We have tried three different routers now...custom built running pfSense.  Original Business class modem & router, and now a high-end NetGear router.  In all cases, the exact same problem occurs.  This has been tested and confirmed many times:

1. Everything running smooth.
2. Refresh COD4 Master Server List.
3. Connection lost on all 45 systems.
4. Access to the managed switch is still good.
5. Modem shows stable connection to internet.
6. Cannot access router which is obvioulsly bewteen the modem and the switch.
7. Reset router, everything returns to normal.
8. Rinse, repeat...

Any networking gurus out there?  I'm willing to pay for a solution that works.

The only way I have found arround it is to add as many 'regular' servers to teh favourites list and ask the customers to refrain from doing a internet refresh and if they need to, to let the other players know in advance. Though I have been told that you can some how block the port COD4 uses to do the main Internet search and customers can only use the ones saved as a favourite....but getting hold of the admin that has set it up in another cafe doesn't always respond to emails which makes it hard to catch him and to pick his brains.

EK

I looked into it Friday night hand have determined that is a problem with connection tracking. Basically the linux router is trying to track upwards of 20 000 connections, one for each server in the list, and this is causing it to have a bit of a melt down.

To overcome the problem, I changed the connection timout from the default of 30 seconds down to 15 seconds and that seems to have over come the prolem. If you run linux, simply do this:

echo 15 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/netfilter/ip_conntrack_udp_timeout

I also played with some other conntrack setings like the bucket to connection ratio, but I don't think this helped...

If the above doesn't work, you can try this as well:

- add options ip_conntrack hashsize=22000 to /etc/modprobe.conf (need to reload iptables and make sure that unload modules on reload is set to yes in /etc/sysconfig/iptables-config)
   - add net.ipv4.ip_conntrack_max = 44000 to /etc/sysctl.conf (sysctl -p /etc/sysctl.conf to make changes take effect)

As for ppl NOT running linux... sorry, but I can't help you

Cheers,
Outback Bob

____________________________________________________________
The LAN Mine - Digital Entertainment
http://www.lanmine.net/

gaming stations group = x% of bandwidth at 80% link utilization

office stations = no bandwidth limitations under this same condition, or more strict if you wish.

you can then setup what mac addresses or ip addresses belong to what groups, and therefore when you need to make changes, it's done to the group as a whole not each individual system. Further these routers allow you to manage every aspect of your connection even down to what applications you want to allow or deny. We for example prohibit the use of p2p applications, which on our rental machines isn't an issue of course, on BYOC it is a problem. Also, we are able to prohibit the use of irc/instant message programs on critical computers such as our servers/registers/etc... prohibits employees from compromising our network through the use of those programs and their exploits. Besides we pay them to work not chat in chat rooms.

We have a 2600 series router, but I am almost positive these features are available on the 1841 ip-sec series of routers as well for those with less than a 12/12mbit line. For those with more bandwidth than that will have to use the 2600 series or higher that support T3/OC3 frame speeds to be able to negotiate frames under full loads without router latency being a major issue.

Those Linksys/NetGear/Dlink/etc routers are trash for a gaming center. They are not powerful enough nor designed to handle the packet load that a game generates times 20 -100 pc's. Those Cisco routers are scalable so they will grow with you as your needs expand.

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