Life in Nature relay server

Some players cannot reach our game server directly because their network blocks or slows the connection. A relay is a small program that runs on your machine, accepts those players and passes everything on to the main server. Players choose it in the game under Options, then Game server list. Thanks for helping out.

What you need
A computer or VPS with a public IP address that can reach the game server itself, and one UDP port you can open (10001 is the default). The relay uses very little CPU and memory; count on about 50 kbit per second per player.

Windows
1. Put the files from the zip in a folder of their own.
2. Open port.txt if you want a different port and change the number. Leave host.txt as it is unless we tell you otherwise.
3. Allow the port for UDP in Windows Firewall. At home, also forward it on your router.
4. Start relayserver.exe. A small window opens and your screen reader says that the relay is running; keep that window open. Once a minute it tells you how many players are connected. Press Escape in the window to stop the relay. If you hear nothing, check that the lib folder from the zip is next to relayserver.exe.

Linux
1. Put the archive in a folder of its own and unpack it: tar xzf LifeInNature_Relay_Linux.tar.gz
2. Change the number in port.txt if you need another port. Leave host.txt alone unless we tell you otherwise.
3. Open the port for UDP, for example: sudo ufw allow 10001/udp
4. Start it with ./run_relay.sh. To keep it running after you log out, run it inside screen or as a systemd service.

Files
port.txt is the port the relay listens on, one number.
host.txt is the address of the main game server. Only change it if we ask you to.
The relay keeps no logs and stores nothing about the players who use it.
When it starts, the relay measures its own connection time to the main game server (again every ten minutes) and asks ip-api.com once for the country and city of its public address. Players see both in the game's server list: the full response time of the path through your relay, and where it is. Nothing else leaves your machine.

Getting listed
Write to the team on the forum or at contact@audiowander.com with your relay's public IP, the port and a short name such as "Iran relay 1". Once it is added to the list, players see it in the game and can pick the relay with the best ping.

Please keep it running as much as you can, do not change the program, and tell us before you shut it down for good.