Hello, all. I haven't been able to find these questions asked quite
in this way, after much Google Groups searching. If anyone can
provide insights, it'll be extremely appreciated.
I have a 2nd PC that I have setup as a dedicated server, primarily for
use in league races, connected via cable modem (see specs below). The
problem is that we'll get a lot of drivers connected fine, but at some
point during the event, everyone has been getting simultaneously
disconnected (except me, connected directly via IPX). This happens
almost every time I host on the server and we have a decent-sized
field.
For example, we had an Intermediate Long league race this week with 14
people connected, including me. Everyone reported good connections at
the start and end of qualifying. We got through about half the race
with no disco's, then boom, everyone's Qual meters quickly climbed to
the top and they were disco'd (again, except for me, but I retired
after everyone else was gone). The server continued to run, though,
and even saved the replay.
When I join other races just as a client (i.e., my server is not
being used), my connection is nearly always rock solid.
So, I've been wondering about the GPL graphics "Effects" options
(i.e.., fire, smoke, dirt, dust, sparks, skid marks) might have on a
*dedicated* server. I have them selected on my server. Will having
these selected on a *dedicated* server put additional demands on the
server cpu or graphics card?
Also, I know those Effects options will increase the size of a server
replay. Could having them selected on a dedicated server impact the
connection quality to WinVROC clients, because of the server saving
the extra Effects data in the replay as the event progresses?
Detailed background information, specs, etc. are below. Thanks in
advance for any help!
Cheers,
Dave
Background Info:
* Cable modem connection via Charter Communications. Upload bandwidth
is 256 kbps, download is 1 Mbps
* Linksys 4-port router/switch. All necessary GPL ports, for both the
server & my client, are open
* Win98SE on both machines
* IP address is dynamically assigned by Charter
* Server config:
- 1.2 GHz Thunderbird CPU on Abit KT7-A
- 256 MB SDRAM
- (2) 12MB Voodoo 2's in SLI
- Matrox Millennium II AGP as primary video card
- Older IBM 20GB hard drive (ATA-33, I think)
- PCI NIC
- Registry is tweaked for cable/broadband, as detailed on the
www.speedguide.net site. Specifically, using their:
"sguide_tweak_98_ME" patch
Registry tweaks described in "Recommended settings for Windows
98 / 98SE / Windows ME"
- Virtual memory specified at 512MB
- File system set as "Network server"
- Server is always launched thru WinVROC as a dedicated server, and
runs GPL 1.2.0.1
* Client config (the system I race on):
- 1.4 GHz Thunderbird CPU on Abit KT7-A
- 256 MB SDRAM
- Voodoo 5 5500, AGP
- PCI NIC
- IPX connection to the server (IPX used only for GPL)
Here's the server's current core.ini file:
[ CLIENT ]
to_ip =
via_ip =
[ Communications ]
alternate_ip_addr_lookup = 1
bcast_augment_status = 0
bcast_listserv =
bcast_listserv_req =
bcast_listserv_req_freq = 10.000000
bcast_ping_disable = 0
bcast_ping_port = 6971
bcast_port = 6970
bcast_recv_disable = 0
bcast_send_disable = 0
bcast_send_freq = 30.000000
clock_adj_delay = 8
disable_ipx = 0
disable_modem = 1
disable_network = 0
disable_tcp_ip = 0
ignore_net_read_errors = 1
ignore_net_send_errors = 1
ip_addr_lookup_timeout = 2
log_server_comm_errors = 0
log_server_connect_status = 0
mem_client_send_every = 1
mem_client_send_size = 276
mem_server_send_every = 1
mem_server_send_size = 516
net_lan_client_send_every = 3
net_lan_client_send_size = 84
net_lan_server_send_every = 3
net_lan_server_send_size = 84
net_mdm_client_send_every = 3
net_mdm_client_send_size = 84
net_mdm_server_send_every = 3
net_mdm_server_send_size = 84
;net_ping_port = 6969
net_server_port = 32766
net_use_mdm_bandwidth_for_tcp_ip = 1
[ Hack ]
steer_ratio = 1
[ Joy ]
allow_force_feedback = 0
force_feedback_damping = 40.000000
force_feedback_latency = 0.085000
max_steering_torque = 225.000000
[ Rasterizer ]
fullScreen = 1
[ SERVER ]
auto_export_standings = 0
auto_save_replay = 0
dedicated = 0
launch = 0
max_car_class = 0
min_car_class = 2
max_latency = 0.0
password =
repeat = 0
[ Task ]
synch_method = 1
[ Replay ]
replayMemoryOverride = 60000
============================
Dave Mack
[email hidden]
(remove "nospamfor_" for correspondence)
nospamfor_david_mack <[email hidden]> wrote:
> So, I've been wondering about the GPL graphics "Effects" options
> (i.e.., fire, smoke, dirt, dust, sparks, skid marks) might have on a
> *dedicated* server. I have them selected on my server. Will having
> these selected on a *dedicated* server put additional demands on the
> server cpu or graphics card?
On a dedicated server you should not need anything like that turned on,
unless you are intending to watch from that pc's monitor, which is
not a good idea. Certainly any computer having to render & display full
effects at high resolution will have to put effort into the process.
For a dedicated server you would not want to do that. Uncheck
everything, and then leave the game in the menu screen rather than the
full screen display. Even a Pentium 200 can be a dedicated server that
way.
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Just a side note: Don't quote me but I'm pretty sure about this... If
the server does not have these turned on while recording the race event,
they will not be seen when watching a non-live replay (watching it a day or
two later). But, as long as all you're after is just a server and a basic
replay, then you don't need these turned on. I like watching my "client"
replays with them on :-)
--
Michael A. Barlow
