Singularity

General information

Singularity is a public test server for EVE Online that is used by both CCP developers and EVE players to test changes and new features before they are released to the Tranquility server. Test servers have a very strict set of rules.

Its primary function is to provide a test environment as close as possible to the live environment of Tranquility. For this purpose, the Tranquility database is "mirrored" (copied) over to the Singularity server once every few months (or more often, if needed by the CCP Quality Assurance department). For testing the performance of the server and client with many players at the same place (specially fleet-fights) there are periodical mass testing events.

Accessing Singularity

In order to access the Singularity server you need to have an active account on Tranquility. The account needs to have been active at the time when the current mirror was taken, this date is usually mentioned in the Test Server Feedback forum. For example, if your account expired on August 15th and the database mirror is taken 3 days later, your account will be inactive on Singularity, even if you reactivate it on Tranquility afterwards.

If your account is active on Tranquility but you find you are having login problems on Singularity, you can look for help in this forum-thread.

Windows: Sisi Client Installation

Follow these steps to create a new Sisi client:

1. Create a separate folder for your test client ( i.e "C:\evetest")
2. Open your default EVE folder (by default located at "C:\Program Files\CCP" )
3. Delete any .patch and .download files.
4. Copy everything from your original EVE folder (by default located at "C:\Program Files\CCP" ) to the new ("C:\evetest").

   This step is important, since patching the test client will render it incompatible with the Tranquility server.

5. Create a shortcut for the new eve.exe file inside C:\evetest
6. Right click on the shortcut and select properties, then select the shortcut tab
7. Add /server:Singularity and press OK (Make sure to add a space before the slash (or forward slash))

   The final look of the Target line would look something like this:

   "C:\evetest\eve.exe" /server:Singularity

8. Then double click on the shortcut

   The EVE launcher will start and patch your client if necessary

9. Press "Play" to start the client and log in

Windows: Patch Client

1. Double click your shortcut, which includes /server:Singularity (see above if you don't have a shortcut)
2. The EVE Launcher will start and patch your client if necessary
3. Press "Play" to start the client and log in

Windows: Repair Tool

You can try to repair your Sisi client for the case that the EVE launcher is no longer starting: Create a shortcut to repair.exe and add following to the target line: --server=sisi

Windows: Using Sisi Launcher Tool (no longer supported)

The Sisi Launcher Tool on Windows is no longer supported, as it is being replaced by the Launcher. At the moment it is still working to repair the Sisi client and it will start the Launcher. More details can be found at the Sisi Launcher page

Mac: Manual Sisi Client Installation

As Singularity is most of the time running a different code version than Tranquility, you will need to create a separate EVE folder to connect to Singularity.

1. Download the Tranquility client: http://www.eveonline.com/download/ (If you have already installed the EVE Client, skip to step 3 )
2. Install the Tranquility client
3. Rename your install to "EVE Online TQ" or something of your choice
   • Using Finder go to Applications > EVE Online > More Info OR Applications > EVE Online (right click) Get Info
   • In the Name & Extensions Tab, enter the name of your choice. Example: EVE Online Tranquility.app
4. Install another copy of EVE Online (download the client here http://www.eveonline.com/download/)
5. Rename that to "EVE Online Singularity" or something of your choice
   • Using Finder go to Applications > EVE Online > More Info OR Applications > EVE Online (right click) Get Info
   • In the Name & Extensions Tab, enter the name of your choice. Example: EVE Online Singularity.app
6. Open a Terminal window
   • easiest way to do this is to use Spotlight (cmd + space) and type terminal into the search field
7. In the Terminal window type 'open', then drag and drop your Sisi client into it and add ' --args /server:87.237.38.50'
   • should look similar to this: "open /Applications/EVE\ Singularity.app --args /server:87.237.38.50"

Instead of opening the application from the shell window, you may also do this directly from the dock by creating an automator application.

1. Open automator, found in applications
2. Select "Application"
3. In the tree view on the left side, select "Library" and in its submenu, select "Tools"
4. Among the choices to the right, double click "Run Shellscript"

1. The right hand side should now contain a window in which you see the text "cat". Replace that text with "open -a "
2. Locate your Eve Test TQ in Finder and drag it into this window and add double quotes around it
3. Add " --args /server:87.237.38.50"
4. The text should now be looking like open -a "/Applications/EVE Online TQ.app" --args /server:87.237.38.50
5. In the File menu, select Save. Save anywhere you wish.

To replace the icon of the newly created automator app

1. Locate the Eve Online app in Finder, right click, show info.
2. Click the Eve Online icon in the top left corner, then CMD-C (copy)
3. Locate the saved application in Finder, right click, show info
4. Click the Automator icon in the top left corner, then CMD-V (paste)

Now you may drag the newly created automator application to the dock.

Mac: Sisi Launcher Tool

There is now (May 2012) a tool that takes care of the server choosing for you, the downside is that it will download an entire client the first time you run it. It is a sizeable download (~180MB) because it contains a stripped down EVE client that it updates to the version running on either Singularity or Duality depending on which server you choose.

1. Download Test EVE Online tool
2. Move it to wherever you want to keep your Sisi client, note that there will need to be at least 15GB of free space
3. Run the application, choose a server, wait for it to update to the latest version currently running on that server and then hit play

Getting help

The petition system is unavailable on Singularity and Game Masters will not be able to address issues related to Singularity.

Ingame

There is an ingame channel named Singularity where players on the test server exchange information. You may also find volunteers and developers there.
The local-channel of 6-CZ49 is also a good location for finding other players, volunteers and developers.

Getting moved

If you want to be moved to 6-CZ49 (Old testing-system was: FD-MLJ), which is the main testing-system on Singularity, you may want to join the in-game channel moveme. Just follow the rules in the MOTD of this channel.

IRC-channel #eve-chaos

Testers are also invited to join the #eve-chaos channel on the Coldfront IRC server. Visitors of #eve-chaos are asked not to use identifying tags, such as corporation tickers, though you will see some names in the user list that do include tags. These are EVE volunteers who can provide you with information or assistance, when you are on the Singularity server. [BH] tags identify the special group of volunteer bughunters, who are part of our volunteer program.

Instructions for joining the #eve-chaos channel

• To connect to the IRC server (for example via mirc) type the following:

/server irc.coldfront.net

• In order to join the #eve-chaos channel, you need to have a registered nick:

/nickserv register *password* *email*

• This sends an authentication e-mail to the provided e-mail address (obviously replace *password* with a password of your choice, and *email* as an e-mail address you can access) similar to this one:

/msg NickServ AUTH *********

• Paste that /msg nickserv line in your irc client, and you are registered!
• Now, to identify yourself, type the following in your irc client:

/nickserv identify *password*

• And finally, join the bug hunter / sisi testing channel:

/join #eve-chaos

Forums

For several issues (like requests for account reactivation) it is also a good idea to check the Test Server Feedback Forum. There you can also discuss new changes on the test server or possible problems.

Technical details

The Singularity server runs on a cluster - that is a group of linked computers that work together. This makes it a multi-node server with multiple proxy servers. The number of nodes may vary, as the development team will add or remove hardware resources from the cluster depending on testing requirements. The setup is similar to Tranquility, but with lower numbers.

Singularity is currently running IBM HS21 blades with:

• 2 x Sol Servers with 2 x Intel x5260 3.33 GHz quad core and 32 GB RAM
• 4 x Sol Servers with 2 x Intel x5260 3.33 GHz quad core and 32 GB RAM

Mirroring

The process of "mirroring" consists of taking an exact copy of the Tranquility database, including character and account data, like a snapshot. This copy is then processed by the CCP Deployment team and all starbases are removed, in order to prevent players from spying on their positions and then using this information on the live server. All moon minerals are available in all moons, to help testing and prevent moon scouting on the test server. All accounts are edited so they don't expire. Agent memory (both standing and loyalty points) are removed. S&I jobs are removed (because jobs in starbases would get stuck). The market is seeded so that all market items cost 100 ISK and are in plentiful supply. At least one station per constellation is market seeded like this. In addition there are some other internal adjustments. This entire process can take up to 3 days, then the Singularity server is open for public.

After a mirroring process, the Tranquility and Singularity databases are separate and distinct and no synchronization between them will occur until the next mirror is taken from Tranquility and deployed on Singularity. Character progression on Singularity will be independent of Tranquility - players can effectively train two different sets of skills on the same character, if they so wish. Actions taken on the Singularity server will not affect your account or character on the Tranquility server.

Related links

• Rules of conduct on Singularity - Test Server Rules
• Server status and patches from different versions (fan-site)
• Client Installation guide video (Fan-video)