Death Before Dishonor! :: Server Setup Guide

The Basics | Hosting | Administration Tools | Getting Traffic | Funding Your Server | Tips and Tricks

     So you've decided to rent a game server.  Well, there are a few things you need to decide before you take the leap.  First of all, whether you want a traditional shared game server, or a dedicated game server.  Apples and Oranges, one might say, but there is a very significant difference - both in price and application.  A traditional "shared" game server is much like shared web hosting; your game server is put onto one server with a few other customers.  Based on past experiences, this can be anywhere from 5-10 clients on one server, depending on what kind of game is being hosted.  This is fine, so long as the host correctly manages server load, but if you want to host more than a few servers, you should look into the possibility of a dedicated game server.

     A dedicated game server is a high-powered server rented to you by a hosting company.  This is a good option if you want total control over the software on your server.  As noted before, it also allows you to run multiple virtual game servers on one actual server.  This kind of server is not for the inexperienced, though.  When you rent a dedicated server, you're usually given a hosted box with a pre-installed operating system (usually some flavor of Linux, because of it's stability over Windows), and SSH (console) access to it.  If you're lucky, the hosting company will also include an installation of VNC, so that you can see and use the graphical user interface of the operating system.  More on that later.

     Once you've decided what kind of server you want, the next step is to decide on a mod.  This should be the easiest step, since you probably already play a Half-Life mod of some flavor if you're here.  Some things to consider, though:

- Counter-Strike and Counter-Strike: Source have a HUGE amount of pre-existing servers compared to third-party mods like Natural Selection or Day of Defeat.  You will probably get more traffic if you run a mod that is less server-rich.

- Before trying to start a server, think about what you could provide that would be different from others.  This will help drive traffic to your server.

- No matter what mod you pick, make sure that you like it enough to make an investment in a server.

    If you have a server type and mod in mind, it's time to think about hosting.