What Server Variables Are Required?

Boris

I recently rented a server from a game host provider in Toronto, and I was having problems with performance.

The server was one of their dual CPU machines with over 2GB of RAM, etc. Now, of course they were running other servers on this machine, but they said the resources never went over 40% CPU and 28% Mem. Usage.

I had a 16 Player maximum, and whenever the server reached 14-16 players, especially on NS maps, the server would get quite laggy for all players. Pings started out ~ 10-16 (those close to the server) when only a few players were on the server. After the game had begun with around 14-16 players, the game would steadily increase the pings of all clients and you would start to notice major lag issues. Pings would all reach 200+ and sometimes even 300+ with some spikes every so often of even higher.

Now, when I e-mailed the server host about this, they tell me the computer never goes past the 40% CPU/28% Mem peaks.

Before you start asking about modifications, this was on a BASE server with the only change of mp_timelimit, and maybe the mp_combattime cvar.

My question is: Is there any other cvar settings I need to tweak or add to adjust the way the server responds?

An email I received back from the server host suggested they somehow contacted some NS admins or something and were told that there were "Resource Settings" that I needed to configure. Is this true, or should I be able to make a new server, dump NS on it, change the hlds command to "-game NS +maxplayers 16" and away I go?

Please help, as I am considering another route to hosting my game server, namely a dedicated server rental.

Thanks,
- Boris <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

modie

If your having performance problems and you can get a dedicated server elsewhere for the same price that your paying, I would definitely go the way of the dedicated server.

However if price is an issue, check around, and you'll probably find something else that may meet your needs.

Boris

I was paying $5/slot CAD (they also offered $4/slot US) which included an equal size ventrilo server as well.

So 16 players cost $80/mo.

They have dedicated options as well. Here is just a quick copy and paste of some details:
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Celeron 2.66Ghz (Recommended for hosting 20-30 players on 1-2 game servers)
512MB PC3200 Ram
200GB HDD 8MB Cache
$49.99 CAD Monthly +GST
One time $49.99 Setup fee
Bandwidth Extra

P4 3.0E (Recommended for hosting 30-50 players on 2-3 game servers, depending on game)
1024MB PC3200 Ram
200GB HDD 8MB Cache
$69.99 CAD Monthly +GST
One time $49.99 Setup fee
Bandwidth Extra

Bandwidth Prices
(a bandwidth package is purchased at the start of the month, going over the limit will incur overuse charges)

0-25GB 0.99C per GB
25-50GB 0.89C per GB
50-75GB 0.79C per GB
75-100GB 0.69C per GB
100-250GB 0.59C per GB
250-500GB 0.49C per GB
500-750GB 0.39C per GB
750-1000GB 0.29C per GB
1000GB-2500GB+ 0.19C per GB

Overuse Bandwidth $1.50 CAD/GB<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I was interested in the 1st Package (there are more beyond these 2...but give me a break...we're only talking a 16 man NS)

Doing some simple calculations with other servers and such, I don't think I'll need anymore than say 20GBytes of bandwidth/mo. Another post had 28 Man server taking ~ 175 Gbits/mo (~22GBytes/mo).

What do you think? Sound reasonable and do you think the 2.66 Celeron will handle the 16 man server just fine? This will be the ONLY thing running!

Thanks again,
- Boris <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

modie

If your looking for a dedicated server - get the bandwidth included. There's lots out there in the price range that your looking for

<a href='http://www.webhostingtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=36' target='_blank'>http://www.webhostingtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=36</a>

Just make sure that you do research on the company that you choose, and remember if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.

I don't have anything running on a celeron, so I can't give you an answer to that.

TheJim

I had this problem on my server and i rent it aswell from a different company tho but it turned out to be that the box was taking cpu usage from my server for the other servers on the box it may not be the same case for u but its an idea!

Boris

I've gone to a dedicated server, and everything seems to be working ok these days...

modie

just out of curiosity - where did you end up going to?

Role Play World?

Boris

Yes, I went with them. <a href='http://www.canadian-gamer.com' target='_blank'>Canadian-Gamer</a> is also affiliated with <a href='http://www.roleplayworlds.com' target='_blank'>Role Play Worlds</a>. I mainly dealt with Canadian-Gamer, but they are the same location. Same rates too, just two companies teaming up.