CA: stress test

As I wrote in another thread, I'm creating a "semi-dynamic" campaign for my group (I called it "FCS Warfare" - perhaps we will open to other groups later). I'm trying to find "the edge" when lag and server load reach a point where they affect the quality of gameplay. Our server has a 100Mbps up/down bandwith, but I don't know its specs.

Yesterday we have tried a test mission with ~200/220 ground units (MBT, IFV, SAM, SHORAD, SPAAG, SPH), ~15 aircrafts (both rotary- and fixed-wing in CAS, CAP, SEAD, an AWACS and a Tanker) and we have had no problems, except when a player has joined our server (it has been quite laggy for some minutes, then the server returned stable).

There were 5 human players: me (game master), 2xA-10C and 2xKa-50. However, each player must set his connections speed to "LAN", otherwise the client is not stable and the server goes crazy, with units warping everywhere.

I plan to reach a total of units between 400 and 600 at least, simulating both front and rear lines from the Inguri river to the east limit of the map. I would like to ask you how many units you have inserted in a multiplayer mission without having issues due to lag/server overload.

Thanks!

Some pics here.

Have you tried adjusting your net settings as per the following thread?

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=96565

If so, did it make any difference? Would be interested if to hear your results if you manage to give it a go and compare it to your results already obtained from tests run to date as you mentioned above.

Nope, never did that, but it sounds interesting.

We have done some tests and, atm, we have found that only the LAN setting works fine (every player must set his connection speed to LAN). Without it, see what happens:

These videos have been recorder in a simple mission with 3 players, not in my test. Moreover, players without LAN speed selected have disconnection problems quite often.

I don't know if this is related to some bad config on the server (I don't manage it).

However, tomorrow I'll increase both ground units and aircrafts to ~300 and I hope to make some tests with 10+ humans.

Interesting red.devil. Thanks

We dont have problems with the units in our server when join 0 to 8 pilots, but when we try to fly more than 10 pilots we have "connection interruption " issues with the clients, and it is not possible to fly all together.

Our last test was with ka50/CA/A-10C

Next time we will try what viper say, and see what happend

With FC2 is the same problem, the limit for the client seems to be 8 with a good connection and a mission with not too many AI ...

We are adopting this system:

Who host sets his connection to the maximum of his connection support, and the clients come in with a connection speed much lower ... like 56 or 128kbit ...

Try it...

Interesting red.devil. Thanks

 

We dont have problems with the units in our server when join 0 to 8 pilots, but when we try to fly more than 10 pilots we have "connection interruption " issues with the clients, and it is not possible to fly all together.

 

Our last test was with ka50/CA/A-10C

 

Next time we will try what viper say, and see what happend

Thanks xifu. Strange is, we have your same issue with any number of playes if we do not set our connection speed to LAN :noexpression:

Btw, with the 1111 we run smooth with 12-14 players so I don't understand why the maximum number of players should have decreased.

Tomorrow I add ~100 ground units and double the number of aircrafts and we'll see what happens. I'll be happy if our server could manage 500 ground units, ~40 aircrafts and 15 human players (4xKa-50, 4xA-10, 4xF-15C, 1x GM at least).

we have a very good connection: 694.84 MBPS Download and 265.60 MBPS upload.

We think the problem is not the connection. We think the problem is the hardware can not admit more players than 10 in a good sesion.

Anyway, this thursday we are trying to configure our server with Megagoth1702 Advice. I'll show you the result.

Yesterday evening stress test:

- 360 ground units

- 20 aircrafts (Ka-50, A-10, Su-25, Mi-28, MiG-29, F-16, F-15, AWACS, Tanker)

- 7 human players (GM, 2x Ka-50, 4x A-10)

We have had a nice and relaxing evening, doing everything possibile to overload the server (like spamming MRLS or strafing right through 30 tanks, just to see if a huge amount of tracers have any reflection on server's performance). The only strange thing was a destroyed MiG29 with no pilot that climbed up to 33000m..

I have recorded a video (38 min), I'll upload it tonight.

Actually, we have found the problem on our server: when we reinstalled it, we have left the default network speed, 128kbps. Setting it to LAN fixed almost every lag issue.

Next week we'll play on the whole front, with ~600 ground units, 40 aircrafts and (i hope) at least 10-12 human players. I plan to customize our cfg (as suggested by Viper) allowing the server to use its full bandwith instead of being limited to 10Mbps.

Last test will see 20+ human players fighting on the whole front. Can't wait for FC3!

Tomorrow evening we will conduct another Stress Test on our server. We need 4-5 players to reach the expected number for this test (10-12 players). If you want to join us just reply to this post with your name and the aircraft you would like to fly (Ka-50, A-10C, F-15C). Then I'll send you a PM with our TS server address and pw.

It will be a very relaxed evening, I don't think we will even use TARS (maybe only for Ka-50s and A-10s - ATM we are still using TARS 1.0.2b1), F-15s will be moved to another channel.

We will meet in our TS server at 20.50 CET and start at 21.00.

UPDATE

more info here: http://www.fightercombatsims.net/forum/blogs/red-devil/9-fcs-warfare-stress-test-3.html

good !

Stress Test #3 debriefing: http://www.fightercombatsims.net/forum/blogs/red-devil/10-fcs-warfare-stress-test-3-results-horror-show.html

In a single word: unplayable.

you say, in your blog, every client need to set his connection to LAN - did same setup goes for the server or can you set it higher UP/Down speed? - Or do you have the best performes, if everone have LAN (client AND host)?

If you set a lower network speed in your server you will have a lot of lag and units warping everywhere. Take a look at these videos: http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1595339&postcount=3

In these example network speed was set on the first or second ADSL option, I don't remember. As you can see it's totally unplayable.

However, our server is a 100 Mbps up/down, which is far more than what LAN option represents (10Mbps). I haven't had time to set it to a closer value but I don't think that is a problem. However, servers with lower bandwith should probably use the closest option to their real capabilities.

Clients just have to set their network speed to LAN if they want to play. Yesterday I set it to ADSL 1024, I joined the server but I have been disconnected after few of minutes. Then I switched back to LAN and I played for 30 minutes, when the whole server crashed.

I was recording a video when I've been disconnected. It even shows the continuous joining/disconnection of my teammates and other players. I'll upload it this evening.

so what would you say is a comfortable number of ground vehicles, AI-Aircrafts and human players?

We had almost no problems with ~350 ground units during the Stress Test #2. I have scheduled the Stress Test #4 for next wednesday. In this test I'll try to discover exactly what you have asked me (AI / human players) :)

i'll bet on a picture of a happy goat that it will end up with 500 units and for about 18,6 pilot.

Cool, do we have a time set for this to happen, I need to pass on the information to my possy.

Hi guys, Stress Test #4 has been scheduled for this Wednesday at 21.00 CET (GMT+1). More info here.

Ok, Linebacker, Hotpocket, and myself are in, with the possibility of one more.

That's 9pm Eastern time right?

Good , you are welcome .

Grazie red.devil .

Rome: 21:00 CET (GMT+1)

Greenwich (GMT): 20:00 (GMT+0)

London (GMT): 20:00 (GMT+0)

New York (EST): 15:00 (GMT-5)

Los Angeles (PST): 12:00 (GMT-8)

That's 3pm Eastern? Ah, in that case none of us will be able to show up unfortunately... work and school for us all, 5pm is best we could do, so if its still up by then, then we will join in.

That's 3pm Eastern? Ah, in that case none of us will be able to show up unfortunately... work and school for us all, 5pm is best we could do, so if its still up by then, then we will join in.

Yes 3 pm eastern USA.

No problem mate , join in when you can , i understand that. i m sure that at 5pm Eastern USA ( our 23 pm) we are still in . So take it easy , hope to see you later .