FPS question

[Stinkyfax]

I am sorry for asking same question which was asked million times, but this is what we face when make own gameserver first time.
While I personally have been CS server headadmin for many years it is my first experience on using fully dedicated linux box.
Ok, let's jump to the problem:
I am trying to build 1000 fps 66tick server (I've heard that debian by default has 1000HZ kernel, so I can skip the kernel compilation - phew).

The issue is that during test with 4 bots my FPS jumps, 80% of time it stays 800-900 but other 20% drops to 300. Funny bit is that while I run SM compiler on server with lower priority, FPS bumps to 950 and does not drop - there must be a solution instead of constantly running compiler
Someone give me an advice?

And here are the settings and hardware information:
server.cfg:

Code:

// bandwidth rates/settings
sv_minrate 10000
sv_maxrate 30000
decalfrequency 10
sv_maxupdaterate 100
sv_minupdaterate 20

Launch command:

Code:

$SRCDS/srcds_run -game cstrike -ip 213.175.199.28 -port 27015 -maxplayers 40 -tickrate 66 +fps_max 1300 +map de_dust2 +servercfgfile server.cfg +tv_enable 0 -autoupdate

Hardware:

Quote:Processor
Quad Core Intel Xeon X3430 i5
CPU Speed
2.4 GHz
CPU Cache
8 MB
RAM
4 GB DDR3
Disk Drive
2 x 300 GB SAS 15k rpm
RAID
RAID 1
Operating System
Debian GNU/Linux 5.0
Server Type
Dell PowerEdge

CPU Usage doesn't break 20%

Thank you for your time and hopefully replies.

Yours Sincerely,
Stinkyfax

[BehaartesEtwas]

first, don't use bots for testing. the result has no meaning.

second, read my howto (see the signature). that solution not running the compiler all time is called "idler" there ;-)

[Stinkyfax]

(09-17-2010, 05:59 PM)BehaartesEtwas Wrote:  first, don't use bots for testing. the result has no meaning.

second, read my howto (see the signature). that solution not running the compiler all time is called "idler" there ;-)

Thank you, I've read the wiki guide 'kernel optimization'.
Idler helps the fps stay but I am afraid that such solution is not preferred since CPU will stay at 100% for some reason I find it wrong.
Unfortunately I do not have physical access to dedicated box so I can't mess around with it carelessly. I did not have any experience in modifying system, and especially recompiling kernel. Is there any other solution except risking of breaking server with new kernel for me?

[BehaartesEtwas]

the 100% cpu load does not really hurt if you run the idler with a low priority (nice) and the game servers with realtime scheduling (see the howto). the combination of realtime (or fifo) scheduling and a recent kernel (say 2.6.32 or newer) is nowadays all it takes to run a stable server. the kernel patch is not so important anymore. maybe your distro has a recent kernel available, or you can try the precompiled kernels by terrorkarotte (still a bit risky but with the right grub configuration you can make it pretty safe even if the new kernel doesn't boot).

[Stinkyfax]

why can't I just 'tell' cpu to not slowdown the clock when it's not 100% instead of overloading?
I am using server for lots other services like http, ftp, mail, mysql, .... So I think RT is not what I should aim for while I need all of services to work.
There should be a configuration which won't let fps fall, isn't there? and does it mean that FPS will stay stable when gameserver is being full since it will become 'idler' itself.