the latest version of BEC http://ibattle.org/downloads/  and extract the .zip file.
Copy the contents to the BEC directory in your epoch server directory.
C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.*\BEC

Configuring the files.
Open up redis.conf and edit "requirepass" to a password you wish to use for your database server.
C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.*\DB\redis.conf

Open up EpochServer.ini find the section titled [Redis] change the password to the one you set above for redis.conf
C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.*\@EpochHive\EpochServer.ini

Still in EpochServer.ini change the BattlEyePath to the right location.

BattlEyePath = C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.*\SC\BattlEye

Configuring BEC.
Open up C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.*\BEC\Config\Config.cfg
If you are not going to use the default port for your server change "Port = 2302" to the port you are going to use.

Change the BePath to the right location.

BePath = C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.*\SC\BattlEye

Comment out the following lines by placing a number sign # at the start of the lines, unless you have renamed your arma3server.exe or wish to whitelist your server.

#BeCustomBanFiles = Bans1.txt, file2.txt, file3.txt
#ServerExeName = NewArmaExeName.exe
#WhiteListFile = WhiteList.txt

Create file C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.*\BEC\Config\Admins.xml
Create file C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.*\SC\BattlEye\bans.txt

Open the C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.*\SC\Battleye folder and rename example-BEServer.cfg to BEServer.cfg and change the RConPassword.

Create a server startup file.
Open a blank document and paste the following into it then save it in your Epoch_Server_*.*.*.* directory as something like A3Epoch.bat.

@echo off
START "arma3" "arma3server.exe" -mod=@Epoch;@EpochHive; -config=SC\config.cfg -port=2302 -profiles=SC -cfg=SC\basic.cfg -name=SC

Change the port in your A3Epoch.bat, if needed, to match what you entered above under BEC config.cfg settings.

Symlink the arma files to the epoch server.
Open a blank document and paste the following into it change "EPOCHPATH" and "ARMASERVERPATH"
then save it in your Epoch_Server_*.*.*.* directory as something like A3Epoch_mklink.bat.

@echo off

set EPOCHPATH=C:\Epoch_Server_0.2.5.1_a
set ARMASERVERPATH=C:\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\Arma 3
REM set ARMASERVERPATH=C:\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\Arma 3 Server

REM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REM Delete any existing symlinks
REM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
rmdir /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\addons"
rmdir /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\battleye"
rmdir /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\curator"
rmdir /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\dll"
rmdir /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\dta"
rmdir /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\heli"
rmdir /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\kart"

del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\keys\a3.bikey"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\mpmissions\readme.txt"

del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\arma3server.exe"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\arma3server_readme.txt"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\ijl15.dll"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\msvcr100.dll"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\physx3common_x86.dll"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\physx3cooking_x86.dll"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\physx3gpu_x86.dll"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\physx3_x86.dll"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\steam.dll"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\steamclient.dll"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\steam_api.dll"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\steam_appid.txt"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\tier0_s.dll"
del /Q "%EPOCHPATH%\vstdlib_s.dll"

REM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REM Creating symlinks
REM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
mklink /D "%EPOCHPATH%\addons" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\addons"
mklink /D "%EPOCHPATH%\battleye" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\battleye"
mklink /D "%EPOCHPATH%\curator" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\curator"
mklink /D "%EPOCHPATH%\dll" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\dll"
mklink /D "%EPOCHPATH%\dta" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\dta"
mklink /D "%EPOCHPATH%\heli" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\heli"
mklink /D "%EPOCHPATH%\kart" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\kart"

mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\keys\a3.bikey" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\keys\a3.bikey"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\mpmissions\readme.txt" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\mpmissions\readme.txt"

mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\arma3server.exe" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\arma3server.exe"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\arma3server_readme.txt" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\arma3server_readme.txt"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\ijl15.dll" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\ijl15.dll"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\msvcr100.dll" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\msvcr100.dll"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\physx3common_x86.dll" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\physx3common_x86.dll"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\physx3cooking_x86.dll" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\physx3cooking_x86.dll"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\physx3gpu_x86.dll" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\physx3gpu_x86.dll"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\physx3_x86.dll" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\physx3_x86.dll"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\steam.dll" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\steam.dll"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\steamclient.dll" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\steamclient.dll"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\steam_api.dll" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\steam_api.dll"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\steam_appid.txt" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\steam_appid.txt"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\tier0_s.dll" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\tier0_s.dll"
mklink "%EPOCHPATH%\vstdlib_s.dll" "%ARMASERVERPATH%\vstdlib_s.dll"

@exit

Run A3Epoch_mklink.bat as administrator and watch it creating all the links.

Starting and joining your server.
If your going to run the server on your client system make sure that steam is closed before you start the server otherwise your client will say arma is already running.
In your C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.* folder find and open the DB folder then click start-redis.
In your C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.* folder run A3Epoch.bat
Wait for the server to start then run BEC
In your C:\Epoch_Server_*.*.*.* folder find and open the BEC folder and start Bec.exe.

Open up some ports for outside access of your server.
https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Arma_3_Dedicated_Server#Port_Forwarding
So if your running your server on default port 2302 open up UDP ports 2302-2305

You should now be able to join your server.
 

[Darth_Rogue]

Excuse my ignorance, but what does this do exactly?

[Firedragon]

The A3Epoch_mklink.bat will symlink all needed arma files to run the server into your epoch_server folder so you dont have to copy the server or client files or polute your arma folder with epoch files.

[Darth_Rogue]

That seems quite counter intuitive doesn't it?  Seems to me that it's much easier to have everything in one folder as opposed to having some files here and other files someplace else.  But....to each their own.  

[uniflare]

It is useful to save space on say, an ssd. I will be using this to try AiA. See if it works. Nice guide, cheers.

[maddingamer]

Holy crap, thank you :) Finally got it working and saved place on my ssd :)) Thx!