---
name: "xtserv"
section: "6"
platform: "linux"
package: "xtris"
version: "1.15-9"
release: "Debian 5.0 (Lenny)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/xtserv"
---

# xtserv(6)

server for a synchronous multiplayer tetris

## NAME

xtserv - server for a synchronous multiplayer tetris

## SYNOPSIS

**xtserv** \[ -help \] \[ -once \] \[ -daemon \] \[ -v \] \[ -norestart \] \[ -nospeedup \] \[ -p *port* \]

## OPTIONS

- **-daemon**

  Makes **xtserv** detach from its controlling terminal, fork twice, close all its file descriptors and change the current directory to '/'.  Useful to start **xtserv** via rsh or from scripts.

- **-help**

  Prints out a summary of the command-line options **xtserv** recognizes.

- **-once**

  With this option, **xtserv** will exit after all clients have disconnected.

- **-v**

  Sets verbose mode: **xtserv** will print information on clients connecting, disconnecting, starting games, sending each other lines, losing, etc.

- **-norestart**

  With this option, **xtserv** will not start a new game when all players but one have lost.  The players will have to press the 'play' button themselves to start.

- **-nospeedup**

  With this option, **xtserv** will not automatically increase the game speed every time some user's number of lines is greater than 10 x the current level.

- **-p**

  Specifies a port for xtserv to use.  The default is 19503.

## DESCRIPTION

**xtserv** is the server for the synchronous multi-user version of Tetris, **xtris.**

**xtserv** listens for connections on a TCP port, keeps an internal list of connected clients, and broadcasts information among clients to manage starting the game, setting the level and mode, as well as seeing each other's screens.

**xtserv** is started automatically by **xtris,** with the option '-once', if **xtris** does not find an **xtserv** running on localhost, and no server host has been specified.

**xtserv** will automatically restart a game when the one-but-last player has lost, unless started with the option -norestart.  It will not automatically restart a game if the user is playing alone.

**xtserv** will also drop all bots when there are only bots left in the game.

The server can handle clients exiting, being killed or losing the connection even in the middle of a game.

Killing an **xtserv** will cause all connected clients to exit.

## SEE ALSO

[**xtris**(6)](/xtris/6.md), [**xtbot**(6)](/xtbot/6.md)

## BUGS

None known; please report any bugs to the author.

## AUTHOR

**xtserv** was written by Roger Espel Llima \<roger.espel.llima@pobox.com\>.