How to: Play GTA SA SA-MP Multiplayer using Wi-Fi or Wireless Network (without internet) |techbug blog

GTA San Andreas, is nearly a decade old, but it still is very popular among PC gamers, mainly because of the thousands of various modifications or "mod" made by its dedicated Modding Community. One of the most unique ones is a multiplayer mod called SA-MP which allows you to play against other players over the internet or LAN.

You can install the Client and not only start playing with other players over a game server connected to the internet, but also play with your friends or family over a Local Area Network (LAN) without having to connect to the internet.

In order to play multiplayer, you must connect to a server which hosts the game. In this case, we'll have to create a server to which you and your friends can connect and play. Follow the steps to set up a server in your own PC, connect to it and start playing!

Requirements

SA-MP Client (for all players)
SA-MP Server for Windows (for the host PC only)
The PCs must have Wi-Fi enabled

(and obviously GTA SA on all PCs)

Steps

Download the Server for your PC

Visit http://sa-mp.com/download.php and download the latest version of SA-MP Windows Server.
After the download is complete, extract it to a proper location.

Set up Gamemode and other settings for your server

Gamemode is a script which creates different events or game styles like Death Match, Free Roam etc. The server package comes with a few gamemodes, however you can download more gamemode scripts from samp-scripts.com or SA-MP forums. (I'm using a freeroam gamemode called The Ultimate Freeroam).

If you have downloaded the gamemode files, copy them to the server's folder. (the gamemode's .amx and .pwn scripts goes inside the gamemode folder)

Now open the server.cfg file from the server folder. (Open with Notepad or any text editor)

Now you must change the following:

rcon_password: change it to something else and remember it (required to login as rcon admin)

gamemode: Change the gamemode name to the name of the gamemode script (e.g. gamemode0 freeroam - if the script name is freeroam.amx)

hostname: Change it to your own server name (e.g. hostname Roshan's Server)

lanmode: Since bandwidth usage is no concern for Local Network, change it to 1.

filterscripts: Filterscripts are scripts that improve your server or add more features/commands for the players or the administrator. You can download the filterscript (source .pwn and .amx) and place them into the filterscripts folder. To make your server load these filterscripts, just add the name of the script here. (e.g. filterscripts spawner - if your script's name is spawner.amx)

After you have made these changes, save the .cfg file.
Run samp-server.exe. Your game server has started!

Setting up the wireless network

(Skip this part if you know how to do this or have already done this)

(Note: You can set up a wireless network manually, however here I've used an application to do it)
You'll need a software which'll turn your laptop or desktop to a virtual router or Wi-Fi hostpot. You can download free software like mHotspot or Virtual Router Manager. (In this tutorial, I've used Virtual Router Manager)
Run the software and change the SSID (network name) and Password and start the hotspot or router by clicking the appropriate button.

Starting hotspot using Virtual Router Manager

Connecting to your server (For the server PC)

In order to connect to the server on your PC, the players will need your IP address (of the router or hotspot). To get the I.P, Go to Start > Run , then type cmd.exe and press Enter.
In the command prompt window, type ipconfig and press Enter.
From the list that appears, find the I.P address of your Wireless Connection (e.g. 123.456.78.90). Make sure that it is not the I.P of your internet connection.
Tell your fellow players this I.P address.

Connecting to the server PC (For the Players)

First the player PCs must have Wi-Fi (or) Wireless enabled. After enabling, they must connect to the wireless network just created by the host PC. (For Windows 7, Click the Networks icon in the taskbar, click on the network name (SSID) and type the password.)
You should be able to see connected PC's in your router/hotspot software. (for example, in Virtual Router Manager, connected PCs will appear in the Peers Connected area.)

Setting up the SA-MP client (For all the players)

In order to play, you must download and install the latest version of SA-MP Client from sa-mp.com/download.php on all the client PCs (or players).
Run samp.exe. (Try running as Administrator if you run into any errors)
Go to Server > Add Server.
In the dialog that appears:

For the other players PC: Type the I.P. you gave to the other players.

For the server-running PC (i.e the host, you!), use the I.P. 127.0.0.1 (a.k.a the localhost I.P)

The Server will be added to your Favorites list. You should be able to see your hostname (which was defined in the server.cfg file) in the list.
Right click it and click Connect.
Thats it! Your game will load and you can start playing with your friends over Wi-Fi!

To add other players (not in range of Wi-Fi) using internet

(I tried this only on USB Modem or Data Card (mobile broadband connection). Other connection modes may involve other steps.)

It is very simple. Connect to the internet. Repeat the cmd ipconfig step, but instead of noting down the Wireless Connection I.P, note down the internet Connection I.P. and give it to the person who wants to connect.
In the SAMP client, the person must use this I.P and add it to his favorites and to connect to it (and not your wireless connection I.P)
You must keep your internet connection on, until the person(s) finish playing.

Note that your usual data charges will apply. As data usage is of concern here, go to your server.cfg and set lanmode to 0. You'll have to re-start the server application (samp-server.exe) after saving the changes.

After you have finished playing, go to the virtual router or hotspot software and stop the router or hotspot, and close the samp-server.exe application.

To play next time, just re-start the virtual router or hotspot and run the server application.

Issues

Getting "Retrieving Info" name instead of the host name.

It is caused when the client is unable to connect to the server. Make sure that the computers are connected, the server application is running, firewall is not blocking the application or that the I.P is correct.

Getting "You are banned from the server" message and unable to connect

Try quitting the game and re-connect to the server.

For the server PC: Open the samp.ban file from the server folder, and check if there are any I.P's listed. Sometimes the gamemode scripts ban the player's I.P for cheating or doing something not allowed in the game mode. The banned I.P will be listed with the Player's name and the Reason. If so, then delete the line and save the file. Try restarting the server application and re-connecting.

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Sunday 15 June 2014