Questions about setting up a server...

[Ghost_Operative]

What would I need? I have never run my own server but i got a spare computer i dont use.

[Martijn]

What kind of server do you want? A high ping, high lag and low slot server or a professional server with a nice ping and no lag? For a good server you must rent a dedicated server or colocate a own server. Then you must setup ET as a dedicated server

[Kamikazee]

Generally, people refer to similar game technology to predict the server's hardware usage. Mostly, this game is compared with Q4, but results may vary as with any other unreleased game.

I would doubt though if spare computers make great servers other than dedicated LAN boxes. If the PC can run it, your home Internet connection could still be the culprit.

EDIT: Hmmm... It is unclear to me if you are looking forward to hosting a W:ET server or an ET:QW one. There is a serious difference, of course.

[Ghost_Operative]

so basically i need industrial t3(or that sort) internet connection and a really tricked out computer along with the client required to run the specified game?

[Mordenkainen]

so basically i need industrial t3(or that sort) internet connection and a really tricked out computer along with the client required to run the specified game?

If you're just running a server you won't need the client as there will be a dedicated server available. As for hardware requirements, as Kamikaze mentioned, we still don't know the details but it's usual to test with similar technology (in this case Quake 4).

For the dedicated server you won't need a very fast video card (basically, if it can run your OS it's enough ;). CPU, ram and connection are important, but how much we don't know yet.

[Ghost_Operative]

If you're just running a server you won't need the client as there will be a dedicated server available.(in this case Quake 4)..

what you mean there will be a dedicated server available? you mean the game will include the client?

CPU, ram and connection are important, but how much we don't know yet.

so a good processor and ram on a good connection should be fine?

[isendel]

dedicated servers dont do any of the visual processing or anything like that, they mainly coordinate the actions of the clients. if you sat at the computer running the dedicated server, all you would see is a console with text scrolling by

when you purchase the game, you purchase the client. the server executable is generally included with the client, but the client is what most people want when they buy the game. afaik the server executables are typically released before the clients are in stores (so people can play online as soon as they get the game) but i could be off on that

good processor, ram and a fast connection should be enough, but what constitutes 'good' is still debatable as we dont know how much power etqw needs. you will definitely want a connection that can upload lots of data though, and most home connections tend to favor the download side instead

[Lanz]

Ghost_Operative: Can you specify what kind of connection you have today and what speed you have on UL/DL? Anything less than a 10/10mbit lan connection is probably to slow though.

[Ghost_Operative]

well i have broadband lol so i doubt that will work, i was just curious as to what is required so i know what options i have

however i got about 2.5GHzand 1 gig of ram in this so called "spare computer" i intend to use

[Nail]

even for running an ET server, a T1 or better line is recommended. You can check your UL/DL speeds here:
http://www.speedtest.net/

[Ghost_Operative]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/121488888.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

...thats what i got

[crospyder]

imo dont even try that cos 1st of all i just doubt u can cover bandwith enough for more than 5-6 players, and PC really need to be good.

[fusen]

which in other worlds is going to be really laggy for any more than like 2 players :p

[Ghost_Operative]

yeah i figgured lol...owell, either way i just wanted to know what it is i needed to get if i do decide to run my own server

[Martijn]

A professional internet connection with a minimal connection to the internet of 10 mbit up and down

[timme]

ET needs about 30 MHz dedicated to the ET process per player slot. Here is a table with suggested server speeds based upon maximum client settings.

For a 32 player dedicated server, ET will need 1ghz.

For a 16 player dedicated server, ET will need 500mhz.

For an 8 player dedicated server, ET will need 250mhz

>128 ram

[timme]

· Excellent connection to the Internet or LAN.
strongly recommend T1 connection speed. Servers on Cable or DSL connections should limit their games to only to 2-4 players (depending on upstream).

Comment: sv_maxrate multiplied by sv_maxclients will give you the peak bandwidth you should allow for. Note that would be in bytes while often bandwidth rates etc server hosts will tell you will be in bits (1/8th of a byte). Also remember for server's it is the upstream that matters, 1mb DSL does not mean you have 1mb of bandwith to play with, usually *DSL (and cable) is asynchronous and you will have something like a mere 265k or 128k upstream. Further, a 'proper server' will be almost right on the "internet backbone", while your DSL connection has to travel to your ISP and whatnot, meaning players are going to have slightly higher pings and less reliable connections even if all else was equal.

If you do some rough calculations, sv_maxrate * sv_maxclients etc that adds up to a lot of bandwith per month. It isnt actually quite so bad however, as most obviously your server probably will not be at 100% capacity all of the time - few servers are at capacity even half of the time (roughly 2pm-2am or so). Less obviously perhaps, even when it is full clients usually dont use all their rate allocation all of the time.

Firstly, any low-bandwidth players will probably be giving themselves less rate - ~4KB/s for modem, 7KB/s for single-channel ISDN, for example. Player's get the lower of sv_maxrate and their own 'rate' setting.

Even still, if you have sv_maxrate 25000 and all your players have rate at 25000, your monthly bandwith usage will not be anything like 25KB/s per player. The engine will only use the rate that it needs to so when players are in fairly empty areas with little action, they will use very little rate, regardless of what limit is imposed. The more players on your server, the more data there needs to be sent to each and so players will use more of their rate allocation more of the time. You should always have sv_maxrate * sv_maxclients available in per-second bandwidth however, as usually the occasions when players are using their maxrate, thats because everyone else is onscreen and there's loads of action, so therefore all other players will be too. The game copes much better with sv_maxrate limiting the rate allocation than it does when your actual bandwidth is insufficient to copy with what the server is trying to use of it. In sum, you need to have the connection (particularily upload speed) that can handle the peak requirements, though monthly data transfer will work out at a much lower average transfer rate.

Vague suggestions:
Players Good sv_maxrate Great sv_maxrate
Up to 16 13000 is good Anything over is great
16-20 13000 is OK start thinking of increasing to say 16000
21-24 16000 is OK 20000
24-32 16000 at least 25000
32+ 20000 at least 25000

[Strogg]

Well in my experience on running servers here are the basics:

1. On average it takes about 64K to 128K per slot on most servers.

2. Hardware:
2a. I would suggest at least 2.2gig box.
2b. 1 gig min memory.
2c. Just use a cheapy video card. since its going to be a server.
2d. Use a small hard drive since its only going to run the game as a Quake Wars server only.

3. Do not run server and play the game on the same box. It can bog down your server. Always run the server by itself.

4. Check Your UPSTREAM speed. That is more important than your download speed. Depending on you connection your upstream min should be 1.5 megs up to run a 12 user server on average.

IE: 128K X 12 Users = 1.536 megs upstream.

5. Word to the wise:

You can have a SMALL FAST SERVER or you can have a BIG LAGGY SERVER. Your Choice!

Hope this helps ;)

P.S.

Why is this considered off topic? This should have it own section since "THIS IS" related to Quake Wars DOH! You Think?

[Ghost_Operative]

well i just wanted to know about servers in general...not nessesarily ET:QW... thanks for the info guys, very useful