SETTING UP AN AzerothCore Wotlk WoW SERVER

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of setting up an AzerothCore Wrath of the Lich King (WotLK) server. AzerothCore is a popular framework for creating private World of Warcraft servers. By following these steps, you'll be able to install and configure your server effectively, allowing for custom gameplay experiences.

Step 1: Prepare Your Environment

• Read the Documentation: Start by familiarizing yourself with the official AzerothCore documentation. It's crucial to understand the requirements and setup process.
• Download Required Tools:
  • Ensure you have Git installed on your machine for version control.
  • Install CMake for building the project.
  • Have Visual Studio installed for compiling the server.

Step 2: Clone the AzerothCore Repository

• Open your command line interface.
• Run the following command to clone the AzerothCore repository:

  git clone https://github.com/azerothcore/azerothcore-wotlk.git
  

• Navigate into the cloned directory:

  cd azerothcore-wotlk
  

Step 3: Configure Boost

• Download Boost version 1.74 specifically, as required.
• Change your environment variable to point to the Boost installation.
• This can usually be done through your system settings, under Environment Variables. Set the path for Boost.

Step 4: Install OpenSSL

• Download and install OpenSSL, as it’s required for automatic database population.
• Make sure to follow the installation instructions specific to your operating system.

Step 5: Configure CMake

• Open CMake and set the source directory to the location where you cloned AzerothCore.
• Set the build directory to a new folder (e.g., build).
• Click on "Configure" and select your compiler (e.g., Visual Studio).
• Click "Generate" to create the necessary project files.

Step 6: Open the Solution File

• Open the generated solution file (.sln) in Visual Studio.
• Build the solution by clicking on "Build" and then "Build Solution".

Step 7: Copy OpenSSL DLLs

• After compiling, locate the OpenSSL DLLs in your installation directory.
• Copy them to the same directory where your server executable is located.

Step 8: Import Game Client Data

• You do not need to extract data from the game client; it should be provided.
• Place the game client data in the appropriate directory as specified in the AzerothCore documentation.

Step 9: Configure Database Passwords

• Open the configuration file where database settings are defined.
• Set the database passwords according to your preferences. The default password is often set to "acore".

Step 10: Create Database Schemas

• Use the provided SQL scripts to create the necessary database schemas.
• If you encounter issues running the scripts, ensure your MySQL server is running and you have the correct permissions.

Step 11: Auto-populate the Database

• Run the database population script to fill your database with initial data.
• This can usually be done with a command in the terminal or through a database management tool.

Step 12: Set Realmlist

• Locate the realmlist table in your database.
• Update it to point to your server’s IP address, so players can connect.

Step 13: Create an Account

• Use the account management commands to create a new account for logging in.
• This typically involves using a command in the terminal or a database query.

Step 14: Launch the Server

• Start your server from the command line or by executing the server executable.
• Ensure that all services are running correctly.

Step 15: Log In to Your Server

• Open your World of Warcraft client.
• Set the realmlist to your server’s IP address.
• Enter your credentials and log in.

Conclusion

You have successfully set up an AzerothCore WotLK server! Review the essential steps: configuring your environment, compiling the server, setting up the database, and logging in. For further customization, explore the AzerothCore documentation and consider diving into Lua scripting for advanced features. Happy gaming!