Tools needed to host a game server

klassicd · #1 05-14-2003, 05:14 AM

Hey everyone. I play counter-strike and I am in a clan that associates with 4 other clans. I have been talking to players in the other clans and we decided we should save cash and just get a machine together. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. Any articles, software, or input would be appreciated.

From readings I have learned I will need a powerful cpu probably xp 1800+, and 512 mb of ram and that should allow me to host atleast 5 instances at once and perhaps expand to 9 or 10.

A Dedicated 384Kbps should be enough but I would be safer with a Dedicated 768Kbps.

How hard would it be to synch the ftp users with the correct game server so i can allow users to upload small files for clan websites? Is there software out there I can buy to do this?

Mfjp · #2 05-14-2003, 06:02 AM

For the clan website, it is about setting up and running apache correctly, and have the user home directory pointed to the right place where the apache files are. there is no point in buying any software if you aren't going to be doing mass webhosting. Just get webmin install and you should be fine.

For the game server, it depends totally on the amount of slots you want and the max simultaneous players there is. For example, A dual Xeon machine would handle about 120-150 slots without lags. I don't think a xp 1800+ would be able to do more 60, but I could be wrong. With 512mb ram, you won't get there. You needed something like 1.5GB ram (and make sure kernel are compile to support high mem. There are some vendors that use images to deploy the server and sometimes they miss this out).

As for networks, i'm not sure why are u getting those weird numbers from. They seems to me that they're Lease Line or something. If you're thinking about putting this at home, then consider again. I would say a 1mbit commitment would do you fine. Which region do you happened to be at?

Anyways, that's a one good plan.

You could talk to me privately if you need more help. I've set some game server up before and I could give you some minimal help. If you need alot of help, I think you'll be better going to those specialized game host.

klassicd · #3 05-14-2003, 03:10 PM

Those numbers came from a local colocation host in san diego (aplus.net)

An 1800+ should work fine then. It will be 5 12 player servers. Do i really need that much ram for only 5 servers? I thought it was mostly about cpu?

Im a little confused on how to run different instances on linux? Anyone know of documentation on it?

illogix · #4 05-14-2003, 03:54 PM

5 servers of 12 slots each will definitely not use 512mb ram. A xp1800+ should be ok for this if they are not all full at the same time. If there is a couple servers full at the same time, bandwidth will exceed 748kbps. You are looking at around 384kbps (maybe a bit more) per server if they are full. So 5 x 384 would give you around 2mbit.

klassicd · #5 05-14-2003, 04:09 PM

How do you game host sale 12 player servers for 48 bucks a month then? Just bad host?

VeZoZ · #6 05-14-2003, 04:21 PM

They simply play the percentages that not all servers will be full at the same time, run good quality servers and find good deals for bandwidth and co-location.

Mfjp · #7 05-14-2003, 05:23 PM

Are you sure 512MB ram would handle 5 x 12 player games? It seems a little stretch to me.

Well, Ram is so cheap now. Pay another 50 bux, and you would get that additiaonl 512MB to be safe.

They are already making big bux if they charge 48.

Take your thread as an example. 5 x 48 = 240 per month. That server you ask, I could get them at less than 100 per month. Why can't it happen? it is very profitable if you could get customers.

futile · #8 05-14-2003, 05:33 PM

File uploads would eat up alot of bandwidth too. Figure alot of people upload ~ 30k/s, thats 180kbps. Also, I believe the stats say each cs slot uses about 4k/s of bandwidth. Thats 32kbps per slot. I can't say this is accurate at all, usage generally goes way below that, but it'll probably be good to base it off that. I believe I've read each instance of hlds uses 32-64megs of ram. 64 x 5 = 320, so you should be ok. As for how companies can afford to offer that: 1, they oversell assuming all servers won't be full, its part of the business. 2, they buy bandwidth and servers in bulk. I've also read an estimate that says each cs slot uses ~ 20mHz of cpu, I don't know if this is accurate or not. If you base it off that, 5 x 12 x 20 = 1.2gHz. Read around, ask some companies, in general there aren't very many big gameserver providers on this forum so I'd expand my search. Try to get some usage statistics.

illogix · #9 05-14-2003, 06:44 PM

512mb of ram is more than enough, based on the gameserver we run, each CS server uses from 40 to 50mb of RAM.

50mb x 5 = 250mb.

Mfjp · #10 05-14-2003, 06:57 PM

Thanx for the info! it really helps. Now we could save on RAM.

illogix · #11 05-14-2003, 07:10 PM

No problem

Of course, the more slots a CS server has, the more RAM it takes. But the numbers I gave you are for 12 slots servers.

VP · #12 05-15-2003, 12:34 AM

This site will help you with installing the game servers: http://www.geforce.nl/ It started me up when I was installing game servers. With these directions it's impossible not to mess up. Good Luck

VeZoZ · #13 05-15-2003, 08:11 AM

I would disagree on the cpu usage of 20mhz. Of course if the server has like statsme, hlguard ect cpu usage will go up. I've seen anything from 40-500mhz . But it's pretty spiky map switches, player joins is where you seem to feel the big mhz jump.