Tons of game servers online...where do they get the bandwidth?

[Maverick]

So there's thousands of gaming servers out there on the internet. Last I read, CS alone has something like 40,000. Many are full 20 player servers. Where do people get the bandwidth for these servers? Seems like the vast majority of high speed internet connections are capped at 128k or 256k upload speed. I've read that you need at least 512k upload to effectively host a 16 player server. Do all these people plunk down the $80/month or so to host a server? Or are most people stashing a server on their company/school's bandwidth? Currently my clan hosts our server in someone's dorm room. I'm graduating in May and I'd like to start a DoD or Wolfenstein server but I can't seem to find a connection with a fast enough upload that costs less than $80/month. If anyone has any experience with this please let me know.

 

<< Currently my clan hosts our server in someone's dorm room. >>


Why did you ask? There is your answer.

And it comes down to WHO you know. You don't need to have your server on location.
The best bandwidth is the kind you will never physically see.

 

[b0mbrman]

Probably take it from their dorms or something...I don't see how anyone's making money off them

 

[Evadman]

I pay $1100 to host my Tribes 2 server. I run a web server and e-mail server for my buisness on the same line, so I can deduct the cost

P.S. don't tell the feds

 

[Maverick]

<<

<< Currently my clan hosts our server in someone's dorm room. >>


Why did you ask? There is your answer.
>>



see the part about me saying I'm graduating in May? The guy with the server is also graduating. And I'll be damned if I'm gonna put my dual CPU server in some random drunken college kid's dorm room. If the hardware is mine I'd feel more comfortable if its sitting somewhere where I can see it.

 

[Soulflare]

You don't generally need that much. My cable modem and P3-700 "server" is more than
adequate to host 8 other people in Ghost Recon's coop mode... it's not like you're sharing
textures with other players.

 

[chiwawa626]

Usualy school or work. People in the dorms always host servers, as well as some people do that at work, or their home business....

 

[Evadman]

You need roughly 30k up and down per player. On a cable you will max out at about 8 players. Good for a neibhorhood server