Server Manager Ascended 4.21 - Windows x64

Close the older launcher, extract this ZIP and run ServerManagerAscended.exe.
Do not move or delete existing game server folders. Running servers remain where
 they are; this upgrade does not restart them to reorganize files.

New in 4.21
- Hover highlights and single-click server cards; action buttons stay independent.
- Matching server-tab and overview controls, responsive action bars, compact
  narrow-window buttons, readable status metrics and Pro schedules.
- Timed shutdown/restart saves and proceeds when a fresh player check confirms
  nobody is online. Unknown player counts keep the countdown. Save failure aborts.
- SQL database sidebar [PRO]: download/verify official MariaDB, select Permissions and
  ArkShop, create separate databases and fill their configs. Servers must be
  stopped. Existing configs are backed up. SQLite data is NOT migrated. MariaDB
  keeps running when the launcher closes; start it again after a host reboot.
- Hidden server launch plus selectable launcher/process, game and AsaApi logs.
- Report a Bug / Suggest a Feature forms send your entered message through the
  backend mailer. Logs and passwords are not automatically attached.
- Password notices explain host-managed game and database credentials.
- Legacy misnamed plugin folders are repaired on the next stopped setup/enable
  operation. Existing saves/custom paths/unknown files stay intact; conflicting
  plugin copies produce an actionable error instead of overwriting data.
  ASA still officially uses ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/ArkApi/Plugins.
- Stronger Discord linking with browser confirmation. If an older in-progress
  pairing expires, start a fresh link. Existing linked clusters remain intact.

SMA Pro: 30-day trial; $5 once for one calendar month, $5/month recurring with
cancellation through the billing portal, or $60 lifetime. Purchase with the same
Discord account to keep remaining trial time. Recurring first payment is deferred;
near-expiry trials receive a disclosed minimum grace period required by Stripe.
Pro has 24 hours of grace after normal expiry. During a licensing outage, access
continues for up to 24 hours from the last successful verification, including
launcher restarts under the same Windows account. The two deadlines do not stack.
The header displays the grace deadline. Revoked keys lose access when the launcher
receives the revocation; an offline launcher cannot discover it until reconnecting.
No new server-usage analytics are included.

Verification: 151 desktop regression checks, 59 licensing/UI checks, 189 themed
page visits, 166 backend tests and a real isolated MariaDB lifecycle smoke passed.
Actual multiplayer/Discord appearance and real paid checkout still need live
integration testing. This executable is unsigned. Public downloads and signed update feeds serve the current 4.21 package.
MariaDB is downloaded on demand; its own distribution includes its license notices.

Protection revision (still 4.21)
Private service names and string literals are obfuscated. UI/configuration names
remain compatible. No aggressive anti-debugging or virtual machine packer is used.
Updates require a signature from SafeMode's separately held release key in addition
to the package hash. This does not provide Windows Authenticode publisher signing;
Windows may still show an unsigned/unknown-publisher warning.
The protected assembly passed the regression, licensing/UI and theme checks.
The final self-contained executable opened its main window and exited normally
with isolated settings and no startup exceptions.

SQL discovery revision (still 4.21)
The SQL page detects an existing MySQL/MariaDB greeting at the selected local port
and distinguishes an external database from an SMA-managed installation. It checks
linked hosts through the authenticated launcher connection (selected port, 3306,
and the host's managed port). Linked hosts need this updated build and Pro.
Unavailable hosts are marked unknown. Existing databases or unverified hosts prompt
confirmation before a new local installation; occupied local ports block setup.
127.0.0.1 is local to each host. Detection does not establish remote database access
or transfer passwords. External databases retain their existing management.
SQL navigation, setup, management, configuration and host discovery require Pro.

Freemium and cluster licensing revision (still 4.21)
Free: core server setup, controls, settings, mods, AsaApi setup, logs, RCON,
CPU affinity, host pairing, basic SMALink and existing world archive restoration.
Pro: cross-chat, Permissions/ArkShop editors, SQL tools, Push Plugins, Playit,
Visual INI loot/engram editors, cluster sync, staging, RAM limits, player restore,
backup creation, schedules and automation.
Try Pro for 30 days with no card required and no automatic charge. One trial per
Discord account, machine and public IP. A new authenticated trial attempt on a
previously used machine ends its existing trial; the used marker is retained.
Retries of the same activation and ordinary eligibility checks do not revoke it.
Each paid key licenses one Cluster ID. Set one shared ID in Global Settings for
each host; individual server fields inherit it and are read-only. Conflicting
profile IDs or custom launch arguments disable Pro until corrected. Saving the
shared ID updates local profiles for their next start; running servers stay up.
Pricing per cluster key: $5 once for a calendar month, $5/month subscription,
or $60 once for lifetime. Buy 1-25 keys in one checkout. Subscription keys bought
together renew/cancel together. Remaining eligible trial time is preserved.
Compare plans: https://safemodesoftware.com/server-manager-ascended#plans

