Dedicated Servers
Mammal
Join Date: 2007-03-12 Member: 60344Members, Constellation
Join Date: 2007-03-12 Member: 60344Members, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">Information about dedicated Server</div>I just bought the Special Edition - Pre order.
The thing I am concerned about the most is the server side aspects.
At this moment I own 3 dedicated game servers (New York, Chicago, DC) mostly with NS1 ,TF2 and a few others.
I want to get NS2 up and running as fast as possible when it comes out.
I would be willing to beta test with my servers, if needed. (as I am sure there are many that would do the same)
The Community I run (Necrophix) is pretty big on mapping and making plugins.
A few questions:
- Linux Servers?
- Will it be integrated with ./steam -command update -dir . -game ns2 ?
- development ( plugins, sdk, mapping tools)
- please no lobby system( l4d blows for that.)
I really enjoy NS1 and I look forward to NS2.
Good work guys <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
The thing I am concerned about the most is the server side aspects.
At this moment I own 3 dedicated game servers (New York, Chicago, DC) mostly with NS1 ,TF2 and a few others.
I want to get NS2 up and running as fast as possible when it comes out.
I would be willing to beta test with my servers, if needed. (as I am sure there are many that would do the same)
The Community I run (Necrophix) is pretty big on mapping and making plugins.
A few questions:
- Linux Servers?
- Will it be integrated with ./steam -command update -dir . -game ns2 ?
- development ( plugins, sdk, mapping tools)
- please no lobby system( l4d blows for that.)
I really enjoy NS1 and I look forward to NS2.
Good work guys <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
Comments
Plugins are likely to be handled through LUA, just like the entire rest of the engine.
As the current alpha/beta seems to not be on steam, it's unlikely that the dedicated server will be.. at least until the rest of the game is on steam.
I really hope that UW isn't planning on trying to run enough dedicated servers for all the alpha/beta testers. It seems unlikely that they would have enough resources to do so.. If the flood of traffic from the preorder/trailer took down the forums, I would expect the impact on game servers to be far worse.
The ports it uses really don't matter now.. what are you going to do? Create firewall rules to save yourself the two minute when the server is actually released?
I just assume that it is what most admins are running anyway - or maybe I just like that idea.
I think the best way to go would be to release a Linux server in the beginning and when finishing the game or when the game is finished to include a Windows ds, just for the sake of completeness.
I started off as a Windows user but I would have absolutely no idea how to administrate a Windows server. I don't see a decent way to do that.
It's surprisingly easy to do that with a Linux machine, though.
The tools are often the same on both platforms and the configuration does not differ either. But I agree, a Dedicated Server for Linux is an absolute must-have. I guess the main reasons are security, stability and cost. For Windows servers, you need to pay a license fee, for Linux servers you don't. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
As mentioned, there is no real "administration" of a Windows server, even if you're running Windows Server. You might have to figure out a few things, initial setup and what not, but after that it would be no different than on a Linux dedicated box as the real administration would likely involve the game server itself. (Config files, ban lists, etc.)
Having a strong enough connection to be able to host a decent game without ping >300?
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->[...]
As mentioned, there is no real "administration" of a Windows server, even if you're running Windows Server. You might have to figure out a few things, initial setup and what not, but after that it would be no different than on a Linux dedicated box as the real administration would likely involve the game server itself. (Config files, ban lists, etc.)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, there is no real administration. That's why it's so vulnerable.
It's certainly not as easy as you imagine it to be.
As far as the Battlefield series not providing a Linux server, all I can say is EA is a baddie company that releases incomplete products, I don't think I will buy another PC game of theirs again.
I hope they come out with a linux server version. It seems like something they'd want to keep consistent from NS1.
Yeah, there is no real administration. That's why it's so vulnerable.
It's certainly not as easy as you imagine it to be.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If you're going to run your own server, its a given that you'll need a good network card and go all out on the internet access. I've run/administered a dozen servers ranging from game servers and HTTP/Database servers. I'm not an expert but; setting up a firewall isn't that hard, configuring a router isn't hard, reading the log files isn't hard and keeping tabs on your servers networking/memory/CPU isn't hard either. Compared to Linux it might not give you access to change very specific settings, but if you've been administering a Linux server and you know how to use the Windows environment, you shouldn't have any trouble at all if you're left with Windows as your only option. At the end of the day, you may need to read up on some stuff - but you'd be doing the same for any new server environment.
As for the licensing - you accept a license when you install Windows? There is a 5 concurrent connection limit on Windows, but I have yet to run into an issue with that. Window Server requires a Client Access Level for each concurrent connection that talks directly to Windows Server (ala Remote Desktop, me thinks). I may be wrong, but I don't think this applies to connections that are talking to a game server, as the connections should never "hit" the OS.
I really don't think you have to worry though. If the Linux servers aren't available initially, they'll probably be released once NS2 is polished and read for the actual release.
And look, as long as the Windows server is only running a game server and no http server or whatsoever, you're safe from attacks as long as clients can only (ONLY!) connect to the game server. (Of course, if there's a heavy security leak in the dedicated server...then you're not really safe. ;D)
When NS2 comes out I really want to push sales for the NS2 servers.
Managing many clients with a windows server is just not practical.
I will have 2 servers for Necrophix for the community.
I have a few vmware windows clients on some of my linux box, but that is not the most ideal situation.
I have made some nice map managers for TF2 and NS1 which would just not be possible in windows.
I guess everyone will be happy when a linux server is released when NS2 reaches gold status. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
That's the question, is it? More & moreso, Windows is becoming a viable server alternative, and due to things such as EA not generally bothering, etc, is often a favourable choice. If I was running generic application server x, I'd probably pick a Linux box by default, but in gaming, Windows may in fact be becoming quite dominant. The problem is whether this last comment is true, and whether Linux SysAds are prepared to see that.
I'd like to see both, but based on development constraints, if I has to pick one for a commercially successful game, I'm going to pick something MS.
HLDS/SRCDS have always performed better on windows. That's probably because valve cannot seem to figure out linux. Regardless, that's pretty much always been the case.
If the team says they'll release a linux server once NS2 goes gold, then you'll just have to wait and trust that they'll deliver. So what if you're not going to have linus servers immediately, doesn't mean never. I agree with having the alpha/beta with a windows only DS over having to wait for them to keep modifying the Linux port from the Windows DS. I'm sure most players would feel the same as well.
If you're a provider, and are looking at securing NS2 server rental clients, you really have 2 options: 1) start preparing some windows servers (even if temporarily until Linux DS is released) or 2) Sit and wait patiently for the team to release the Linux DS (meanwhile, yes, the windows providers will be picking up NS2 server rental clients).
At this point, there are more important questions for server admins, which affect both platforms. For example:
<ul><li>Will there be a detailed log file output, which stats could be created from? </li><li>What are the max # of players? </li><li>Are admins going to have a good array of server commands like they are used to with Vavle games?</li><li>Are there any server commands that can place the server into a more pure state for league matches?</li><li>Is there a TV feature like HLTV?</li><li>Is there any anti-cheat support, or is this totally up to 3rd parties to LUA something?</li><li>Is there an update tool like we have from Valve?</li><li>Will the servers show up and/or be connected to Steam somehow? (I've seen this question asked before, seems open-ended still)</li></ul>
I'm sure there are planty more, these are just a few that came to mind.
P.S It is nice to see people returning here in preparation, I hope you have plenty of free time for NS2 Bry <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
It's rather that a lot of developers suck at programming for linux, than windows beeing generally better. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
Most developers, develop where the money is... you know... to pay the bills. Unfortunately, for Linux, it's not there. This is the consequence of a platform attempting to be open and free... in a society that is not.
An update tool would be good but if they're able to get it on Steam...why not? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
@HoundDawg
I completely agree with you, but I don't wanna say that Linux is that bad. x) When it comes to security, Linux should be the first choice since everybody can fix security leaks at any time. Microsoft needs some time to figure all that out and push out an update after testing.
I completely agree with you, but I don't wanna say that Linux is that bad. x) When it comes to security, Linux should be the first choice since everybody can fix security leaks at any time. Microsoft needs some time to figure all that out and push out an update after testing.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Despite which OS is best, the industry with profits will still dominate. Free and opensource will always struggle in a non-utopian society.
As for Anti-Cheat... being a new engine, and so much based on LUA (WoW addons anyone?), it'll be interesting to see what is done in this area. It will certainly still depend on what clients are allowed to do, and how much control server side LUA plugins have over the client settings. So far, it seems that we have this wide open development framework, where everything is possible. I forsee a new era of cheats and anti-cheat applications on the horizon. Question is, who wants to get their hands dirty?
Well it's not there for video games. There are plenty of Linux servers elsewhere. Games have always been a special self-fulfilling loop for Microsoft because you "have to develop for Windows" because that's where the game players are. Commercial enterprises were able to break this loop because the server was just plain better and sys admins were self interested enough to learn it for the security benefits.
I don't think it's any failing of free software, especially considering how much free software is used today.