2 Clients

[Deitair]

I've done some searches (Google, forum & otherwise), but I can't find any answers. Is there any way to run more than 1 client at once? I'm interested in subbing for 2 accounts, but I only have 1 computer. My comp seems to run DDO well with other programs running in the background, so I figured it could handle 2 instances of the client.

Any way that's possible?

[rivnen]

Running background programs and running 2 instances of the client are very different things when it comes to system stress-your computer might* be able to handle it, but don't be surprised if it can't.

Other then that, I have been wondering the same thing for a while now, but as far as I can tell no, you cannot.

[Uska]

I have seen people post that they are doing so and have been in group chat with people doing it, dont know how as that isnt my area of expertise but maybe one of them will pop in here and tell you how. I do know most who do it have their second character park at the entrance and then brings that character up to our area at safe moments or brings it for a rescue attempt as its pretty hard to try to run two at once.

[rivnen]

"2 boxing" is a difficult skill to master, but it is possible and I've done it in several other games. The problem with DDO is when you try to run a 2nd client it just brings up a message saying "client is already running" with a "bring to front" button on it. Whereas EQ, and WoW when you try to open another client it just opens.

[Uska]

"2 boxing" is a difficult skill to master, but it is possible and I've done it in several other games. The problem with DDO is when you try to run a 2nd client it just brings up a message saying "client is already running" with a "bring to front" button on it. Whereas EQ, and WoW when you try to open another client it just opens.

I dont know how but I know people have done it I think it takes a second install to do it. I know when I did it with swg thats how you had to do it at first.

[rivnen]

A second install does not allow running 2 clients. If it did I would have been able to run lammainia and live and I could not. Note, when you start up the 2nd client it doesn't even let you log in before saying it is running already.

I know a way I *could* do it on my system by taking advantage of windows virtual PC, but few people have the computer resources to be able to run 2 instances of the game while giving half of there ram to a virtual PC. Besides I hate using virtual PC so I would rather not have to resort to that next mod to use my "f2p" account along with my subscription account.

[Uska]

A second install does not allow running 2 clients. If it did I would have been able to run lammainia and live and I could not. Note, when you start up the 2nd client it doesn't even let you log in before saying it is running already.

I know a way I *could* do it on my system by taking advantage of windows virtual PC, but few people have the computer resources to be able to run 2 instances of the game while giving half of there ram to a virtual PC. Besides I hate using virtual PC so I would rather not have to resort to that next mod to use my "f2p" account along with my subscription account.

I just know some people have claimed to be running two on same computer never tried with this game as my wife's computer is right next to mine so never had the need but would like to know how its done just out of curiosity sake.

[Gelandor]

I run 2 copies of DDO on the same machine, it was tricky to get it to work, but here are the tricks:

1. Create a 2nd Copy of the DDO folder. I have D:\DDO\ and D:\DDO2\
2. Create a batch file that launches both games at the same time, otherwise you will get the client is already running message.
3. It can look like only one client is running, but if you drag one onto a different spot on the screen, you will see the second client.
4. Running dual monitors helps a lot with this.

Hope this helps.

[rivnen]

I run 2 copies of DDO on the same machine, it was tricky to get it to work, but here are the tricks:

1. Create a 2nd Copy of the DDO folder. I have D:\DDO\ and D:\DDO2\
2. Create a batch file that launches both games at the same time, otherwise you will get the client is already running message.
3. It can look like only one client is running, but if you drag one onto a different spot on the screen, you will see the second client.
4. Dunning dual monitors helps a lot with this.

Hope this helps.

That actually makes a lot of sense-it would cause the 2nd client to "miss" the check for another one., thanks I'm gonna try that now.

[Uska]

I run 2 copies of DDO on the same machine, it was tricky to get it to work, but here are the tricks:

1. Create a 2nd Copy of the DDO folder. I have D:\DDO\ and D:\DDO2\
2. Create a batch file that launches both games at the same time, otherwise you will get the client is already running message.
3. It can look like only one client is running, but if you drag one onto a different spot on the screen, you will see the second client.
4. Dunning dual monitors helps a lot with this.

Hope this helps.

interesting and for once a +1 for you

[binnsr]

I run 2 copies of DDO on the same machine, it was tricky to get it to work, but here are the tricks:

1. Create a 2nd Copy of the DDO folder. I have D:\DDO\ and D:\DDO2\
2. Create a batch file that launches both games at the same time, otherwise you will get the client is already running message.
3. It can look like only one client is running, but if you drag one onto a different spot on the screen, you will see the second client.
4. Running dual monitors helps a lot with this.

Hope this helps.

I do the same thing. A couple of tips to add to your notes:
I have found that putting the two installs on different drives as this significantly reduces load times (even putting it on an SD card if you have an SD card reader in your computer works).
I also tried it on my laptop (4gb of ram 2.4Ghz proc and geforce 120M 1gb video card) and found that I was perilously close to running in swap space after an hour or so of gaming with both accounts.
You have to have both clients running before logging in -- i.e. you can have the first launcher completely up and running before starting the second if you desire as long as you don't log into it before the second is started.
Telling the launcher to remain running in the background (at work so don't remember the exact verbiage) lets you quit/restart as many times as you like without having to restart both clients -- handy if you have a third account but don't have the resources to run all three at once.

And finally -- this is the most important part of getting this to work: You have to have multiple accounts for any of this to work.

[Strakeln]

I run 2 copies of DDO on the same machine, it was tricky to get it to work, but here are the tricks:

1. Create a 2nd Copy of the DDO folder. I have D:\DDO\ and D:\DDO2\
2. Create a batch file that launches both games at the same time, otherwise you will get the client is already running message.
3. It can look like only one client is running, but if you drag one onto a different spot on the screen, you will see the second client.
4. Running dual monitors helps a lot with this.

Hope this helps.

This works, I've been running 2 clients on 1 computer simultaneously for over a year now.

However, I skipped the batch file stuff, the timing was too close and often caused a failure. I just double-click one icon, then double-click the next.

When running from the launcher (the little DDO circle in your taskbar), I can launch either or both at any time. It's only when hitting the icons that you need to do them fairly close (from a temporal perspective) to each other.

[GlassCannon]

"2 boxing" is a difficult skill to master, but it is possible and I've done it in several other games. The problem with DDO is when you try to run a 2nd client it just brings up a message saying "client is already running" with a "bring to front" button on it. Whereas EQ, and WoW when you try to open another client it just opens.

Give HID Research a few more decades and you will be able to neurally interface. Then, it's merely a query of how adept at multitasking you are.

[Harncw]

we discussed this here:

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=191342

[pepsi_phreak_79]

Just make a shortcut to dndlauncher.exe
and
TurbineInvoker.exe

or make the bat file to load both at same time
it will load up two clients no copying the game folder

Ive done it to go hard on quests as fighter and use my cleric as a mobile shrine

[binnsr]

Just make a shortcut to dndlauncher.exe
and
TurbineInvoker.exe

or make the bat file to load both at same time
it will load up two clients no copying the game folder

Ive done it to go hard on quests as fighter and use my cleric as a mobile shrine

I actually don't recommend this due to the performance hit from both clients working off the same drive.

Of course, if you've only got one hard disk, then /shrug.

[uhgungawa]

Free bump!!!!!

Had several guildies asking about this, so I figured it needed a bump to get the info out there

[diamabel]

I've done some searches (Google, forum & otherwise), but I can't find any answers. Is there any way to run more than 1 client at once? I'm interested in subbing for 2 accounts, but I only have 1 computer. My comp seems to run DDO well with other programs running in the background, so I figured it could handle 2 instances of the client.

Any way that's possible?

Well, if I'm in the mood for soloing I start 2 DDO clients.

The solution I have come up with is to have DDO installed regularly on my computer. The other clients are installed within a virtual machine. I use VMware for that purpose (as well as for other things too). It just runs OK this way. The overall performance will depend on your computer though. With the right operating system (64-bit version), a minimum of 4 GB RAM, a decent multicore processor and a decent grafics card and it will be just fine. The only drawback is sound. I don't get sound within my VM if I run the default client (the one not within the virtual machine) or a TV application.

It makes soloing a little easier and you don't need to purchase the hirelings from the store. You can even approach the quests with the puzzles and stuff and those where the party needs to split up.

[Alopikal]

I am trying to get this to work. I have created another DDO folder and a batch file to open both dndlauncher.exe's at the same time, but only one will open. I read that I may have to uninstall the TDM, but when I try to I get an error message that says: Uninstall key name argument missing.


Anyone know what's up?


EDIT: Got it to work, had to uninstall from the Control Panel. Works like a charm now.

[TimoteoDeLani]

Running 2 (or more) instances of the DDO client is actually really easy. You can even get completely separate configurations. And you can do it with only a single install.

The method is to use Sandboxie, running each instance (other than the first) of the client in a separate sandbox (you need to pay for the program to run multiple sandboxes at the same time).

Sandboxie will:

1. Isolate the sandboxed client from the others - they won't be able to detect that another instance is running. The window class name is changed to include the name of the sandbox (I suspect the window class is what is used for the detection). The window title is also changed (though you can suppress that behaviour).

2. Redirect writes to configuration files, etc to a location for that sandbox. E.g. if you are running in a sandbox called "DDO2", your UserPreferences.ini will be written to C:\Sandbox\<username>\DDO2\user\current\Documents\ Dungeons and Dragons Online\UserPreferences.ini. Note that the configuration files from "My Documents" will be copied by the sandbox (so your second client will have the same configuration initially).

Important! The sandboxes will by default copy any files it needs to write to into the sandbox directory. This includes all the DDO .dat files - approx 10GB! There are two ways to prevent this:

a. (Preferred) Configure all the sandboxes to have read-only access to the entire DDO install directory. This means that the files will not be copied (since they're read-only) but only the non-sandboxed instance of the client can perform updates. Do not update the DDO files while any sandboxed client is running.

b. Have separate installs of DDO for each sandbox. Give each sandbox full access (in the file restrictions section of the Sandboxie configuration) to the DDO install folder for that sandbox. This means that each client will directly write to the DDO files, and each client will have to patch separately. You're also doubling (or more) the amount of disc space used.

BTW, I strongly recommend that each DDO sandbox be configured to never delete its contents.

A program that moves your DDO windows to specific locations based on window title is also highly recommended (e.g. to move to a second monitor). One that I've found that actually works for DDO (and is free) is WinSize2. It's not the most user-friendly, but once it's set up you don't need to touch it again. Programs such as AutoIt and EventGhost would probably also be usable.