Guide to Accessing and Editing Your SWGEmu Database Using DBeaver

After setting up your SWGEmu server on Debian 11, you may need to manually edit fields in the database, such as updating IP addresses or granting admin privileges to users within the game. Using a graphical database management tool like DBeaver makes it easier to visualize, edit, and save changes to your database.

This guide will walk you through installing DBeaver via the command line and using it to edit your SWGEmu database.

Prerequisites

• A Debian 11 (Bullseye) system with SWGEmu server and MariaDB installed.
• The swgemu database set up and accessible.
• Administrative privileges on your system.
• Internet connection.

Installing DBeaver

DBeaver is a free, open-source, cross-platform database tool that supports MariaDB/MySQL and many other databases. Here's how to install it on your Debian 11 system via the command line.

Step 1: Install Wget (if not already installed)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y wget

Step 2: Download DBeaver

Use wget to download the latest DBeaver Community Edition Debian package:

wget --no-check-certificate https://dbeaver.io/files/dbeaver-ce_latest_amd64.deb

Note: The --no-check-certificate option bypasses SSL certificate checks.

Step 3: Install DBeaver

sudo apt install -y ./dbeaver-ce_latest_amd64.deb

Connecting DBeaver to Your MariaDB Database

Step 1: Launch DBeaver

• From the application menu, search for "DBeaver" and launch it.
• Alternatively, run the following command in the terminal:

  dbeaver

Step 2: Create a New Database Connection

1. Start the Connection Wizard:
   • Click on "Database" in the menu bar.
   • Select "New Database Connection".
2. Select the Database Type:
   • In the "Connect to a database" window, select "MariaDB" or "MySQL".
   • Click "Next".

Step 3: Enter Connection Details

Fill in the following details:

• Host: localhost
• Port: 3306
• Database: swgemu
• Username: swgemu
• Password: The password you set for the swgemu user during database setup.

Note: If prompted to download the MariaDB driver, click "Download" to proceed.

Step 4: Test the Connection

1. Click on "Test Connection":
   • Ensure that DBeaver can connect to your database.
2. Verify the Connection:
   • If the connection is successful, you will see a confirmation message.
   • If there are errors, double-check your connection details.
3. Finish:
   • Click "Finish" to save the connection.

Using DBeaver to Edit Your Database

With DBeaver connected to your database, you can now view and modify your database tables.

Step 1: Navigate the Database

1. Expand the Connection:
   • In the Database Navigator pane on the left, expand the connection you just created.
2. Access the Databases Folder:
   • Expand the "Databases" folder to see a list of available databases.
3. Select the swgemu Database:
   • Expand the "swgemu" database to access its contents.

Step 2: View and Edit Tables

1. Open a Table:
   • Right-click on the table you wish to edit, such as accounts or galaxy.
2. Select "View Data":
   • Choose "View Data" > "All Rows".
3. Modify Data:
   • The table data will display in a spreadsheet-like grid.
   • Click on a cell to edit its value directly.

Granting Admin Privileges to a User

To grant admin privileges to a user in the game:

1. Open the accounts Table:
   • Follow the steps above to view the data in the accounts table.
2. Locate the User Account:
   • Scroll through the table or use filters to find the user you want to modify.
3. Edit the admin_level Field:
   • Click on the admin_level cell corresponding to the user.
   • Change the value to 15 for full admin privileges.
Note: In order to use admin commands in the SWG client, you need to edit the users.cfg file of the game client (not the server) and add the following:

[ClientGame]
  0fd345d9 = TRUE

 [ClientUserInterface]
  debugExamine = TRUE

4. Save Changes:
   • Click the "Save" icon (diskette symbol) in the toolbar or press Ctrl+S.
   • Confirm any prompts to apply the changes.

Updating the Galaxy Table with Your Public IP Address

To allow clients to connect to your server over the internet, you need to update the galaxy table with your public IP address.

1. Find Your Public IP Address:
   • Open a web browser and visit whatismyipaddress.com or run:

     curl ifconfig.me

2. Open the galaxy Table:
   • In DBeaver, navigate to the galaxy table as described earlier.
3. Edit the address Field:
   • Locate the record (usually the first row).
   • Click on the address cell.
   • Replace the existing value with your public IP address.
4. Save Changes:
   • Click the "Save" icon or press Ctrl+S.
   • Confirm any prompts to apply the changes.
5. Restart the SWGEmu Server:
   • For the changes to take effect, you may need to restart the server:

     cd ~/Core3/MMOCoreORB/bin
     ./core3

   • If the server is already running, stop it with Ctrl+C and then restart.

Note: Ensure that your firewall settings allow incoming connections on the necessary ports and that your router is configured to forward these ports to your server if you're behind a NAT.

Additional Tips

• Backup Your Database:

  Before making significant changes, it's wise to back up your database:

  mysqldump -u swgemu -p swgemu > swgemu_backup.sql

• Restoring from Backup:

  If needed, you can restore the database:

  mysql -u swgemu -p swgemu < swgemu_backup.sql

• Documentation:
  • DBeaver Documentation
  • MariaDB SQL Commands
• Using Filters in DBeaver:

  To quickly find specific records, use the filter feature.

  • Right-click on the column header and select "Set Filter" > "Custom".
• Refreshing Data:

  If changes are made externally, refresh the data view by clicking the "Refresh" icon.

Conclusion

By installing DBeaver and connecting it to your MariaDB database, you gain a powerful tool to manage your SWGEmu server's data. Whether you're granting admin privileges or updating configuration settings like the server's public IP address, DBeaver simplifies these tasks with its intuitive interface.