🚀 go-pugleaf

MB wrote:
<snip>
> Hi
> I can't give any useful feedback on your problem but am a bit interested
> in your servers hardware.
> I recently got a new internet connection (100/10MB fibre) and now I am
> thinking about setting up a UT99 server. The thing is, I don't know what
> hardware to use. All I know is that I want something small, quiet and
> cheap. :)
> Since the game is 10 years old, almost any current computer should be
> able to run a smooth ut99 server, right?
> Anyone have a suggestion?
> 
> /MB

  Awesome network connection. I've gotten a lot os useful help at Unreal
admin, I think we've basically hit a wall, determined that the client isn't
using the call to the c library properly to accept redirected files. 436
linux clients work well enough, though. Dunno of the UTPG crew are going to
issue anotherupdate some day or not...
  You're right about modern hardware, almost anything new can easily run a
server. If there is an x86-based handheld, I'd bet it could run the server.
Way back when, I ran a 1vs1 on an AMD 4x86dx4-100 72M RAM for a few months.
The ISA NIC kept it from being really good, but the CPU seemed to be able
to handle 2 players on a small map (ran it under Win95 IIRC). I also ran a
CTF sever on a 733MHz VIA C3, but as I recall, it wasn't very good, my
memory is of some issue lacking CMOV in the C3's instruction set. Anything
post-Pentium AMD or Intel I've ever used has worked fine, Celerons,
Semprons, etc.
  The system I'm experimenting with now is powered by a 1GHz Vortex86 CPU
(rebranded Xcore86), basically a 586-compatible CPU without the MMX
instruction set, 16+16k L1 & 256k L2 caches. It has 256M integrated RAM,
onchip video/audio/NIC, ATM booting from a Toshiba 1.8" iPod PATA drive
through 2.5-to-1.8 adapter. I run the server from the Linux command line -
with just me and 5 bots in a DM-Zeitkind variant, shows about 30% CPU
usage, uses 5 - 6 watts from a CF card, 8-9 watts with a hard drive. Don't
know how many players I could run on it, am using the integrated r6040 NIC
which I suspect is pretty low end stuff (and, in Linux, is only supported
in newer kernels). It's responsive enough on the LAN for just me, but I
haven't tested it with a full load of players. I'd bet it is the bottleneck
for smooth play.
The system is a Norhtec Microclient JR dx
http://www.norhtec.com/products/index.html
which is identical to the DMP eBox3300
http://www.fit-pc.com/web/
  If I was building up another server from older/used hardware and wanted
something a little more intense / better quality, I'd stick with a single
core machine biased towards clockspeed (ut99 does not support threading,
TMK), minimum 256M RAM, and a reasonably high-end PCI NIC (Intel or 3COM).
Some of the stock P4s went up to 3.4GHz, but probably anything AMD/Intel
from that era is able to run any type of ut99 server. I bought a refurb SFF
IBM Thinkcentre w/P4@3.2Ghz for $100 locally, it has more than enough power
to perform any ut99 server duty. I can hear the fan, probably draws a good
50 or 60 watts (never measured it), but was cheap up front and readily
available.
 My current server is on a Norhtec Microclient JR dx
http://www.norhtec.com/products/index.html
which is identical to the DMP eBox-3300
http://www.compactpc.com.tw/ebox-3300.htm
  As I recall, importing it last year from Thailand cost me about $250CAN to
my door. Norhtec has their new Xcore86 computer module making its way into
their product line, if you wanted to go with Norhtec, I would make sure
that you get the new DOC; the old one (mine) has issues with IDE access,
and lacks the MMX instruction set, new CPU is slightly more energy
efficient (1.2 watts versus 2.0 watts), has more integrated RAM. They've
announced a $99US computer-in-a-keyboard (looks like an Amiga 500) product
coming out soon, with all their new hardware fitted into it, would probably
meet all your needs except size

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/
norhtec-gecko-surfboard-is-neither-gecko-nor-surfboard/

I may even get a couple at that price.
  Compulab is coming out with their new FitPC2i, which will have the new
Atom Pinetrail and dual GigaLAN. Small, quiet, eficient (claim 8.5 watts
max), and powerful (1.6GHz IIRC), probably capable of running two or three
ut servers simultaneously, but probably kinda pricey too. Price and
availability should be made at CES on the 7th.
http://www.fit-pc.com/web/
I haven't tested the server on the new VIA C7 / Esther /Eden line of of
CPUs, couldn't say if they fare better than their C3 predecessors, there
are a number of mini/micro/pico-ITX kits and computers out there, based
around that hardware.
  Liliputing might be able to set you in the direction you want to go
http://www.liliputing.com/
  I'd bet you could run a half-decent server on a used netbook or something.