Minimum Machine for a Server

Thu Mar 20, 2003 10:17 pm by cavok7

Hello. I'm new to the online gaming environment and wanted to know if there is a recommended minimum hardware capability for a PC to be used as a server for this game?

Also, could someone configure their PC as a server, then just play MP singularly on it without connecting to an Internet based server? I know the experience is to have others playing along, but if someone didn't want to wade through the SP storyline and couldn't connect, they still would be able to explore and discover the MP world right on their own machine.

Thanks for any information provided :-)

Thu Mar 20, 2003 10:36 pm by shank

I got the server version of the game running on an old P II. I use it all the time to play MP solo, but that is through my LAN. I couldn't tell you if you can run the server and the game on the same machine, because I have never tried it. I think I remember reading that it can be done though...makes sense.

I have only tested my MP server with three players [1 LAN, 2 internet, but it seems to work just fine. Other players don't report any lag, and the resource meter on the server util stays below 30%.

My server:
P II 450MHz
128 ram
Win98

My connection:
Cable, 1.5m down/~128k up

Thu Mar 20, 2003 10:50 pm by Dower

I was wondering this myself, and I asked previously.

But my setup is the following:
P3-600
256MB Ram
9GB SCSI HD
Elsa Quadro2 video card
Built-in 10/100 Ethernet Card
Road Runner, with Linksys DSL/Cabe Router

Essentially, I turned my old Dell Precision workstation into my FL server, since it was too expensive for me to upgrade it. It plays well for me and my friends. Not all of us had been on yet, but I've had 3 on, and it was running well. I was told that by another server admin that his 450 worked well for 8 people.

I did have a problem with my linksys router at one point, it dropped people in mid-game. I had to reset it to factory defaults before the server became stable. Only problem I have currently is my server disconnects from the Global servers when no-one is on... Don't know what's causing that...

Dower

Thu Mar 20, 2003 11:51 pm by Stinger

Good info in this thread!!

This is what I send most people asking about server configurations:

I've been running a server for many months now. I can tell you from my
experience, that the CPU is going to most likely be the bottleneck on a any
server. When you see my system specks below, you'll be able to get a pretty
decent idea what to expect. My system specks are:

AMD - T-Bird 1,2 Gig (underclocked to 1.05 gig due to mobo restrictions.)
ADSL line with 128 Up / 768 Down
512 SDRAM

So far the monitoring devices I've been using definitively point to the CPU
as the "slacker". I've rarely seen my upstream spike over 78 MB and my
downstream spike to 150 MB. There are exceptions of course. I've never
ever seen my RAM usage go over 315 MB. But my CPU has spiked to 100%. All
these figures are with 10-12 people on the server at one time. Keep in
mind, this number is all relative to what the users are actually doing at
the time as well. It takes more packets of information to be rendered with
lots of activity on the server (i.e. 10 users all in large battles with lots
of shots fired mean lots of info to transfer). It's theoretically possible
to have more people on the server at one time if they aren't activity
engaged in something that would take a lot of packets to render at one time
(exploring systems, stationary in bases, flying through systems with not
many asteroids and thing of that nature.)

If your system specks are better than mine (which is likely) then your
"target number" of users would be higher! I'm glad you're planning on
running a server!

Fri Mar 21, 2003 1:11 am by 24/7 ukserver

24/7 ukserver

1.4 amd
396mb ram
c: 4 gig harddrive
d: 30 gig hdd
adsl 512/256

16 players i host and thats about perfect not over stressing the cpu to much 80 hitting/spicking to 100 when full
bandwith useages is low around 35% of whats avaible.
and yep cpu looks like only bottle neck that stops me hosting more players
i have tested with a P4 2.0ghz intel and you can up it to around 20 players

Fri Mar 21, 2003 3:41 am by cavok7

Thank you all for the great info.

I'm running an Athlon at 1.48 GHz, with 768 MB of RAM and a cable modem connection so it should work fine.

Do you know if it's possible to play alone in MP on your own machine if it's configured as a server?

Thanks!

Fri Mar 21, 2003 3:52 am by blowi

Sure it is.
You just set up a password and dont tell it to anyone.

Fri Mar 21, 2003 6:29 pm by Shorty

i run a server at my LANs all the time on my machine and connect to it(while on the same machine). I find that it only works if i'm hooked to the network and there's at least one other computer connected(this computer just needs to be there).

my specs are:

AMD Athlon 1.2ghz
512mb pc133
radeon 64mb 9000

runs fine, i get some lag after 4 or 5 people connect

Sat Mar 22, 2003 8:45 am by logik

my server specs are:
dual p3 xeon 1.0ghz
640mb PC133 SDRAM
1536/512 cable connection
Windows Standard Server 2003 RC2

max ive had on at any time is 19 people... i asked everyone and they said there was no lag. Server is on 24/7.. on the list as !Logik's Universe (damn my lack of creativity) and the static ip (mostly) is 24.214.131.120 I dont play that much anymore, so contact me on here if you need me for anything

Sun Mar 23, 2003 1:30 am by Padwah

I run a server on the following:

Dual P3 1Ghz
1Gb Ram
Arse loads of Hard Drive space

I've limited the server to a max of 32 players because, to be honest, the server code is ****! With 32 players the ram usage is nice and low but the CPU usage is somewhere between 60-70% and the server program itself reports pings between 60-200ms. The realy annoying thing is the server is running one hop away from the backbone of one of the UK's largest ISP's so ping times should not be a problem for anyone!

If you want to try the server out for yourself it's listed as [OT Freelancer #1 (I.P address 212.67.120.234:7005) it's usually full so you give it some time when you're trying to connect

Tue Mar 25, 2003 8:53 am by Murgen

I have a FL-server running in test to facilitate my clan. Running on a 866PIII with 512 Mb connected via a router to a 768/128 ADSL.

Bottlenecks are the 128 kbps upload and the fact I have to play the game on the same machine. I will install FL-server on a small server later on -- need one anyway for my documents and stuff ---.

I noticed fl-server was eating 20 % of the CPU-capacity with two players on (moi included) and my freelancer-client was eating 20-30 % while docked at a base.

I expercience lag when engaged in a battle with more then 4-5 AI-fighters around and 2 multiplayers ... the lag is caused by the CPU hitting the 100 %.

My euro-cent

Sat Apr 12, 2003 10:49 pm by madcatmk8

Well, i have a really horrible server.

AMD-K6 (300) *150 less than Pentium II
92 RAM
4 Megs of HD
Cable internet

Hhehehe. It works fine without lag when even 10 ppl are on it, ;-)

! Omega Vortex 24/7 Dedicated !

Please join!

Sun Apr 13, 2003 2:20 am by genedefect

A little info I have gathered. From the sounds of it I have the most powerful server out there.

3.06 ghz
1gb DDR400

My bottleneck is now my bandwidth
At 60 - 75 players, my upstream of 384k is peaked most of the time.
My downstream is barely used (1.5mb)

CPU sits at about 55%
RAM usage at about 130mb's

I could probably handle the full 128 players if I just had an upstream of 768k or so.

Visit my server
24/7 Seattle Based

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