[Help] Optimizing my server

[MJCfromCT]

Hi all,

First, the stats on my server:

Athlon XP 2500+
768 MB DDR 333
120 GB HDD
Running Fedora Core 3
26-player Counter-Strike Source dedicated server.

I am on a university connection, my speeds are as follows:

Bandwidth results from toast.net free bandwidth test:
Download: 4072 Kb
Upload: 2,118 kbps

Based on the rate optimization thread on the steampowered.com forums, I set my rates to the following:

- sv_maxupdaterate 26
- sv_minupdaterate 0
- sv_maxrate 6730
- sv_minrate 0
- sv_maxspeed 320

Unfortunately, I still have major lag problems on my server. Also, when the server is full, some of the players report choke values ranging from 20 to 60. I'm not fully sure what a high choke value indicates, but my guess is that it isn't good.

Another problem I am having (possibly related?) is that when I view my server as console, I see this 'garbage' that is scrolling through the console QUITE often:

Code:

CreateFragmentsFromFile: 'downloads/687c4821.dat' doesn't exist.
CreateFragmentsFromFile: 'downloads/9df52b8c.dat' doesn't exist.
CreateFragmentsFromFile: 'downloads/e0df0559.dat' doesn't exist.
CreateFragmentsFromFile: 'downloads/828d26a0.dat' doesn't exist.
CreateFragmentsFromFile: 'downloads/f778b5c6.dat' doesn't exist.
CreateFragmentsFromFile: 'downloads/47ff0ea3.dat' doesn't exist.
CreateFragmentsFromFile: 'downloads/de04ab1e.dat' doesn't exist.
CreateFragmentsFromFile: 'downloads/1c85fd7a.dat' doesn't exist.
CreateFragmentsFromFile: 'downloads/aa89ef39.dat' doesn't exist.

I have tried googling this problem, and all I can seem to find is that if sv_allowupload is set to 0, the problem will go away. However, I have it set to 0 and still get this scrolling in my console window.

Any help on optimizing my server to get it running lag-free would be greatly appreciated.

[MJCfromCT]

*Bump*

Any suggestions anyone?

[cryotek]

That was odd.. I know i posted a reply.. ah well.. if i could only remember this..

You bandwidth looks fine, but if you're behind an edu wall/router, your ports are probably filtered therefore you'll get crappy play. and Judging by your name, you're from CT? and go to UCONN or something? im sure they filter those ports.

[MJCfromCT]

Hi cryotek,

I don't go to Uconn but a school in MA - Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Sorry about not providing all relevant data:

Distro: Fedora Core 3
Kernel: 2.6.9-1.667
glibc: 2.3.3
gcc: gcc (GCC) 3.4.2 20041017 (Red Hat 3.4.2-6.fc3)

You are correct in assuming that the university filters the connected ports, many services are blocked here, are there any other suggestions as to how to lower the choke and address the CreateFragmentsFromFile issue?

[cryotek]

When its the case of ports being filtered, theres nothing you can do, unless you can get network admins to unfilter the ports. Your only other means of running a server would be to rent a gameserver. Your system could probably be top notch XEONS or opterons and you'd still get crappy performance as ffar as gameplay goes.

[MJCfromCT]

Thanks, I had figured as much...just out of curiosity, what ports would have to be 'unfiltered' to re-gain performance? And do you have any idea about this CreateFragmentsFromFile problem?

[cryotek]

no clue for the fragments problem, might wanna check steampowered forums. or even linux@valvesoftware.com.. as for the ports, search firewall ports or something like that on here, i know theres a bunch of posts on here, one post in the linux thread has it posted twice that was made not too recently, but i need to head out ><