First off, I must commend you on a job well done. Your server help FAQ (here is the link for those who do not have it: www.geocities.com/justsomegeek2002 ) is full of very helpful information. I would recommend anyone interested in running a server visit this link.

There is, however, one caveat. http://www.alliedassault.com/ubb/wink.gif
In your FAQ, you state that having a comp networked with the dedicated server is just as bad as a non-dedicated server. I must disagree. In fact, everything I know about TCP/IP indicates that such a user would generate LESS lag than a remote user. Here is my reasoning:

Suppose for a moment that both the dedicated server and the gaming comp are running on a network connected to a 100base-TX router/switch. Internet access is provided to both computers by this router/switch, which is connected to a broadband service. (T-1, Cable, DSL, what have you.)

As long as the gaming computer is not using ANY PROGRAM to access the internet, all communication of the gaming comp with the dedicated server will be managed by the router. Since the router is a switch, ONLY network traffic which is destined for the internet will get past the router. This means that the available bandwidth of the internet connection will be increased, as none of this bandwidth is being used by the gaming comp. The gaming comp has a network connection with the server, which means it does not need to use internet bandwidth.

Since the computers are running on a 100mb/s network, the percentage of network bandwidth used will be minimal. After all, DSL download speed is a MAXIMUM of 10mb/s, 1/10th the bandwidth of a 100-TX network.

-Hellbaby2065

[This message has been edited by Hellbaby2065 (edited January 20, 2002).]

[This message has been edited by Hellbaby2065 (edited January 20, 2002).]

P.S.-

The reason I posted this on the forum is because I could not find any contact info on your website. http://www.alliedassault.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Questions, comments? Anyone is welcome to reply. http://www.alliedassault.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

*bump*

If you have two computers with different "static" IP addresses via a router.. try pinging the other computer and see if it bypasses the 'gateway' of the ISP.

[This message has been edited by quiettempaccount (edited January 20, 2002).]

Okay, I read that a client does take up bandwidth, but I'm doing some research to settle the question once and for all.

I asked the following question on a couple forums:

Does A Remote Local Client Take Up Bandwidth?

If you have two computers with 2 different static IP addresses:

1. Running a dedicated server.

2. Is a client on the same internet/router connection.

If the local client hooks to the IP address of the dedicated server does it:

1. Go through the internet and take up bandwidth.

Or

2. Connect directly to the server, bypassing any internet connection.

So basically my question is:

Does a client computer that is remotely connecting (via the same router/LAN connection) to a dedicated server (on the same local network) go through the internet to make its connection, or does it hook straight to the dedicated server via the local network? Does the local client take bandwidth away from the server or not?

Thank you very much.

Once I get a response, I'll post it to this topic.

Thanks for bringing up the question!

There is one exception. The gaming comp MUST connect to the server via IP in. If the gaming comp connects to a service such as ASE or GSA, it will be consuming bandwidth.

Also, the gaming comp MUST use the INTERNAL IP of the server. If it were to connect to the Internet IP of the network provided by the ISP, it would be consuming bandwidth.

I don't quite understand what you mean... should I ping the internal IP of the server or the external IP?

Try both.

lol, posted before I read your response. http://www.alliedassault.com/ubb/smile.gif

Yes, that is the kicker right there. A network connected to the internet uses ONE IP address. This address is provided by the ISP. Each comp on the network, however, has a seperate address provided by the router. In order for the client to avoid using internet bandwith, it must connect to the internal address provided by the router.
(the static address of the server)

BTW, you can contact me at: ad_rock@mail.com
http://www.alliedassault.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by Hellbaby2065 (edited January 20, 2002).]

Well, what if a person is using a switch/hub and not a router yet using two static ip's provided by the ISP?

In order to have 2 static IP's provided by an ISP, the user would have 2 seperate internet accounts. This is not very common, and very costly. http://www.alliedassault.com/ubb/wink.gif

As long as the network is connected with at least a switch, bandwidth will not be consumed by a direct IP in of a networked client. This may be different with a hub, as hubs broadcast network traffic to ALL comps on the network, not just the comp the packets were meant for.

[This message has been edited by Hellbaby2065 (edited January 20, 2002).]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Tahoma, Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Hellbaby2065:
[B]In order to have 2 static IP's provided by an ISP, the user would have 2 seperate internet accounts. This is not very common, and very costly. http://www.alliedassault.com/ubb/wink.gif<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My ISP only charges $5.00 per month more for each extra static IP - same account.

Really? That's not so bad. Then again, 5 dollars is "very costly" compared to FREE. http://www.alliedassault.com/ubb/wink.gif

Yah it's not so bad, the ISP itself runs a router that gives me unlimited NAT's.. and I can get statics as well.

So if I don't want to buy more static IP's per computer I can just keep hooking more up to a switch and they get assigned the NAT IP's.

It's a good deal.. it's DSL.