Some Simple Questions About Port-Forwarding a Gmod Server

[Chickenix]

For a while now, I've been considering port-forwarding a DarkRP server for Garry's Mod. Now that I'm on the edge of doing so, I figured it'd be a safe move to obtain some answers to a few questions I had:

1) Does faster internet speeds reduce lag on my server? (I used to have 3 megabits p/s, now I have 95, will that make a difference though?)

2) Does a Gmod server consume my internet speed? (Say if it was to be 95 mb p/s before port-forwarding, would the speed reduce by a significant amount?)

3) Does port-forwarding consume/require hardware? (Once I port-forward, would that suck up my computer's hardware and would I need good hardware in first place?)

4) Is it worth it? (Should I just port-forward when the server is in development and rent a server when it's open to the public? Or should I always port-forward?)

5) Can people DDOS my server? (Or more importantly, is there a likely chance that someone will easily happen to DDOS my server?)

Thanks for your time, answers are greatly appreciated.

 

[americanbrian]

Faster internet does not necessarily decrease latency. The type of connection will, ie. FTTC will likely reduce latency over ADSL by cutting out large portions of copper wire to the exchange. In general it is to do with how far you are from the ISP's equipment (and to a good degree on contention of that line). Also you will find that using a wired connection rather than wireless will help minimise latency too.

Yes, your server will use bandwidth. I would estimate around 20-30KB/s for each anticipated connected user. (ie 16 player or 32 player will be different)

The port forwarding itself is automatic and not consuming hardware resources, the server itself will however consume a large amount of resources (esp. RAM and CPU cycles, not GPU)

It depends very much on your current server setup if it is worth it. If your machine is very powerful it would certainly save you money to host yourself. If the server is going to significantly hinder how your can use your PC then maybe it is worth renting.

People can DDOS any server in the world, yes it could potentially be targeted, but why? other than spiteful gamers with nefarious hackerskillz there is not a financial incentive for someone to do so. I think it is unlikely that anyone would target your server.

Do you have a static IP? if not it can be very cumbersome to continually update the players with your currently assigned one. In any case a DDOS can be targeted at any IP at any time essentially.

 

[fudgecakes99]

For a while now, I've been considering port-forwarding a DarkRP server for Garry's Mod. Now that I'm on the edge of doing so, I figured it'd be a safe move to obtain some answers to a few questions I had:

1) Does faster internet speeds reduce lag on my server? (I used to have 3 megabits p/s, now I have 95, will that make a difference though?)

It depends, if the server you're hosting is closer or further then whomever is joining, if someone in finland is joining a server on the east coast, they're going to have lagg regardless it depends entirely on the ping.

Also going from a 3 mbit to a 95 mbit could actually make the lagg worse. If you went from a hard wired connection to a sattelite connection you've just added a ton of ping. As the signal now has to reach a sattelite then get beamed back down etc But generally more mb's is good, maybe look into some more ram too if a bunch of people join or you want to have more props. Maybe even a beefier cpu would help quite a bit too.

2) Does a Gmod server consume my internet speed? (Say if it was to be 95 mb p/s before port-forwarding, would the speed reduce by a significant amount?)

No, and yes it depends on the volume of people joining, but just hosting a server when you have that much extra room shouldn't kill your download rates by too much if the servers up and no ones on it then less so. I wanna say you should be fine as long as hundreds of people don't join.

3) Does port-forwarding consume/require hardware? (Once I port-forward, would that suck up my computer's hardware and would I need good hardware in first place?)

No, it does use hardware but just your modems, or most likely routers hardware no one has modems anymore, You're just adding some extra exceptions to the routers firmware it's not going to task your computer other then for the amount of time you have the browser open to actually change the tcp connections

4) Is it worth it? (Should I just port-forward when the server is in development and rent a server when it's open to the public? Or should I always port-forward?)

If people can join the server by using ports that are already open, then no you don't need to port forward unless, you want them to use a specific port in which case would be smart as it could narrow down places you can get attacked and you can monitor it closely but chances are if someone really wanted to do get into your local network they can it's not hard, but it does take some knowledge, just be vigilant and if you notice stuff a miss then be on top of it I'd equate it to a gamble, you gamble your life whenever you step outside or inside your home i'd say the odds are similar so you should be fine

Really a lot of this would become irrelevant if you just rented a server, for one it'd be a lot less hassle, but you'd lose a lot of personal maintenance which can be a problem when the server you payed for's down which again could be a plus if it goes down on their equipment you don't have to mess with it.

5) Can people DDOS my server? (Or more importantly, is there a likely chance that someone will easily happen to DDOS my server?)

yes anyone can ddos anyone if their massive jerks, but it's not something you should actively worry about, people treat it like this big bogeyman it's just a buzzword more then anything. Also it'd take quite a few pc's to actually do a successive ddos and then to just target you and your server, why? If people do it , they most likely go for big corporations but be careful of jerks

The way it works is like if you're in a zombie apocalypse and you have an electric fence, if a couple zombies come and hit it not a problem the fence will zap them dead, but if you get an entire horde of them then the fence won't produce enough juice to get them all and it'll fall, which is why i say it's nothing worry about who would go through the trouble really. But then again people are jerks so meh.

Thanks for your time, answers are greatly appreciated.




Anyway gl with the server.

 

[Chickenix]

Faster internet does not necessarily decrease latency. The type of connection will, ie. FTTC will likely reduce latency over ADSL by cutting out large portions of copper wire to the exchange. In general it is to do with how far you are from the ISP's equipment (and to a good degree on contention of that line). Also you will find that using a wired connection rather than wireless will help minimise latency too.

Yes, your server will use bandwidth. I would estimate around 20-30KB/s for each anticipated connected user. (ie 16 player or 32 player will be different)

The port forwarding itself is automatic and not consuming hardware resources, the server itself will however consume a large amount of resources (esp. RAM and CPU cycles, not GPU)

It depends very much on your current server setup if it is worth it. If your machine is very powerful it would certainly save you money to host yourself. If the server is going to significantly hinder how your can use your PC then maybe it is worth renting.

People can DDOS any server in the world, yes it could potentially be targeted, but why? other than spiteful gamers with nefarious hackerskillz there is not a financial incentive for someone to do so. I think it is unlikely that anyone would target your server.

Do you have a static IP? if not it can be very cumbersome to continually update the players with your currently assigned one. In any case a DDOS can be targeted at any IP at any time essentially.

Your assistance is greatly appreciated

 

[Chickenix]

For a while now, I've been considering port-forwarding a DarkRP server for Garry's Mod. Now that I'm on the edge of doing so, I figured it'd be a safe move to obtain some answers to a few questions I had:

1) Does faster internet speeds reduce lag on my server? (I used to have 3 megabits p/s, now I have 95, will that make a difference though?)

It depends, if the server you're hosting is closer or further then whomever is joining, if someone in finland is joining a server on the east coast, they're going to have lagg regardless it depends entirely on the ping.

Also going from a 3 mbit to a 95 mbit could actually make the lagg worse. If you went from a hard wired connection to a sattelite connection you've just added a ton of ping. As the signal now has to reach a sattelite then get beamed back down etc But generally more mb's is good, maybe look into some more ram too if a bunch of people join or you want to have more props. Maybe even a beefier cpu would help quite a bit too.

2) Does a Gmod server consume my internet speed? (Say if it was to be 95 mb p/s before port-forwarding, would the speed reduce by a significant amount?)

No, and yes it depends on the volume of people joining, but just hosting a server when you have that much extra room shouldn't kill your download rates by too much if the servers up and no ones on it then less so. I wanna say you should be fine as long as hundreds of people don't join.

3) Does port-forwarding consume/require hardware? (Once I port-forward, would that suck up my computer's hardware and would I need good hardware in first place?)

No, it does use hardware but just your modems, or most likely routers hardware no one has modems anymore, You're just adding some extra exceptions to the routers firmware it's not going to task your computer other then for the amount of time you have the browser open to actually change the tcp connections

4) Is it worth it? (Should I just port-forward when the server is in development and rent a server when it's open to the public? Or should I always port-forward?)

If people can join the server by using ports that are already open, then no you don't need to port forward unless, you want them to use a specific port in which case would be smart as it could narrow down places you can get attacked and you can monitor it closely but chances are if someone really wanted to do get into your local network they can it's not hard, but it does take some knowledge, just be vigilant and if you notice stuff a miss then be on top of it I'd equate it to a gamble, you gamble your life whenever you step outside or inside your home i'd say the odds are similar so you should be fine

Really a lot of this would become irrelevant if you just rented a server, for one it'd be a lot less hassle, but you'd lose a lot of personal maintenance which can be a problem when the server you payed for's down which again could be a plus if it goes down on their equipment you don't have to mess with it.

5) Can people DDOS my server? (Or more importantly, is there a likely chance that someone will easily happen to DDOS my server?)

yes anyone can ddos anyone if their massive jerks, but it's not something you should actively worry about, people treat it like this big bogeyman it's just a buzzword more then anything. Also it'd take quite a few pc's to actually do a successive ddos and then to just target you and your server, why? If people do it , they most likely go for big corporations but be careful of jerks

The way it works is like if you're in a zombie apocalypse and you have an electric fence, if a couple zombies come and hit it not a problem the fence will zap them dead, but if you get an entire horde of them then the fence won't produce enough juice to get them all and it'll fall, which is why i say it's nothing worry about who would go through the trouble really. But then again people are jerks so meh.

Thanks for your time, answers are greatly appreciated.




Anyway gl with the server.

Thanks a bunch for the answers 😀

Oh, and 1 more question:
If I was to rent a server, would it be best to choose a server host in my region or does it not matter?

 

[fudgecakes99]

Yes, in your region if you'd want to get a better connection when you join. Since you yourself are still connecting to the server when renting you'd have the same ping issues as anyone else if it were too far away.

 

[Chickenix]

Yes, in your region if you'd want to get a better connection when you join. Since you yourself are still connecting to the server when renting you'd have the same ping issues as anyone else if it were too far away.

Alright, thanks mate.