Help selecting which server type?

[tf2hats]

Hi,

I currently have a few TF2 servers and I am looking to add a couple more. To keep things cost effective I have decided to switch to either an unmanaged or managed VDS. Before I make the switch I have a couple of questions.

I plan on running 4-6 TF2 servers:
2-3 Trade servers with approx. 24-30 slots each
1 idle server with 24 slots
1-2 Regular servers with 24 slots

I was thinking about option 3:
Three core: Perfect for 3-9 game servers or many sites.

Three full, dedicated HT CPU cores (Nehalem or better)
3072 MB of RAM
300 GB of hard drive space
3000 GB of InterNAP bandwidth transfer

Would this be sufficient? Keep in mind at least 3-4 of the servers would be consistently full (mainly the trade and idle servers).

We will be adding a few approved mods and plugins but nothing crazy.

Also which initial operating system would be best?

Thanks in advance.

[TimeX]

As a general rule, you can get a typical, full 32-slot server per core on our VDS servers. Mods, map types, type of activity can affect that.

In your specific case, I would recommend no less than a 3-core VDS, and that may be pushing it too far as it is. On the other hand, it is better to start low and upgrade later if needed, than to start too high and have to downgrade.

[tf2hats]

Ok thanks very much.
Is there a preferred OS for my specific use?

Thanks

[TimeX]

I'm sorry that I didn't address that question in my last response. This somewhat depends on if you plan on going managed or unmanaged. If you are going unmanaged, I would recommend going with whichever OS you are more familiar with, since the learning curve with an unfamiliar OS could prove more annoying/frustrating than any other difference is worth.

Learning curves aside, with both managed and unmanged, TF2 is like other Valve games in that they were made for and run best on Windows based servers. An exception to making this decision would be if you run any mods that only run on one OS or the other. In such a case, you won't really have a choice on which OS you can use.

[tf2hats]

Ok great!
I'm ordering tomorrow and will go with option 3 to start and move my 3 existing servers over and then add 1 more. If it seems like we have enough resources I will add another etc.

Thanks again for the help!

[TimeX]

Sure thing, sounds like a plan. Please let us know if there is anything else you need.

[.=QUACK=.Major.Pain]

Just remember that if you move, your ip's are probably going to change.

Going with unmanged means you pay extra for additional ip's.

Managed, cost no extra.

If your only running games that NFO originally offer, managed works fine.
If you decide to run a server that NFO doesn't offer, unmanaged is needed and your on your own with all the setups of all games.

Support is available with both managed and unmanaged, by with unmanaged, all the dirty work of setup is yours.

Also with unamanged, you have no control panel to start/stop/restart servers. You have to find your own panel and install it.

If your up to learning, unmanaged can be a new challenge to understanding how it all works.

We use windows 2008, an upgrade from 2003 that we had before. It's pretty much looking at your own windows desktop when connected remotely. You use files and folders the same way. Not all that hard once you get the first couple going.