{"id":4701,"date":"2018-01-04T05:14:09","date_gmt":"2018-01-04T10:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.knownhost.com\/blog\/?p=4701"},"modified":"2023-01-05T08:29:17","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T13:29:17","slug":"choosing-dedicated-game-server-hosting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.knownhost.com\/blog\/choosing-dedicated-game-server-hosting\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing the Right Dedicated Game Server Hosting"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Updated January 4, 2018<\/h2>\n

Choosing the right dedicated game server hosting<\/a><\/strong> requires nearly as much skill as earning a reputation as a sweaty try-hard<\/strong> does!  Read on the learn a bit more about choosing the right hosting for your game server.<\/p>\n

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The popularity of Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) gaming has exploded with advances in broadband technology and the games themselves. Many games place heavy demands on the server, however, and a player remote-hosting the game often has lower latency<\/strong> upsetting the competitive balance<\/strong> of the game. Playing on a hosted dedicated game server avoids these issues<\/strong>, and provides the most control<\/strong> over the gaming environment, giving 24\/7\/365 access, so players across timezones can compete whenever they choose.<\/p>\n

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The criteria to consider when choosing dedicated game server hosting is similar to the criteria for hosting other kinds of servers, but there are several key capabilities to consider<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Performance<\/h2>\n

Speed and performance<\/strong> may be the most important factor in a game server, and must be sufficient to avoid disrupting the game with lag or latency<\/strong>. The server should be powered by high-quality hardware, including SSDs<\/a>, and it should be hosted on a network with robust infrastructure and Tier 1 network providers to ensure adequate bandwidth.<\/p>\n

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Note that KnownHost<\/a><\/strong> recommends, and offers, SSD architecture and puts all plans on premium hardware and network connectivity.  Performance isn’t optional, it comes bundled with all plans<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Individual games will have different performance requirements<\/strong>, so check the available documentation to make sure you choose a powerful enough server. Gamepedia\u2019s Minecraft Wiki<\/a>, for example, lists minimum amounts of RAM ranging from 512 MB to 2 GB depending on what kind of server is used. The recommendation for Linux servers is 5 GB of RAM for games with three to five players using a GUI, and 3 GB for five to eight players using a console. That memory is dedicated to the game server only, on top of the RAM used by the OS.<\/p>\n

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Smooth game play also depends on adequate processor power<\/strong>, so choose a server with at minimum an Intel Core or equivalent CPU.<\/p>\n

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Reliability<\/h2>\n

When considering price as a factor<\/strong> in choosing dedicated game server hosting, gamers should factor in uptime<\/strong>, as a host with regular disruptions is going to be less fun and less value than one that keeps the game online. Uptime statistics are available from websites like Hyperspin<\/a>, and any host with less than 99 percent uptime can be considered unreliable.<\/p>\n

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At last check, KnownHost was consistently running at 99.996% uptime<\/strong> – the best uptime in the business.<\/p>\n

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Security<\/strong> is also a factor in reliability, particularly with game servers specifically attracting the attention of hackers<\/a>. A good dedicated game server host provides hardened servers with a strong firewall and DDoS protection.<\/p>\n

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Look for managed hosting plans<\/strong> which include:<\/p>\n