So you want to run a server ... ?

I've had quite a few people asking me how to set up and run a server recently. The #1 thing people seem to still get wrong is the maximum number of players their connection can hold.

Note, these figures are based on your 'upload' speed - download is irrelevant. So if you're on 512/128k DSL, you're looking at the 128k upload option.

Recommended limits:

56k - 2 players
64k - 2 players
128k - 4 players
256k - 6 players
512k - 12 players
1024k - 18 players
2048k - 32 players

Can i add that players with a lower rate will use significantly lower amounts of server throughput and therefore you can fit more players into a server.

i.e more 56kers can fit into a server than dslers.

also, lowering the rate on the server seems to give a more stable connection for more players.
i have had sucess hosting 10 players on a 1500/256 DSL with no obvious ping increase.

always hosted 8 players on 1500/256 when i lived in brisbane. 9 if i played but 1 more sent crashing pings.

i remeber those days.

i was just hosting a war for KR and LS and would like to pint out some finding i made.

I had 9 players in the server (1500/256 DSL).
If i had the rate set to the standard 15000, pings were a little above average for most people, and my bandwidth usage was at about 50% (14000bps / 250000bps)

if i lowered the rate to 8000, pings dropped about 20ms on average and my bandwidth dropped to about 10000bps / 25000bps.

using a rate of 8000 should theoretically allow me to host a 16 player server on my 1500/256. where a normal 15000 rate only allows me to host 10 -11 players

thats good

but i still side with the "recommended limits"...

Its just basically what ive found that works... (i know it can be pushed a little further, but it isnt what you are after) especially if you wanna use your net to surf the web and shit like that aswell..

cause are you just going to host a dedicated and do nothing ?

I know im not..

so like explain what a server rate is plz. Is it the speed each person is allocated? ive had a look round an couldnt find anything of real detail and explainatin too this.

and ah shit i was suppose to host that war soz kr an ls me = sleeping

no its appears to be the maximum server throughput.

there appears to be a happy median, The higher the throughput, the more regular the updates the clients recieve.
however if the rate hits a point too high, the ping goes up and the update rate obviously gets slower.
However if the rate is too low, the update rate is horrible and the players will feel like they are playing on a 56k connection.

Also, from experiments i have done, there is a direct correlation between server rate and client rate.
If a server runs a rate lower than normal (i.e 5000 or less) clients with high rates will find it almost impossible to hit/kill players who have set low rates(i.e 1000 - 2000) to match the server. What some may call "Rate modding" or "lag hax" as the l33t call it.

ideally, clients should leave their rate at its recommended setting, and the server should adjust their rate to suit to number of players.

ok

This topic is sooo 2006.

Not anymore.