Counter-strike server
 

Hi, I'm thinking about hosting game-servers after I finish with my current project. So lets say I have a box of my own, I set it up. I make directories 1, 2, 3, 4 Each of those directories I install one instance of a gameserver.

How do I know where to get the ip to target each of those folders? Do I have to pay for those ips? Because I heard you had to pay for them

2nd method

Can I create those same 4 directories, however then use subdomains to route to those directories.

Such as 1.gamerental.com 2.gamerental.com and so on, I don't hvae to pay for these right? Since I am using subdomains. Thanks

First of all, I don't play counter-strike, so keep that in mind.

Secondly, I'm assuming that you want this to be available to the internet-at-large.

You'd have to configure the CS server to bind from the IP to whatever the instance of the CS server is installed. I doubt CS servers are smart enough to understand hostnames, in which case you could get away with hosting multiple CS servers on one IP.

Typically, you get 1 ip from your ISP for "free". If you want multiple IP's, you have to pay for a subnet from your ISP. For this, you would most likely need to upgrade your account at your ISP to a business account. Some ISP's may not require this.

As to the subdomains, see my above answer about hostnames and CS servers.

o they can use subdomains, I've seen people use them as the primary address. I'm actually colocating this server I plan to use as well. So cs servers are smart enough to understand hostnames, would that mean I could seperate all the instances of cs servers by subdomains for free? Thanks

Well, the important thing to understand is that sub-domains are just names.. they don't really reflect too much on if the CS server can handle it or not.

The question is really if the CS servers are smart enough to understand hostnames, that is:


cs1.yourdomain.com
cs2.yourdomain.com
cs3.yourdomain.com
cs4.yourdomain.com

would all point to a single IP address. When the CS client connects up, it would say "i'm looking for cs1.yourdomain.com", and the cs server would say "Oh, that instance is in this directory..." As I said, I would be surprised if the CS servers supported this.

Also, you could run the CS servers on different ports, if the CS clients can connect up to different server ports automagically.

If you are being colocated, ask if a /29 is included in the colocation fee. This would give you 6 IP's total, and 5 that you could play with. (The sixth would be for the ISP's router.)

*cough*cough*we do colocation*cough*cough*

Hi, o, so I do have to pay for ip addresses then, but if it were smart enough then yeh sub-domains would do fine. O how much do you charge for colocation? Do you have a site with your rates? Where are you guys located at, because there's a one at fremont I can just run to. Oh yeah, ports, are these free? Can I have limitless ports? So like one ip address, thousands of ports = lots of servers? Where do I go to learn how to set up ports per folder? Thanks a bunch

However, I'm very sure I'll use subdomains, because euphNET lan center uses pub1.euphnet.com pub2.euphnet.com

Ports are on your computer, so there's no charge for them. You can have a large amount of ports on your server, in the range of ~65000.
The ports for folder question is something you'll have to figure out on your own, since that is dependent on what software you are using. In this case, that software would be the CS server.


pub1.euphnet.com and pub2.euphnet.com point to different IP addressess.

Sounds like you are a little new to networking, below are some links to help you understand some things that will be fundemental for you to be running a server.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmi...ntrol_Protocol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dns
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Protocol


//not sure how much longer the mods will tolerate this thread ;)

I've run many CS servers and what MrMudd is saying is absolutely correct.

The way Counter-Strike Server works is that you have a configuration file that tells the server the port on which it needs to listen. When running multiple instances of the server you can change the port numbers to be different so each server can have different users.

As for connecting to the servers, the CS server registers itself with the master servers by giving it's IP/Domain and the port information. Since this registration happens automaticaly, the only way users need to know your port is if they are adding your server manualy.

Good luck with the server. If you are looking for an easy way to manage your server, I'd suggest the Counter-Strike pluging for Webmin. It works wonderfuly.

Feel free to email me at charon_79(at)hotmail.com with any other questions you might have or with the IP and port so I can play!

Cheers!

MrKnisely