News

Ash Qin

February Updates

Posted by Ash Qin on 01 March 2025, 4:15:12 pm

February's updates are here, and we've been quietly tinkering away to keep everything humming along. We've put in a bit of elbow grease and sprinkled in some solid improvements thanks to your feedback.

TL;DR

I was told to make a TL;DR if I do large posts.

• Dialing protocols have evolved. A multiversal anomaly has been detected.
• Shields are now more reliable. No more strange distortions when switching types mid battle.
• An outdated link to the past has been severed. Now, every connection is secure, every path reinforced.
• A long forgotten system has been decommissioned. It took thousands of files with it, and we are not looking back.
• A new tool has been deployed. For those who need to move quickly, a small yet powerful device now awaits discovery.
• We have bridged communications between two realities despite the universes producing exotic particles for the other.
• The database has been restructured. Ancient, forgotten errors have been purged, and efficiency is at an all time high.
• Something old has been rewritten into something new. A lost archive has been restored, and with it, a new way to explore the past.
• Travel has become more efficient. The time between stepping through and reaching your destination has shortened but not by chance.
• The network has grown smarter, faster, and more secure. If something tries to force its way through, we will know before it even dials in.
• A persistent anomaly has been contained. The strange symbols that once appeared where they shouldn't have are now deciphered and understood.
• A quiet signal has been activated. The most traveled gates are now easier to find, but only those who seek them will understand their significance.
• The way you see the network has changed. Familiar names may no longer behave as expected, but the transition is seamless if you know where to look.
• The network has been shaped not by code alone, but by those who use it. Your actions, your reports, your insights they have left their mark in ways unseen.
• Reboots no longer disrupt the flow. The network recovers faster, and the buried remain where they should be. No more unexpected disappearances... Or sudden resurrections.

Stargate Addressing & The Million-Gate Milestone

One curious quirk of the Alteran Stargate Network (ASN) is how each gate gets its own sequential ID. Whenever a new gate rezzes, it automatically snags the next available number. The moment it dials home, it is basically yelling, "Hello universe, I am Gate #1,000,001 - let's get this party started!"

Region-as-Planet Lore

In classic Stargate lore, each planet usually only has one active gate, and thus just one address. We try to follow that tradition by treating each sim (region) like a planet, aiming for just one address (per network) per sim.

• Only One Active Gate at a Time

  In the shows, you cannot open an outgoing wormhole if there is already a functioning gate in the same planetary vicinity. The ASN honors that concept, though we do make allowances in rare "multiverse" cases where multiple gates might coexist without stepping on each other's chevrons.

• Per-Gate Sequential IDs

  Regardless of lore, every gate in the ASN has its own unique "fingerprint". Think of it like a vehicle identification number. Even if two gates share the same sim, they still have distinct ASN IDs under the hood.

Global Coordinates Check

When a Stargate first rezzes, the network verifies the sim's global coordinates to determine the gate's address, reflecting the show lore of using positional data. If anything seems off, the gate stays offline until the issue is sorted. No random number generator allowed here.

Did You Know?

Over the years, more than one million Stargates have been rezzed across the ASN. That is more gates than you can wave a staff weapon at! Of course, not every one of them stayed online, but rest assured, there are still plenty of digits left if you plan on installing a few more gates.

Major Updates and System Streamlining

We've swept through the Alteran Stargate Network to identify and eliminate outdated systems. These obsolete components, potential sources of inefficiencies or security risks, were decommissioned as decisively as thwarting a Goa'uld infiltration. Here's what we tackled:

• Decommissioned Outdated Forum System

  Shutting down this relic. The operation was extensive:

  • Stats: 2,135 files deleted, 2,154 files changed, 3,064 insertions (+), and a staggering 482,354 deletions (-).

  This cleanup removes outdated tools, streamlining support through our current ticket system and Discord.

• Removed Unused Ticket System

  This second ticket system had lain dormant, much like a buried Stargate waiting to be unearthed. We cleared it out completely:

  • Stats: 944 files deleted, 944 files changed, and 278,885 lines of code removed (-).

Beyond pruning the old, we've introduced new tools to keep the network running smoothly. Improved monitoring systems now detect any issues with Stargate addressing. When a new Stargate spawns, its address is assigned based on the sim's global coordinates. Should this assignment fail, the gate remains offline until resolved.

We've also refreshed our documentation and in-world communications:

• New Stargate Standards of Placement (SSoP) guidelines have been authored and published, offering clear directives for gate placement.
• The initial registration message now includes handy links to the SSoP, the manual, and our Discord channel, ensuring users have all the resources they need to jump into the network with ease.

Security and System Enhancements

Login

Even the most secure outposts can face infiltration risks, and virtual realms are no exception. We've fortified the ASN login system with a suite of upgrades:

• Audit Logging ℹ️

  Expanded logging capabilities now track every login attempt, enabling us to spot and neutralize malicious activities faster than a P90 takes down a Jaffa.

• Brute Force Defenses ℹ️

  • We're monitoring repeated login attempts, particularly those using known leaked passwords (sourced from public breaches, not our own data).
  • Additional protections lock down potential intruders before they can breach the gate, keeping the network secure.

• Web Application Firewall (WAF) ℹ️

  A new protective barrier surrounds our login page, functioning like an iris shield for your password inputs - only legitimate travelers get through. Last week, the WAF blocked a barrage of login attempts that'd make a Replicator swarm jealous.

System

Behind the scenes, we've rolled out technical enhancements to boost performance and reliability:

• Virtual Interface ℹ️ Command Logging Toggle

  VIs were logging every command into the database, which looks to have been implemented purely for development reasons. Added a toggle, cleared the table and disabled it by default to optimize system resources.

• Database to Filesystem Migration

  Some website components that were once stored in the database have been migrated to the filesystem, improving version control ℹ️ and management.

• Scheduled Job Cleanup

  Cleanup routines have shifted from API scripts to a cron job ℹ️, preventing resource drains during critical operations like dialing a Stargate.

• Relative Paths

  Absolute paths have been replaced with relative ones ℹ️, simplifying our ability to do server transitions and making it easier to use development tools on our local computers.

• Database Error Handling

  Error messages are now more informative and display correctly in Second Life, eliminating confusing glyphs in HUDs that once resembled Ancient script gone wrong.

• Full HTTPS Support

  While the site was already HTTPS, a lot of links were still linking to HTTP. All HTTP links should now be HTTPS.

• Upgraded Database Table Engines ℹ️

  While the original engines we used were the most optimal option at the time, things have changed over time and so we have upgraded all database tables to an engine supporting asynchronous ℹ️ writes, delivering smoother, more efficient performance across the board.

• Shadow Ban Data Migration

  The system for shadow banning gates that manipulate events to appear in the "top gates" list has been updated. Previously stored in flat files, this data is now managed within the database for improved reliability and performance.

Server Reboots

Server restarts are inevitable, but we've ironed out the kinks:

• The virtual interface table engine was set to "memory", so this is cleared each time the database server restarted. This caused a race condition ℹ️ affecting Virtual Interface whitelists on the Stargates which would result in connection failures (after completing the dialing sequence). We've switched the table engine to something that persists which has resolved this issue.
• Prevented gates from being mislabeled as "buried" within the first 10 minutes of system uptime, as the server may have missed their scheduled check in.
• We use kernel live patching ℹ️ and automatic updates ℹ️ to keep our services running with minimal security issues. However, to make sure all updates are fully applied and to quickly spot any potential boot up problems, we schedule a server restart every Monday. This weekly reboot helps us troubleshoot issues more easily since it limits the number of updates that could be causing any problems.

Website and User Interface Improvements

Elements

Our website and user interface have received a series of upgrades to enhance usability and engagement:

• Owner Link Fix

  Stargate pages now correctly link to the owner's profile, thanks to Eris Ravenwood's sharp reporting.

• Markdown Support

  The content management system ℹ️ now supports Markdown ℹ️, it previously only supported HTML ℹ️. This was an important change as HTML can be highly dependent on the webpage it's embedded inside while markdown is much more flexible. This makes updating the website as a whole much less daunting than facing the Wraith. Over 50 HTML content pieces, including the ASN manual, have been converted to Markdown for consistency.

• Revamped News Frontend

  The news section has been rebuilt from the ground up - think of it as scrapping a faulty X-301 for a X-302. We recovered content from five older Alpha-Fox systems, sifting through legacy databases and files, and standardized everything in Markdown.

  We've also introduced official Atom and RSS feeds to make sure you never miss an update. Check out our subscription guide for details on how to follow our news in your favorite reader.

  Unlike some of our previous news systems, this new one also supports direct links to specific news posts which makes it a tad easier to share information. The news site further pulls user mentions directly out of the Alpha Fox users database, so whenever usernames change, the posts will update with their current usernames too which helps avoid complaints about outdated names.

• Avatar System

  On pages like news articles, we first attempt to fetch your Gravatar ℹ️; if unavailable, your Second Life profile picture steps in. Caching ensures faster load times for a seamless experience.

• 404 Handling

  We corrected an issue where the site wasn't returning a HTTP status code ℹ️ 404 for missing pages. Web crawlers ℹ️ bombarded our site with requests, now they know most of those requests were silly.

  Viewing Stargates was also affected, in the past we would redirect you to the database page but now give you a Stargate Not Found page. This has really helped resolve some crawler confusion.

Credentials

Logging into the ASN is now more intuitive:

• Optionally use your SL username (e.g., subnova or ash.qin) instead of legacy name (e.g. Subnova Resident, Ash Qin) format.
• The Registration & Password Reset Guide has been updated to reflect these changes.
• Introduced "nice names," stripping the "Resident" suffix from accounts without historical surnames for a more personal touch.
• Implementing full support for display names and usernames presented technical challenges, as these are not transmitted via HTTP headers as initially assumed.
• Options like polling the entire user base (which would take approximately two years) or user-initiated updates were considered but deemed impractical.
• As a temporary solution, we've implemented "nice names" and interpreted username support, with plans to revisit this feature in future updates when in-world product releases are feasible.

Stargate Network and Gameplay Enhancements

We've locked chevrons on a host of new features and fixes to elevate the Stargate experience.

Multiverse Region Flag

For roleplay and build sims hosting multiple Stargates (e.g. Atlantis, the SGC, or Abydos) within the same region that are intended to be treated as completely different locations, this flag enables same-region dialing and multiple simultaneous wormholes. Lookup, connection, and interference logic have been updated accordingly.

Available only to estate owners via the ticket system (there is no mechanism to validate an estate manager in SL), it applies exclusively to sims fully dedicated to RP or builds. Implementing the multiverse flag required several technical adjustments, including:

• Modifying the lookup code to allow dialing within the same region.
• Adjusting the connection code to support same-region and multiple simultaneous connections.
• Disabling the interference API for flagged regions.
• Rewriting parts of the addressing system to ensure unique addresses within multiverse regions without conflicting with existing addresses.
• Developing an administration console for managing flagged regions.

• Addressing bugs, such as preventing gates from dialing themselves.

  It's important to note that some accessories may not function optimally in regions with multiple active Stargates, so caution is advised.

Statistics Page

The new ASN statistics page tracks newly activated and buried gates, thanks to Vala Avro's suggestion. Buried counts may ebb and flow as gates reactivate post-region restarts, crashed regions return. Please note that the statistics will only be accurate starting from March 2025, as the necessary tracking mechanisms were not in place prior to this update.

Top Gates

The Stargate Database now features a "Top Gates" sorting option, set as the default view, thanks to Inari Demonpaws's suggestion.

Shield Fix

Changing shield types while raised once caused glitches; now, the shield will automatically lower first now. Kudos to RemmyHun for flagging this bug.

LSL library Teleport Script Enhancements

• Now uses llTeleportAgentGlobalCoords ℹ️, enhancing functionality (thanks for the suggestion, Vala Avro).
• Performance is boosted via ASN API hints for requesting the region corner using llRequestSimulatorData ℹ️, courtesy of Tornado Siren's insight.

Teleport API Event

• The "teleport" API call includes rotation info, timestamps, and a secure hash.
• RLV relay and "teleport" API calls execute 0.2 seconds faster - travel just got snappier.

Memory Command

Use /stargate memory to check available script memory for all Stargate components.

Bug Fixes

• Newly spawned gates no longer loop endlessly on username updates (cheers to TheMadKingM).
• Gate connection logs were logging more states than they should have, that's been fixed and cleared 16,974 duplicate connection logs (thanks, Eris Ravenwood, for spotting the oddities).
• Improved handling of the persistent SVC-3548 disruptions and improved our internal error reporting around this.

Quality of Life

• Replaced the "Memory" button on gates with "View Online" for visitor convenience (memory info remains via /stargate memory).
• Added a free teleport attachment on the Marketplace.
• Overhauled gate "help" text based on user feedback for greater clarity.

Community and Documentation

Our ASN community is the heart of this project, driving progress with every contribution.

Transport Rings Donation

RaithSphere Xue donated the [CytraX] Transport Rings, laying the groundwork for the next ATS transporter ring iteration.

Documentation Repository

As requested by the community on Discord, we've launched a GitHub repository for documentation. Spotted a typo in the manual? Fixed a wonky link? You don't need to be Rodney McKay to help.

Submit pull requests and join the effort, you don't need to be a coder!

Second Life Alteran Stargate Network Group Overhaul

• Updated the group description, clearing out outdated text.
• Eliminated unused roles and refined role titles for clarity.
• Removed the L$1 join fee, which was originally implemented to deter spammers and/or beggars.

Internal Improvements

Behind the iris, we've bolstered our operations:

• Implemented live monitoring ℹ️ for scheduled downtimes and issues with critical service providers.
• Expanded error reporting to swiftly identify and address new challenges.

Discord & Second Life Group Chat Relay

In our ongoing mission to keep the Alteran Stargate Network community connected across all frontiers, we've activated a new Discord & Second Life group chat relay, masterfully engineered by Tornado Siren. This relay acts as a bridge between our Discord server and the in-world group chat, allowing users to communicate seamlessly without needing to be logged into Second Life.

Discord users can read group chat messages at any time, no gate address required. To send messages, however, you'll need to include your Second Life username in your Discord server name (e.g., "Fox (ash.qin)" or "Ash Qin"). This small step keeps the lines of communication clear and ensures everyone knows who's on the other end of the wormhole. Once that's set, you're free to chat, and the relay takes care of the rest.

This isn't just a basic comms link, it's packed with features worthy of Alteran tech. The relay supports native Second Life users with their avatars, so you can scope out who's who directly through the system. The Second life side links to Discord profiles. It also includes safeguards to prevent the malicious use of tagging roles, keeping our community chatter respectful and free of Goa'uld level mischief.

Plus, it cleverly parses and translates platform specific quirks like Second Life-isms and Discord-isms (emojis, mentions etc), so messages make sense no matter where they're received. On the technical side, since LSL doesn't grant direct access to group chats, we've deployed a smart bot in Second Life to manage the relay. This bot is as resilient as a MALP on a rugged planet, automatically relocating to other regions if a restart or outage occurs, ensuring the relay stays online without missing a beat.

Final Thoughts

February has been a month of remarkable progress, fueled by the invaluable feedback and contributions from our community. To everyone who reported bugs, tested features, and shared ideas - thank you for helping us refine the Alteran Stargate Network.

Building on January's modernization efforts, where we updated 108 files and streamlined our codebase by adding 3,586 lines of new code and removing 2,602 to improve maintainability and compatibility, February saw an even greater leap forward. This month, excluding the decommissioned forum and ticket systems, our development efforts this month tallied:

• 140 commits
• 255 files added
• 176 files deleted
• 3,252 files changed - Nearly 30 times January's scope!
• 47,834 insertions (+)
• 94,169 deletions (-)
• 1 bot added

If you have questions about these updates or run into any issues, please join our Discord to let us know! Our new GitHub repository for documentation is also open. Your contributions whether small text corrections, clearer explanations, or added examples help strengthen the community and support users of all experience levels.

As a personal note, I want to mention that my January update post was rather rushed. I underestimated how much time it would take to write everything out properly. Having devoted more care and effort to this post, I believe it offers a more thorough and higher quality overview of our recent progress.

--Ash Qin