Dedicated Server Questions - PLEASE help if you can

[dooom]

Hi,

 

My online group of mature sim enthusiasts is in the process of trying to set up multiple dedicated servers for the titles we enjoy. Our problem is this - we don't know a darn thing about remote dedicated servers and are learning as we go.... Please help me understand these very basic questions if you can.

 

1. Can a dedicated server, once purchased, run more than one title simutaneously? i.e. Could we run a dedicated coop for Rise of Flight, DCS:BS and IL2 or do we have to purchase seperate servers for each?
   
2. One of us purchased the following and installed IL2 on it:https://www.fullcontrol.net/?page=starter.aspx it has an integrated Matrox G200 - Do we require a "gamer" video card to host games like RoF or Black Shark?? I would think it doesn't matter as the host typically runs things at minimum graphics... please help.
   
3. For those of you running Black Shark servers... did you build your own and send it to a server farm of lease one from an existing service?
   

Thanks for any help you all can offer... hopefully I will have a new coop server to share with you all shortly.

 

Regards,

[PoleCat]

1: AFAIK it would be one game at a time per server. You can run many different titles on one server but not at the same time.

 

2: No high end video cards are usually needed on a game server. The min spec card will work fine. The clients can have all the high graphics settings they want but the server should run min graphics/sound to focus the power of the server on the MP experience for the clients. Concentrate the money you put in your server to Main board, CPU, memory, PSU, chassis and storage not graphics or sound. (Wise to have a reliable back up as well just in case)

 

3: In the 104th Phoenix we built our own server and sent it to a co-location facilty with a fast connection for 100USD per month. On this box we have LockOn, DCS Black Shark and IL2 installed. We can run any of these that we wish at any time.

 

Hope this helps to answer some of your questions.

 

Out

Edited February 20, 2010 by PoleCat

[dooom]

thanks so much polecat. I appreciate the help!!

 

So if i understand correctly, you must directly go into your server to boot up different apps. Do you guys run a server schedule then? Is it possible to automate the switching of titles?

[PoleCat]

thanks so much polecat. I appreciate the help!!

 

So if i understand correctly, you must directly go into your server to boot up different apps. Do you guys run a server schedule then? Is it possible to automate the switching of titles?

 

We use Ultra VNC (Free)to remote in to the server and reboot, switch apps, do maintenance, installs etc. UVNC is one of the few remote clients that while clunky at times allows you to see and manipulate the game menus and screens without issues. Most other remote solutions fail at this.

 

So once the server is installed at the co-location facility and the ips are configured you can use Microsofts RDP to get in and install UVNC.

 

If you need any further assistance just pop in to our TeamSpeak2 server 64.34.169.148:8056 pass: phoenix and I would be happy to advise as best I can.

 

PoleCat Out

[nemises]

just to add a little to that...scheduling of app execution could / would work, however, at least in Lockon's case , there is no command line parameterisation that would allow you to batch start say:

- stat lockon - multiplayer

- start server - 10mbps

- load map "xyz"

- unpause

 

This can only be achieved through the gui (whether manually or via ServMan) ...

 

It would be good if ED allowed for command line paramaterisation, but the implication then is that they may develop a dedicated server executable ... this could happen one day as DCS evolves, but is not likely at this point.

 

Hopefully they will focus more on the multiplayer needs going forward, but in reality, we probably account fo less than 1% of their client base.

[PoleCat]

Technically you could in fact schedule app execution by 3rd party programs but once you factor in admin tools for kick/ban, stats programs, and the occasional reboot etc, it becomes more complicated and less practical to do. The server in general will require pretty constant over watch in order to work well. Servman has helped in this regard immensely by allowing mission rotation, in game messages, and kick/banning from within the server.

 

At the end of the day much of what we do is still manually done by remote control of the server.

 

Out