BASIC INFO
Server OS: Windows Server 2012 x64
Processor: Pentium D 3.0GZ HT, single core, socket 775
Ram: 2GB DDR1
Game(s): Zombie Panic! Source
Start Up Command: srcds.exe -console -game zps -maxplayers 18 -ip 192.168.1.123 -port 27015 (from memory)
Admin Mods: Metamod, sourcemod
NETWORK AND BANDWIDTH INFO
Bandwidth: Down ~12, up ~2mbits. Comcast Performance Tier
Router: Cisco/Linksys E3000
Local IP of Server: 192.168.1.123
External IP: Varies
If you have a non-typical home network, please put a small diagram.
[Server] --> [old router used as switch] --> [5port gbit switch] -->[Router] --> [Modem] --> [Internet]
CONFIG ISSUES
maxupdaterate 8000
minupdaterate 4000
maxcmdrate 60
mincmdrate 10 (not sure if those are the actual commands, I am doing this from memory, but I do remember the values). These are the recommended values from a "setup a ZPS server" thread on the ZPS boards.
So I've been searching for awhile and read quite a few things, but I haven't found many suggestions besides 'don't do that'. Yes, I am hosting this server at home, but my upload is pretty solid and aside from just natural latency, I don't believe this is the problem. I have a 2mbit upload, and on average, my outbound bandwidth is on the order of 400kbits/s to 900kbits/s.
So here's the issue - like everyone else I'm trying to get my pings down. I'm trying to narrow down how much of the issue is internet latency and how much of it is CPU performance.
When only a few (2-5) people are connected, US/Canada pings are in the 80-120 range, mostly right at 100. Other countries (europe) are around 175-200. My ping (from another computer on my home wired network) is around 5-10. CPU usage (without FPS booster) is around 2-5%, FPS always around 64-65. With FPSbooster, CPU usage goes to 8-10%, FPS around 240ish. Similar pings for both with and without FPSbooster.
When the server is near full, the pings start going up, but not a huge amount. With 14 people, pings to US/Canada based people are up to 110-150, europe varies much more at 200-350. FPSbooster on/off doesn't seem to affect the numbers, but CPU usage without FPSbooster is 10-15%, with FPS booster CPU usage hits 25-35%. With FPS booster, max fps as reported in console is around 220-230. Here's the kicker - pings to a local player on my network are around 50ish.
So, something is lagging the server as more people join, and its not only internet latency, as my local computer has pings of 50 when lots of stuff is going on.
The SRCDS CPU priority is set to high.
Here are my questions:
Is this hardware too old, realistically? Its easy to recommend I toss the box and go out and buy an IvyB quadcore, but at a peak of 35% cpu usage on this old pentium D my gut instinct says this is not the issue.
I doubt much latency is caused by my main router, as its relatively new and has been pretty darn stable, but I'm wondering if any of the problem is caused by using an old router as a switch. When I say old, I mean really old, as in before wireless routers old. I've disabled DHCP, its only being used as a switch. Its not managing any traffic. Obviously, I plan on connecting the server directly to the router to rule this out, but just haven't done it yet. Also, this will take considerable time to rewire, so I'd like to know if I'm barking up the wrong tree.
I don't think its a network bandwidth issue, as the lowest I can get USA pings down to, even during low load, is about 80ms. I can jump on any other ZPS server myself and get a ping of 40-50 on my own connection.
TL;DR- pings go up by about 50 across the board with lots of users. Not sure if network or CPU limited. Expect CPU due to similar lag on LAN connection, but CPU usage 35% at worst.
Server OS: Windows Server 2012 x64
Processor: Pentium D 3.0GZ HT, single core, socket 775
Ram: 2GB DDR1
Game(s): Zombie Panic! Source
Start Up Command: srcds.exe -console -game zps -maxplayers 18 -ip 192.168.1.123 -port 27015 (from memory)
Admin Mods: Metamod, sourcemod
NETWORK AND BANDWIDTH INFO
Bandwidth: Down ~12, up ~2mbits. Comcast Performance Tier
Router: Cisco/Linksys E3000
Local IP of Server: 192.168.1.123
External IP: Varies
If you have a non-typical home network, please put a small diagram.
[Server] --> [old router used as switch] --> [5port gbit switch] -->[Router] --> [Modem] --> [Internet]
CONFIG ISSUES
maxupdaterate 8000
minupdaterate 4000
maxcmdrate 60
mincmdrate 10 (not sure if those are the actual commands, I am doing this from memory, but I do remember the values). These are the recommended values from a "setup a ZPS server" thread on the ZPS boards.
So I've been searching for awhile and read quite a few things, but I haven't found many suggestions besides 'don't do that'. Yes, I am hosting this server at home, but my upload is pretty solid and aside from just natural latency, I don't believe this is the problem. I have a 2mbit upload, and on average, my outbound bandwidth is on the order of 400kbits/s to 900kbits/s.
So here's the issue - like everyone else I'm trying to get my pings down. I'm trying to narrow down how much of the issue is internet latency and how much of it is CPU performance.
When only a few (2-5) people are connected, US/Canada pings are in the 80-120 range, mostly right at 100. Other countries (europe) are around 175-200. My ping (from another computer on my home wired network) is around 5-10. CPU usage (without FPS booster) is around 2-5%, FPS always around 64-65. With FPSbooster, CPU usage goes to 8-10%, FPS around 240ish. Similar pings for both with and without FPSbooster.
When the server is near full, the pings start going up, but not a huge amount. With 14 people, pings to US/Canada based people are up to 110-150, europe varies much more at 200-350. FPSbooster on/off doesn't seem to affect the numbers, but CPU usage without FPSbooster is 10-15%, with FPS booster CPU usage hits 25-35%. With FPS booster, max fps as reported in console is around 220-230. Here's the kicker - pings to a local player on my network are around 50ish.
So, something is lagging the server as more people join, and its not only internet latency, as my local computer has pings of 50 when lots of stuff is going on.
The SRCDS CPU priority is set to high.
Here are my questions:
Is this hardware too old, realistically? Its easy to recommend I toss the box and go out and buy an IvyB quadcore, but at a peak of 35% cpu usage on this old pentium D my gut instinct says this is not the issue.
I doubt much latency is caused by my main router, as its relatively new and has been pretty darn stable, but I'm wondering if any of the problem is caused by using an old router as a switch. When I say old, I mean really old, as in before wireless routers old. I've disabled DHCP, its only being used as a switch. Its not managing any traffic. Obviously, I plan on connecting the server directly to the router to rule this out, but just haven't done it yet. Also, this will take considerable time to rewire, so I'd like to know if I'm barking up the wrong tree.
I don't think its a network bandwidth issue, as the lowest I can get USA pings down to, even during low load, is about 80ms. I can jump on any other ZPS server myself and get a ping of 40-50 on my own connection.
TL;DR- pings go up by about 50 across the board with lots of users. Not sure if network or CPU limited. Expect CPU due to similar lag on LAN connection, but CPU usage 35% at worst.
