Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Specialty Hosting and Markets : Game Servers : Dedicated Game Server

[ech0]

Hi, I was planning on hosting a small game server for about 10 people. I will give you an idea on what hardware i'm going to buy and I would very much appreciate some tips on keeping my server secure and on a few other things.

First, I would like to buy this server:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Compaq-Proliant-...QQcmdZViewItem

And I was wondering on how to get my server on a public IP? I was thinking that I could connect my modem to a switch, connect the server to the switch, then connect my router to the switch. Do you guys think that would put it on a outside IP address?
Another thing, my internet connection is Cox, 10mbps down, 512 up.
would that be enough?
also, what kind of OS should I be using? And how can i easily secure my network?

Thanks,
Sam

[Daniel_G]

Originally Posted by ech0

Hi, I was planning on hosting a small game server for about 10 people. I will give you an idea on what hardware i'm going to buy and I would very much appreciate some tips on keeping my server secure and on a few other things.

First, I would like to buy this server:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Compaq-Proliant-...QQcmdZViewItem

And I was wondering on how to get my server on a public IP? I was thinking that I could connect my modem to a switch, connect the server to the switch, then connect my router to the switch. Do you guys think that would put it on a outside IP address?
Another thing, my internet connection is Cox, 10mbps down, 512 up.
would that be enough?
also, what kind of OS should I be using? And how can i easily secure my network?

Thanks,
Sam

Depending on the game your wanting to run, that server probably won't be enough, especially as your planning to run it on a home connection, which is just a terrible idea.

With regards to the OS, Linux is the only real option for performance and stability.

But, if I might say, you will find going with an actual game server hosting company a hell of a lot easier in terms of uptime, stability, performance and management - take a look at www.gameservers.com for a good recommendation.

[Coolraul]

Linux is NOT the only choice for either performance or stability. Go with what you know how to manage.

Also many gameservers perform better on Windows. I didn't see what game you were going ot host. That makes a difference but that server seems underpowered CPU wise for a good gameserver.

What I do agree with Danny_G about is the home connection. As a SERVER you will be SERVING to many users so the uplink connection is important. You will not be able to cut it on 512 up. Rent a dedicated server in a datacenter even a low end one will be better than what you are planning just don't get low end celeron.

The game that you are hosting is importand. For instance BF2 is a cpu and memory hog (and network actually).

[ech0]

Originally Posted by Coolraul

Linux is NOT the only choice for either performance or stability. Go with what you know how to manage.

Also many gameservers perform better on Windows. I didn't see what game you were going ot host. That makes a difference but that server seems underpowered CPU wise for a good gameserver.

What I do agree with Danny_G about is the home connection. As a SERVER you will be SERVING to many users so the uplink connection is important. You will not be able to cut it on 512 up. Rent a dedicated server in a datacenter even a low end one will be better than what you are planning just don't get low end celeron.

The game that you are hosting is importand. For instance BF2 is a cpu and memory hog (and network actually).

Oh, yes my fault for not mentioning the game. I was hoping to either run a World of warcraft private server, or Counter strikeource. And also, I'm pretty sure the server has another socket for dual cpus. A p3 server cpu isnt that hard to find so upgrading the proc and memory would do some good.
And on the internet connection, Im probably gonna wait for a bit until verizon FiOS gets wired out in Las vegas or just go upgrade my connection to business grade (10 mbps down, 1 mb up)

[trevhub]

I would not recommend hosting a game server on your own connection. Users connecting to the server will experience high latency, and with only 512mbps upload, the fps and tickrate at which the server is running will be very limited. Seeing that your game is counter-strike source, registry should be important. You will not be able to achieve good registry with the connection you have available.

Many ISP's also have policies about hosting servers. If they see you are constantly using a high amount of upload on a daily basis and they don't allow servers, they have the right to shut off your connection.

There are many game service providers out there that you could easily rent a server from for at least 6 months with the price you would pay for the server you mentioned.

[fwaggle]

just thought i'd chime in here. your wow server will probably not last long until you get a cease and desist notice from blizzard. having said that, for less than 10 players that machine would in my experience be "meh". it'll do the job, just not particularly nicely.

for counter-strike: source, maybe not so much. my source dedicated server running on 1.8ghz sempron with 512mb is quite playable with up to 10 people and a few bots. 15+ bots when you're not solo and the framerate goes to hell. for more information check out the srcds.com forums, but that machine might be a little weak to do what you want it to.

in terms of hosting from home, your upstream is definitely a big limiter. mine's 1.5mbps, and your players will hate life if you don't mirror any custom content on a separate webserver. you can, at the cost of gaming experience, compensate for poor upstream and/or latency, but a nice fast, low-latency game host will do much better than hosting on your home internet (for everyone except you and your roommates that is), but it also costs more.

[ech0]

Originally Posted by fwaggle

just thought i'd chime in here. your wow server will probably not last long until you get a cease and desist notice from blizzard. having said that, for less than 10 players that machine would in my experience be "meh". it'll do the job, just not particularly nicely.

for counter-strike: source, maybe not so much. my source dedicated server running on 1.8ghz sempron with 512mb is quite playable with up to 10 people and a few bots. 15+ bots when you're not solo and the framerate goes to hell. for more information check out the srcds.com forums, but that machine might be a little weak to do what you want it to.

in terms of hosting from home, your upstream is definitely a big limiter. mine's 1.5mbps, and your players will hate life if you don't mirror any custom content on a separate webserver. you can, at the cost of gaming experience, compensate for poor upstream and/or latency, but a nice fast, low-latency game host will do much better than hosting on your home internet (for everyone except you and your roommates that is), but it also costs more.

I'm actually going to wait until fios is available. 15 mbps down, 15 up.

[toxicdav3]

Get a css server from gameservers.com. It would cost about $15 a month for public 10 slot server. You won't have to worry about lag issues, hit reg and managing the actual server. They also have a special on atm so for a couple more bucks you can get a 20 slot server.

[JohnJ]

Originally Posted by toxicdav3

Get a css server from gameservers.com. It would cost about $15 a month for public 10 slot server. You won't have to worry about lag issues, hit reg and managing the actual server. They also have a special on atm so for a couple more bucks you can get a 20 slot server.

I would not recommend using gameservers.com. I once bought a Battlefield 2 Ranked server from them for $50.00. When I got the server, it would not rank players. Therefore, I requested a refund and moved on.

If you want low latency, use myinternetservices.com. I've never lagged on their servers and their support is fantastic.

[eDedi]

Originally Posted by ech0

Oh, yes my fault for not mentioning the game. I was hoping to either run a World of warcraft private server, or Counter strikeource. And also, I'm pretty sure the server has another socket for dual cpus. A p3 server cpu isnt that hard to find so upgrading the proc and memory would do some good.
And on the internet connection, Im probably gonna wait for a bit until verizon FiOS gets wired out in Las vegas or just go upgrade my connection to business grade (10 mbps down, 1 mb up)

I have found that Steam games run best on a linux server not too sure about a WOW private server

[Coolraul]

Originally Posted by LinuxGod

I have found that Steam games run best on a linux server not too sure about a WOW private server

Your experience is not the norm for many providers. I doubt your claim.

Steam in particular has a history of not running as well on linux as on Windows. Have you actually run them on Windows and compared?

[awatson]

Whatever OS you pick, I can't believe that you'll get better performance buying a server off ebay and hosting it on your home connection - you should go with a company that does it professionally.

[fwaggle]

i haven't bothered benchmarking, but my srcds crashes every now and then on linux. on windows, it ran just fine (same spec machine). i do have mani admin installed on the linux server and not the windows one, but i'm not sure if that has anything to do with the crashes. i just put it up when my friends want to play, if it crashes when we're not playing i'm not too bothered.

wow private servers need ram and lots of it, they also typically use mysql for a backend. i imagine therefore it might run nicer under linux than windows, but i can't say this for sure.

if you had fios and your latency to your friends was similar to what you'd find at datacenter, then it might work. i can certainly see why you'd want to do it from home - after the initial investment there's no monthly fees, you can switch games as much as you like, there's a whole list of reasons you'd want to do it from home. i just think that machine's a little underpowered for what you want though.

[ech0]

Originally Posted by fwaggle

i haven't bothered benchmarking, but my srcds crashes every now and then on linux. on windows, it ran just fine (same spec machine). i do have mani admin installed on the linux server and not the windows one, but i'm not sure if that has anything to do with the crashes. i just put it up when my friends want to play, if it crashes when we're not playing i'm not too bothered.

wow private servers need ram and lots of it, they also typically use mysql for a backend. i imagine therefore it might run nicer under linux than windows, but i can't say this for sure.

if you had fios and your latency to your friends was similar to what you'd find at datacenter, then it might work. i can certainly see why you'd want to do it from home - after the initial investment there's no monthly fees, you can switch games as much as you like, there's a whole list of reasons you'd want to do it from home. i just think that machine's a little underpowered for what you want though.

I just thought I would buy a low end server for my first one because of my tight budget and because im new to this kind of stuff, I need something to learn on

[Mekhu]

ech0,

Your server, your home connection and your idea all sounds very viable and is very likely to work. Sure your server is not a beast but we're talking a 10 slot server here. Even at 100 tick, my home connection could run that. Hell, my workstation could likely power it.

I would highly suggest going with Windows Server 2003. We have roughly ~5 gameservers being used for a Hobby CSS community and they perform like champs under Windows.

As you said yourself, this is for hobby use and to learn.