Gaming Server: 4 Things You Should Know
What is a gaming servers are and why they’re important?
Gaming servers are specialised computer systems designed to host and run multiplayer games over the internet. They provide a central hub for players to connect and play together, allowing them to join or create matches, communicate with each other, and access game data.
Gaming servers are essential for many online games, as they help to ensure that gameplay runs smoothly and that all players have a fair and consistent experience. Without servers, games would have to rely on peer-to-peer connections between players, which can be unreliable and difficult to manage.
In addition to providing a stable and secure platform for online gameplay, gaming servers also offer a range of customisation options for players and server administrators. These can include things like changing game settings, creating custom maps or game modes, and setting up automated moderation tools.
You can go down the traditional route of building your own server, configuring it as necessary and hosting it from your home. However, you may run into problems with this. You must consider the cost of the machines themselves, transport and bills. Bear in mind you will need to spend a lot of your time configuring and maintaining these servers. And what if you need to expand your setup? If you’re lacking the physical space or necessary equipment this can be another issue.
A solution to these problems is having a remote server in a secure, reliable data centre. Thousands of providers focus solely on pre-configured gaming servers; however, you may be restricted in what you can do with this. Unless you plan on hosting a very large server with hundreds of players, you don’t need a custom setup or expensive hardware to host your gaming environment.
If you choose a remote server for your private gaming platform, you need to consider several things.
1. What type of game are you hosting?
If you’re planning to host a game, it’s important to consider the type of game you’ll be hosting in order to choose the right server. Older games may require less processing power and memory, meaning you can use a cheaper server with minimal hardware setup. For example, an FPS game like Counter Strike can run on just 2GB of RAM and a 2-core processor.
However, newer open-world games with a large amount of resources require more processing power, memory, and storage. If you plan to host a larger server with modifications, you’ll need at least 16 or 32GB of RAM and a fast quad-core processor.
Some of the most popular hosted games today are:
- Minecraft is a popular sandbox game that can be played in various modes and on both single-player and multiplayer servers. Hosting a Minecraft server can be a great way to collaborate on building projects or minigames, but can require significant processing power and memory due to the game’s extensive modding community
- Valheim is an action-adventure game set in a Viking-inspired world. It can be played in both single-player and multiplayer modes, allowing players to explore the world and battle various creatures. Hosting a Valheim server can be a great way to play with friends.
- Ark: Survival Evolved is an action-adventure survival game set in a world filled with prehistoric creatures. It can be played in both single-player and multiplayer modes, allowing players to explore the world, gather resources, and tame dinosaurs. An Ark server can be a great way to play with friends.
- Conan Exiles is a survival game set in a fantasy world based on Conan the Barbarian. It can be played in multiple modes, with hosting requirements depending on the number of players.
- Rage MP is a multiplayer modification for the popular video game Grand Theft Auto V. It allows players to create custom servers and play together in a variety of game modes.
- V Rising is a survival game set in a dark fantasy world where players take on the role of a vampire. Players able to build their own castle and recruit minions to aid in their survival.
2. How many players are going to be using your gaming server?
The size of your player base will help you determine the minimum system requirements for your gaming server. More connections to your server means your server has to process more information, therefore you’re going to need more processing power and memory. This means that the minimum hardware requirements are going to be higher for servers with larger amounts of active players.
The number of players active on your server is going to depend on the type of game you’re playing as well. With an older first person shooter game such as Counter Strike, you won’t usually find many more than 12 players in a match. Massively Multiplayer Online games such as Word of Warcraft however, can have hundreds of players on a server!
When accommodating a large amount of players you will also want to allocate a higher budget for your hardware costs. If you aim to expand your player base, you may want to consider planning ahead and having the right hardware available to avoid constant upgrades and migrations.
3. Which operating system should you choose?
When selecting an operating system for your gaming server, you have two primary options: Windows and Linux.
Windows is a popular choice for beginners, as it has a more user-friendly interface and is easier to set up. It supports many games and can be easily configured with a graphical user interface. It also has better compatibility with third-party software such as game control panels, which can help you manage your server and perform updates more easily. Windows servers are particularly useful if you want to run games that have specific Windows-only dependencies.
Linux is a popular choice for experienced server operators, as it offers greater flexibility and stability. Linux servers can be optimised for performance, and they are also more secure than Windows servers due to their open-source nature, which allows for frequent updates and patches. It also has a wide range of community-supported applications, like game server management tools. Linux is particularly useful if you want to run large servers that require a lot of resources, or if you want to customise your server’s settings.
One example of a game that is better suited to a particular operating system is Minecraft. While Minecraft can be run on both Windows and Linux servers, it is generally more stable and efficient when running on a Linux server. This is because Minecraft’s Java-based server software performs better on a Linux platform due to its ability to handle large amounts of memory and CPU-intensive processes.
For these reasons, it’s most often recommended that Linux is used over Windows, however Windows is still commonly used. Counter Strike: Global Offensive for example is often hosted on Windows as the installation process is simple and quick, with plenty of online support available.
Ultimately, the choice of operating system will depend on your personal preference and the specific requirements of your game and server.
4. What are the minimum / recommended system requirements to host your game?
The minimum and recommended system requirements to host your game will vary depending on the specific game you want to host. Generally, newer games with advanced graphics and more complex gameplay will require higher hardware specifications.
To determine the minimum requirements, you should check the game’s official website or documentation. This will usually include information on the required amount of RAM, CPU speed, and storage space.
Examples of minimum and recommended system requirements for our most popular games are:
- Minecraft:
- Minimum: 2GHz processor, 2GB RAM, 100MB hard drive space
- Recommended: 3GHz processor, 4GB RAM, 1GB hard drive space
- Preferred operating system: Linux
- Valheim:
- Minimum: Dual-core 2.6GHz processor, 4GB RAM, 1GB hard drive space
- Recommended: Quad-core 3GHz processor, 8GB RAM, 2GB hard drive space
- Preferred operating system: Linux
- Ark: Survival Evolved:
- Minimum: 2GHz dual-core processor, 4GB RAM, 60GB hard drive space
- Recommended: 3GHz quad-core processor, 8GB RAM, 120GB hard drive space
- Preferred operating system: Windows
- Conan Exiles:
- Minimum: Intel Quad Core i5 processor, 6GB RAM, 35GB hard drive space
- Recommended: Intel Quad Core i7 processor, 8GB RAM, 35GB hard drive space
- Preferred operating system: Linux
- V Rising:
- Minimum: Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 10GB hard drive space
- Recommended: Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 20GB hard drive space
- Preferred operating system: Linux
It’s important to note that these are just the example requirements, and if you plan on hosting a server with a large number of players, you may need to invest in more powerful hardware to ensure a smooth and stable gaming experience.
So you’ve got a better idea of what you need to host your gaming server, the only thing left to do is to choose your provider and place the order.
The good news is you don’t need to spend ages looking for an affordable, reliable host. With our Cloud Virtual Private Server and Dedicated Server packages, you can get your gaming server off the ground without breaking the bank.
For more information on how you can get started feel free to contact our sales department.
