Server Loads / Potential?

[RexChaos]

Could we get a thread started by people consisting of:


OS -
CPU -
RAM -
EQEmu Build -
Internet Connection -
How many zones up simultaneously -

Number of clients max -

Any seperate machines to lighten the main server load?


I'm just looking for what a realistic setup would be. I currently have at my disposal a P3 600 with 640MB RAM and a P3 450 with 256MB RAM. Both run win2k pro.

I would just like to see a thread consisting of ONLY machine configurations and what type of performance you've been getting.

I've seen a few threads with some posts regarding this but the specs were scattered here and there. I just think it would be good to have this info out there in a clear format for people to read and adjust their potantial servers accordingly.

[samandhi]

It all really boils down to your internet connection. If you have DSL then expect to only be able to host 4 or 5 consistantly, because your looking at about 5k/s bandwidth use from each client. If you have a great deal better internet connection THEN you can talk about what equipment you might have... Here is an example using my own equipment. I have:

AMD 3200+
1gb 400mhz RAM
Win XP Pro SP1
EqEmu 0.5.5 DR 1
10 zones sim.

But the potential sweetness of having a server on this rig is wasted becasue of the internet connection bottleneck, as I only have DSL (128K up). So I am totally robbed of running a PHAT server, unless I spend the money to get equal up as is my down (which would be 1.5 both ways), and that would cost me a fortune hehe.

[RexChaos]

So do you have to kill zones when you start running too many or does the server auto kill them at a certain point? This is the part I was confused on. I'm just trying to figure out how the server can keep running after so long.

I was working on setting a server up, but I just don't have time to learn to compile and I don't want to ask that question. So I'm just soaking up some info for when the next binaries are released.

[samandhi]

By default zone servers are asleep, except the ones that are in use by the client at that moment... After you go to a different zone, there is a small wait time (like 1 or 2 minutes or so), THAT zone will go to sleep also. So they only wake up when needed.

[RexChaos]

Ahhhh....okay. That makes a whole lotta sense. Cool. I was sitting here thinking "Jesus, this P3 600 ain't gonna be able to track that many zones all at once. And I need my 2ghz machine to play on." Hehe

When I first joined the forum I thought everyone was going to be a bunch of dicks because it appeared like nobody was going to help anyone with this, but I'm happy to say I was wrong. It appears only the really retarded questions get shot down. I can live with that. Hehe

[samandhi]

LOL yeah the retarded ones DO get shot at because of the information at their hands and they want it spoon fed to them by way of a personal "how to" guide, and just dont feel like reading other posts about the VERY same thing... ... Questions like yours HAVE probably been answered, but they are NOT questions that are so common like "How do I set up a server? Tell me NOW!" and etc.....

Anyhow, if you are running on DSL where you can only hold 4 or 5 people, you shouldnt need to run more than 5 zones (there ARE exeptions). And as long as you are not using Luclin models, you should be able to play and host server from the same machine, fairly well (may be a BIT choppy but not too bad I would say). That will mostly depend on how much RAM you have...(and how much you have allocated to other tasks).

[RexChaos]

Oh no, I'll definitely set up this other machine to be a server. I quit doing the client/server piggyback with Team Fortress. It's so much nicer when another machine bears the burden. Besides, I like the Luclin models. I don't think I could play the game without them... <shiver> Bucketheads...

[samandhi]

LOL yeah bucketheads, but also nostalgia of when EQ still rocked...

[RexChaos]

I see your point there. Okay, we're way off topic now, so let me bring it back around...

My theoretical setup is:

W2K Pro
P3 600
640mb RAM

(will it make a speed difference if I run it from a SCSI hd or IDE?)

and my line speeds with three tests on roadrunner are:

Your download speed : 2173944 bps, or 2173 kbps.
A 265.3 KB/sec transfer rate.
Your upload speed : 360522 bps, or 360 kbps.

Your download speed : 2353328 bps, or 2353 kbps.
A 287.2 KB/sec transfer rate.
Your upload speed : 360133 bps, or 360 kbps.

Your download speed : 2328848 bps, or 2328 kbps.
A 284.2 KB/sec transfer rate.
Your upload speed : 358519 bps, or 358 kbps.

So is that set up sufficient for a game of like 5-6 players? Of course I'll be connecting via LAN, so it's actually 4-5 connecting through the internet.

[samandhi]

Your bottleneck (looking at your connection speeds) will be your computer. You should be able to host (theoretically ) about 72 people per line... You should figure about 5k/s per client... So you see in order to house the amount of people that you COULD host, you would need a much better rig, but you should be able to host 10-20 ok (might get a little laggy at that point)..... I would say that scsi would probably be your friend at this point, as you will most likely be using SOME (at least) virtual memory... There again that depends on how many people are on your server... You should go to guildwars server and talk to image. I think I have seen at least 100 ppl on his server at one time (maybe more dont know)... He would be able to tell you how many you can host comfortably. But I WILL tell you, you will be able to host 5-10 easily...

[samandhi]

Put it this way, here is what I am running..:
AMD 3200+
1gb 400 mhz ram
7200 rpm serial drives
DSL 1.5 down
128 up...

My bottleneck is my connection. But I CAN host the server, and play on it, plus have my son on another computer play lan, and have up to 6 people playing, stable....I am currently setting up the server to run from a 500mhz freebsd box... Will let you know the conclusion as to how it runs when I get it running... It has only 256mb ram btw hehe.

[RexChaos]

Holy crap!

<thud>

Oh sorry, I just fainted. I'm not used to good news. Haha!

Yes, I'd definitely be interested in hearing how your server runs for you. Thanks for the info! Don't be scared to post your progress, because if nobody else reads it, I will at least. Hehe...

[samandhi]

Hmmm, may not be anytime soon that I get the server set up for FreeBSD, as I have been perusing <sp> the boards, and I am so new with FreeBSD, I dont know if I will be able to do this without learning more about the OS itself. Besides I dont think the newest source is FreeBSD friendly yet... Could be wrong, but that would be why I need to learn more before I attempt it haha.
Everything is SOOOO different setting stuff up.. Hell, Im still trying to get used to the file structure differences... (read wheened away from Microcaughed, errr Microsoft.)

[RexChaos]

Yeah I know what you mean. I would have liked to set my server up using Linux, but liek you said, I need practice with the OS itself first. My first impression was good until after I installed Mandrake 9.2 and my GUI promptly crashed every time I tried to restart. Soooo anyway, it appears I'll be doing my hosting from a w2k box.

[dmal0807]

i got 2.6ghz with ht (don't know if ht makes a difference does it?)
768mb ram
256k upload :(
how many people could i host and that and could i use client on same pc?