Starting a Game Server Provider?

[SNDickens]

I would like to start a GSP and am asking for where I can find information on what I need to get started. I plan on mainly offering Half-Life and its mods and maybe some other games. What specs would you recommend on dedicated boxes (and what companies to go with)? I also plan on offer web hosting on the same boxes (or should I use a separate box?). Thanks in advance for any help!

[Ross]

Your going into a business with heavy competition and extremely cheap prices. There is not really a document on how to run a GSP so I suggest talking to someone who does or has.

[nsusa]

I would keep the web hosting completely separated from the game server boxes.

Christoph

[Schaap]

Originally posted by nsusa:

I would keep the web hosting completely separated from the game server boxes.

Christoph

Highly recommended!

Don't forget: if you are running gameservers, we are probably talking about servers with a constant load of +- 80% and more.

You don't want to scare possible clients away because it takes 5 hours to load your website! And hey.. what does a Celeron 1400MHz with 50GB bandwidth cost these days? (You don't need more for 1 site...)

What you CAN do is running teamspeak / ventrilo on your gameservers, this is something modern gamers can't miss!

If I were you, I would start by renting 1 simple server, and put a few games on it, and put your website on a small reseller account.

Just me €0.02

[Hiltonizer]

i ran a fairly successful CS server company, only stopped because my partner and I both didnt have the time to put into it.

You're gonna need about 1gb of ram for every 8 servers, i'd try to have 1.5ghz of CPU for every 8 also.... on linux of course.

you'll need servers in different regions of the country for best customer satisfaction, HL gamers are picky about where there servers are, a good East and Central location is vital, anything in cali will be fine for west. Go with the planet or server matrix for central... i didnt have much success with either of my eastern providers, but NAC.net is fantastic if you can make it affordable.

thats my 2 cents, good luck.

[ltcjohnson]

I myself am starting a GSP. I just got an eastcoast location up like a month ago. I started with 1 P4 2.4 Ghz with a gig of ram from SuperbServers (http://www.superbservers.net). 1000GB Bandwidth per month for around $115/mo As for the webhosting I got a reseller account with ACE-HOST (http://www.ace-host.net) which is pretty cheap and come with whm/cpanel. 20GB Hardrive space and 200GB Bandwidth per month 29.95 or somehting like that. Well I hope that helps you find some hosting needs.

Okay I want to know what my box can handle. I have 4 servers running on this box now. when the servers are full the run around 20% - 30% of the cpu EACH. So just how can you get 8 servers on a 1400mhz machine?

[Exon]

I think he meant 8 person servers - also CPU load and bandwidth requirements (cost) are going to vary based on game type. For instance Battlefield 1942 is a HOG when it comes to resources and bandwidth. Hence why a lot of GSP have higher prices for BF1942, the game utilizes more bandwidth than several other games.

[t-com]

Do you need to buy licenses for teamspeak or can you just download and install on your server and sell the slots?

Thanks

Stuart

[DigitalCaravan]

Do you need to buy licenses for teamspeak or can you just download and install on your server and sell the slots?

Thanks

Stuart
You must have a license to be able to use teamspeak in a commercial enviroment

[t-com]

IVe just signed up to sell there licneses now.