Our own servers

[Agent Green]

Hey ALL

I am not a techie so you guys will need to comment whether this is even worth considering!

What would it take to buy/ rent and run our own server for 6 - 12 months?
What is the setup costs?
What are the monthly running/ bandwidth costs?
etc etc

I would want it ranked tho - coz I am a bit of a points fiend and like get promoted and all that - after all it ain't gonna happen at work lol

Seriously tho' - I'd been prepared to chip in a few ronts...

[SosmanSA]

mmm.... sounds like an excellent "pilot" for a work project
;)

[NerdBoyZa]

I know the game is bandwidth hungry :D

Anyone have particular stats? Also, would it cost anything to be Ranked? I would imagine that being EA, they MUST charge something to rank a server. :angry:

I have a 512 uncapped line through IS. I'm willing to offer that for use in the evenings when our mail/web doesn't need the bandwidth. I am however sure, this being the GEEKS afterall, that someone has a much better bandwidth capability out there somewhere.

[NerdBoyZa]

Oh, BTW - excellent idea. Hats off to you... :bow:

[stoke]

Hmmm ... it's not going to be ranked .. not until EA is owned by somebody else.

[TG]

I remember there was an option somewhere (I think maybe on the BF2 site) to rent ranked servers - but then it would be intl, which would suck.

Anyway, some of us had a great game of SF on Darnit's server - 4 of us incoming and it was as smooth as butter.

Considering we started out with Me, Darnit & Bass on the one team, and XEye and Fivel on the other. After a short while, Bass decided to swap teams to give XEye and Fivel a hand. Darnit was commander the whole round.
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1845/screen0186uu.th.jpg (http://img81.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screen0186uu.jpg)

[SaintMg]

i love the idea and if it is viable i would totaly go for it

so i think the best place to start is to ask what would we need to this ?

as for the rank thing not sure how or if it is even possible to get server ranked and if we could then it would only run EA maps

[TG]

Ok - as for ranking - if you're concerned about stats etc, there is an ALTERNATE ranking system (I think I posted about it somewhere in our BLG forum) that we can use. Not sure how difficult it is to hook up to a server. Anyway, then we could have our own ranks etc, and use custom maps.

[rainy]

For some price tags on rented servers, visit www.hetzner.co.za.

The biggest problem is the limited bandwidth. The Hetzner entry level server for R1095/month comes with 5GB limit, additional traffic R0.09/MB. Also the setup fee is a rip-off - R2850.

I don't have any other addresses right now, but I do know that I checked out the situation a short while ago, and it was just as bleak with other providers. I think going with Darnit's Server is the way to go right now.

Just for comparison, my dedicated server in Germany (also from Hetzner) comes with 500GB monthly traffic and costs less than R400 a month.

[NerdBoyZa]

Hi All.

Does the BF2 server run on Linux, or Windows?

Happy to start "our" unranked server as long as we can keep it to evenings, maybe have a set numbers of days it could be up on say weekends, and one or two weekdays between 20:00 and 03:00, with our custom maps etc.

I can do Linux, and Windows (if I have to - slower machines, due to windows overheads etc).

:D

[rainy]

There is a server package for both Windows and Linux.

[NerdBoyZa]

Is it worth setting up?

I've never done a server setup, so I would need some guidance from anyone who has experience......

@Darnit: Did you setup a server, or just a "local" game?

[stoke]

He'll be running a dedicated server. It chews far less resources than the in-game hosting.

[Bass]

.. and gives a LOT more options that one can set. The server prog is called BF2ServerLauncher.exe in your BF2 folder. Can setup BF2Recorder to record the whole game from there, as well as setup VOIP options etc ...

We are having a LAN day next w/e (anyone interested ?), so I've setup my work PC to act as a server & record the games for later gloating :D

[NerdBoyZa]

Ok.

Sounds like it could work. I have a Linux server that is pretty idle most of the time, esp weekends, and evenings. I'm willing to open the necessary ports, and invest some of my time getting stuff going, if we are going to make use of the server. I have a fair wack of disk space at the moment as well, so could even do the battlerecorder thing.

I'm just worried about the bandwidth thing. Would I be able to play an online game, whilst the server is being used, lets say in the senario that I didn't feel like playing on "our" server? I suppose we could try, and if it's a problem, work round it.

Does anyone (Rainy, TG , Stoke .... ) know where I can get the Linux version of the Server + Patches etc? I suppose I could eventually find it on the net, but feel like doing a Google session right now.

I'll try start tonight if I can get all the necessary bits and pieces.

:D:D:D This is quite exciting actually.

[rainy]

You can get the server files at battlefield.ea.com or www.planetbattlefield.com.

I am afraid you won't be able to do much on your ADSL while peeps are using your server... Can always give it a try though.

[NerdBoyZa]

Thanks Rainy.

I'll give the downloads a bash.


Ok. Busy downloading the Linux server version +/- 260Mb.

[stoke]

What .. only 260 MB .... lollies ... kewl NBz.

[NerdBoyZa]

Yeh! ONLY!

Going to screw up my online session tonight though :(, but I'm keen to get it up and running:).

I'll keep posting here as I go.

Anyone going to be up late?

I might need help configuring up this thing. I'm ok with Linux, and iptables etc to get it all going on that side. I'm just not sure what the actual requirements and settings are on the BF2 server side.

If this works ok, any council objections to making this a WrG clan server?
No objections on my side to other peeps playing on it if they are invited on by one of the clan. I intend to run it with a password.

[Agent Green]

this sounds do-able, if you need emotional support or encouragement just shout and I'll post : you're the finest sqaud I have ever set eyes on"

[NerdBoyZa]

@ZN - LOL :rofl:

[Albereth]

Would that be the same server that runs PTBS?

[NerdBoyZa]

Would that be the same server that runs PTBS?

Nope. It would be the BIG black box in the corner, not the smaller black box under Fiona's table.

BTW when are we going to give the PTBS another bash?

@88% - should be another 30min or so, then I can better judge what's involved in setting it up.

[NerdBoyZa]

:bow:
It are up and running. Did a test wiff a friend last night.

For GEEKS you people sure go to bed early.....

:D

Let you all know details tomorrow.

[TG]

@ Nerdboy - you might want to give bf2cc a look.
Note sure if it can handle linux tho.
(Google it)

[rainy]

Yes it can. You have to install the MONO framework 1.1.1.2 to be able to use it.

www.bf2cc.com

[NerdBoyZa]

Hi all.

Okay. I managed to get the BF2 Linux server going last night. Impressively, it didn't take too much to get it going. Funnily enough it took me longer to copy it from my laptop to the server, than it took me to install (ftp, rcp, and all those goodies are disabled on the server - for obvious reasons). Eventually gave up, burn a CD with the stuff, and mounted it on the server that way....Sheesh!

I downloaded the BFCC stuff, and Mono as well, but have not installed, as I want to test before I go that route. I/we need to see how stable it is before we start adding other 3rd party thing to it, that might influence performance.

It seems to come with all the BF2, SF, and EF maps as standard - COOL Hey! :cool:

Way forward from here guys?

[NerdBoyZa]

The console admin, doesn't seem to be a real problem. You just have to learn the commands I suppose. I agree, it would be better with BFCC if we start dishing out admin to other people, as it would then be easier to do from a GUI + Client/Server type of architecture.

It would be a problem if you lost comms whilst on the command console (working remotely) as it would drop the server then. If I loose the console (locaaly), the server will have crashed anyway, so it's not a biggie.

:D

[Darnit696]

Is it worth setting up?

I've never done a server setup, so I would need some guidance from anyone who has experience......

@Darnit: Did you setup a server, or just a "local" game?

You will need the dedicated srver files available from EA. I only got the win version unfortunately.

Wif a help from TG set up a dedicated server. Opened ports as detailed http://www.wargeeks.org/showpost.php?p=7454&postcount=12
Got the Dynamic Ip addressing sorted with Dyndns http://www.dyndns.com


Since Punky, Megnut, Singit, Dukey and I all play on a LAN and I think we could get 4 peeps in over DSL successfully maybe even 5. We could get a game at my place going with 10/11 peeps.

[NerdBoyZa]

Howdy.

I'll start the server up tonight after the SF session, if I get home early enough to join and play, otherwise, it will be up before then.

IP: 196.211.60.195
Port: std (default) one 16567 or something like that
Password: Tiddlywinks

Password is case sensitive (I think).

I will be turning the server off during the day. Look at the server being up between 20:00 and 03:00 the next morning, if we end up doing this on a regular basis.

I am willing to run this every night if there is a demand. Map rotation is negotiable, but is currently set to alternate between urban & rural maps (vanilla BF2 only at moment). I can set up an SF or EF session if there is demand.

Please be selective in who you invite.... I will kick anyone who does not conform to the WrG code of conduct on fair play, (do we have an official document?), i.e. You WILL get kicked if you Spawn Rape, Base Camp etc.

---
For info purposes:
Server is a 3.0Ghz HT Pentium 4, with 1GB DDR 533 RAM & 4 x 160Gb SATA drives (Mirrored). OS is Fedora Core 4.

I think the contraint will be the ADSL line that it is running on, rather than the server performance.

Battlerecorders, BFCC, etc will be added if this becomes popular enough to warrant the time spend configuring it.

[stoke]

WOW ... thanks NBZ. Yup - password is case sensitive.
Is the IP Address fixed ?

[NerdBoyZa]

Yes, IP is fixed.

[NerdBoyZa]

There are a whole host of settings, which I have tried to keep standard, or set to what the Ranked servers have. These we can also discuss if we want to change them.

WARNING: I have friendly mines etc turned on at the moment.

Don't say I didn't tell you......

If we need to change any of these, we need to do it before I start the server.

Input Stoke? anyone?

[TG]

switch FF for mines on (ie, friendly mines hurt)
In order to have global unlocks available, you need to allow the server to be available on the internet (stupid I know).

Have you installed the totalbf2 map packs? I recommend 2 & 3 - I don't have 1 cuz I thought the maps sucked. -- I'll get them if necessary tho.

[Darnit696]

Yes please maps packs. Karkand 2 is a lot of fun won some or other award.
EDIT: You'll need to copy the maps into the server mod folder. Restart server and they will be available to select.Oh an allow global unlocks please. I'm fond of my g36e

[NerdBoyZa]

Ah :)

I had global unlocks, and couldn't figure out why I couldn't use them.

Thanks TG - it's now clear, but like you said, why it has to be available on the internet for it to work, I don't know.

I'll make that change.

I think that is the only one so far. Friendly mine damage is on already :D

I haven't loaded the Map Packs yet. I want to check if all is okay and stable before using any mods, or add-ons. If it doesn't crash now, but it does when I add a pack, then we'll know where it's coming from.

Please bear with the standard stuff for a day or two, then we can start customising the thing.

[NerdBoyZa]

I'll bring the server up before SF starts. I'm keen to see if I can play whilst it's running.

Should be up in 5 or so minutes. I'll post in the shout box when it's ready to go.