Com guid (cvar)
Description
A unique identifier calculated from the supplied CD key, which is used to identify clients in multiplayer games.
Usage
At the console type…
com_guid [STRING]Parameters
- [STRING] - Unknown value in string format.
Flags
| Flag | Enabled | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CVAR_ALL | all flags | |
| CVAR_BOOL | variable is a boolean | |
| CVAR_INTEGER | variable is an integer | |
| CVAR_FLOAT | variable is a float | |
| CVAR_SYSTEM | X | system variable |
| CVAR_RENDERER | renderer variable | |
| CVAR_SOUND | sound variable | |
| CVAR_GUI | gui variable | |
| CVAR_GAME | game variable | |
| CVAR_TOOL | tool variable | |
| CVAR_USERINFO | sent to servers, available to menu | |
| CVAR_SERVERINFO | sent from servers, available to menu | |
| CVAR_NETWORKSYNC | cvar is synced from the server to clients | |
| CVAR_STATIC | X | statically declared, not user created |
| CVAR_CHEAT | variable is considered a cheat | |
| CVAR_NOCHEAT | X | variable is not considered a cheat |
| CVAR_INIT | can only be set from the command-line | |
| CVAR_ROM | X | display only, cannot be set by user at all |
| CVAR_ARCHIVE | X | set to cause it to be saved to a config file |
| CVAR_MODIFIED | X | set when the variable is modified |
Notes
When the game is started it sends a UDP packet with a ‘gameAuth’ request to the id Software master server (the address of the master server is stored in net_master0). The ‘gameAuth’ request contains the CD key for the main installation and (if installed) the expansion pack.
The master server authenticates the supplied CD keys, generates a guid value and replies with an ‘authKey’ packet. The game then stores the returned guid value in this CVar.
It is speculated that the “client unknown to auth” error is caused by trying to join a game before validating your CD keys with the master server.
When the game connects to an online server the value of com_guid is used to allow the server to identify the player and either accept or reject the connection. Mods that have player management (banning etc) use it to track player data.
