Client's Having Connection Problems - timing out, lagging and can't connect

[spunkster21]

Hi all,

I've recently rented a dedicated server, specs below, and am currently running 2 Source servers.

Both servers seem to work OK on the most part, but they have intermittent connection issues where some or all players get lag, time out or can't connect at all.

I've read through the forums but not found anything that has helped resolve these connection issues.

I would be very grateful if someone knowledgeable would have a look through my server settings and let me know if I've made any glaring mistakes.

Many thanks,

Spunky

Server Specs
Processor: Intel Core2Duo E7200 2x 2.53 L2: 3Mo FSB: 1066MHz
RAM: 3 GB
Hard disk: 500 GB SATA2
Connection: 40 Mbps down 10 Mbps up
OS: Windows 2003 Server SP2, all updates

Game Servers Hosted

CS:Source
Tickrate: 33
Max players: 44
Plugins: Zombie Mod, Mani, Metamod, EventScripts, EST (all latest versions)
IP:Port 87.98.250.40:27015
Command Line: -console -game cstrike -tickrate 33 +fps_max 600 -ip 87.98.250.40 -port 27015 -verify_all +map de_dust +maxplayers 44 +exec server.cfg

TF2
Tickrate: 66
Max players: 24
Plugins: None
IP:Port 87.98.250.40:27016
Command Line: -console -game tf -tickrate 66 +fps_max 600 -ip 87.98.250.40 -port 27016 -verify_all +map ctf_2fort +maxplayers 24 +exec server.cfg

CS:Source Server Config

Code:

hostname [Vs3] Zombie Mod Server - www.vs3-clan.co.uk
rcon_password ""
bot_chatter "off"
// server cvars
mp_friendlyfire 0
mp_footsteps 1
mp_autoteambalance 0
mp_autokick 0
mp_flashlight 1
mp_tkpunish 1
mp_forcecamera 0
sv_alltalk 1
sv_pausable 0
sv_cheats 0
sv_consistency 1
sv_allowupload 1
sv_allowdownload 1
sv_maxspeed 320
mp_limitteams 2
mp_hostagepenalty 5
sv_voiceenable 1
mp_allowspectators 1
mp_timelimit 35
mp_chattime 10
sv_timeout 150

// round specific cvars
mp_freezetime 6
mp_roundtime 7
mp_startmoney 5000
mp_c4timer 45
mp_fraglimit 0
mp_maxrounds 0
mp_winlimit 0
mp_playerid 0
mp_spawnprotectiontime 20

// server logging
log on
sv_logbans 1
sv_logecho 1
sv_logfile 1
sv_log_onefile 1

// operation
sv_lan 0
sv_region 3

// execute ban files
exec banned_user.cfg
exec banned_ip.cfg

//rates
sv_minrate 0
sv_maxrate 18000
sv_mincmdrate 20
sv_maxcmdrate 101
sv_minupdaterate 20
sv_maxupdaterate 65
sv_client_predict 1
sv_client_interpolate 1
sv_client_cmdrate_difference 30

// Fast download
sv_downloadurl "http://www.vs3-clan.co.uk/cstrike/"
sv_allowupload 1
sv_allowdownload 1
mp_buytime 5

// ammo
ammo_338mag_max 80 // awp
ammo_357sig_max 500 // p228
ammo_45acp_max 500 // ump45, mac10, usp
ammo_50AE_max 500 // deagle
ammo_556mm_box_max 300 // m249
ammo_556mm_max 500 // galil, sg552, famas, m4a1, sg550
ammo_57mm_max 500 // p90, fiveseven
ammo_762mm_max 500 // scout, ak47, g3sg1, aug
ammo_9mm_max 400 // mp5navy, tmp, glock, elite
ammo_buckshot_max 80 // m3, xm1014

est_Banned_Entities "point_servercommand"

//Round Start Lag CVARS
net_queue_flush_interval 1
net_queued_packet_thread 0
fps_max 600
sv_maxunlag 1
sv_instancebaselines 1
sv_forcepreload 1
sv_unlag 1
net_queue_flush_interval 1
net_queued_packet_thread 1

TF2 Server Config

Code:

// Server Name
hostname "[Vs3] TF2 Server (Custom Spawns) - www.vs3-clan.co.uk"

// Rcon Cvars
rcon_password ""
sv_rcon_banpenalty 60         //Number of minutes to ban users who fail rcon authentication
sv_rcon_log 1                 //Enable/disable rcon logging.
sv_rcon_maxfailures 3         //Max number of times a user can fail rcon authentication before being banned
sv_rcon_minfailures 5         //Number of times a user can fail rcon authentication in sv_rcon_minfailuretime before being banned
sv_rcon_minfailuretime 60     //Number of seconds to track failed rcon authentications

// Server Password
sv_password "" // Password protects server

// Server Cvars
mp_allowspectators 1            //Toggles whether the server allows spectator mode or not
mp_autocrosshair 0
mp_autoteambalance 1            //Toggles server autoteambalance
mp_bonusroundtime 10            //Time in seconds after round win until round restarts
mp_chattime 10                     //amount of time in seconds players can chat after the game is over

mp_decals 1
mp_defaultteam 1
mp_disable_autokick 1             //Prevents a userid from being auto-kicked
mp_enableroundwaittime 1         //Enable timers to wait between rounds.
mp_fadetoblack 0                 //fade a player's screen to black when he dies
mp_falldamage 5                 //Amount of damage players sustains from a fall
mp_flashlight 0                 //Toggles flashlight on or off
mp_footsteps 1                     //Toggles footsteps on or off
mp_forcecamera 0                 //Restricts spectator modes for dead players
mp_forcerespawn 0
mp_forcerespawnplayers 1         //Force all players to respawn.
mp_forcewin 1                     //Forces team to win
mp_fraglimit 0
mp_idledealmethod 1             //Deals with Idle Players. 1 = Sends them into Spectator mode then kicks them if they're still idle, 2 = Kicks them out of the game
mp_idlemaxtime 15                 //Maximum time a player is allowed to be idle (in minutes)
mp_maxrounds 10                 //max number of rounds to play before server changes maps
mp_teams_unbalance_limit 2         //Teams are unbalanced when one team has this many more players than the other team. (0 disables check)
mp_teststalemate 0                 //Test the stalemate mode. Parameter: <0/1>. If 1, the map will reset at the end.
mp_time_between_capscoring 5     //Delay between scoring of owned capture points.
mp_timelimit 45                     //game time per map in minutes
mp_winlimit 10                     //Max number of rounds one team can win before server changes maps
sv_allow_color_correction 0     //Allow or disallow clients to use color correction on this server.
sv_allow_wait_command 0         //Allow or disallow the wait command on clients connected to this server.
sv_allowdownload 1                 //Allow clients to download files
sv_allowupload 1                 //Allow clients to upload customizations files
sv_alltalk 0                     //Players can hear all other players, no team restrictions
sv_alternateticks 0             //If set, server only simulates entities on even numbered ticks.
sv_autosave 0                     //Set to 1 to autosave game on level transition. Does not affect autosave triggers.
sv_bonus_challenge 0             //Set to values other than 0 to select a bonus map challenge type.
sv_cacheencodedents 1             //If set to 1, does an optimization to prevent extra SendTable_Encode calls.
sv_cheats 0                     //Allow cheats on server
sv_clearhinthistory 0             //Clear memory of server side hints displayed to the player.
sv_consistency 1                 //Whether the server enforces file consistency for critical files
sv_contact "spunkster21@hotmail.com"    //Contact email for server sysop
sv_downloadurl "http://www.vs3-clan.co.uk/tf/"                 //Location from which clients can download missing files
sv_enableoldqueries 1             //Enable support for old style (HL1) server queries
sv_pausable 0                     //Is the server pausable.

// Lan or internet play, Server region cvars
sv_lan 0                         //Server is a lan server ( no heartbeat, no authentication, no non-class C addresses )
sv_region 3                     // Region Codes: 0 - US East coast, 1 - US West coast, 2 - South America, 2 - South America, 3 - Europe, 4 - Asia, 5 - Australia, 6 - Middle East, 7 - Africa, 255 - world

//server Logging
log on
sv_log_onefile 1                 //Log server information to only one file.
sv_logbans 1                     //Log server bans in the server logs.
sv_logblocks 0                     //If true when log when a query is blocked (can cause very large log files)
sv_logecho 0                     //Echo log information to the console.
sv_logfile 1                     //Log server information in the log file.
sv_logflush 0                     //Flush the log file to disk on each write (slow).
sv_logsdir "logs"                 //Folder in the game directory where server logs will be stored.

//Server Rates
sv_minrate 0                     //Min bandwidth rate allowed on server, 0 == unlimited
sv_maxrate 18000
sv_mincmdrate 20
sv_maxcmdrate 101                //(If sv_mincmdrate is > 0), this sets the maximum value for cl_cmdrate.
sv_minupdaterate 20
sv_maxupdaterate 65
sv_client_predict 1
sv_client_interpolate 1
sv_client_cmdrate_difference 30
sv_maxreplay 2                     //Maximum replay time in seconds

[Spartanfrog]

Well this probably won't effect the lag part of your problem but you don't need verify_all in your command line and you also don't need exec server.cfg. As for the CSS server, you are running a lot of plugins with above the normal player limit. Try disabling plugins one at a time to see if it solves the lagging issue and also try lowering 44 to 32 slots. Your rates look fine and your CPU looks like it should be fine handling these two servers. The final thing is, 10 mbps can only hold 50 CSS slots in use at a time, even less TF2 slots. I'm betting that is your problem.

[spunkster21]

Hi Spartanfrog,

Thanks for the reply. I'll see if those changes make a difference. The annoying thing is I'm supposed to have 100Mbps up/down but speed tests show otherwise :-(

[ultramoo]

I've had a similar issue. just to test, put CS to port 27100 and TF 27050 .... long shot but doesn't hurt to try.

And when you say

Quote:"The annoying thing is I'm supposed to have 100Mbps up/down but speed tests show otherwise "

What were the test results? .. you should be at least getting 8mbit to 10mbit

[Spartanfrog]

Yeah but 10mbit can only hold 50 css slots and less tf2 slots. So as soon as you hit the limit, you will get crazy lag.

[spunkster21]

ultramoo Wrote:I've had a similar issue. just to test, put CS to port 27100 and TF 27050 .... long shot but doesn't hurt to try.

And when you say

Quote:"The annoying thing is I'm supposed to have 100Mbps up/down but speed tests show otherwise "

What were the test results? .. you should be at least getting 8mbit to 10mbit

Well I've run two speed tests: http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest.html

That gave the upload at just under 10Mpbs, download was ~40Mbps

http://www.speedtest.net/ gave me ~20Mbps down and ~45Mbps up

Mind you both CS:S and TF2 servers were running at the time. TF2 was empty, around 30 players on the CS:S server.

Would you be able to point me to a bandwidth calculator for CS:Source and TF2?

Thanks for the help so far guys.

Spunky