Improving my current system

[fuglsang]

What is this about?
2 weeks ago my server system was tested to its max, at a LAN party I’m head organizer at. Now I need some suggestions how to improve it – and I’m really in need of some help from a semi expert (both debian/linux setup, but also srcds setup).

The system and the crashing
Our server runs ESXI 64bit (VirtuelMachine), with debian 32bit (I didn’t run 64bit because, I couldn’t run the ./srcds_run command – the file/directory doesn’t exist), with 2-3 srcds’s running on each OS. The tournament had the most awful beginning, with all servers crashing in the first round. Therefore I restructured the server setup, where each OS ran only one srcds at the time, where each OS had 1 GB RAM available and limitless CPU resources.
- Other suggestions, how to improve it? (The hardware wasn’t the problem here – trust me!)

It solved the crashing, expect for one team, who made the server crash instantly – why, I don’t know. The FPS was about 500 on each server – is it enough? I haven’t changed the kernel setup, but till the next LAN, I will try use another – any suggestions?

When the server crashed, it was only the srcds. Debian itself ran without any trouble, but I have to literally kill the SRCDS. The SRCDS contained the newest version of zBlock and GameTech’s WarMod plugin, with a few adjustments on WarMod’s config files. Could the crash have any relation to this setup?
The OS had only small network adjustments, so I shouldn’t have dumped any trash there.

Future plans
At this LAN we used a 2 x Dual-Core Xeon server, with 8 GB RAM, as gameserver. We got a great deal with a local voIP company, where some of our crew members work at, who will let us borrow servers for our next LAN, with 4 x Quad-Core Xeon servers, with 32-64 GB RAM, so I don’t expect we will be in need of serverpower.

The End
Now please, give me some awesome suggestions, how I could improve the system.
If you know any guides that might make a difference, trash it here!
Thanks for taking time to read this!

[realchamp]

Don't run SRCDS in virtual enviorments, it does not improve the quality of service.

You don't need more fps, 67 - 66fps is more than enough.

The crash was most likely caused by a bad plugin.
For a LAN party where internet is not a matter, as you hopefully are using 1gbit switches or more... you should run atleast 1 game server per core, maybe two depending on the specifications on your CPU.

So you ran with 2 x 2 cores? (two processors with 2 cores each?) and how many game servers?

[fuglsang]

Not even if it runs 1 srcds for each OS?
About the fps, the server runs about 500 in average - but shouldn't it be running about 1000 fps?
4 virtual OS, with each 1 srcds. Each OS had 1.5 GB, and no limit for CPU usage. I monitored the CPU usage during the games, and it was quiet fine. Meanwhile the server ran a dns server on a 5th OS, without any high usage.

[BehaartesEtwas]

(04-26-2011, 05:35 PM)fuglsang Wrote:  Not even if it runs 1 srcds for each OS?

no. running inside virtual machines cannot be better than running directly. in fact there will be much effort necessary to get it even close. running 4 servers with good quality on a single host is not so difficult, if the cpu is good enough (Xeon unfortunately isn't specific enough, all)[/quote]

Quote:About the fps, the server runs about 500 in average - but shouldn't it be running about 1000 fps?

200-300 fps are enough for orangebox games, it's not even important that they are perfectly stable then. or even better: run with fps equal tickrate (i.e. 66.67) but not *slightly* higher, better slightly lower (i.e. 68 fps is "evil", 64 fps is also perfect). stability is important than tough.

Quote:I monitored the CPU usage during the games,

cpu usage is something very unreliable. basically it's just a random number not very much related to the real cpu usage. don't look at it.

[fuglsang]

The thing is just, that after our crash with all servers on the same OS, I ran 1 srcds on each OS without crashing - how should I solve this then?
About the CPU, im not aware of which model it was, only that its a Dual-Core. Its probarbly about 2-3 years old, allthough it doesnt help you at all.

Lets assume that the server hardware for the next LAN is a (or even 2) server with 4 x Quad-Core Xeon, with 32 GB RAM.
- How many srcds do you think its able to run at the same time?
- And how would you recommend me to do the setup?

[BehaartesEtwas]

Quote:I didn’t run 64bit because, I couldn’t run the ./srcds_run command – the file/directory doesn’t exist

that one is easily solved: install 32 bit compatibility libraries (called ia32-libs IIRC). do that and install the servers directly on the machine without any virtualization in between.

[fuglsang]

(04-27-2011, 07:07 PM)BehaartesEtwas Wrote:  

Quote:I didn’t run 64bit because, I couldn’t run the ./srcds_run command – the file/directory doesn’t exist

that one is easily solved: install 32 bit compatibility libraries (called ia32-libs IIRC). do that and install the servers directly on the machine without any virtualization in between.

I've read that it will run better on 64bit - does it make a big difference?

[Terrorkarotte]

if you have >4GB Ram yes. If you have =<4GB Ram there is no big difference.

[realchamp]

So at the next lan you will have 4 x 4 cores in total(16cores in total). How many game servers do you need to provide the participants?

Also what are the exact specifications of your quadcore CPU?

[BehaartesEtwas]

(04-27-2011, 07:47 PM)fuglsang Wrote:  I've read that it will run better on 64bit - does it make a big difference?

I've seen quite often a very positive effect, even with less than 4 GB ram. many parts of the kernel are different, apparently in favour of a better timing stability.

[fuglsang]

(04-28-2011, 01:50 AM)realchamp Wrote:  So at the next lan you will have 4 x 4 cores in total(16cores in total). How many game servers do you need to provide the participants?

Also what are the exact specifications of your quadcore CPU?

16 game servers is the maximum - it depends on how many wants to participate in the tournemant.

Atm I don't now more then the details I wrote earlier, but I will try get some more details.

[BehaartesEtwas]

I would recommend (if feasible) to use separate server machines (in hardware) instead of one big machine with 16 cores. not everything scales with the number of cpus nicely, so multiple small boxes are usually better than one single large one, even if cpu power is the same. plus you have some redundancy if something breaks...