TF2 Server peaking CPU usage, crashing

[askreet]

Hello fellow server-hosters:

I just rented a new dedicated linux server, running Ubuntu 7.04 server.

The specs:
Intel P4 2.4 GHz
1 GB RAM (Soon to be 2GB, but ram doesn't seem to be running low.)
40 GB SATA disk
1mbps link

I find that the server chugs pretty terribly after 18 players, and sometimes at 18 players. 66 tick or 100 tick seems to make no difference, it just isn't smooth. The CPU usage hits 80% and it just start dying.

A few questions for the experienced srcds users:
- Is 80% CPU high for 18-20 66/100 tick users?
- Should I expect these kind of results?

Now, every once in a while the server will peak right up to 99% and drop all the players, I'm not sure if this is a bug, related, or whatnot.

I'm open to any config suggestions, etc.

I did play around with fps_max, setting it from 100 to 600, to even 1000. Strange, using 'rcon stats', I never saw FPS above 66, and rarely above 33. Could this be part of my issue?

Ideally I wanted to run 2 TF2 servers, or a TF2 server and DOD:S server, I'm really hoping these specs *should* be able to handle this, but I don't know.

Sorry for the long winded post, any help is appreciated.

Thank you,
Kyle

[Muppet]

askreet Wrote:Hello fellow server-hosters:

I just rented a new dedicated linux server, running Ubuntu 7.04 server.

The specs:
Intel P4 2.4 GHz
1 GB RAM (Soon to be 2GB, but ram doesn't seem to be running low.)
40 GB SATA disk
1mbps link

I find that the server chugs pretty terribly after 18 players, and sometimes at 18 players. 66 tick or 100 tick seems to make no difference, it just isn't smooth. The CPU usage hits 80% and it just start dying.

A few questions for the experienced srcds users:
- Is 80% CPU high for 18-20 66/100 tick users?
- Should I expect these kind of results?

Now, every once in a while the server will peak right up to 99% and drop all the players, I'm not sure if this is a bug, related, or whatnot.

I'm open to any config suggestions, etc.

I did play around with fps_max, setting it from 100 to 600, to even 1000. Strange, using 'rcon stats', I never saw FPS above 66, and rarely above 33. Could this be part of my issue?

Ideally I wanted to run 2 TF2 servers, or a TF2 server and DOD:S server, I'm really hoping these specs *should* be able to handle this, but I don't know.

Sorry for the long winded post, any help is appreciated.

Thank you,
Kyle

If rcon stats brings back ~65FPS - then your kernel config HZ will need to be configured to run higher (i.e 500 or above to achieve better performance).

Ask your server host to recompile your kernel timer to 500 or above.

But you might just find out that a plain P4 can't handle 18 players at 66tick or above. I'm sure TF2 takes up more resources than say Counter Strike: Source, so there may be nothing you can do except upgrade to a better CPU.

[chaoslord]

We're seeing similar issues on our server above 18 players, and its a quad-core dual Intel Xeon, with 4Gb of RAM. It runs about 24% CPU usage at 10-16 players, and then above that spikes to 99%. Is this a compilation issue?

Muppet Wrote:

askreet Wrote:Hello fellow server-hosters:

I just rented a new dedicated linux server, running Ubuntu 7.04 server.

The specs:
Intel P4 2.4 GHz
1 GB RAM (Soon to be 2GB, but ram doesn't seem to be running low.)
40 GB SATA disk
1mbps link

I find that the server chugs pretty terribly after 18 players, and sometimes at 18 players. 66 tick or 100 tick seems to make no difference, it just isn't smooth. The CPU usage hits 80% and it just start dying.

A few questions for the experienced srcds users:
- Is 80% CPU high for 18-20 66/100 tick users?
- Should I expect these kind of results?

Now, every once in a while the server will peak right up to 99% and drop all the players, I'm not sure if this is a bug, related, or whatnot.

I'm open to any config suggestions, etc.

I did play around with fps_max, setting it from 100 to 600, to even 1000. Strange, using 'rcon stats', I never saw FPS above 66, and rarely above 33. Could this be part of my issue?

Ideally I wanted to run 2 TF2 servers, or a TF2 server and DOD:S server, I'm really hoping these specs *should* be able to handle this, but I don't know.

Sorry for the long winded post, any help is appreciated.

Thank you,
Kyle

If rcon stats brings back ~65FPS - then your kernel config HZ will need to be configured to run higher (i.e 500 or above to achieve better performance).

Ask your server host to recompile your kernel timer to 500 or above.

But you might just find out that a plain P4 can't handle 18 players at 66tick or above. I'm sure TF2 takes up more resources than say Counter Strike: Source, so there may be nothing you can do except upgrade to a better CPU.

[Muppet]

chaoslord Wrote:We're seeing similar issues on our server above 18 players, and its a quad-core dual Intel Xeon, with 4Gb of RAM. It runs about 24% CPU usage at 10-16 players, and then above that spikes to 99%. Is this a compilation issue?

Weird. Was LANing at the weekend and we ran a 32 player 100 tick TF2 server - full. This was also on a Quad Core machine (slightly overclocked) and was sitting nicely at about 25%.

However, this was Windows running srcdsfpsbooster and never really deviated from constant 512FPS. You might just find the linux TF2 server just isn't quite as optimized as Windows, or it may be an issue with specific kernels.

Just need to find out first if anyone else running linux is having the same issues.

[askreet]

That makes me a little happy that someone with higher specs is seeing the same issues. You're sitting at 24% then jumping to 99%, I'm sitting a bit higher (~40-50%) then jumping.

What OS and Kernel build are you running? Could it be the Ubuntu Server kernel?

Let me know any other details you want I'll compare them to my setup... we might be able to get to the bottom of this..

Thanks for your help,
Kyle

[valkyr]

I have the same issue on a dedicated server that I have local access and am admin on.

CentOS 5 -
Kernel 2.6.18-?.? Single Proc Kernel
P4 2.8Ghz
2.5G DDR RAM
Running in init 3 (no xserver stuff running)
No extra services running (tho the memory footprint at bootup is around 200M - seems high)

Memory is fine but the CPU keeps getting banged...It'll run fine for a bit then CPU goes haywire

I've adjust the update rates and the max server rate in the server.cfg file.

How do you recompile the kernel HZ setting (a quick link to a good tutorial will be fine)

I created a cron job to renice the process every 5 minutes to -20 (high priority) but haven't had anyone on to test it.

[askreet]

valkyr Wrote:I have the same issue on a dedicated server that I have local access and am admin on.

CentOS 5 -
Kernel 2.6.18-?.? Single Proc Kernel
P4 2.8Ghz
2.5G DDR RAM
Running in init 3 (no xserver stuff running)
No extra services running (tho the memory footprint at bootup is around 200M - seems high)

Memory is fine but the CPU keeps getting banged...It'll run fine for a bit then CPU goes haywire

I've adjust the update rates and the max server rate in the server.cfg file.

How do you recompile the kernel HZ setting (a quick link to a good tutorial will be fine)

I created a cron job to renice the process every 5 minutes to -20 (high priority) but haven't had anyone on to test it.

I'm glad all these people are having this error, it's not just me. Renicing the process results in huge CPU usage... not helpful at all.

Here's hoping we can find a solution soon!'

- Kyle

[Muppet]

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=609746
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486424

[valkyr]

Thanks for the links.

[Muppet]

valkyr Wrote:Thanks for the links.

Unlike other distros, CentOS doesnt require a full recompile. You should only need to edit one line in a config file somewhere and restart - should work.

[nix]

Muppet do you know what line that is?.or do you have any links to a
guide.
and i will try it right way.

[Muppet]

http://www.syntechnical.com/dedicated_server_tutorials/compiling_a_custom_kernel_centos_rhel-t12.0.html
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486424 - SPECIFICALLY FOR CENTOS

Both these links explain how to make it 1000Hz using 'make menuconfig'.

Quote:***1000 FPS Configing***
In the menuconfig, under processor types and features
Enable High Resolution Timer, No Dynamic ticks, Low Latency Desktop.
In the menuconfig, under Power management enable APIC only thats it.

As for the specific file and line, it varies, mines are called 'config-2.6.18.8.el5'. Normally i believe they are .config files.

Anyway, in that file, there will be a line saying:

Code:

CONFIG_HZ=150

or whatever it is set to. Up this to:

Code:

CONFIG_HZ=1000

or whatever value you like.

[askreet]

I found this page for Ubuntu 7 and Gutsy testers:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/RealTime/Feisty

Worked without a problem for me, unfortunately I blew away my OS while trying to remotely compile a kernel.. hosting company said it was correct.. who knows..

Anyway, I'm installing tf2 now and will keep you folks posted on the actual difference 1000hz processing makes.

[valkyr]

Well I installed Fedora 8 - (Test 3) last night to play around with. I got rid of CentOS completely for now.

Fed 8 comes with the 2.6.23-0.1 (?) kernel I believe. I know its 2.6.23-?? something. Anyway, the 2.6 kernels all are compiled with CONFIG_HZ=1000 I believe, but the .22 and above kernels (I think) have the new TICKLESS option. (TICKLESS kernel). It might be .23 and above.

I know the Fedora 8 O/S running init 3 (terminal with no Xwindow software running) only uses about 110MB of memory where CentOS was using approx 300MB.

However I still haven't had anyone on my server yet to test out the performance.

If any of you guys are on at home, check the TF2 server out at

"6FO Outlaws Public Server" (there's a long story to the name but anyway)...

[askreet]

valkyr Wrote:"6FO Outlaws Public Server" (there's a long story to the name but anyway)...

Should post the IP...