This machine's inventory

What the toolkit finds on this machine when you give it no inventory file, what valheim-test env list and env preflight print, and how a file adds to it.

EnvironmentInventory is in Valheim.Testing.Game. A file with environments on other machines is on GameSessions.

This machine, with no file

With no inventory file, the inventory is this machine. That holds for EnvironmentInventory.Read(null), a campaign that leaves out inventory, and valheim-test env list or env preflight without --inventory.

Environment Host Install found from
local-server local Valheim Dedicated Server, Steam app 896660
local-client local Valheim, Steam app 892970 (none on Linux)

Steam's root is only ever the native default:

OS Steam root
Windows the registered HKCU\Software\Valve\Steam SteamPath
macOS ~/Library/Application Support/Steam
Linux ~/.steam/steam

The toolkit then reads every library in steamapps/libraryfolders.vdf and each app's appmanifest_<id>.acf installdir. An install counts only if its executable is there. If Steam is anywhere else, such as a Flatpak, list the environment with its install in an inventory file.

ValheimTesting keeps its own state in a data folder: %LOCALAPPDATA%\ValheimTesting on Windows, ~/Library/Application Support/ValheimTesting on macOS, $XDG_DATA_HOME/ValheimTesting (or ~/.local/share/ValheimTesting) on Linux.

Subfolder Holds
lock the host lock
leases Steam-account leases
journal the run journal
runs/<environment> the environment's disposable profile runtime

If a Windows install is on another volume than the data folder, its runtimes go to <install volume>\ValheimTesting\runs, because a profile hard-links the install's files. A no-game test moves the whole data folder with a FakeDataRoot scope.

The first environment gets ValheimCLI port 5688, the next 5689, and a server gets game port 2486. Each further environment takes the next free CLI port and a game port whose three-port range is clear. These avoid Valheim's standard 2456, so a personal server keeps its port and a crossplay lobby never takes its joins.

env list and env preflight

valheim-test env list
valheim-test env preflight

Both print the same listing. A detected: line names each value found or assumed. A NOT FOUND: line names each thing missing, with every path tried. Then one line per environment: roles, host, install, runtime, ports, and for a client its selected architecture and available slices.

An eligible env preflight on a Windows PC prints lines in this shape. The paths are illustrative, and <reason> stands for the runtime reason the tool prints:

detected: host local: this machine (windows)
detected: assumed host lock C:\Users\you\AppData\Local\ValheimTesting\lock
detected: Steam: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam (from registry HKCU\Software\Valve\Steam SteamPath); libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
detected: Valheim (Steam app 892970): C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Valheim
detected: Valheim Dedicated Server (Steam app 896660): C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Valheim dedicated server
detected: local-server (server) on local: install C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Valheim dedicated server; assumed runtime C:\Users\you\AppData\Local\ValheimTesting\runs\local-server (<reason>), ValheimCLI port 5688, game port 2486
detected: local-client (client) on local: install C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Valheim; assumed client architecture x64, runtime C:\Users\you\AppData\Local\ValheimTesting\runs\local-client (<reason>), ValheimCLI port 5689
detected: assumed Steam-account leases on local in C:\Users\you\AppData\Local\ValheimTesting\leases
local-server: server on local; install C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Valheim dedicated server; runtime C:\Users\you\AppData\Local\ValheimTesting\runs\local-server (<reason>); ValheimCLI port 5688, game port 2486
local-client: client on local; install C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Valheim; runtime C:\Users\you\AppData\Local\ValheimTesting\runs\local-client (<reason>); ValheimCLI port 5689; selected architecture x64; available slices x64
ELIGIBLE: the inventory has a server and a client environment, and this machine's journal holds no run going or left unrecovered. The selected local host lock, game processes, and ValheimCLI ports passed their checks. The local client desktop and Steam process passed their checks. This process is not inside a packaged app. A session's inputs and host readiness are checked by valheim-test session check SESSION [--hosts].

env list gives no verdict. It exits 3 only for an inventory it cannot read.

env preflight adds one REFUSED <actor> <check>: <reason> line per failed check, then a verdict line that starts ELIGIBLE (exit 0) or REFUSED (exit 3). The checks:

Check Refuses when
packaged app valheim-test runs inside a Windows packaged app
run journal a run of another process is going, may be going, or was left unrecovered; or the journal is unreadable
host a local host cannot be created from the inventory
profile storage a Windows runtime cannot hard-link its install's files: another volume, or not NTFS
host lock the host lock is not free
client desktop a client has no interactive desktop session
Steam session no Steam client is running for a client
session a game process is already running on the host
ValheimCLI port an environment's CLI port is in use
client architecture a local Mac client cannot launch as its selected slice

An inventory without a server or a client environment has no check line; only the verdict says so: REFUSED: the inventory has no server environment.

A missing dedicated server comes with three ways forward: install it from Steam (it is free), add a server environment, or run valheim-test start for a hosted local world. The command options are on the valheim-test page.

A file that names some environments

A file lists the environments to use, in preference order, and gains none of this machine's unless it lists them. An environment on this machine needs only its name and role; install, runtime and ports are filled in as above:

{ "name": "local-client", "roles": ["client"] }

Environments without a host go to the file's own local host. leaseHost and leaseDirectory default to this machine's only when every client is on it. Leave out lock and the leases to share this machine's defaults. A run's result.json records what was detected as inventoryDetected; a run with no file records inventory: this machine.

Limits

  • Steam outside its native root is not searched; name the install in a file.
  • env preflight checks this machine only. valheim-test session check SESSION --hosts checks a session's other hosts.
  • A running Steam process does not prove a signed-in account, so preflight does not claim one.
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