Game server on home cable connection

[bda1967]

Hi all. I hope that this is the right place to post this so here it goes... IF I wanted to build a public game server for say about 20 slots, would my home cable conenction be able to handle that much traffic? I have RR turbo and get roughly 19,000 kb/s download and 760 kb/s upload on my home network. As far as I know, I do not have any kind of cap.

My followup question is what kind of security precautions would I have to take so as not to allow my network to be compromised? Put the server in a DMZ?

[ppe1700]

how much bandwidth does a single slot take?

if you dont know, then what does the manufacturer say each individual would need as a download? eg, if they recommend you have a 1mbit minimum download connection, then you will need about a meg upload per person.

off the top of my head you will probably need 100 - 200kbit per person connected. someone else should be able to clarify.

if you could, you should firewall the server, and only allow the ports through that you need. you should also, firewall the server from your own network, so that if it is compromised then it is isolated from anything else.

[bda1967]

Well I will need to investigate that. It would be a COD 5 World at War Server. EDIT: I'm thinking that it would lag too much on my home connection.

[EarthDog]

IIRC, its your upload speeds when hosting that matter the most. I wouldnt host a server with anything liess than 1.5mb upload personally. Maybe only run it as a 10 man server would help. The more people on, the more bandwidth is needed.

Try it. See if you ping increases with 6, 10, 14, 20 people and limit your server to w/e is acceptable (I would say under 100 average).

[bda1967]

if you could, you should firewall the server, and only allow the ports through that you need. you should also, firewall the server from your own network, so that if it is compromised then it is isolated from anything else.

Would I need three routers for that or would two suffice for security? One for splitting the connection from the modem, one for the home network and one for the server. Or would I just need one for splitting the connection and the server traffic would be passing through the first one to a second router for the server?

[CGR]

You may want to double check if you have a cap or not. A lot of time, ISP's dont tell their customers about a cap.

[nd4spdbh2]

I have run a cs 1.6 server from my house for the past 6yrs... and the last 2 i have had it on 24/7. I have always had just one good router... no need for 2 or 3... just open the correct ports

as to what your connection can handel... id be willing to bet the 19mbit download is more like 10 cus of speed boost but thats lovely cable net... regardless is the slower upload thats going to limit you. Now i know on HLDS (cs 1.6 server) you can change rates to change the amount of bandwidth used, go to low and game play becomes horrible. So id imagine there are such implementations in todays new game servers. BUT you really should look to find what kinda bandwidth is going to be needed... i doubt ull be able to run a 20 person COD5 server on just 760kbit.... my 2mbit upload wont run a 20 person bf2 server...

a quick google search shows that a COD4 server takes ~ 75kbit per slot MINIUM without voice chat or n e thing.... so ur looking at maybe 10ppl.

[bda1967]

I was afraid that I wasn't getting enough bandwidth. Thanks everyone for the replies.

[realtadiquantu]

I was afraid that I wasn't getting enough bandwidth. Thanks everyone for the replies.

Couple of thoughts:

Ping on a cable connection game server even with 1-5 persons tends to be very high. (from my experience on Adelphia, Cox, and Time Warner)

Most TOS agreements for residential cable connections bar you from hosting a server of any kind.

[nd4spdbh2]

Couple of thoughts:

Ping on a cable connection game server even with 1-5 persons tends to be very high. (from my experience on Adelphia, Cox, and Time Warner)

Most TOS agreements for residential cable connections bar you from hosting a server of any kind.

any type of residential connection doesnt "allow" you to run a server... which includes transferring a file over aim... but really they just block the ports they dont want u running a server on... which is usually just port 80

As per pings being higher on a cable connection thats a fallacy... i ran my cs sevrer on a 3mb / 512kbit cable connection from adelphia for 4 yrs without ping probs... granted it did go down when i went to fios but so did everything as i now have fiber commin all the way to the house.

[realtadiquantu]

any type of residential connection doesnt "allow" you to run a server... which includes transferring a file over aim... but really they just block the ports they dont want u running a server on... which is usually just port 80

As per pings being higher on a cable connection thats a fallacy... i ran my cs sevrer on a 3mb / 512kbit cable connection from adelphia for 4 yrs without ping probs... granted it did go down when i went to fios but so did everything as i now have fiber commin all the way to the house.

Yes, so if his server's traffic is causing other users in his area to complain, or creating congestion, they may warn or terminate his connection until he calls in to confirm he understands the TOS.

Again, I noted from my experience and yes this will depend on many things including network location and load which was various So Cal locations. I have yet to find a cable spot that didn't have low pings.

[nd4spdbh2]

Yes, so if his server's traffic is causing other users in his area to complain, or creating congestion, they may warn or terminate his connection until he calls in to confirm he understands the TOS.

Again, I noted from my experience and yes this will depend on many things including network location and load which was various So Cal locations. I have yet to find a cable spot that didn't have low pings.

ur cable net must suck cus back when i had adelphia then time warner cable net i always had good pings. and i dont think maxing your upload is going to cause congestion probs... espically considering its limited to a very low 720kbit... and if it does, the technology in place in your area must suck BIG TIME and TW or whom ever ur cable company really would need to get that solved.... considering i can get a residential 50/20mbit connection from verizon that i could run constant up and download and have no probs.. 720kbit should be a breeze.

[ppe1700]

Couple of thoughts:

Ping on a cable connection game server even with 1-5 persons tends to be very high. (from my experience on Adelphia, Cox, and Time Warner)

Most TOS agreements for residential cable connections bar you from hosting a server of any kind.

this is because cable connections are also contended with everyone else in your street.

[gangaskan]

this is because cable connections are also contended with everyone else in your street.

street? try blocks or even more.

even if you upgrade to a business package you're still on that line regardless.

the one reason is more $ for them, you get a static IP and the ISP is happy