So...you want to learn how to setup a dedicated game server?

You have two options:  you can buy a machine and maintain it yourself, or you can have a dedicated server hosted for you.

If you don't mind having the hardware setup in their house, with the proper applications installed, with the inherent trouble-shooting that goes along with it, by all means, setup a gameserver in your house.  That's fine for you and a few friends, but if you want 'the public' to be playing on your server, it can become a hassle.  What if your internet service goes down?  Power?

That's why many of the larger and best 'clans' tend to get dedicated game servers from a host that specializes in that type of environment.

Generally, a good game server hosting service will provide admin tools which let you configure the game the way you want.  Obviously you won't be able to change the game itself (aside from mods which can be loaded), but you can configure things like number of players, map rotation management, user management, etc.  And, they have guaranteed up-time.

Typically you rent by 'slot' per month.  Slots represent the number of players you can have on the server at the same time.

When requesting the size of the server, keep in mind that most games will require at least a dual core processor, if not a quad.  You also want at least a 3GHz processor and 3GB RAM.  Most dedicated game server hosts offer a variety of hardware configurations to choose from.

So, if you're serious about setting up a dedicated game server, tell your clan to donate some money, and find a good hosting service that specializes in game servers.

Linda - http://how.best-free-information.com - The "How" Blog