optimizing performance

[da_buddha]

Hey everyone. So I am running a CS:Source 32-player server and a HL2DM 16-player server both on the same box. They aren't always full to max, so I really don't have to worry about running out of resources yet (and they're both reniced).

I initially setup the network settings for both of them as if they were individual. Both of them are tickrate 66 and I set the fps_max to 600 for both, and everything else at the rest of the suggested settings. I have read all of those posts and know about it... However I really couldn't reach a conclusion for optimizing two of them on the same box/IP.

So my question is, what are the suggested settings/tweaks for running both of these servers on the same box. I'm at a university and we have direct connection to an OS45 line, so internet speed is not an issue.

Also, if there are any suggestions for even linux tweaks and packet settings and disabling services, etc. to improve performance.

Thanks for your help!

[dozier768]

you can make sure you getting the most from your hard drives with hdparm

say your game directory is on a hd on ide 1 as the master.

run

hdparm -d /dev/hda

it should report

/dev/hda:
using_dma = 1 (on)

if not run

hdparm -d1 /dev/hda

to turn it on.

make sure it using 32 bit disk access

hdparm -c /dev/hda

it should report

/dev/hda:
IO_support = 1 (32-bit)

or
/dev/hda:
IO_support = 3 (32-bit w/sync)

if not run

hdparn -c1 /dev/hda

to turn it on or

hdparm -c3 /dev/hda

to turn it on with sync

These flags "c1 and c3" seem to yeild aproximately the same transfer rates for me

to test your tranfer rate run

hdparm -t /dev/hda

and to test cached reads

hdparm -T /dev/hda

obviously there is much more you can tweak about your hard drive with hdparm, some of it is not so safe those are the most basic ones
just googgle hdparm and im sure youll find all kinds of stuff

you could also compile your own kernel, most kernel that are in distributions are bloated, and compiled with fairly generic optimizations. basicly you can tweak linux till your blue in the face, IMO you will get the best server from a source compiled distro like gentoo, better optimizations produce better "faster more efficient" code you can get like a 30% performace boost over a typical binary distro, if you do it right, but you can also open up a can of worms lol, if your into tweaking things and headaches thats the route to go.

[FiRe]

dozier768, i'm using a WD Raptor on /dev/sda. I can't seem to set it to 32-bit, is this alright?

suse10:~/Desktop/hdparm/hdparm-6.3 # hdparm -c /dev/sda
/dev/sda: IO_support = 0 (default 16-bit)

suse10:~/Desktop/hdparm/hdparm-6.3 # hdparm -c3 /dev/sda
/dev/sda: setting 32-bit IO_support flag to 3
HDIO_SET_32BIT failed: Invalid argument
IO_support = 0 (default 16-bit)

suse10:~/Desktop/hdparm/hdparm-6.3 # hdparm -c1 /dev/sda
/dev/sda: setting 32-bit IO_support flag to 1
HDIO_SET_32BIT failed: Invalid argument
IO_support = 0 (default 16-bit)