Replacement for RTHomeserver

[cma6]

Did you try to run the remote engine from the command prompt first?

An interesting idea, which I just tried but doesn't help. Whether I start remote engine via command prompt or by clicking Start, I assume the engine has started on the slave system but can't be sure.

I noticed on one of the log files from RTHomeserver, the following, which I'll try to investigate:

2023-08-26 12:59:16]>>go infinite
[2023-08-26 12:59:16]<<info string ERROR: Network evaluation parameters compatible with the engine must be available.
[2023-08-26 12:59:16]<<info string ERROR: The network file c:\Engines\eval\nn.bin was not loaded successfully.
[2023-08-26 12:59:16]<<info string ERROR: The UCI option EvalFile might need to specify the full path, including the directory name, to the network file.
[2023-08-26 12:59:16]<<info string ERROR: The default net can be downloaded from: https://tests.stockfishchess.org/api/nn ... d3920.nnue
[2023-08-26 12:59:16]<<info string ERROR: The engine will be terminated now.
[2023-08-26 12:59:26]>>stop
[2023-08-26 12:59:32]>!quit

[Ozymandias]

"Start" is in the PC with the engine, I meant the "netXXX.exe" engine in the PC with the GUI. If the LAN configuration is correct, it should work just like a regular engine (after pressing "start" in the server, OFC).

[cma6]

" "Start" is in the PC with the engine, I meant the "netXXX.exe" engine in the PC with the GUI."
I don't understand this at all.

I think I know how to start the SF engine on the remote slave system, using "Netchess_EngineServer.exe" on the remote slave system. This is where "Start" comes in.

What does one do next?

"NetChess_EngineClient.exe" is on the Master system with Aquarium GUI.
Having started SF engine on remote system, double-clicking "NetChess_EngineClient.exe" does nothing.

[Nigel Robson]

I have tested RTHomeserver on up to date Windows 11 PCs and it still works for me. I am just wondering if you might have a firewall issue?

[cma6]

Nigel:
That's a great idea for me to look into on my master system, which is still on updated Windows 10. It turns out that firewall on master system has menus grayed out, though firewall is protecting system. I'll get an answer next week from tech support.

[Ozymandias]

I think I know how to start the SF engine on the remote slave system, using "Netchess_EngineServer.exe" on the remote slave system. This is where "Start" comes in.

What does one do next?

With the engine started in the remote computer, you have to execute EngineClient.exe to create a dummy exe, the one you'll point the GUI to. The "netXXX.exe" I was talking about, which in this case would be something like "netSF.exe", depends on the name you give it when creating it.

[Ozymandias]

double-clicking "NetChess_EngineClient.exe" does nothing.

It doesn't open a command-line window?

[cma6]

"You have to execute EngineClient.exe to create a dummy exe, the one you'll point the GUI to."

I have "EngineClient.exe" on master (GUI) system. When I double-click it, nothing happens.

[Ron Langeveld]

RTHOMEserver worked with glitches for the last 10+ years but has stopped working, even though the Windows LAN is working fine.

Has always worked for me too but have not used it for a few years now. Did you determine the cause for it to get broken? Maybe going from Windows 10 to Windows 11, or maybe even some Windows update?
As far as I know the ChessOk software hasn't really changed for many years now.

Ron, thanks for the ideas, which I will explore. As of 7/15/23 remote engines were working fine from my master system. I shut that system down for a month while I got new RAM. System now works and is seen on my 5-system LAN, but IdEA remote engines no longer run from the master system. I even tried running Aquarium from another system as master but same problem.
Since I did a Windows monthly update right after restarting master system and also installed Nvidia GeForce Experience, perhaps that's the issue. Aquarium has not changed since 2020 version as far as I know.

Maybe silly but check the IP addresses of the computers in your lan. They are supposed to be fixed in the setup and maybe one or more has changed to dynamic IP.

[Ozymandias]

I have "EngineClient.exe" on master (GUI) system. When I double-click it, nothing happens.

It should.