Arma3server.exe vs hosting a lan game over hamachi

[miketim 20]

Hello everyone.

I have been playing ArmA 3 with 2 or so friends for a while on multiplayer. I played ArmA 2 and OA/CO for a long time (Proof I am not a noob, lel), but I always hosted a game in the server browser menu, never bothering to try to use the actual server files. I haven't ran an actual "server" for ArmA before, so I am wondering, if I was to host a arma3server.exe on my computer that I use to play the game,

Specs:

AMD Phenom II x6 2.9 Ghz (such a shitty freq lol)

Gtx 560 ti 2gb

8gb of some generic ram that is OK quality

Some regular Hard Drive (Not some fancy SSD) that is a ok speed, I dont even remember the numbers but I did used to have problems in my arma 2 speed because of it, arma 3 is usually fine in terms of hard drive stuff

So, would this even be worth trying? I usually get ok FPS on a hosted game with like 2 friends, and I use hamachi because internet wont work

(hosting over "internet" option without hamachi activated worked fine for me in ArmA 2, I don't remember if I had to forward any ports though, I assume if I had that the ports are actaully the same for ArmA 3, but maybe there is some steam master server or somthing I have to open up a port for too now that arma 3 is a full on steam exclusive?)

Overall:

-On my computer, where I get avg 30-50 fps in arma 3 with a few friends (2-3) on mp , is this even worth bothering trying to host a server on the same machine?

-If I don't end up using a actual server file, is there some ports I can forward so I don't have to use hamachi because I assume its slower?

(Also I would appreciate if someone who responds could paste the link of whatever the best tutorial for ArmA 3 servers is in general)

Edited June 4, 2014 by MikeTim
lol thought I posted in the wrong section and got all pissed, nvm

[IT07 10]

if you want to host an arma 3 server over LAN, then you do not need hamachi. Neither if you want the server to be available over the internet. If that does not work for you then you have shitty router or firewall settings too high.

[miketim 20]

Thanks for responding :cool:

But uhhh...

Dude sorry you misinterpreted what I meant, I don't want to actually play over my local area network, I currently use hamachi which I am sure you know how it works, uses "LAN" that isnt real it just connects the 2 computers.

Also just telling me I have a shitty router, that makes no sense bro. My router is fine, and not sure what you mean by "firewall settings too high" unless you mean I have to port forward?

Hamachi isn't for actual LAN, I wouldn't use it if I did not need it, guess I didn't make that clear or something. (ie: I use it for playing w/ my friends over the internet not real Local area network)

I use hamachi because internet hosting option on the server browser doesn't work (No its not my router being shitty please don't re-suggest that)

PS: (I probably sound like an ***hole in this, so please don't respond negatively):)

[fred41 42]

...did you look here:

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?147537-Tutorial-How-to-run-ArmA3-on-a-dedicated-server

[miketim 20]

Thanks Fred. I just try to make one and see how it goes.

Also. One slightly unrelated question, I see that in my arma 3 (The game not server) dll folder there is a tbb_malloc_bi or somthing, is this the same now as your tbb_malloc or should I continue to use yours especially for a server?

:confused:

[RuairiAU 1]

@MikeTim

I'll try answer this as best I can

Is it worth while you setting up a dedicated server?

I don't think so, not in your case. You get good FPS and you're only hosting 2-3 players. It just won't scale well for bigger missions with more AI.

What are the pros of a dedicated server?

You will get better performance, even if it's on the same machine.

Your missions will be able to handle a lot more AI.

What are the cons of a dedicated server?

When using the in game server, you don't have to worry about configuring mods. For a dedicated server, you need to set them up - this can be a pain when changing between missions that use different mods.

You'll need to use a configuration tool like TADST: http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=11655

Should you be using Hamachi?

Of course not and it is your firewall either on your machine or on your router that is the problem. I won't go as far as saying your hardware is shitty (that was a tad harsh IT07), just that you need to configure it. But again, if it works for you and isn't causing any noticeable defects then keep what you got.

What other options are there?

Have a look at paid hosting, it's quite cheap especially split between you and your friends. You'll get great performance and support. Also, you can grow you playerbase into a little community and scale it easily.

[fred41 42]

Also. One slightly unrelated question, I see that in my arma 3 (The game not server) dll folder there is a tbb_malloc_bi or somthing, is this the same now as your tbb_malloc or should I continue to use yours especially for a server?

:confused:

... it depends, what OS and how much physical memory do you have (left)?

[miketim 20]

Well when I used yours, a few months ago it boosted my fps about 5-10 in game in cities, but BI said they updated their mallocs a short while back and now im not really sure.

I have windows 7 and i have 8gb of ram, not sure what you mean by "have left"

but arma usually uses a good deal of my ram, I used to have out of ram crashes but not anymore (Months ago) , I tried using that thing that came with your malloc, the exe but it didnt work so I never bothered, still got like 5-10 more fps in cities in game

[Leg 10]

if you want to host an arma 3 server over LAN, then you do not need hamachi. Neither if you want the server to be available over the internet. If that does not work for you then you have shitty router or firewall settings too high.

Ok, there's no need to try to imitate being a smartie-pants when you obviously don't have what it takes. There's definitely no need to call people out on having 'shitty routers or firewall settings'. Such things are extremely trivial.

@Mike

Hamachi just makes it easier to play over lan using a sort of emulated network which lets you bypass annoying issues like port forwarding and firewalls so to speak. You can use it if you want and yes, hosting a Listen Server (you are the host/player) and using it to host alongside hamachi for like less than 10 people, as long as you're personally not getting strained on your own computer, should be absolutely fine. Hamachi isn't really a factor, it just makes it easier for everyone to set it up without running into firewall problems.

It isn't worth hosting a dedicated server most of the time. A lot of people who buy dedicated servers for co-op end up with an empty server 70% of the time while they aren't using it either way, so even if you wanted to set it up then it's better to set it up yourself just to play with friends or have a sort of event, etc.. At least that is what I think.

[IT07 10]

Ok, there's no need to try to imitate being a smartie-pants when you obviously don't have what it takes. There's definitely no need to call people out on having 'shitty routers or firewall settings'. Such things are extremely trivial.

@Mike

Hamachi just makes it easier to play over lan using a sort of emulated network which lets you bypass annoying issues like port forwarding and firewalls so to speak. You can use it if you want and yes, hosting a Listen Server (you are the host/player) and using it to host alongside hamachi for like less than 10 people, as long as you're personally not getting strained on your own computer, should be absolutely fine. Hamachi isn't really a factor, it just makes it easier for everyone to set it up without running into firewall problems.

It isn't worth hosting a dedicated server most of the time. A lot of people who buy dedicated servers for co-op end up with an empty server 70% of the time while they aren't using it either way, so even if you wanted to set it up then it's better to set it up yourself just to play with friends or have a sort of event, etc.. At least that is what I think.

Using Hamachi for ArmA 3 is not needed if you have the proper internet setup. (Router for example)

One of the reasons for it to not work could be a bad router or a bad config of the router.

So, "smartie-pants"; you go ahead and do your maths now on who is the one "that has what it takes".

[fred41 42]

Well when I used yours, a few months ago it boosted my fps about 5-10 in game in cities, but BI said they updated their mallocs a short while back and now im not really sure.

I have windows 7 and i have 8gb of ram, not sure what you mean by "have left"

but arma usually uses a good deal of my ram, I used to have out of ram crashes but not anymore (Months ago) , I tried using that thing that came with your malloc, the exe but it didnt work so I never bothered, still got like 5-10 more fps in cities in game

... i just asked for ammount of physical RAM, because you need more of them, if you run a server additional to your client ...

8GB are normally enough to run a client & a server on same system, but it is probably not enough to have 'large pages' fully available, so you can also use armas default allocator in this scenario, i think.

In any case you should have a pagefile large enough to allow paging to disk.

You could try the GMF tweak for client: http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?177454-a-simple-registry-tweak-for-increased-performance

[miketim 20]

Thanks.

I am going to hold off for now on running a server, but I will remember this for when I do.

:cool:

[miketim 20]

Sorry to post "late" so to speak, I was going to make a new thread, but why do that.

Now clearly, everyone is telling me to just setup the router (port forward) and just run a hosted game or whatever.

I have tried doing this and it hasnt worked.

I have forwarded:

2302 (Arma3 Game port)

2303 (Server reporting for both Gamespy and Steam)

2305 (Von)

8766 (Steam port)

27016 (Steam query port)

All of these,

And made exceptions in Norton for incoming and outgoing connections (I used the "remote" option instead of "local", I hope that was right?)

I could host fine on arma 2 internet with no hamachi, random russian people would connect.

I looked in my arma 2 norton firewall, and it shows that it allows port 53 for that, so i added an exception for Arma 3 using port 53 as well in norton, just to give it a shot.

My friend cannot connect over internet, if we use hamachi he can connect over internet and lan.

I would like to not use hamachi, because it breaks for one of my friends and he can ONLY properly connect to me through internet, as evideced by ArmA 2 tests and arma 3.

(If it helps I don't think I enabled any NAT traversal options in norton)

Also I may not have made an exception for that last port, the steam query one in norton, but do I really need to do all that?

[maquez 141]

disable norton firewall and try again

should work then

worked many years as a security adviser for international corporates

running a software firewall behind an already running router hardware based and proper configured firewall

is bullshit ... (sorry that word :))

read this to understand the purposes of a firewall http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewall_%28computing%29

Edited June 26, 2014 by maquez

[miketim 20]

Ok, I will try this tomorrow when I can get my friends on.

Are you suggesting that a router alone, simply only lets in a predefined amount/set of ports or whatever, so its already limited, its like a whitelist instead of a blacklist, making a firewall useless?

I am curious why this internet thing worked on arma 2, If i remember I might have dicked around with my firewall for that one, I don't remember.

I will try without firewall, tomorrow I will get back to you. (Night here, so about 8-15 hours from now or somthing)

Thanks.

[RuairiAU 1]

Are you suggesting that a router alone, simply only lets in a predefined amount/set of ports or whatever.

Yes. Almost all home routers will have a firewall built in.

And I'd suggest you uninstall Norton - it's useless. If you want to protect your machine, have 2 accounts, one admin and the other restricted - use the restricted account day-to-day. Only use the admin account when you need it.

[miketim 20]

Yeah I just use norton so it can be like "OMG 90000% hard drive usage" and im like, oops

Steam is downloading somthing without asking again.;)

Ill see what I can do about that stuff, but since not enough of my friends are on steam are willing to play right now... can someone help me test this thing to see if ppl can connect.

My name is the same on steam. Add me or msg me or somthing.

Thank you.