Game server hosting
Game servers are specialized servers used for online multiplayer games, including video games played over the Internet. During games, data is sent to the game server, processed, and sent back to the game clients. Game servers typically require a large amount of bandwidth because of the amount of data coming from all the clients connected to the game server.
Companies which provide hosting for game servers are generally referred to as game server providers, or GSPs, for short.
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Types of Game Servers
Game servers are classified as listen servers and dedicated servers.
Listen Servers
Listen servers are designed to operate on the same machine as the game client’s so that when the client stops using it, the server shuts down. They're intended for small game site operators, and they can support only a few game players at a time because of bandwidth and CPU requirements. The pre-installed software running listen servers automatically allows only a limited number of players. This number may depend on the game being played but is typically up to six to ten players.
Dedicated Servers
Dedicated game servers are designed for a large number of game websites and can be Linux or Windows servers. They're often hosted in a data center, which makes high bandwidth volume possible. They're connected with or share the client's CPU. In the online gaming industry, a dedicated game server is the more preferred option.
Dedicated Game Server Hosting
Because of their requirements for high bandwidth and CPU and low latency, dedicated game servers are best hosted with hosting providers that offer game server hosting.
Control panels for non-game websites (for example, cPanel and Plesk) can be used with some game servers. However, some control panels are designed for game server providers (GSPs). Features that these control panels offer may include various types of monitoring and reports, the ability to assign different levels of users and techs, and other features geared towards the needs of dedicated game server users.
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