I am having an unusual problem with a dedicated server.

Set up a dedicated server then launch TT. Find my server on list, no ping problems.

Join my dedicated server and then 10 seconds or so later, this pulse-like lag starts. It pulses like a heartbeat every second or so.

So I turn down firewall... Same problem. Tried other things, same problem.

Asked Sluggy about it. He said he had seen it too when server's host joined his dedicated server, but he didn't know the cause.

What is this??? My computer is 2.4 GHz and 256 RAM and I am on cable. Should be np?

HELP!

Last edited: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 at 12:00:54 PM

Some indication now that 256 RAM is not enough...

Am tinkering...

Did notice, however, that dedicated server has four buffers and some other buffer details. If you are running d server, do they need to be set higher if you are running anti-virus and firewall?

No, stop you are giving me too much information...

Last edited: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 at 11:37:02 AM

Do you have a hardware firewall?

With my hardware firewall, which has port forwarding set up to outsiders can get through, I get 2 instances of my server on the server list. One is on the LAN, and the other is on the interent through the firewall. If I join the server through the firewall (which has a higher ping), I get the pulse-lag. Essentially, I'm connecting to my own computer through the firewall and back to the same machine. Which doesn't work so well.

There are probably other causes for it too... :[

Thank you, 56k Lag Specialist

Glad to hear someone else has experienced lag of this nature. Lag is common, but this heartbeat thing is truly weird.

Assume this is what you say: "connecting my own computer through the firewall and back to the same machine."

Last edited: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 10:59:37 AM

Does it only happen when you join your dedicated server? Does it still do it when you launch your server from in game?

Open up port 28000 or whatever is used on your firewall

Will try and respond back. Thanks for suggestions.

...(later) only does it when I join my dedicated server. CPU maxs when dedicated server runs. RAM is to 800. Dedicated server runs on 28000 port.

Out of my depth. Have a nice day.

Last edited: Friday, February 27, 2004 at 3:24:51 AM

Edit: General Observation on LAAAAAAAAAAAG

@Solved the Heartbeat Lag: Was the video card, 88 2/3% sure. A poor video card seems to have overloaded the CPU -- even though the CPU is fast. Also ended up having router problems that prevented my ded server from being "seen" on the master list.

Video Card Conclusions/Theories:

1. The lower meg video card, the more load on the CPU and, therefore, the more computer-generated lag. Macs seem to have stronger and faster video setups than PC's. (Lag also caused by distance between computers. Service-generated lag is higher on DSL. But even cable has some lag issue. Namely, "asynchronous" transmission. The "in" speed is higher than the "out" speed... If you want to get in trouble with the cable company, try ramping up the slower speed.)

2. Get an AGP video card instead of PCI. All store people rolled eyes at PCI. Never got a street-level reason why. I tried a PCI first by error and it did not work well. The AGP did. Of course, only on PC's. If you're a real gamer, you get the 500-plus meg video card!

Router Conclusions:

1. Unmasking the ded server requires opening port 28000 on the firewall, as many have mentioned. If you have a router that may not be easy depending on the brand. Be cautioned unwary, the terminology is different for many router brands and the documentation and tech support may be hair-pulling.

2. Use Netgear. My recommendation is to stay away from Belkin and Microsoft, at least. Reasons: Belkin wouldn't allow TT through even with the port open. Microsoft wanted to download a flood of junk and spam. Netgear integrated more easily; it's only flaw is no quick and easy way to enable or disable the port... Within the tolerable range of putz chorework.

3. If you want to see if the ded server is visible, start a ded server game and then go to Gnometech's site (address on PTT) and see if your ded server name is up. Of course, will have to mod the prefs file and name the server, as per z's instructions on PTT.

4. Want a recipe for a mess? Mix mirky instructions on the hardware and vague directions on software (especially Microsoft, the king of shiny confusion). Then get one keystroke in the wrong place...

Last edited: Friday, February 27, 2004 at 3:27:16 AM

Bolos way of running game servers

-hardware firewalls suck at running game servers most of the time...

-if u have to disable ur hardware firewall or enable game options on the firewall for the period of time u r hosting

-run a software firewall (like zonealarm) instead and open up necessary ports. (ie 2800)

Optimizing

-give the server process a HIGH priority.

-give the game a high priority too

-give network services high priority

-kill everything else using network and any unnecessary services possible (do a netstat to check it out)

-kill email apps, instant messaging programs, etc. Anything that periodically listens is bad

-sometimes I kill ad and virus real time protectors while im playing. Saves a ton of memory

-dont go thru any proxy if at all possible

-restart computer b4 hosting

-make sure correct amount of page file space is allocated

-defrag page file often (I use diskkeeper. Worth its weight in gold. Best 20 bucks since TT)

Video stuff

As I mentioned elsewhere, aggressive video drivers can cripple your system (nvidia is famous for overly aggressive video drivers). If your TT video settings are too high, u can sometimes lag slightly. Combine that with a slight lag from the server and you could get a bad lag that maybe nobody else gets. Know your hardware limits... TT is a new game and uses some of the latest multimedia techniques such as ogg files, c#, OpenGL, direct3d, etc. For a simple game it is VERY demanding... Game itself is small in size because much of the game relys on the aforementioned technologies.

Interesting Bolo. That's a lot of what to do. How about the how?

Zonealarm seemed as hard to deal with as Belkin. Baaaad instructions.

Killing the entire firewall (that what you're saying?) is non bon.

You've worked in tech support? You from India, by chance?

NO IM NOT FROM INDIA. All bruce springsteen born in the usa. Worked with a ton of tech guys from india though. What do u want to know?? Zonealarm has a great firewall and the free/shareware edition is pretty good. Search their website for instructions. If u have to bypass the routers firewall so u can run ur server for games sometimes. It is a last resort. That will open up potential risks so thats where zonealarm comes in.