Solved Thought from switching OS Windows to Linux

I just recently bought a standalone Windows XP tower/CPU to run a small community 25-30 slot minecraft server.
My problem now is eventhough the server is on a different computer, the windows OS still takes away a quite a few space of RAM to run useless programs that is why I'm leaning towards to switching to linux since a lot of people suggested it will give out more RAM for my server, which will be good.

I've SUPER tweaked it as much as I could as much as possible. Out of it I'm able to allocate about xmx1650M of RAM. The tower is also a 32-bit and yes I know all about the RAM java limit.

Basically I want MORE RAM for use. I've maxed out the computer upgradable RAM to 3GB, but the 2GB seems unusable for my server, which sucks.


My server runs smoothly with 20 people(with 15-20 plugins running) in, but I'm afraid if it goes to 30 people, everything just go haywire and just crash.

Do you think it would be worth it?

here's my standalone server computer specs:

Dell Optiplex 745
3.34Ghz
Pentium D with 3GB RAM
Installed with Windows XP(super tweaked)

Internet connection 50-download 25-upload
I'm able to allocate 1645M of RAM for my minecraft server.

Is it worth switching? Any suggestions are welcome.

 

change to 64 bit but if it wont work just get a host...like beastnode or something
EDIT:To be honest beastnode isnt the best 4gb ram for 36 euro really??
it has good support though mooshroom.net has 20 euro for that.But in my opinion the best is host-unlimited 12gb ram for 40 euro with 16core

 

Sorry forgot to include. I'm not interested of buying a host. I just thought of creating a server for a small community to play MC with. I've had my share with buying hosts running game servers such as half-life and counterstrike 1.6, anyways no I'm not trying to find any hosts.

 

I would say a PentiumD should run a 64bit-OS/Linux. Then you're done... install java64 and allocate your ram via java-startup... There are enough tutorials around, how to set it up via console/ssh.

Just install it without desktopmanagers (X windows...) cause this will eat up some ram. You can deactivate/stopp/kill those processes anyways - so no problem for you

I'm in ubuntu (as I run my box for tv-display, too), but a slim centOS would be right for you, I guess.

BUT I have to say: If you calculate your energy-costs, you would be fine with a hosted server for sure!

 

But I'm running a 32-bit computer. Did you mean I could install a 64-bit Linux OS? I ddn't quite understand you mean by that sorry.

 

I won't repeat this, and I won't explain it. If you know how to host you know what I'm talking about, or else you look it up so you can host a proper server:

Linux

 

For windows I suggest you increase the amount of virtual memory:

1. Open System by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking System.
2. In the left pane, click Advanced system settings. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.
4. Click the Advanced tab, and then, under Virtual memory, click Change.
5. Clear the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives check box.
6. Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file you want to change.
7. Click Custom size, type a new size in megabytes in the Initial size (MB) or Maximum size (MB) box, click Set, and then click OK.

It will help you out allocate more RAM to your server.

Linux is a much better option, better security and the OS uses way less RAM. You don't need to have advanced Linux knowledge, it's pretty basic. Just get some manager like WinSCP and Putty and you are ready to go. Open a screen to keep application live when you close the session and voyla

 

Uhm... Pagefile isn't real Ram.. it's SLOW - just as slow as your harddrive is.
And it wouldn't help you either, because - afair - java 32bit can't use more than 2G per process...

So you gonna need your 64bit operating system aswell as java64. That and real RAM!

 

I suggest moving to linux for windows users,

(I will explain why)
I was a hard-core windows user, installed ubuntu 11.10 aside win on my laptop and I was like.. meh.. this sucks. So I kept using windows. The reason I thought it sucked because it seemed as fast/slow as windows and I could do less on it. So I ran my server on winXP, just an old pc with 2gigs of RAM. Used teamviewer to manage my server. Yep... I did that. Now I once followed a workshop to use Ubuntu the way it should. I was mind blown! I came home, downloaded ubuntu server and installed it on my server computer. First most epic thing in the world I discovered that day: SSH. The freedom... the joy! Yes people can whine about commandline, how bad it is, my answer: learn to work with it! it's ten times faster then using a GUI, it doesn't require all the RAM windows needs (win server even has a GUI, it needs RAM just because win server admins are very lazy and many times incompetent people. I'm sorry for insulting those guys.)

To go on with the story: I still used windows on my laptop untill I decided to buy a desktop to properly work on. My server was ten times faster (running bukkit, teamspeak and MySQL), but I never had the urge to use Ubuntu to really work daily with. That changed the day I bought that computer. I installed Ubuntu 12.04 on my SSD, and after that day, I only use windows to play Age of Empires and KSP (it's a bit unstable on windows).

Now the downside of Ubuntu/Linux: however it offers you a faster, better looking (imo), as stable as windows OS, it does require you to use your brain. It does require you to sometime read error messages, it does require you to often ask google for some help. Linux has an extremly large community with people ready to help you with any specific problem you can think of. You do need to find them though.

Except a lot of issues, trial-and-error, wishing-for-no-brain-needed-windows the first week. Than except to see the "light", and just dismiss windows for the rest of you life.

tl;dr
linux > windows, especially for servers, but it does require some logic thinking, something most human beings should be capable of if they try

ps: if you do want your server to run linux, I suggest you using Ubuntu Server the first time. It has a very userfriendly commandline (only a commandline, no graphical shell) and with some googling you can set up a bukkit server in about 30-60 minutes. If you have a lot of expierience, you can move on to other distributions which in some cases will be more powerfull (debian) but do have another commandline syntax. I use Ububutu Server, and it works fine for me.

 

Nice report, zipron, but DAMN YOU for that:

Heheh - just kidding... (I'm working as administrator for both - win and linus servers).

Both have their rights and can not be compared.
By the way: I'm pretty sure you could play AoE with your linuxdesktop using "wine"... give it a try!


Uhmmm... sorry for going off toppic so far :-P

 

Very very informative sir thank you. I'm majoring in software graphic designing/engineering. I can't wait to work around Linux server/computers. I know a few about linux commandlines/cmd etc. but I'm more exposed to windows almost since I started using a computer, but I'm also a fast learner so that's okay. The brain using wouldn't be a struggle for me since its my specialty, I like the challenge

Question, does Ubuntu installation the same process how you install a new Windows OS? or is it more complicated than that.

 

The installation processes are mostly assisted. Bit different from win-installations, but doable.

You could simply give it a try with a ubuntu 12.10. download it, burn it on dvd and boot from that disc. You can run it without installing it and get a first impression, as well as playing around with the console, install openssh (for using and learning remoteconsole) etc. That would be a first start without shredding your existent installation.

Of course everything you installed is gone when turning of the livesystem *g*

 

does Linux have remote desktop or can be installed in? because that's how I access my server remotely under the same network.

 

you would normaly do that with a console - not with a graphical desktop. with the console/terminal you're faster and more flexible. In most cases you can't do the things you want to do on the desktop as there may be no appropriate gui. Anyways you CAN connect to your desktop... there're vnc-servers and other way. I never use that because there is no reason to.

Most that I know and use a linux-desktop computer WITH graphical desktop (eg unity for ubuntu), have to open the console there anyways to do what is neccessary.

Install a clean linux with working network, install openssh, and then you can use any ssh-tool (putty would be one if you use a windows client to conect) and connect it to your server's ip. then you're there.

 

Honestly I don't need the remote desktop, if I could control it with a console, then great, pretty much all I really need.
Thank bodenseehost, I really appreciate the help. I'll give Ubuntu a try a later. I'll prepare myself with a lot of reading! =)

 

you're welcome!
Feel free to ask, I'll try to answer when I have the time. But as this is going out of bukkit-areas, mybe better via pm...

 

awesome. Did a bit of research and I came across this os called 'mineOS crux' it also a linux operating system. it said its souly purpose is to run a minecraft server smoothly and to maximize RAM use allocated to java.

Any thoughts on this? have you used it?

 

didn't as I like to use my server for more than minecraft. And if you'd like to learn more about linux and play around I would recommend using a wellknown distro like _ubuntu, centOS or _suse, debian...

 

AoE bugs out with wine for some reason, and I only play it once every two weeks or so, so no need to figure it out. I worked with windows server for a while, it's a pretty neat concept but I just don't get it why they want that graphical shell.. it's so pointless and requires more recources. Also, I prefer php development above the asp stuff windows provides... + windows server costs money.

Actually, everyone can learn to work with computers, not everyone can work as fast, that's true. I always compare ICT to physics: in ICT everything is made by human beings, sometimes very strange human beings with strange thoughts but still.. human.. It's just a matter of time to understand how someone built a program, a framework, an OS. In physics, there are soooo many laws, nature is not created by humans and so it is (in my head) more difficult to understand, and smart people will always find new explanations for certain things. (but let's not discuss origin of life here ;p )
So in the end: as long as you spend time (and it helps a lot if you're interested in a certain topic) on a topic in ICT, you can learn it.

Ubuntu 12.10 has a new feature implemented for remote desktop; however I'm still on 12.04, because I'm not yet convinced 12.10 is the way to go for me =) The good thing, as Bodenseehost already pointed out is SSH. Once you've discovered this you never want anything else. (at least I don't). Think of SSH as a kind of teamviewer, in commandline. Your server won't have a graphical shell, I already pointed out: this requires unneeded recourses. A server needs to do it's job, without intervention of humans unless something needs to change. And when something needs to change, the server admin would like to do it quickly, and remotely. So yes, a server with f.e. Ubuntu or Debian will only be the famous "black screen with white text for nerds", a commandline. (and you can change colors if you want, no worries). SSH just gives you that famous black screen, but on the client side. So you type in commands which will be executed by the server.
One thing about this: Linux has been command-line only for a LOOOOONG time. Please never ever compare linux' commandline with the commandline you get on Windows. On Windows, things slow down when using cmd, on linux things speed up. Even on my Ubuntu desktop, with a graphical shell so I can do anything without typing one command, I still use the magix "ctrl+alt+t" combo sooooooo much, just because commandline rocks and is much faster!
I must say; it will take some time to master, and that's ok! not even the best linux admin in the world could learn to work with the linux commandline in a day =)

one more important thing
I'm not saying Windows is bad, I'm not saying any OS is bad. Each OS is in it's way unique, and I prefer, for what I do, Linux. (what I do: hosting MC, MySQL, teamspeak and apache server, develop web application, listen music, watch videos and surf on the web). The only thing I would like to ask: don't say an OS is better if you haven't tried any others. It's what I did, and I was wrong =) If you're interested in Ubuntu, you can even try it without any need of installation, and for your server I can only say: go for it! =)

and I'm so sorry for my very long posts, but this is a topic I enjoy discussing =)

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

 

Heheh... I'd say we see this the same (besides that I work with and like my windows-servers too (AND you can Install actuall Windows-Servers without gui, too (2008 "server core"))), and I appreciate reading your long posts. But.. errrm... the mod's won't - so I quit here.

 

No need for apologies. you gave more than enough information I needed zipron . thank you to all who gave out their input in these. Helped me out alot. I've always been interested of learning other os other than windows. Well then guys thanks again I appreciate all the help. I've decided to go to Ubuntu linux route to run my minecraft server. wish me luck everything goes well!!

 

Be part of the community join us and use a Linux OS.

and seriously it's not just about more RAM, you need FASTER RAM E.G. 1600MHZ DDR3 at least
a better CPU e.g. an i5 would allow Minecraft to also run faster than your pentium D
An SSD would allow your world to load and save FASTER if you want BETTER performance start INVESTING into it.

 

True. But I've decided just to run a pretty small community MC server just to play with for now. Also right now investing for a computer is just not a priority since I'm still in college, tuition fees, etc..you know how that goes. I'm using what I have right now and maximizing the use of it thats why I came here to get help just to do that. And I did found a solution, thanks to those helpful folks! maybe in the future when I graduate, if MC is still as popular as today, cross fingers since its an AWESOME GAME!, ill invest a super computer just for it hehe.

 

it's better to just get a dedicated host once you have money lol

 

Well yes and no some hosts charge more then you can spend if he has good enough internet speed witch i think he does and he has the knowledge of how to run a minecraft server and his equipment can support a server with that amount of players i would say go for it and bit by bit build your server better start small then grow bigger (if you want to) i run a little server for friends just cause my 24/7 gets a bit hectic and my internet isn't the best but if you are going to run a minecraft server linux would be the way to go i run my little 5 player friend server using ubuntu server 12.04. The system only uses about 150mb of your ram max (Not 100% sure correct me if im wrong) Then later down the track say you don't want to run it from home then look into buying a host

Main thing if you are going to run a minecraft server use linux if you need help setting it up just give me a buzz and i'll try help you if you would like me to give you a hand don't be shy to send me a private message and all the best to you and i wish you luck

- Sean

 

dont u have to keep the PC running the whole day though? im just thinking about electricity bills

 

remember that the monitor requires the most electricity, if you have a server set up with SSH (read: no monitor!!! =D ) it's not that much electricity. Think of all other things in your house being plugged in all day long. I put mine in the attic, where it doesn't disturb anyone =)

Also: a dedicated server is ofcourse a good solution: you don't have to care about uptime, OS iinstallation,.. BUT if you host your own server (for testing f.e.) you can do a lot more than the things on a dedicated machine =)

 

ok how can I get started with my own home server? what do I need?

 

a computer, an internet connection, an USB stick with ubuntu server or debian server installation and a temporary monitor and keyboard.

- you plug in your monitor & keyboard into your server, boot from USB stick and install the OS of your choice. make sure it's connected to the internet
- you install openssh-server, and from than on you don't need the keyboard and monitor anymore.
- you install a ssh client on your desktop and connect to your server using the intern IP adress (go into your router and search for it or check it using a monitor&keyboard on your server)
- next thing to do is port forward & allow your server to receive outcoming connections, ports to open: SSH port & bukkit port
- if you cannot forward the default SSH port, you can forward f.e. 2222 in stead of 22 (some providers block range 1-1024 by default unless you buy a static IP adress)
- if you decided to change the SSH port, you have to change it in the SSH config file too, and restart the SSH service. Note that you can always connect from your local network with the default port, (this is why you should connect with your intern IP adress first)
- once you've forwarded the SSH port, applied the right port in the config of SSH and restarted the SSH service, you can connect to your server with your external IP adress on SSH.
- if you like, you can buy a DNS, or get a free one (no-ip.org) to link it to your IP adress, this way you don't have to remember your IP adress, and can connect with f.e. tenveergtmc.com
- from now on you just have to install your bukkit server using SSH, and make sure the bukkit port (25565) is also forwarded. put it on a screen session and you can close your SSH

Now this is a very, VERY brief explanation, each step will require some trial-and-error unless you know what you're doing. I can fix it in an hour, first time I did all this, it took me 3 days. So don't get discouraged, if you encounter a problem, you can easily ask it here, or try google (google if often faster). I wish you good luck.

zip

 

just a quick question I have a domain already, I can use that right?

and what sort of PC are we exactly looking for is it something powerful, or something low powered? does cooling matter?