The practice of using remote servers for hosting games is not new. It has been there for decades. Also, both server technologies and the gaming industry are growing. Therefore, it would be an excellent question to ask which web hosting is suitable for gaming.
In this post, we will find out if VPS Hosting is a good choice for running a gaming server. So if you are interested in setting up a game server, this is a must-read.
Virtual Private Server for Gaming
In shared hosting, different websites share the resources of the same server. It was designed with ease of use in mind and for someone new to the web hosting world. That is why it lacks the flexibility and advancement that the gaming world requires.
In VPS hosting, all websites have dedicated resources within one server. There is no sharing. It acts as a separate device for every user. So, you have the authority to create the environment that suits you. For example, you are the one to decide how much memory and processing power operating systems get.
Requirements for Running a Game Server on VPS
Here are a few basic things you should know.
First is the types of computing resources. Secondly, you should know about the installation and configuration of operating systems. Third and last is the knowledge of the installation and configuration of applications.
And here is the basic procedure of the setup.
First of all, you choose the VPS plan. Then, you select the plan that goes with the amount of resources you need. So, how to figure out how many resources you require? Think about the game you will host and the number of players you will allow. Processing power and memory are the two most vital resources. You must have a clear idea about them.
You always have the choice of going with either managed or unmanaged VPS. In managed VPS, providers handle the server. In unmanaged VPS, you will be responsible for server management.
The second step is installing the operating system. VPS does provide you with the control panels to manage the server.
Then comes the step of configuring the operating system. Your operating system will not start behaving like a server unless you configure it. You would need advanced knowledge for that.
And then, finally, you configure the game server. The process would be vastly different at this stage, depending on the game you install. Then comes the last step of configuring network ports so people can reach the server. This process would also be different for different hosts. If you have a managed VPS account, things would be much easier.
Take Care of Server Load
It would help if you kept an eye on the server load when running game servers. All servers have a specific amount of allocated resources that may include processing power and memory. The amount of resources in use at a particular time is called load.
Load increases when you increase the number of users. As a result, the server’s performance may decrease when you increase the number of users. The reason is that the server lacks resources.
If you are using VPS hosting, it is effortless to resolve such issues. You can immediately scale the resources you are short of.
Advantages of Using VPS for Gaming
It brings much more scalability and cost-effectiveness than a home server. Here are a few reasons why VPS hosting is the best for gaming.
Customization
Complete access to the entire server means you have many customization options. You can make modifications anywhere from the operating system to every single port. This is what anyone operating a game server would like to have.
Better Resources
Shared hosting is straightforward to use, but it is not capable enough to handle gaming server needs, especially regarding resources. More resources and dedicated resources make VPS the winner. Shared hosting works on the rule of a first-come-first-serve basis, while VPS provides dedicated resources, which are always there for you, no matter if you do not use them. Furthermore, you can adjust them for your needs when you want.
Cost
The hosting type you choose decides your price for running a game server. VPS Hosting is more expensive than shared hosting, but its benefits make the price worth paying.
Things To Remember When Using VPS For Gaming
It will not be all games and fun. It would require much care and experience to run the game server. You can always prefer a managed VPS over an unmanaged one, but that could be expensive. Therefore, you must keep these three things in mind:
- First is monetization. Cost may go out of hand sometimes. Do you think the game would allow you to monetize your server? Even if it just completes your expenses, go for it.
- The second is cheat prevention. Let us say you are running a public server. Think about what anti-cheat mechanism you will use. How will you use it? Would you have to use any extra tools and pay for them?
- Third is awareness building. How would you reach out to the required audience when you will not be running a private server for a small group of friends? What time and cost would your marketing require?
Why Not Dedicated Hosting?
Yes, the potential of dedicated hosting is much more than VPS. Then why should we prefer VPS? The sole reason is cost. Even if you opt for an unmanaged dedicated server, you will spend hundreds of dollars monthly. Therefore, it is not a suitable option until and unless you want to run your game server commercially.
Putting It All Together
So, VPS is one of the best choices you can make when choosing a game server. You enjoy all the benefits of having personal hardware and the balance of cost and performance.
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