Virtual Radar Server 27-JUL-2019 2.4.3

The main program

Installation

Run the installer. Run the server. Go to Tools | Options to configure the program.

Main Changes

  1. Mobile reports were not loading
  2. Network connections would keep resetting under Mono 6.0
  3. Ground vehicles transmitting DF18 CF1 can now be tracked
  4. User notes now available on map page
  5. User tag now available on reports

Previous versions can be downloaded from the Version History page.

64-bit Version

Windows Installer

The 64-bit version uses more memory than the 32-bit version and cannot load 32-bit third party libraries, which means that features that rely on those libraries will not work. Most Windows users should stick with the 32-bit version.

However, the 64-bit version is preferable if you have feeds with many thousands of aircraft.

There is no Mono 64-bit version because Mono will always run VRS in 32-bits on 32-bit operating systems and 64-bits on 64-bit operating systems.

Plugins

There are no special 64-bit versions of the plugins, they will work unchanged under both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the server.

The default install folder for the normal version of the server is C:\Program Files (x86)\VirtualRadar whereas the 64-bit version installs into C:\Program Files\VirtualRadar. If you are installing a plugin on a computer that has both the 32- and 64-bit versions of the server installed then pay special attention to the install folder for the plugin, make sure you enter the correct one. If you want the plugin installed for both servers then you need to install it twice, once for each server installation.

Language Pack 31-JUL-2016 2.4

Translations of the user interface for the server, the plugins and the web site

Web site translations are included in the standard Virtual Radar Server installation. You do not need to install the language pack to obtain these translations but you can keep them up-to-date using the language pack.

Languages

The following languages are supported:

  • Brazilian Portuguese[2.4] Português do Brasil / Brazilian Portuguese
  • Chinese[2.2] 中国 / Chinese
  • French[2.2] Français / French
  • German[2.4] Deutsche / German
  • Russian[2.4] Русский / Russian
Web Admin Plugin 11-JUN-2018 2.4.1

Adds a web-based user interface to monitor and configure the server

Main Changes

  1. Support for new server settings
  2. Did not load properly when host was using de-CH region

Quick Configuration Instructions

Only administrator users can access the plugin. The first step is to create an administrator user.

Via the User Interface

Run the server and go to Tools | Options. Click on the Web Server | Administrators section and ensure that at least one user is marked as an administrator (if you do not have any users configured then click the Users section to create one). Click OK.

Via the Command Line

Start the server in headless mode and pass two switches to create and/or configure a user as an administrator:

Mono users: mono VirtualRadar.exe -nogui -createAdmin:name -password:password
Windows users: VirtualRadar.exe -nogui -createAdmin:name -password:password

Note that there is no space after the colon in -createAdmin and -password.

Once an administrator user has been created you can start the server in headless mode using the -nogui switch.

Accessing the Web Admin Pages

Once the server is running you can access the Web Admin pages at:

http://127.0.0.1/VirtualRadar/WebAdmin/Index.html

Replace 127.0.0.1 with the address (and port number, if appropriate) of the site. Note that by default the plugin only accepts requests from local loopback and LAN addresses.

If you are running the server in GUI mode then you can reach the web admin pages by clicking Tools | Plugins, then click the Options button for the Web Admin plugin and click the link in the bottom-left corner of the dialog.

Database Writer Plugin 31-JUL-2016 2.4

Saves flight records (and optionally aircraft details) to a BaseStation.sqb database file

Please do not install this plugin if you are running Kinetic's BaseStation program, or any other program that is adding aircraft and flights to BaseStation.sqb

This plugin is for users who do not have a Kinetics radio but want to be able to run the reports. It creates and updates a database that uses the same schema as Kinetic's BaseStation.

There is documentation for the plugin and you can download previous versions here.

Main Changes

  1. Updated for version 2.4 of the server
  2. Support for configuring via the web admin plugin

Quick Configuration Instructions

After installation go to Tools | Plugins, click Options against the Database Writer plugin and tick the Enabled box.

If you are starting a new database from scratch: Enter a filename for the database and click Create Database.

If you are using an existing database: Remove the tick from Only update databases that this plugin created and enter the path to the existing database.

Custom Content Plugin 31-JUL-2016 2.4

Adds support for deep customisation of the Virtual Radar Server web site

Main Changes

  1. Updated for version 2.4 of the server
  2. Support for configuring via the web admin plugin

Documentation

There is documentation for this plugin.

Database Editor Plugin 11-JUN-2018 2.4.1

Lets admin users edit BaseStation.sqb aircraft records

Main Changes

  1. Editing records created by the lookup for missing aircraft could lead to the lookup overwriting them afterwards even when it is told not to
Tile Server Cache Plugin 27-JUL-2019 2.4.3

Caches tiles from Leaflet tile servers

Main Changes

  1. Initial release

Notes

This plugin keeps a local copy of the tiles that are downloaded from tile servers and serves those copies when available.

Aside from improving map load times and reducing the burden on tile servers it can also be used to provide map tiles when VRS is not connected to the Internet (with the caveat that the tiles would have to have been cached while VRS had an Internet connection).

Disable Audio Plugin 31-JUL-2016 2.4

Disables the audio features within Virtual Radar Server

Main Changes

  1. Updated for version 2.4 of the plugin API

Notes

A handful of users have had problems when VRS tries to enumerate over the text-to-speech voices installed on the system. This plugin stops VRS from doing anything with the Windows text-to-speech sub-system.

The plugin has no configuration options. To re-enable the audio features of the program just uninstall the plugin using the Windows Control Panel.

Disable Universal Plug & Play (UPnP) Plugin 31-JUL-2016 2.4

Disables the UPnP features within Virtual Radar Server

Main Changes

  1. Updated for version 2.4 of the plugin API

Notes

A handful of users have had problems when VRS tries to use the Windows UPnP COM interface. This plugin stops VRS from doing anything with the Windows UPnP sub-system.

The plugin has no configuration options. To re-enable the UPnP features of the program just uninstall the plugin using the Windows Control Panel.

Windows 7 / Vista Proximity Gadget 11-MAR-2012 2.0

A Windows 7 desktop gadget that shows details of the aircraft closest to you

 

Main Changes

  1. Fixed a bad memory leak.
  2. Resolved the problems with ugly text appearing if the gadget lost connection to Virtual Radar Server.
  3. Added operator and silhouette flags to the docked view.
  4. Added an indication of heading and bearing to the docked view.
  5. Added support for configuring the units used for distances, heights and speeds.
  6. Added a flyout view.
  7. Removed the indication of how many aircraft are transmitting emergency squawks.

Documentation

There is documentation for the proximity gadget.

Preview Versions

Bleeding edge builds of the server, language pack and plugins

From time to time preview builds of the server and the plugins are uploaded to the site to let people try out new features and bug fixes before they are released.

http://www.virtualradarserver.co.uk/Preview.aspx

PLEASE NOTE

Preview versions may have bugs, be incomplete or contain features that end up being removed before release

Source Code
The source code is released under the terms of the license

The source code is hosted on GitHub.

Documentation

There is online documentation for the source. You can also download the documentation in CHM format.

After downloading you may need to right-click the CHM file, choose Properties and click Unblock before Windows will open it.