[mohaa] Getting Complanes About High Ping, Is Config Ok?

[Eric Koldeweij]

Sounds to me like you're hitting a limit, not a cfg problem.
I see from your config that you run on a full T1, is that right? I 
assume it is so :)

A T1 is a full-duplex 2Mbit/sec connection, with rounds down to about 
200Kbyte/sec both up and down. Seeing that you have your clientrate set 
to 9000 bytes/sec it means that you can host (rounded down) 200 / 9 = 22 
users max. That is, if your box does not generate any other traffic. If 
you are above that number, pings WILL skyrocket...
You should check if there are other bandwidth-guzzlers active (like 
other game servers, web servers can use a lot of bandwidth too if there 
are many requests, and a popular ftp server is a real killer)

Assuming that you have bandwidth enough the only other limits (I can 
think of) you can hit is memory/CPU power. The MOHAA server really is a 
memory eater, and 256Mb minimum for a linux box without X running is 
really no luxury - 128Mb is too little.
Also a 600+ Mhz processor is advisable.

Easiest check is to do "uptime". it'll give you 3 load averages. If 
they're all permanently above 1, your box is too busy.

To figure out what the bottleneck is, most linux boxes come with handy 
tools. If you suspect bandwidth is the problem but you have no idea 
what's causing it, run (as root) "netstat -tuap". That'll give you a 
list of all TCP and UDP services currently running at your box. Check 
the second and third column of the output (the receive and send queue 
resp.). If many entries have large numbers there you have a definite 
bandwidth problem.

Also, run "top". That'll give you a lot of information about your 
system. If your box is using a lot of swap space you have a shortage of 
memory. If the used swap space is close to the max, you're in trouble - 
add memory as soon as possible or you'll risk processes crashing due to 
out-of-memory conditions. Also, check the CPU state(s). They should be 
idle for a considerable percentage. If permanently busy, your problem is 
CPU power.

First action I'd suggest is to lower the sv_maxRate to 7000 or even 
6000. Almost no client will notice a performance loss, and you will be 
able to serve more clients (28 and 33 resp. assuming no other traffic)

If there's a lot of traffic from time to time (like ftp transfers) you 
might consider installing the traffic shaper - this will allow you to 
limit the bandwidth for network connections. See the docs for a full 
explanation.

Last but not least (not very likely tho) is that (one of) your uplink(s) 
is at capacity... In that case you should experience packet loss, which 
you can check with ping.

Good luck!

Eric.

Roger Lund wrote:

>hi, i am running my server on t1 and peeps keep complaning so i thought
>maybe it was my config. I am trying to run 20 - 32 people. soon as i get
>over 10 people i get pings over 150.
>
>
>// Start Of Config
>
>sv_hostname "bob's Server" 
>
>//Sets the NAME of your server, what people will see in the browser 
>
>fraglimit 0 
>
>//Sets the limit of Frags that will end the match 
>//( 0 = no fraglimit)
>
>timelimit 20 
>//Sets the amount of time (in minutes) for map changes 
>//(0 = no timelimit)
>
>//This is the list of maps that will be cycled for the server
>
>sv_maplist "obj/obj_team2 obj/obj_team4 obj/obj_team1"
>
>
>//sv_maplist "dm/mohdm1 dm/mohdm2 dm/mohdm3 dm/mohdm4 dm/mohdm6 dm/mohdm7"
>
>
>
>
>set g_drawsvlag 0
>
>sv_allowDownload 0 
>
>//Toggles allowing client downloads from server, like custom maps 
>
>//(0-off 1-on)
>
>set sv_precache 0
>
>//sv_padPackets 1
>
>//set g_smoothClients 0
>
>sv_maxRate 9000 
>
>//Max data transmit rate by clients on the server. 
>
>//(setting depends on network)
>
>sv_maxPing 200 
>
>//Keeps anyone with a higher ping than this value from connecting 
>
>//to the server
>
>sv_fps 15
>
>//Server FPS, this should increase performance (20 is the default)
>sv_floodProtect 1 
>
>sets Connection "FuLL T1"
>
>//Flood protection from server crashing text messages
>
>//set flood_waitdelay 10 
>
>//not too sure on this, possibly time before flooder is allowed 
>
>//to type again (default)
>
>//set flood_persecond 4 
>
>//messages per second to be considered a flood ?? (default)
>
>//set flood_msgs 4 
>
>// ?? (default)
>
>//sv_pure 0 
>
>//Pak checker, does not allow clients to use PAK files the server
>//doesn?t have (0=off 1=on)
>
>sv_gamespy 1
>
>//Allows your server to show up in the Gamespy browser, and the 
>
>ui_gamespy "1"
>
>//In-game browser (v1.1)
>
>set g_inactiveKick 0 
>
>//Time (in seconds) that a client will be kicked for inactivity
>
>set g_inactiveSpectate 60 
>
>//Time (in seconds) that a client will be moved to spectator for 
>
>//inactivity 
>
>set g_teamdamage 0 
>
>//Sets friendly fire 0=off 1=on
>
>com_maxfps 60
>
>net_noipx 1 
>
>//Disallows IPX connections, TCP only (network protocol)
>
>net_port 12203 
>
>//Sets the port # for the game to run off of (12203 is the default)
>
>set sv_privateClients 2
>
>//private slots on the server
>
>set privatePassword **** 
>
>//password for private slots
>
>
>rconPassword **** 
>
>//Sets your RCON password to allow you Remote Administration
>
>// end of the config and remember a blank line at
>
>
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