SD Server Ping Problems

(Psycho Al) #1

Had a check, can’t see any recent topics for this. For the past… week, maybe week and a half, the SD ET public server has been undergoing some worryingly regular ping problems. I can’t give you any solid stats here, so apologies for the generalisations but there are periods of regular, serious lag spiking probably every night I’ve played during this period (yes, affecting everyone not just me).

If it’s possible to fix (understandably you may not be able to, for one reason or another) then the quicker a resolution the better. :slight_smile:

(Salteh) #2

I have to agree… it’s kind of laggy lately :frowning:

(Lekdevil.NL) #3

It’s not a ping problem, but I did notice two recurring events:

  1. CPU lag. It looks like someone is doing something on the server that stresses the CPU, which in turn lags out the ET server. Having the website and the ET server running on the same system, and the website undergoing modifications, just might have something to do with it.

  2. Connectivity dropouts. At irregular intervals, all connectivity to the server is lost for about a second, which leads to a red block in the lagometer and dying, usually. This could be caused by a router or switch problem somewhere along the line.

Problem 1 could be solved by either spanking Rudie, or by moving the ET server to a seperate box. Problem 2 needs some more investigation to pinpoint the exact location of the connectivity problem. I’ll try to set up a continuous trace, and will report back when I find anything.

Cheers.

(Sauron|EFG) #4

If it wasn’t for the sexy players I wouldn’t even be playing there anymore. :expressionless:

(Lekdevil.NL) #5

Okay, I’ve found the source of the connection dropouts. As you can see in the graph below, a connection interruption occurs every 10 minutes exactly. The offending router is t40-cr2-ge-4-0.router.uk.clara.net, or possibly the switch connecting that interface to its next-hop neighbor.

It’s my experience that dropouts like this are frequently caused by a recurring route cache invalidation (i.e. the router cleaning up its internal cache tables), which usually halts all packet switching for a second or so. A problem like that can be solved by changing the router’s configuration (to select a different switching method).

Maybe some Splashers could drop a friendly note at their provider’s doorstep?

Cheers.

www.splashdamage.com.gif731x378

(digibob) #6

I’ll make sure that gets passed on, thanks again Lek.

(blushing_bride) #7

well i hope that gets sorted but if it’s only ten minute intervals then the jerkyness must be the first thing lekdevil mentioned so i kindly ask the peeps at SD to stop downloading the err farmyard animal videos during the evenings please. :moo:

(Psycho Al) #8

Bit of a :bump: but…

The server’s still a big old mess at the moment, has been all week since I posted this. It seems to happen on and off for the entire night too. A few less people are playing there now (or at least staying there once the lag kicks in), which is never a good thing. Any updates on when/if it can be fixed etc? :slight_smile:

(Lekdevil.NL) #9

This one badly needs a :bump:

So does the server. It was totally unplayable tonight.

I’m really suspicious about the new PHP stuff on the server host. The problems with the ET server started just about when the new website went live. I’d really like to recommend the server Splashers out there to either increase the thread priority of the ET process or (if that has no effect) using a second box to host the ET server on. Hell, I’d even hop over and set it up for ya if needed… :banana:

Cheers.

(digibob) #10

Aside from the claranet problems, it would appear that php is hitting the server pretty badly with the new setup, Rudie is and has been looking into ways of improving performance, and this in itself doesn’t help matters as he does database conversions and suchlike, so unfortunately it may take a while for things to return to “normal” :confused:

I’ll try turning off the eQ server which runs on the same box and see if this gives any improvements, we’ll just use it when we need it.

(Lekdevil.NL) #11

Mr. Bobbles, I added some text to my post. You might want to try the thread priority thing…