Getting a new server, either building a PC or using a paid host, options and ideas

OK, so I have been running a Bukkit server off of my old Windows Vista 32-bit desktop and it has been running fine for our group of members (about 6 at any one time, 15 total). However, I usually leave the server up and the computer on 24-7 (though most of the time it is idle). I have concerns about wearing out my pc. We are planning on doing a public release of the server when 1.8 comes out but I am concerned that the server will not be able to handle a lot of people at once (not sure how many, but let's say 30-40 at once if we are a popular server). My plan was to build a new computer with better specs to replace my old machine. However, I don't want to pay with my first born son as it were so I wanted to know what kind of rigs people were running large servers on and what components were a good choice. I'm trying to balance cpu-speed, RAM, storage, OS, and such with price.

My current machine is a 2006 HP Pavilion desktop with the following specs:
Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit OS
AMD 5500+ (I think?) processor, it is around 2.1ghz I believe
2GB of RAM
320GB storage

I want to hear thoughts on what kind of machine and specs would be great for a large server. I'm planning to build it on my own. For a large server (and it will be primarily used for Bukkit) what do you guys recommend in terms of OS (I was thinking 64-bit Win7 or a Linux flavor, though I am not familiar with Linux). What kind of processing power will I need, how much RAM and Storage? And since I plan on running it 24-7 what kind of cooling/etc should I look in to?


I have also been curious about the possibility of using a paid host to well, host the server. I just dont know how that works, I'm used to being able to configure everything (bans, loading plugins, updating the world, running cartographer) right from the console. How do I set up and maintain a server on a paid host? Are there any tutorials or threads discussing this?

I really do appreciate any help. Honestly, I am not as green as I am probably coming off as. I have plenty of computer knowledge, I am just not familiar with networking and doing more complex things with Bukkit. Hope to get some good ideas, thanks guys I really enjoy this community.

FrankieJTKP

P.S.- PM me if you are interested in checking out our server, I think it's pretty sick, and will get better with more people.

 

I have been trying out server setups on single and dual core systems for a couple of years with between 512mb of ram and 2gb ram and from personal experience i have found these systems to be slow at everything and incapable of hosting.

I have recently built myself a new system with an intel core I5 2500K quad core and 8Gb DDR3 ram and i at anyone time usually have between 2-6 people on my server and apart from my rubbish 0.5mbps upload i never use more than 1gb of ram with a couple of mods running server side and client side. I can even play games at max settings at 1920x1080 whilst still getting between 60-100fps with 2 gtx 460 graphics cards. Altough i would not suggest a computer quite as powerful as you do not need it for hosting minecraft.

1. minimum of 4GB of ram when running a minecraft server on the machine.
2. Go for a one of intel's newer dual or quad core cpu with a socket 1155, 1156 or 1366 connection.
Example: In the UK you can get an Core I3 dual core socket 1155 cpu for £97 from scan.co.uk
3. Make sure your the network card either on-board the motherboard you use is supported by the OS you decide to use, if not get an Intel Pro 1000 series Network card i have not come across a server OS that does not support these Network cards.
4. I use windows 64 bit and never have any problems with my server other than applying non compatible mods. Some people decide to use a linux server platform such as CentOS, Fedora. Also you can get MineOS but i have never really heard of the uses of this and i would recommend it unless you are capable of utilizing linux.
5. Bandwidth, this is the second most important thing after the machine you run your server from. I would recommend that you get a conection with atleast 2 mbps upload to get a stable connection at first.

If you able to build yourself a gaming rig or a server for running your server from then you should not really have any problems with server lag. Next if you are able to get the bandwidth from your ISP then go for it and you do not need a static IP from your host if you can afford it go for it but if you dont want it you can use a dynamic IP service such as dyn.com or no-ip.com which allows you to have your own domain such as yourname.dyndns.org.

Then as a very last resort if you cannot host from home then search around for a good vps host with competitive pricing and also make sure you look for reviews about their reliability and customer service a some businesses offer good prices but very poor support. I hope my advice helps. BTW i have been using servers for years from home and i feel that my advice is useful but i would not only use this advice as a decision maker.

 

I agree with the above on most of the points.

I will also add, if you have a good internet, don't waste your money on a VPS. A virtual server doesn't bring any benefit other than you don't have to maintain the computer yourself, and a dedicated connection. But you can do this yourself and save a BUNDLE. You're better off having an extra computer, with direct access to it, in your house anyway, in my opinion.

 

I agree with the above points, vps is expensive and not necessary unless you have no other choice. But i would also disagree with the other comment about windows, Microsoft do make windows server but it definitively hogs more resources but can sometimes offer a more user friendly environment for noobie server users. Although saying that a minimal linux server will almost 99% of the time will use less resources and will usually mean that you get a faster more stable environment where you have the ability to use more features but with a minecraft server linux will almost always give you more space for expansion such as mods and other features.

 

If you have a decent internet connection, then go for your own server.

go for a i5 2500k with 8 or 16 GB ram. You can buy 16 GB ram for as little as 65 euro. Get a 300W PSU. Motherboard with a Z68 chipset. So you can use the internet GPU of the i5. And you can still overclock it to 4.5 Ghz or higher if necessary. And you're good to go. Could put a 60 GB ssd in it as well. Doesn't have to cost more then 500 euro total.

That's how much my server cost as well. Don't bother with a seperate network card, its pointless. Even if your OS doesn't have the drivers for the network card build in yet. When i installed Ubuntu 10.04 LTS on my Z68 motherboard I also had no internet. I just googled what network chip was in there and installed / compiled drivers for it and it works fine.

 

Ok, i have gone to all the effort just for you of creating a list of recommended components to build your own minecraft server and included the components to either go for an Intel high performance rig on a budget:

Primary Components: these will not make much difference in a home server:

Motherboard: GigaByte GA-Z68AP-D3 socket 1155: £86.02

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/giga...gb-s-raid-sata-pcie-20-(x16)-vga-on-board-atx

Memory (RAM): 8GB (2x4GB) Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1333Mhz: £38.16

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-...0-(1333)-non-ecc-unbuffered-cas-9-9-9-24-150v

Power Supply: Corsair Builder Series 430CX 430W: £35.32

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/430w...su-430cx-80-eff-uncertified-quiet-fan-atx-v23



Choices: here i have given you 2 choices for a cpu, 2 for a case and 2 different storage options to put in raid 0


Processor (CPU):

Intel Core i3 2100 3.1GHz: £89.98

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/inte...-s-gpu-850mhz-3mb-cache-core-r-31x-65w-retail

Intel Core i5 2500K: £159.78

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/inte...-quad-core-33ghz-gpu-850mhz-6mb-cache-95w-oem

Storage:

Western Digital 250GB RE3 Long-Life server grade hard drive: £65.86 for 2

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/250g...ys-re3-sata-3gb-s-7200rpm-16mb-cache-89ms-ncq

OCZ Vertex Plus 60GB 2.5" SSD: £116.64 for 2

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/60gb...ash-read-180mb-s-write-90mb-s-64mb-cache-12k-

Case:

Desktop case: NZXT Source 210 gaming case: £33.85

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/nzxt-source-210-white-gaming-case-with-120mm-fan-w-o-psu

Server rack case: Codegen CG-4U-500E Rackmount Case: £56.38

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/codegen-cg-4u-500e-4u-rackmount-case-with-eco-black-interior


Postage: APPROX: £16 to UK address

Total cost with desktop case and western digital drives and intel core i3: £365.97 inc postage

BEWARE PRICES MAY VARY, THESE ARE FROM www.scan.co.uk I USE THEM AS THEY ARE RELIABLE AND SCAN SEND OUT PRODUCTS SAME DAY AS LONG AS YOU PURCHASE BY 4PM

I hope i have saved everyone else's time by giving you a list of the required components.

 

Not necessarily.

First you have to run your computer 24/7, then the power bill racks up and the heat too. Also the upload speed is not close to a real VPS, not to mention that 90% of the high bandwidth ISP's don't allow hosting. They will cut you off, if they find that you are hosting a server. Finally, home desktop hardware can't hold a candle to server grade hardware.

 

Shitty PSU, You're better of getting a 300W bequiet.

Also shitty HDD. Absolutely no need for that. Also out dated SSD. Better of getting a OCZ agility 3, 60GB. and then have that SSD back up to a 500 GB samsung spinpoint F3. you can get 2 of those spinpoints for the money you advice him to buy a 250 GB one. Better off getting 2 of them putting them in raid 0 and have the SSD back up to the raid 0 array. Far better then what you are suggesting. Also that case isn't necessary. I'm sure he has a old case lying around and you can find cheap cases if you want to go really cheap. And a 4U rack mount is kinda pointless. The price you pay for 4U space in a datacenter will set you back more then just renting a dedicated server.

If I were you, i'd buy something like the list below. This is exactly what I bought for my minecraft server. If the price is too much you can go for a slower processor. Or skip the SSD.

Aantal	Product	Prijs	Subtotaal
1	Be Quiet Pure Power L7 300W	€ 34,95	€ 34,95
1	Intel Core i5 2500K	€ 171,00	€ 171,00
1	Intel DZ68DB	€ 105,00	€ 105,00
1	Kingston ValueRam 8GB DDR3-1333 CL9 kit	€ 36,35	€ 36,35
1	OCZ Agility 3 60GB	€ 79,46	€ 79,46
1	Scythe Mugen 2 Rev. B	€ 34,00	€ 34,00
6 producten	Importeren als eigen wensenlijst	Totaal	€ 460,76

The above set up uses about 45 watt of power. When it doesn't have to do much. If you run a very big server 100+ on it. It'll rise to around 90-100 watt of power. When 100+ are online.

 

Sorry but what world are you living on i would never put a bequiet psu in any system i ever build i have used a cooler master psu in my current system and i will be moving to a corsair psu soon, corsair produce outstanding high grade psu's dont believe me check out the reviews for corsair psu's on youtube and read at any proper pc building forum corsair psu's will always be recommended over most. Sorry to groan but bequiet are a lot worse than corsair psu's.

Also i dont understand why you have put kington budget ram there its a server it will be running 24/7 you really need to be going to the higher end ram it can cope with higher amounts of stress.

The only thing you have changed that i would ever agree with is the possibility of getting the intel motherboard. Oh and BTW the system u recommended is a lot shitter than the one i recommended and your likely to have power problems with the bequiet psu and the crap budget ram is very likely to fail when under stress 24/7.

oh and i thought i might just prove a point by posting a few links to support my answer on corsair being recommended as power supply. BTW i can post links all night if i really had to showing people would get the corsair over most other psu's:

http://forums.hexus.net/scan-care-hexus/175209-corsair-650hx-quiet-straight-power-680w.html

http://www.ngohq.com/peripheral-equipment/16803-psu-corsair-or-be-quiet.html

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/258013-10-which-tacens-corsair-quiet

http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?211777-Corsair-TX-750W-vs.-Be-quiet!-E5-700W

An example of a file server build which will be on 24/7 skip to 06:39 to see recommend corsair for home server system:


WANT ANY MORE LINKS???

EDIT by Moderator: merged posts, please use the edit button instead of double posting.

 

HAHAHAHA lol...

You don't know shit.. Yes. Cooler master and corsair both build quality PSU's. BUT the 430 CX series isn't one of them. Yes the HX and the AX and the TX are quality. But the CX isn't. Its budget.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Corsair/CX430_V2/5.html

How about we link to a review of the actual PSU, now shall we? instead of a bunch of other reviews of the same brand. And especially linking to random people suggesting a PSU is pointless. Link to actual reviews of good sites. Not to a bunch of claims of random people or you'll lose all your credibility immediately.. That's like saying. Man this PC is good! Why? Because my barber told me so! and everyone in the neighborhood has one!!!

As you can see it only manages to have an efficiency of 76.79% for 40-50 watt load. Which is what that server will be pulling most of the time. No offense, but that's shit... And because of this it also doesn't have a 80% efficiency certificate.

Now let's take a look at the bequiet, now shall we?

http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/ps... CO. KG_BQT L7-300W_ECOS 1484_300W_Report.pdf

This is the report of the organisation that gives the certificates to manufacturers of PSU's. And as you can see this bequiet has a much better efficiency. And yes for a server you want a efficient PSU. Since its gonna cost 100+ euro a year on electricity.


Now let's talk about 'kingston budget ram'. You say and I quote: "its a server it will be running 24/7 you really need to be going to the higher end ram it can cope with higher amounts of stress."

Higher end ram? Now what would that be? According to you it would be Corsair XMS ram. Well kid, that's pretty much exactly the same ram as i suggested. It makes no difference at all. If you're gonna bullshit me about high end and special ram needed for a server, then you best come with arguments stating that you need to put ECC ram or buffered ram and stuff like that. THAT is high end ram, build and sold especially for servers. The stuff you are suggesting is just standard ram for consumers. Go get your self Valueram. Good enough. So stop bitching about that lol.. and if you wanna claim to put high end ram in a system, go all the way with server ram.

And yes, i'm sure i'm gonna have issues System has been running 3 months now without any down time at all. Only had to reboot once due to a new kernel for linux. But that's about it.

But please kid.... This is a forum, and its on the internet. You can not be the smartest person on the internet. There will always be people that know more about certain stuff then you do. And about hardware you obviously don't know a lot...

Want to have a discussion about this? Sure. But then with decent arguments and by linking to proper reviews. So not just a bunch of random reviews.

 

Good to know your willing to have an argument about it, secondly im not a kid mate, thirdly if it were me building an server i would go for high end components specifically designed for server usage. I would not skimp on the budget and i would spend hours on end researching the ins and outs of every single component before even consider purchasing. You can say what you want to me and i will not give a crap.

 

You say you would go for high end components specifically designed for server usage. Yet you advice him to buy consumer grade components that are NOT designed for that.

If you claim to advice high end components then you would be advicing
Xenon CPU's instead of the consumer models
ECC / registered ram
Server grade motherboards that support ECC ram and have dual Ethernet ports
Redundant PSU's for servers so that if 1 breaks the server will continue to work.

Big difference there.

But that isn't what a consumer wants. Its a minecraft server. Not a mission critical server where people lose tons of money if it goes down for 30 minutes. So you're not gonna spend tons of extra money for server grade hardware. Real server grade hardware, not the stuff you're suggesting.

So either go all the way and advice real server grade hardware or just advice him the best deal for consumer grade hardware.