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Thread: Game Server
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07-15-2008, 03:08 PM #1Temporarily Suspended
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Game Server
Hey Guys,
I'm thinking of selling game servers and was hoping on some suggestions;
Linux or Windows
Software
and any other needed things for hosting game servers.
Thanks.
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07-15-2008, 03:14 PM #2Web Hosting Evangelist
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Plenty of games offer Linux versions specifically for servers (but I couldn't tell you which ones off hand, we tend to stay away from the GSP market) but you're probably best off with Windows so you can support the full range.
Most games let you download the server versions for free, although it would be best to check that the EULA lets you use these for commercial purposes.
THe other thing you would need would be some kind of control panel. Although Plesk and cPanel etc. can support a limited range of game servers you're probably best off going with a one that is designed purely for GSPs. Some GSP companies (like INX) have their own custom control panels I believe.Ethical, carbon neutral hosting and servers from Freethought
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07-15-2008, 03:17 PM #3Temporarily Suspended
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Ok thank you
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07-15-2008, 03:26 PM #4Frontend Web Developer
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The game server market is very iffy and over-saturated. The clients you are looking to go for would be young and a bit unstable in terms of loyalty. From what I have learned through providers and being a gamer myself, registration and latency are key.
You are going to want servers that perform and perform well, so going cheap is a bad idea. I suggest sticking with a particular section of the US, maybe not trying to sell to the East, Central, and West.
Next thing you need to figure out is the control panel for your servers. There are options for both Linux-based and Windows-based servers, so making your OS choice is definitely key.
So my suggestions in a nutshell:
1. Deciding your server location offerings and picking a datacenter.
2. Deciding your server hardware configurations and operating system needs.
3. Choose your game offerings and pricing.
4. Choose your billing system and support help desk.
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07-15-2008, 07:32 PM #5Web Hosting Master
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If you're considering going with Windows, look into TCADMIN for your control panel needs. They have a good product and offer quality support.
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07-17-2008, 03:54 PM #6Temporarily Suspended
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Thanks for your help guys.
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07-30-2008, 08:43 AM #7Junior Guru Wannabe
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Yeah TCadmin is amazing but it's not in linux. You should really really use linux. 10X better than Windows running a server. As for a linux control panel, use brainless.us.
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07-30-2008, 08:50 AM #8Junior Guru Wannabe
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Im curious Spartan where do you get this impression or information that Linux is 10x better than Windows for servers?
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07-30-2008, 12:41 PM #9Junior Guru Wannabe
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I believe he was exaggerating with "10x" but there is a noticeable difference between Windows and Linux/Unix in some games. With linux you can optimize the OS for game hosting down at the kernel level whereas with Windows you really can't. Not to mention the added benefits such as uptime, etc.
Last edited by HG-Daniel; 07-30-2008 at 12:51 PM.
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07-30-2008, 12:50 PM #10Disabled
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if it is for HL1 and HL2 Based gaming, there is a notable difference for professional players. However for general selling servers you should use windows with tcadmin, but be prepared to pay some dough.
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07-30-2008, 01:29 PM #11Junior Guru Wannabe
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Daniel, uptime has nothing to do with the OS, thats all about the network providers, and many other factors but not the OS.
@Tuffmuffins, there is going to be no noticable difference to a Player, as long as they are close to the server, are getting low pings, and 0 latency they will not know what the server OS is. Again another false pretense.
I gather that most of these opinions are coming from a general consensus, which is more often than not based on no fact at all, no true standardized testing, and is spread by people who know no better.
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07-30-2008, 02:31 PM #12Disabled
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actually there is a difference when you play pro and you require fast response. Believe it or not steve not everyone is playing for fun.
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07-30-2008, 02:36 PM #13Junior Guru Wannabe
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I can guaruntee you there is no difference between a linux server and a windows server from a "Pro Gamers" point of view. If you could show me some data to back up your views I would certainly retract my statement. But your view just makes no logical sense.
A gamers point of view whether he play for fun or is "Pro" is all about latency and ping as far as the server is concerned.
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07-30-2008, 02:43 PM #14Junior Guru Wannabe
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Actually uptime does have to do a lot with the OS. When you use Windows with game hosting you should restart the server at least once a month to keep performance up. That's not really the case with linux/unix variants -- you could have them online for months or even years without performance dropping.
Game servers like HLDS/SRCDS depend on the timekeeping of the OS to keep track of everything going on in game. Windows and Linux use different methods to manage this -- so yes, there is a difference between Windows and Linux/Unix. Gary Stanley from Velocity could probably explain it better than me.
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07-30-2008, 02:56 PM #15Junior Guru Wannabe
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There are ways of getting around that Daniel. Its called a properly clustered environment. Think of it as RAID but for servers. A master server and a slave server, when the master goes down the slave takes over, and vice versa.
What is your experience with Windows and Linux based Game Servers? Maybe ask your host if they offer this?
If I were a "Pro" Gamer I would demand it.
And Velocity doesnt even offer Linux Game Servers, if there was such a performance difference dont you think they would atleast offer them? I know I would.Last edited by SHSSteve; 07-30-2008 at 03:00 PM.
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07-30-2008, 03:37 PM #16Disabled
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not sure, but I don't think tcadmin works with linux thats why the use windows.
as far as the timing goes, I have to agree it is all about the timing. Windows timing is off and if left unboosted will be screwy. Where as linux is always boost and like someone said before you can tweek it at the kernal level. Windows you cannot tweek, you can only have boost it, 500FPS which is still puts on +2ms or more than the actual linux server with outputs +1 or +0ms because they run at 1000fps.
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07-30-2008, 03:56 PM #17Junior Guru Wannabe
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I know what server clusters are. However, I don't know of any game server provider that actually have true clustered environments, do you? Regardless, it is widely accepted that linux can usually offer better performance in-game servers, specifically in HLDS. Sure, there are no "standardized" tests (I think there's a reason for that..) but playing in a linux gameserver vs. windows gameserver is a pretty good indicator.
I can't speak for Velocity but I would assume they stick to Windows because it is more convenient for them because of TCAdmin. Summit-Servers, a subsidiary of Velocity-Servers, utilizes DragonflyBSD (CentOS now, I think)
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07-30-2008, 04:57 PM #18Junior Guru Wannabe
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tuffmuffins, im now pretty convinced that you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.
Daniel, i know of plenty of server providers that provide true clustered environments.
I do not know if Velocity is a clustered Environment, but I do know that if I were a "PRO" Gamer I would be having my server in a Clustered Environment there by negating any of the downtime that you speak of.
Now, as per the comment of playing ina linux vs windows gameserver is a pretty good indicator I would like to refer you to my previous comment that Players only see/feel the latency and ping. There is no way playing on a server can indicate whether it is windows or linux, and even if you know, there is no way of seeing/feeling a difference in performance.
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07-30-2008, 05:23 PM #19Aspiring Evangelist
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Linux/Unix have better timekeeping capabilities, which was previously mentioned by Daniel, which helps enable (and increase) performance possibilities on the HLDS/SRCDS engines. Case in point, Windows 2003 simply can't obtain the levels of FPS Linux/Unix variants can, namely 1000FPS.
However, it's my opinion (and experience) through 6 years of game hosting that Windows vs Linux on a sub-1000FPS level (where the timekeeping capabilities of Linux aren't needed to obtain increased FPS), it's a relatively level playing field. We've worked and provided servers to multiple professional teams, most notably Team3D with Craig Levine, and never received a performance complaint because of using Windows.
True, many providers are opting to move to Linux based solutions, but that goes with the trend of Linux servers becoming more popular, better supported, and the changing game server market, where 1000FPS is a demand. Someone could by-pass this by using Windows 2008 with HPET to obtain 1000FPS, but there is no debate that Linux 1000FPS will be more stable than a Windows 1000FPS, based on aforementioned reasons.
All of this debate about uptime, latency differences based on OS, and 'gamers can feel the difference' really seems trivial to me. Most people don't mind the 3 minutes it takes to reboot a Windows box a few times a week at 6AM to maintain performance. Latency is far too dependent on the network you're running on, and it's not hard to find a price sensitive, high performing network these days. As for the pro gaming thing, I've never been one, but I've worked with them, and they have never seemed to mind what OS the provider is using.█ Brian F. - Operations Manager
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07-30-2008, 05:45 PM #20Disabled
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again steve, it is a matter of opinion. I say I feel a difference and I believe there to be a difference. If it is all mind games, then let it be but I feel better playing on a linux box.
i forgot what we were arguing about, but i do believe inux boxes overall are cheaper and take less effort to run
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07-30-2008, 06:04 PM #21Junior Guru Wannabe
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Tuff i agree with you finally
Linux boxes are overall cheaper and take less effort to run.
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07-30-2008, 10:38 PM #22Newbie
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08-12-2008, 08:29 PM #23Web Hosting Master
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We've been linux since 5 and a half years ago. Never touched windows.
Performance hasn't been the key card. It's the fact with linux you can do what you want. With Windows....it's closed and you need tcadminOlly | INX-Gaming
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09-02-2008, 03:22 PM #24Disabled
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Servers are naturally more stable on Linux than on a windows based due to its lower resource usage. Not to mention prior 'experience' with windows.
Most games offer a free dedicated server to download, so you will not need to go out and buy each game...You will however need to if you want to test the server.
cPanel had a game server add-on at one time, im not sure what they did with it, but it was made (within a year ago).
Good luck in your quest to hosting game servers, as they can be very resource demanding.
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09-02-2008, 10:18 PM #25
if you target your business to middleast and arab ciuntries you need to host some of your game servers near by your customer for performance issues.
Delay time for customers away form your data center will kill the game.