How to Set Up a Ventrilo Server

Ventrilo is a free voice conferencing tool that allows friends to talk to each other from any corner of the Internet. One of the most popular ways to use Ventrilo is to chat while playing online games. Most games have a form of text messaging, but it is far easier to communicate with your allies over voice then to divert your attention from the action to type. By the time your message is typed and sent, the point could be moot. Ventrilo lets you communicate without taking your hands off the controls. This guide will show how to set up and test a Ventrilo server.

Things You'll Need

• Ventrilo Client<br />Ventrilo Server

Instructions

1. Visit the Ventrilo website and click \"Download\" on the panel on the left.

2. Click one of the links under the "Server Programs" heading. There are versions of Ventrilo for Windows, Linux and Mac OS. Be sure to download the version designed for your operating system.

3. Read the legal text, then click \"I Agree.\" Save the file when the download window appears.

4. Return to the download page and download \"Ventrilo Client.\"

5. Run the setup program for Ventrilo Server. The Ventrilo Server Installation Wizard will take you through installation. Click \"Next\" to continue, \"Back\" to go back a step or \"Cancel\" to abandon the installation. Make sure to read each page, set the options you want and then click \"Finish\" at the end.

6. Run the setup program for Ventrilo Client. Follow the Ventrilo Client Installation Wizard, then click \"Finish\" at the end.

7. Click "Edit INI file" in the "VentSrv" Start Menu folder. The settings for your Ventrilo server are set in the file "ventrilo_srv.ini." Here is an overview of each line. When you have the settings the way you want, save, then close "vents_srv.ini".<br />[Server]: This is label for the file, do not alter it.<br />(blank space): For the sake of organization, just leave the blank space.<br />Name=Server 1: This sets the name of the server, which is "Server 1" at the moment. Rename the server to whatever you like, but the name must follow "Name=". The equal sign is important.<br />Phonetic=Server 1: Ventrilo has a voice synthesizer that will read the server name. If you do not want a creepy, robotic voice mispronouncing your server name, you can delete the Phonetic.<br />Auth=0: This setting determines how people log in to the server. At "0", anyone can connect. At "1" the person must have a password. At "2" only certain user names with a password can connect to the server.<br />Duplicates=1: Allows or forbids duplicate user names. "0" to make everyone choose different user names or "1" to allow multiple appearances of the same user name.<br />AdminPassword=: This is where you set the password to access administrator rights. You should set a password to limit access.<br />Password=: You set the password users will need to connect.<br />SendBuffer=0: Sets the size of the TCP outbound buffers. "0" defaults to 131,072 bytes. Leave this setting as is.<br />RecvBuffer=0: Sets the size of the TCP inbound buffers, also something you should leave alone.<br />Diag=0: This setting toggles diagnostics for developers, another hands-off setting.<br />LogonTimeout=5: Specifies how many seconds a client has to log in to the server before the user is disconnected. Once logged in, the user is fine.<br />CloseStd=1: This setting deals with running the server as a background service and is not used for typical server use. "0" does not close handles while "1" will close handles. Leave this setting at "1."<br />TimeStamp=1: Enables or disables times stamps in console messages. If you are interested in knowing exactly when messages occurred, set this to "1."<br />PingRate=10: Sets how often the server pings the client. Useful for addressing problems with a client. The number represents seconds, so it is 10 seconds at default.<br />ExtraBuffer=0: Gives additional buffer space to outbound client data streams. "0" sets the default to 128,000 bytes. Do not touch this option or you will risk making problems. The default allowance is plenty.<br />ChanWidth=0: Sets the number of possible sub-channels that can be created. "0" means no limit.<br />ChanDepth=0: Sets the maximum number of nested sub-channels. Nested sub-channels are sub-channels that retain attributes of the main channel from which they were created. "0" sets the maximum at eight.<br />ChanClients=0: Limits the number of clients in a channel. "0" sets no limit.<br />DisableQuit=0: Enables or disables someone with administrator rights from remotely instructing the server to exit. This feature is allowed by default.<br />VoiceCodec=0: Sets which codecs are used by clients. "0" means that the server pulls from a set list of possible codecs that can be viewed in the console with the command "ventrilo_srv -?". This is yet another setting you should not alter.<br />VoiceFormat=1: Ties into VoiceCodec, so you should also just let it be.<br />SilentLobby=0: Allows or forbids voice in the lobby.<br />AutoKick=0: This setting determines how long, in seconds, that a client can remain connected to the server. At the default setting of "0", there is no limit.

8. Return to the Start Menu folder for Ventrilo Server and run Ventrilo Server. A console window will appear and list the options you set in the "ventrilo_srv.ini" file. Your server is now running.

9. Run Ventrilo Client to try out your new server. Set your user name, then fill out the connection editor. The connection editor, accessed by clicking the arrow next to the server field, will ask for the server name, IP address, port number, password and default channel. Leave the "Port number" and "Default channel" fields alone for now and fill out the rest. The password is whatever you set in the "Password=" setting in the "ventrilo_srv.ini" file.

10. Select your server then click \"Connect.\" The server console window will note your connection. Your Ventrilo server is now up and running.

Tips & Warnings

• Only one person in the group has to run the server.<br /><br />Ventrilo is great conferencing or planning raids in MMOs.<br /><br />You can find out your IP address by going to the Start Menu, click Run, run "cmd", type "cd\\" then Enter to clear the line and type "ipconfig" then Enter.

• Everyone must have the Ventrilo client to connect.<br />Your router settings or Internet service provider might prevent users outside your local network from accessing your server.

References

• Ventrilo.com
• Ventrilo Server Setup Information

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• What Is My IP Address?