Linux distro and installation.

[Patrix87 210]

Hi,

Anyone here familiar with linux ?

I'm very good with computer and tech in general, just not linux. Never really had the occasion to get into it that much.

ANYWAY.

I got a brand new server. A Xeon 6 core HT beast and I would like to get the most out of it.

I would like to know what would be the best linux distro to do that.

I don't want anything fancy. Just something to run phpmyadmin, mysql, arma and steam... oh and teamviewer.

Any suggestions.

After that I would like to know if you have some tips about linux security and configuration.

I guess the setup procedure to setup a server on linux is online and fairly similar to the one for windows.

 

Thanks !

[norbert79 4]

Use Ubuntu Server LTS latest... That's the easiest to keep it updated and is compatible with this mod as well.

For Security related questions I would suggest using any "Hardening" manual for either Debian or Ubuntu.

[wasti 96]

Arma is a lot happier running in winodws. (That's not to say it won't run on nix, there are just... complications...)

Now as far as running a LAMP stack, yeah, Linux wins hands down.

 

This will probably light a fire, but it is possible to use kvm and qemu to make a windows vm for the arma server to run on.

Then you can just use apt-get install {all of your LAMP stack stuff}

 

 

As far as security, don't allow remote root connections. User accounts are your friend. (For example, I would have 1 user for the arma server, 1 user for the apache/mysql/php services, 1 user for ftp.... There are guides that will go over which users and what privileges to give them better than I can, use google

 

 

Edit, I feel I should define arma's linux "complications" - Basically, this really only applies to addons as far as I've seen, but if a mod author uses = or == (( = is case sensitive; ==, is not case sensitive) So when you go to add mods, depending on the addon, you have to go in and rename files to lower case. If you want more detail, I've made numerous posts about it on the forums here, just use search for linux case sensitive

Edited January 27, 2016 by wasti

[Patrix87 210]

32 minutes ago, wasti said:

Arma is a lot happier running in winodws. (That's not to say it won't run on nix, there are just... complications...)

Now as far as running a LAMP stack, yeah, Linux wins hands down.

 

This will probably light a fire, but it is possible to use kvm and qemu to make a windows vm for the arma server to run on.

Then you can just use apt-get install {all of your LAMP stack stuff}

 

 

As far as security, don't allow remote root connections. User accounts are your friend. (For example, I would have 1 user for the arma server, 1 user for the apache/mysql/php services, 1 user for ftp.... There are guides that will go over which users and what privileges to give them better than I can, use google

 

 

Edit, I feel I should define arma's linux "complications" - Basically, this really only applies to addons as far as I've seen, but if a mod author uses = or == (( = is case sensitive; ==, is not case sensitive) So when you go to add mods, depending on the addon, you have to go in and rename files to lower case. If you want more detail, I've made numerous posts about it on the forums here, just use search for linux case sensitive

Oh god... 

The problem is that server are not stable on windows right now. Almost every mod make them crash...

And I run 16 mods on mine... I don't really feel like going through 16 mods 1 by 1 to check if the code is properly written...

And why the hell is that different from windows... this is odd.

 

Anyway I'll give it a shot and hope for the best.

 

I won't close my current server until the new one is stable though

 

Thanks

[ShootingBlanks 48]

i fully disagree with the comment about windows and arma.  Arma runs flawlessly on linux and all the associated benefits of linux servers only improve the ezperience.

iptables is your firewall, its not as difficult as it looks at first.

and as was already said, DEFINATELY disable root logins via ssh. make your ssh passwords difficult and change the ssh port to something non-standard.  with those things, you wont have any trouble.

version of linux is always the latest available, and Ubuntu or Centos depending on whether you want debian based or redhat based. dont waste resources on a desktop, use CLI only, the OS will use about 200MB of ram compared to windows 3GB 

 

BTW. I am,running an arma server that is ranked about #30 worldwide so its fairly well poplulated and popular.  its running on a Ubuntu 12,04 VPS with 4gb ram and 4 cores.   .. very low end and,the server load is usually at 10% to 25% max.    its also running a counterstrike server that usually has 6 or 8 players ... so yeah, good luck doing that on a windows server.

Edited January 28, 2016 by ShootingBlanks

[Tobias Solem 559]

5 hours ago, ShootingBlanks said:

 Arma runs flawlessly on linux and all the associated benefits of linux servers only improve the ezperience.

 

Fanboi bias detected.

Linux port and support of ARMA 3 is second hand to the Windows version. There are plenty of issues that are unique to the Linux environment, some of which are ofc. not due to the Linux as an environment itself, but due to shoddy testing and QA by Bohemia. As well as antihacks like infiSTAR not working fully due to being developed for Windows. Issues with the binary handling core assignment (ie using taskset). General issues with signature verification (see this for example: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=22914 ) and headless clients not working due to broken signature verification when HC and server are on the same machine. 

As for performance comparisons, none have ever been made by any credible source. It's all just "Yeah man, Linux is totally better because... I love Linux". I really like Linux as well, but I try to stay objective and not make a bunch of claims that are sketchy at best, and bullshit at worst.  

 

[Patrix87 210]

15 hours ago, ShootingBlanks said:

i fully disagree with the comment about windows and arma.  Arma runs flawlessly on linux and all the associated benefits of linux servers only improve the ezperience.

iptables is your firewall, its not as difficult as it looks at first.

and as was already said, DEFINATELY disable root logins via ssh. make your ssh passwords difficult and change the ssh port to something non-standard.  with those things, you wont have any trouble.

version of linux is always the latest available, and Ubuntu or Centos depending on whether you want debian based or redhat based. dont waste resources on a desktop, use CLI only, the OS will use about 200MB of ram compared to windows 3GB 

 

BTW. I am,running an arma server that is ranked about #30 worldwide so its fairly well poplulated and popular.  its running on a Ubuntu 12,04 VPS with 4gb ram and 4 cores.   .. very low end and,the server load is usually at 10% to 25% max.    its also running a counterstrike server that usually has 6 or 8 players ... so yeah, good luck doing that on a windows server.

I have a dedicated PFSense machine so Firewall is not an issue.

9 hours ago, Tobias Solem said:

Fanboi bias detected.

Linux port and support of ARMA 3 is second hand to the Windows version. There are plenty of issues that are unique to the Linux environment, some of which are ofc. not due to the Linux as an environment itself, but due to shoddy testing and QA by Bohemia. As well as antihacks like infiSTAR not working fully due to being developed for Windows. Issues with the binary handling core assignment (ie using taskset). General issues with signature verification (see this for example: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=22914 ) and headless clients not working due to broken signature verification when HC and server are on the same machine. 

As for performance comparisons, none have ever been made by any credible source. It's all just "Yeah man, Linux is totally better because... I love Linux". I really like Linux as well, but I try to stay objective and not make a bunch of claims that are sketchy at best, and bullshit at worst.  

 

Here are a couple of things.

Zombie are crashing on windows server, not on linux.  <-- the main and almost only reason why I want linux

Linux is free <-- the other main reason for linux

Infistar is an sqf code, nothing too fancy, I don't see why It would work better on windows...

*Strong language bellow about HC...

Spoiler

Headless client signature is F*CKED on windows too. I used one for a while and EVEN if you sync every F*CKING file between the client and the server with G*d D*mn NTFS Junctions the BS Signature verification end up kicking the HC for a legit A3 file. Even in Mod 2 which is supposed to be the ""Improved"" version... So you know what ? F*CK Headless clients!

Last fact that goes against linux; Linux is complicated, Linux does not want to install properly on my server and gives me an error that means nothing. Also the linux community is saturated with nerds that want to sound like they are nerds and don't really care about the fact that you've never touched linux before. That community feels like a really closed "elite" group where you better know what you're talking about because they are not going to give you the easy version. And there website always look like 1992 !

Oh and I would have to rewrite all my batch files for linux code as well...

But you know what ? 

Linux is free and does not crash with zombies and I run a Zombie server... So unless Bohemia fix that issue I will go with Linux

Oh and Thanks again for all the input and the tips! really appreciated.

I will probably go with Ubuntu Server LTS 14

PS: What is a CLI ???? Command Line Interface ??? How ? I'm I supposed to know how to Command Line Interface with a Machine ? How is it easier to command line interface than just drag and drop files... ? Do I really care about that 200Mb for the Interface... O.o?

[ShootingBlanks 48]

19 hours ago, Tobias Solem said:

Fanboi bias detected.

Linux port and support of ARMA 3 is second hand to the Windows version. There are plenty of issues that are unique to the Linux environment, some of which are ofc. not due to the Linux as an environment itself, but due to shoddy testing and QA by Bohemia. As well as antihacks like infiSTAR not working fully due to being developed for Windows. Issues with the binary handling core assignment (ie using taskset). General issues with signature verification (see this for example: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=22914 ) and headless clients not working due to broken signature verification when HC and server are on the same machine. 

As for performance comparisons, none have ever been made by any credible source. It's all just "Yeah man, Linux is totally better because... I love Linux". I really like Linux as well, but I try to stay objective and not make a bunch of claims that are sketchy at best, and bullshit at worst.  

 

absolutely correct, I am a Linux fan for servers ... thats what its designed for.   And you certainly sound more well informed than me, (a sincere statement).  I have little hard evidence to go on except what the linux servers show me.   You are probably correct about Infistar not working, I dont use it, never have ... its a PITA. I understand most people find it indispensible and therefore windows is a must.

And yes, CLI is command line interface.  200MB matters because all the memory that is left over is available to your game servers.  Yes, cp source target is easier and much faster than drag-drop, once you learn how.    Yes you have to rewrite batch files, not so difficult once you learn ... and there is the major strike against Linux, it has a learning curve.  But as a long time user of linux servers, I have the same issue with windows. Its very difficult for me to learn how to do tasks in windows that are simple in linux.  ...   

Subjectively, I have had windows servers (both dedicated and KVM vps) and they are nowhere near as reliable as my linux servers ... yes, thats a subjective opinion from a fair amount of experience.  Not only that, the associated server tasks seem (again, my opinion) to be much easier and more complete in linux such as the simple crontabs, screen, firewalls, installing/using mysql and apache, near instant apt-get install ... yes, I know, Windows can do all that too .. I just (personally) find it much simpler and more effective using the linux methods ...

Objectively here is a screenshot of my server system.  You can see that it has 4GB of ram and it still has 2GB free .  The VPS has been running for 7 days and the arma3 exilemod server has been running for 4 days 3 hours without a restart.  I am not sure if Arma3 requires the restarts that Dayz did, this one certainly doesnt.   So I would say that memory managment is pretty good on linux.  the server load comes out to about 8% of available cpu resources so ample remaining (its also running the mysql and apache servers ... which are negligible)

 

And here is a screenshot of my server FPS which hovers around 30+ FPS with ambient civilians, AI and missions running.  Again, that is after this server has been up for 4+ days without a restart, so I would say that the Arma3 Linux server does excellent job of memory management and cleanup  of ended processes. I have no idea if windows is comparable as I couldnt get my windows server to stay up for 4 days straight (thats a hit on VIlayer though, its been down for a month straight and they wont even respond to tickets).

 

 

and if nothing else to recommend Linux .. how about most people run these servers as a hobby so the monetary investment adds up.  Windows servers are expensive.  here is the cost of my above Linux  server .. yes, that is $29 a year.  I certainly cant justify paying $40 to $100 a month for a hobby server.  If you are a professional server admin the cost is justified ... I suppose, 

Edited January 29, 2016 by ShootingBlanks

[*4*Stone 0]

On 1/29/2016 at 8:57 PM, ShootingBlanks said:

absolutely correct, I am a Linux fan for servers ... thats what its designed for.   And you certainly sound more well informed than me, (a sincere statement).  I have little hard evidence to go on except what the linux servers show me.   You are probably correct about Infistar not working, I dont use it, never have ... its a PITA. I understand most people find it indispensible and therefore windows is a must.

And yes, CLI is command line interface.  200MB matters because all the memory that is left over is available to your game servers.  Yes, cp source target is easier and much faster than drag-drop, once you learn how.    Yes you have to rewrite batch files, not so difficult once you learn ... and there is the major strike against Linux, it has a learning curve.  But as a long time user of linux servers, I have the same issue with windows. Its very difficult for me to learn how to do tasks in windows that are simple in linux.  ...   

Subjectively, I have had windows servers (both dedicated and KVM vps) and they are nowhere near as reliable as my linux servers ... yes, thats a subjective opinion from a fair amount of experience.  Not only that, the associated server tasks seem (again, my opinion) to be much easier and more complete in linux such as the simple crontabs, screen, firewalls, installing/using mysql and apache, near instant apt-get install ... yes, I know, Windows can do all that too .. I just (personally) find it much simpler and more effective using the linux methods ...

Objectively here is a screenshot of my server system.  You can see that it has 4GB of ram and it still has 2GB free .  The VPS has been running for 7 days and the arma3 exilemod server has been running for 4 days 3 hours without a restart.  I am not sure if Arma3 requires the restarts that Dayz did, this one certainly doesnt.   So I would say that memory managment is pretty good on linux.  the server load comes out to about 8% of available cpu resources so ample remaining (its also running the mysql and apache servers ... which are negligible)

 

And here is a screenshot of my server FPS which hovers around 30+ FPS with ambient civilians, AI and missions running.  Again, that is after this server has been up for 4+ days without a restart, so I would say that the Arma3 Linux server does excellent job of memory management and cleanup  of ended processes. I have no idea if windows is comparable as I couldnt get my windows server to stay up for 4 days straight (thats a hit on VIlayer though, its been down for a month straight and they wont even respond to tickets).

 

 

and if nothing else to recommend Linux .. how about most people run these servers as a hobby so the monetary investment adds up.  Windows servers are expensive.  here is the cost of my above Linux  server .. yes, that is $29 a year.  I certainly cant justify paying $40 to $100 a month for a hobby server.  If you are a professional server admin the cost is justified ... I suppose, 

I am trying to get a linux server set up to run Arma3 exile. And I get the server running, but when I join I get kicked for a battleye restriction. Any ideas of where I need to start to make it work?

[WD-40 25]

Exactly. Battleye. Did you upload new BE filters? You need to keep the updated on every version. You can set them up yourself just step by step add exceptions to it. Look for some help in BE section on the forum