linux server...

[muncher]

Hi there,
I'm planning on hosting my own linux server and was wondering if there are any differences between using a linux server or a windows based server for moh. I would definitely prefer using a linux server since the admin of that would be much easier than windows box.


Also, depending on which os I'm using, and say I had a plethora of bw, can I run more instances of moh on the linux server or on the windows server - or is there no difference in the number. Currently, I'm running a dual mp2000 athlon server with 512 MB of ram and was wondeirng how many instances I can run without thrashing the server.

Thanks,
Anthony

[DogMeat]

I think there is a huge difference, for game servers Linux wins hands down. Consider just the basic system load of Windows at the desktop with a Linux box at a text console (runlevel3). Start your server automatically at runlevel 3 using screen to detach the console, and then you can switch to runlevel 5 for XWindows if needed, and back to text, all without disturbing your running server. A million more reasons; security, scripting support, etc.

You'll find running multiple servers alot easier on Linux also, and with a decent box you'll most likely find yourself running out of bandwidth before you start bogging down CPU/Disk. You can even use symlinks to use one set of base files with multiple configurations for different users. And while Q3A is/was capable of using MP support internally, I believe it's totally broken in MoHAA. Of course your Linux OS will probably do it's own balancing anyways.

[muncher]

I think there is a huge difference, for game servers Linux wins hands down. Consider just the basic system load of Windows at the desktop with a Linux box at a text console (runlevel3). Start your server automatically at runlevel 3 using screen to detach the console, and then you can switch to runlevel 5 for XWindows if needed, and back to text, all without disturbing your running server. A million more reasons; security, scripting support, etc.

You'll find running multiple servers alot easier on Linux also, and with a decent box you'll most likely find yourself running out of bandwidth before you start bogging down CPU/Disk. You can even use symlinks to use one set of base files with multiple configurations for different users. And while Q3A is/was capable of using MP support internally, I believe it's totally broken in MoHAA. Of course your Linux OS will probably do it's own balancing anyways.

Great, I was thinking alongs the same lines. The only thing that I can see that may go wrong with running a linux moh server is that the linux server may not be fully stable compared to the Windows version of the moh server. I don't think it's EA supported...is it? However, if it turns out that the linux server is just as stable as the windows version, I think my choice is very obvious at this point. A couple of questions from your reply:

1. do I even have to go to xwindows? I would love it if the server can run without any need of going into xwindows...the moh linux server is simply run as a unix process and doesn't need any graphical output..correct?

2. How many linux servers do you think I can run on a dual athlon 2000 (1.6 mhz) box with 512 MB of ram with quick hard disks. I'm thinking alongs the lines of 10 servers on this box..but I can be wrong. (again, excluding any bw limitations that I may have with my host)

Thanks..

Anthony

[DogMeat]

Yes the Linux server is EA supported, in fact the guy who ports it already has the Spearhead Gold CD from EA for porting the next generation. It's more stable and even has a few bugfixes and extra features that aren't in the Win version.

No, you absolutely do not need XWindows installed to run the Linux MoHAA binaries. I gave that example to show how you can start a server and then do whatever you need to on the box, including X if needed.

I've seen server providers say anything from 4 to 6 max on a box, all the way up to 10 to 16 on a box, for both Win and Linux OS's. Check out some of the listed MOH Game Server Providers listed here, most of them list specs on their boxes and how many servers max they run.

See this post for some Linux Shell Scripts:
http://mohadmin.com/nuke/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=91&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=&sid=ba93e4820959de15ac8e7c00de6b9949

You also have the ability to use

http://www.clanshortfuse.com/mohaa_admintool.shtml
A type of Autokick for Linux with working TK control, becuase of the fixed sv_chatter command.
News is posted on front site all the way towards the bottom.

Also you can now use
sv_chatter

[code:1]Usage: rcon sv_chatter [1 or 0]

This will echo any chat to console. It not only shows the general chat (useful for parsing to ban bad swear people) but also shows DM taunts

Submitted by GI jerk[/code:1]

[breakaway]

That's great to hear the porting work is already started for Spearhead, I was really wondering how long it would take to port it over...