Pygar
EQ2Bot Specialist
Lately there have been a number of questions regarding this topic, and I felt an informative post was in order.
First off, there is no software limit to how many sessions you can run on a pc, however you are limited by your own hardware. A dual cpu dual core system can run 4 stable high quality eq2 sessions.
Lauching multiple sessions
Launching multiple sessions is done the same was as launching a single session. Right click your IS session and chose Everquest 2 (no patch). This will create multiple windows named is1, is2, is3, etc. By default IS creates keys for switching thru these. Ctrl-Alt-1, cltrl-alt-2, etc.
Configuration
I recommend running the game in windowed mode when using multiple sessions, thought it isn't absolutely required. In order for scripts to use key press commands properly, you need to set IS to lock foreground for eq2 sessions.
Click Inner Space - configuration - Game Settings - Everquest 2 - then click the lock foreground option.
With this configuration, you can run scripts that use keypresses in all windows at once. Your own KB commands will go only to the session with focus.
Running Multiple Windows
It is possible to setup IS to display 4 sessions (or more) on the screen at the same time. You can also send each window to a different monitor if you have extended your desktop to multiple screens.
You can rescale the window to what ever size you like using:
Windowsize -rescale #x#
Example:
Windowsize -rescale 400x300
This will resize the curren is session to that pixel size.
Now, you need to position the windows:
Windowposition x,y
Example:
Windowposition 400,-30
This would place the window 400 pixels from the top left corner of your displays. The title bar is 30 pixels, and using -30 will move the bar off your viewable screen, leaving just the session window on screen.
0,0 is the top left corner of your desktop space. Keep in mind running multiple screens, your DESKTOP space is the sum of the resolutions and it is referenced from 0,0 of the left most screen.
Play with this and you can get 4 sessions going and placed around your screen.
You might like 3 REALLY tiny ones along one side and a larger one in the remainder of the space, or however you like it.
Processor Affinity
Each Core of Each processor should show up to your OS as a seperate cpu. A quad core will have 4 cpus, a dual cpu dual core will also have 4 cpus.
You can lock each session to a particular core/cpu to spread out processing and optomize multi-session performance:
processor # only
Example:
proc 1 only
This will lock the current session to just CPU1, all be that a physical cpu or core.
Spread your sessions out across CPU's and run with better overall performance.
Performance Considerations
You are going to be governed by several physical limitiers:
1. CPU - Number and Speed
2. Physical Memory - Eq2 can't use more than 4gig, but needs far less
3. Texture Memory - This is your video ram, and where you are likely to run into your first barrier. Getting 4 cores isn't too hard, but getting enough texture memory to run 4 or more sessions will pose a problem.
I currently am not aware if rescaling the window lowers the texture memory consumption of that session. If it does, be very happy, but I'd be surprised if it will.
Good Luck,
Pygar
First off, there is no software limit to how many sessions you can run on a pc, however you are limited by your own hardware. A dual cpu dual core system can run 4 stable high quality eq2 sessions.
Lauching multiple sessions
Launching multiple sessions is done the same was as launching a single session. Right click your IS session and chose Everquest 2 (no patch). This will create multiple windows named is1, is2, is3, etc. By default IS creates keys for switching thru these. Ctrl-Alt-1, cltrl-alt-2, etc.
Configuration
I recommend running the game in windowed mode when using multiple sessions, thought it isn't absolutely required. In order for scripts to use key press commands properly, you need to set IS to lock foreground for eq2 sessions.
Click Inner Space - configuration - Game Settings - Everquest 2 - then click the lock foreground option.
With this configuration, you can run scripts that use keypresses in all windows at once. Your own KB commands will go only to the session with focus.
Running Multiple Windows
It is possible to setup IS to display 4 sessions (or more) on the screen at the same time. You can also send each window to a different monitor if you have extended your desktop to multiple screens.
You can rescale the window to what ever size you like using:
Windowsize -rescale #x#
Example:
Windowsize -rescale 400x300
This will resize the curren is session to that pixel size.
Now, you need to position the windows:
Windowposition x,y
Example:
Windowposition 400,-30
This would place the window 400 pixels from the top left corner of your displays. The title bar is 30 pixels, and using -30 will move the bar off your viewable screen, leaving just the session window on screen.
0,0 is the top left corner of your desktop space. Keep in mind running multiple screens, your DESKTOP space is the sum of the resolutions and it is referenced from 0,0 of the left most screen.
Play with this and you can get 4 sessions going and placed around your screen.
You might like 3 REALLY tiny ones along one side and a larger one in the remainder of the space, or however you like it.
Processor Affinity
Each Core of Each processor should show up to your OS as a seperate cpu. A quad core will have 4 cpus, a dual cpu dual core will also have 4 cpus.
You can lock each session to a particular core/cpu to spread out processing and optomize multi-session performance:
processor # only
Example:
proc 1 only
This will lock the current session to just CPU1, all be that a physical cpu or core.
Spread your sessions out across CPU's and run with better overall performance.
Performance Considerations
You are going to be governed by several physical limitiers:
1. CPU - Number and Speed
2. Physical Memory - Eq2 can't use more than 4gig, but needs far less
3. Texture Memory - This is your video ram, and where you are likely to run into your first barrier. Getting 4 cores isn't too hard, but getting enough texture memory to run 4 or more sessions will pose a problem.
I currently am not aware if rescaling the window lowers the texture memory consumption of that session. If it does, be very happy, but I'd be surprised if it will.
Good Luck,
Pygar
