Not everyone able to connect to my server

[Swordlord]

Hello,

Recently I set-up a server for my clan and I host it myself but some people that want to connect get an error and then can't connect while some others can connect perfectly.

There are a multiple computers on my network, I'm the only one using TS3, and I have already forwarded my ports. Although despite that I have no idea anymore what I could do in order to let anyone be able to connect to my server. Perhaps my connection is too bad to run a 32-slot server? Or does anybody have an idea what I could do for solve my problem?

Thanks.

Sword.

Edit: Seems that one person is able to connect now, but then there are only 2 in the server. Could it be that somehow I can only have 2 clients including myself in the server if the max is put on 32?

[SilentStorm]

They all should be able to join, however if your Upload (and/or Download) Speed is rather slow some of them will drop out again rather soon.

Please Post Server Logs (both the _0.log and the _1.log) as well as the Error Message the clients that are unable to connect get. Also make sure they are connecting to the correct IP Address which (since you are running the server on your home connection) might change every 24 hrs.

[Swordlord]

The address should be correct, they can connect sometimes but not always. Did you mean these logs? Hid my IP, but if you want I could pm it to you.

_0.log:

2012-06-10 18:03:00.015625|INFO |ServerLibPriv | | TeamSpeak 3 Server 3.0.5 (2012-04-23 04:46:12)
2012-06-10 18:03:00.015625|INFO |DatabaseQuery | | dbPlugin name: SQLite3 plugin, Version 2, (c)TeamSpeak Systems GmbH
2012-06-10 18:03:00.015625|INFO |DatabaseQuery | | dbPlugin version: 3.7.3
2012-06-10 18:03:00.015625|INFO |DatabaseQuery | | checking database integrity (may take a while)
2012-06-10 18:03:00.125000|WARNING |Accounting | | Unable to find valid license key, falling back to limited functionality
2012-06-10 18:03:00.218750|INFO |FileManager | | listening on 0.0.0.0:30033
2012-06-10 18:03:00.328125|INFO |CIDRManager | | updated query_ip_whitelist ips: 127.0.0.1,
2012-06-10 18:03:00.343750|INFO |Query | | listening on 0.0.0.0:10011
2012-06-10 18:17:13.468750|INFO |GetWanIP | | WAN ip: <hidden>

_1.log:

2012-06-10 18:03:00.328125|INFO |VirtualServer | 1| listening on 0.0.0.0:9987

And the error message they are getting is just "failed to connect", no reason given.

Talking about my speed, yes my internet is very crappy. With the clan I play War Rock as well (a very connection-unfriendly game) so then obviously there won't be much speed left to host the server if it requires some decent net. Here's my speedtest:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/2001541395.png

Would upgrading my net be the best option in order to host a TS3 server properly? I'm living with my parents though and they don't really feel like upgrading (apparently costs too much lol) so I'd rather look for alternative solutions for now if they're available.

[SilentStorm]

With just 0.25 MBit/s Upload and download slower than mine you cannot really host a Server...

For each and every Client in the same Channel approx 6 kb/s upload are required (for the default Channel Settings) but it can be as much as 14kb/s with the highest codec & quality and that's just for the voice... Add to that Control & Keep Alive Traffic for each Client. Then there is also all the other Applications that talk to servers in the internet which needs to be added to what TS3 uses on its own.

Just an example:
3 TS3 Clients in a default Channel with one Client talking:
(3 - 1) * 6kb/s = 18 kb/s Upload for the Voice.

If everything is working perfectly you got about 30kb/s upload Total according to the speedtest. So with just 2 Clients receiving your Voice you already used up more than 50% of your Total Upload Speed.

This does not take into account the Operating Systems need for upload Bandwidth nor any other Applications, your Game or any other PC on the Network using the Internet Connection.

You could try and decrease the Audio Settings on the Channels but of course this will increase the Delay and decrease the Voice quality noticeably.

The other Option (if you cannot/don't want to upgrade your Internet) would be to rent a Server hosted on the Internet, which will take the strain off of your already slow Internet Connection and make the server available 24/7 without you having to waste the power to leave your PC running 24/7.

[Swordlord]

I see, well ok I'm going to try to upgrade my net then or consider renting a server. Point is that renting those can cost quite some money but I think I'll try to find a solution, thanks for your help anyway.

[SilentStorm]

Depends on the Slot Count really. Since you've been fine with just 32 Slots so far, it shouldn't be more than a couple Dollars each month (just checked a hoster in my country and they offer 0.15/Slot right now). Upgrading your Internet can get more expensive and that doesn't account for the Power consumption of your PC which would need to be running for the TS3 Server to be available.

Another Solution might be (depending on what you need / want really) to get a few Channels on a public Server, downside is you don't have any control whatsoever (no Servergroups, no Control over Groups) you only get your channel(s) and (most commonly) Channel Admin in your Channel(s) and need to live with whats available on the server. You also have to share the server with hundreds of other Users and those Servers are generally extremely hard to overview due to the massive amount of channels (1000 + is not uncommon iirc).