This idea is based on 2 or more servers sending data between each other and also making it very simple for the coders involved.
With this include, you need only 3 functions to be able to have your servers communicate however you want!

Engine Module
Sockets HZ Module

• Windows
• Linux

To be able to even have data come in, someone has to send it.
Here is the first function to send data:

Code:

/*
 * Sends data to a given IP
 * 
 * @param      ip - The IP to send data to
 * @param      data - The data to send
 * 
 * @note        The port must be at the end of the IP address
 * @note        To send data back to the same server, use "loopback" as the IP and no port at the end of it
 * 
 * @return    Returns 1 on success, 0 on failure
 * 
 */
native scomm_send(const ip[], const data[]);

Seems pretty straight-forward, right?
You send data to an IP address of the server you choose.

If you need to format the data for the send function, you don't have to format it into another variable and then send it.
Instead, you can use this function:

Code:

/*
 * Sends formatted data to a given IP
 * 
 * @param      ip - The IP to send data to
 * @param      format - The format of the data
 * 
 * @note        The port must be at the end of the IP address
 * @note        To send data back to the same server, use "loopback" as the IP and no port at the end of it
 * 
 * @return    Returns 1 on success, 0 on failure
 * 
 */
native scomm_sendf(const ip[], const format[], any:...);

This reduces the formatting of the string to another variable and directly formats it into the send function.

To receive data from other servers, you need this forward in your plugin:

Code:

/*
 * Called when the server receives data from another server
 * 
 * @param      data - The string containing data
 * @param      len - The length of the data
 * 
 * @return    Return value is ignored
 * 
 */
forward scomm_receive(data[], len);

That will provide you with the data that you received and the length of it.

Unfortunately, these functions cannot automatically detect the IP that the data is being sent from.
Therefore, if you want the IP to go to the receive function, you have to send the IP in the data you are sending to the server.

The API plugin needs to be compiled with the sockets_hz.inc file attached to the bottom of this post.
Compiling locally: https://forums.alliedmods.net/showthread.php?t=130511


Be sure to set this cvar on servers running this plugin:

Code:

---

scomm_key "key"

---

The value of this cvar is used to protect the data being sent and received between servers.
If the value of this cvar does not match the value of the cvar on the server running Server Comm, then the data will be ignored.


All suggestions and comments are welcome.

Version 0.0.2

• Modified to allow specific port listening and sending
• Added "loopback" functionality to send data back to same server

Version 0.0.1

• Original release

Cross-Server Chatting