Left 4 Dead - Server Spikes

[xpservers]

Hey just wondering if anyone else is coming across this issue. I just ran 1 L4D server, either coop mode or VS mode when the server fills up with 4 players im getting random spikes on the box which is affecting other servers. Anyone else feelin this ?

[Dan M]

We run many L4D servers without any issues.

[Creed3020]

Just started running a L4D server (4 slots), and it appears to use very little CPU and around 165MB of RAM. Haven't been running it long enough to notice any spikes though.

[xpservers]

hmmm k thx guys. are you starting on cpu0 ? maybee my configs or startup. This is what im using:

 

-game left4dead -ip 67.213.79.54 -port 27015 -maxplayers 8 -console -autoupdate -nohltv +map l4d_farm01_hilltop

 

//Host Name

hostname =XP= L4D Server

// Rcon Cvars

rcon_password ""

 

// Server password

sv_password ""

 

//in game browser

sv_flags "Browser"

 

// Server Cvars

mp_disable_autokick 1 //Prevents a userid from being auto-kicked

sv_allow_color_correction 0 //Allow or disallow clients to use color correction on this server.

sv_allow_wait_command 0 //Allow or disallow the wait command on clients connected to this server.

sv_alltalk 0 //Players can hear all other players, no team restrictions

sv_alternateticks 0 //If set, server only simulates entities on even numbered ticks.

sv_cheats 0 //Allow cheats on server

sv_clearhinthistory 0 //Clear memory of server side hints displayed to the player.

sv_consistency 1 //Whether the server enforces file consistency for critical files

sv_contact “your_admin@whatever.com” //Contact email for server sysop

sv_downloadurl “” //Location from which clients can download missing files

 

// Lan or internet play, Server region cvars

//sv_lan 0 //Server is a lan server ( no heartbeat, no authentication, no non-class C addresses )

sv_region 255 // Region Codes: 0 - US East coast, 1 - US West coast, 2 - South America, 3 - Europe, 4 - Asia, 5 - Australia, 6 - Middle East, 7 - Africa, 255 - world

 

// Server Logging

sv_log_onefile 0 //Log server information to only one file.

sv_logbans 1 //Log server bans in the server logs.

sv_logecho 0 //Echo log information to the console.

sv_logfile 1 //Log server information in the log file.

sv_logflush 0 //Flush the log file to disk on each write (slow).

sv_logsdir “logs” //Folder in the game directory where server logs will be stored.

 

//Server Rates

sv_maxcmdrate 100 //(If sv_mincmdrate is > 0), this sets the maximum value for cl_cmdrate.

sv_unlag 1

sv_maxunlag .5

//Fix to get your server onto the master lists

setmaster add 68.142.72.250:27011

setmaster add 72.165.61.189:27011

sv_steamgroup //this is your group’s steam group id.. allows members to join from main menu add

//sv_steamgroup_exclusive 1 //to make it exclusive and private

// Difficulty of the current game (easy, normal, hard, impossible)

z_difficulty normal

[Dan M]

One of our test servers command line is as follows:

 

-game left4dead -ip 92.48.127.203 -port 27016 +maxplayers 8 -console -autoupdate -nohltv +map l4d_farm01_hilltop

 

and config as follows:

 

//Host Name

hostname Server "L4D Server"

// Rcon Cvars

rcon_password “********” //Set’s remote control password

 

// Server password

sv_password ""

 

//in game browser

sv_flags "Browser"

 

// Server Cvars

mp_disable_autokick 1 //Prevents a userid from being auto-kicked

sv_allow_color_correction 0 //Allow or disallow clients to use color correction on this server.

sv_allow_wait_command 0 //Allow or disallow the wait command on clients connected to this server.

sv_alltalk 0 //Players can hear all other players, no team restrictions

sv_alternateticks 0 //If set, server only simulates entities on even numbered ticks.

sv_cheats 0 //Allow cheats on server

sv_clearhinthistory 0 //Clear memory of server side hints displayed to the player.

sv_consistency 1 //Whether the server enforces file consistency for critical files

sv_contact “your_admin@whatever.com” //Contact email for server sysop

sv_downloadurl “” //Location from which clients can download missing files

 

// Lan or internet play, Server region cvars

//sv_lan 0 //Server is a lan server ( no heartbeat, no authentication, no non-class C addresses )

sv_region 255 // Region Codes: 0 - US East coast, 1 - US West coast, 2 - South America, 3 - Europe, 4 - Asia, 5 - Australia, 6 - Middle East, 7 - Africa, 255 - world

 

// Server Logging

sv_log_onefile 0 //Log server information to only one file.

sv_logbans 1 //Log server bans in the server logs.

sv_logecho 0 //Echo log information to the console.

sv_logfile 1 //Log server information in the log file.

sv_logflush 0 //Flush the log file to disk on each write (slow).

sv_logsdir “logs” //Folder in the game directory where server logs will be stored.

 

//Server Rates

sv_maxcmdrate 100 //(If sv_mincmdrate is > 0), this sets the maximum value for cl_cmdrate.

sv_unlag 1

sv_maxunlag .5

//Fix to get your server onto the master lists

setmaster add 68.142.72.250:27011

setmaster add 72.165.61.189:27011

sv_steamgroup //this is your group’s steam group id.. allows members to join from main menu add

//sv_steamgroup_exclusive 1 //to make it exclusive and private

// Difficulty of the current game (easy, normal, hard, impossible)

z_difficulty normal

[xpservers]

weird mine is the same.

 

V1.0.7.7 im assuming is correct ?

 

I tried again tonight, downloaded a fresh server ran it and caused huge lag spikes on the whole box. what could be the problem ?

[jointopz]

Try defragging the box.

 

I had the same problem with TF2 long ago. After a defrag and a few adjustments tot he filesystem its smooth as water.

[xpservers]

I defrag weekly and I tried on 2 boxes both with the same issue. when i mean lag spikes I mean every other server on the same box spikes to 500ms. CPU useage is only at 25%. I think its spiking on map change or something im not sure.

[studeggle]

Could it be a hardware driver conflict. I know I have a couple boxes I can't stick COD4 on becuase it goes bonkers everytime I do, and the only simularity I could find was the motherboards so I just decided I couldn't host COD4 on that motherboard (at least when combined with my setup).

Try the left 4 dead on a machine with different specs.

[jointopz]

What OS are you running? 08 or 03?

 

We are running them fine on Server 2008 64 bit. Guys are eating them up.

[xpservers]

Server 2008 64bit

 

Hardware specs:

 

Server 1

Supermicro X7SBL -LN1 board

Q6600 CPU

 

Server 2

Asus Board

Q6600 CPU

[jointopz]

Open up your task manager and cycle though maps. Check which processes are causing the cpu spikes.

 

Also do you have UAC disabled? not sure if it would make a difference but we have ours disabled. Every game works fine with UAC except batlefield and the remote manager. This might be another game that doesnt operate well with it.

[xpservers]

ya I disabled UAC a while ago. When I look at the processes it is L4D causing the spikes, dam this sucks, I have people waiting for servers

 

Joint your running cod waw on this same box and not having issues ?