LAN Party

godrugal0 · Apr 10, 2006, 03:30 PM

Hey folks, me and a few pals are wanting to set up our first lan party, any suggestions on what we will need. We dont want to connect online just system to system. Also would we be able to run backup copies on a local area network.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Neshi · Apr 10, 2006, 03:49 PM

some network cables, a hub, power, enough to drink/eat...
guys, fill me in if i forget anything

godrugal0 · Apr 10, 2006, 03:56 PM

We have a d-link , plenty of power and food and drink. Any type of cables in particullar

Drakon · Apr 10, 2006, 04:21 PM

You forgot the girls in the skimpy clothing

Judas · Apr 10, 2006, 05:34 PM

IMO, a router (even if your not connecting to the net). If you have over 4 people playing, ADD a 5 port Hub, (connecting 1 port from the router to the center port on a 5 port hub). This will increase it to 7 players..... need more? Get another hub.... (would be best to get a very large hub)

I recommend a router because they are a DHCP Server, hubs don't have this. With a Router, combined with several hubs, or several machines, it makes for ALOT easier setup.

Network cable? Lots, several cables of several lengths, i'd suggest mapping out how your going to setup everyone. Where they are going to sit.. and how to have your router/hubs sitting and connected. Perferably keep the router/hubs completely OUT of the way. Run all the cables you need to it.

Power is obvious, to be on the safe side, keep 3 machines to a single circut/breaker. (15amp is standard, @ around TOPS 5 Amps per machine).

Make sure no one can yank or trip over cables. if need be, get the duct tape out and start getting a little wild.. but neat... with it.

Learn from this one, be prepared for the next.

And consider this, be prepared to have at least 1 person having problems connecting.

And also remember, you want to share files or see the same printers or whatever?

Right click MY COMPUTER~> Hit Properties~>Computer Name~> Click CHANGE button~>Choose Workgroup and make EVERYONE have the EXACT same workgroup. Be Forwarned, viruses pass through workgroups and networks very quickly.

pr0digal jenius · Apr 10, 2006, 08:38 PM

you can use backup copies, but some games will reference CD keys, so you'll need a unique seial for everyone there.

And from past experiences, dont try and eat there, have enough car space for everyone to make a midnight taco bell run or something instead, and justs tock a fridge full of mtn dew

as for equipment, a router [obviously with enough slots for each person], uplink as needed, and also, you'll want enough room for everything too...church fellowship halls work well, as do empty garages....and folding tables work well....2-3 machines per table

TJ- · Apr 10, 2006, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr0digal jenius

you can use backup copies, but some games will reference CD keys, so you'll need a unique seial for everyone there.

if hes not going online he wont need a unique key right,...

shadowfield · Apr 10, 2006, 09:38 PM

plus a router breaks up the broadcast domain

take that cisco training!

the big Firefly · Apr 11, 2006, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by godrugal0

We have a d-link , plenty of power and food and drink. Any type of cables in particullar

I see you have a D-Link. me too. well i went to a lan this past friday and saterday. id say your D-Link is a switch right. and is it a 8 port or more? then that is the main thing. then 1 cable for every player. some food. drinks. and atleast a nice big space for every player to be comfortable in. and then ofcaurse games to play. depending on what games you play here is some thats realy nice at a lan:

Call of duty 1 or 2
CS 1.6/condition zero/sourse
unreal tournament 2004
warcraft dota
diablo 2(if your like to play one game for a long time)
halo
qauke 3 arena/4

thats all i can think of right now so enjoy if. believe me ones you lan once you will want to lan more and more. well that is if the first lan is fun>

Al_Vampyre · Apr 11, 2006, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

And consider this, be prepared to have at least 1 person having problems connecting.

Amen to that, my friends and I have been doing this regularly for about 5 years and still it always happens!!!

OK, so you will need a multiport router, lots of cables in varying lengths and plenty of power sockets, make sure your fridge has plenty of space for other peoples drinks not just your own, turn your central heating OFF believe me you won't need it once you've got all those machines running...

and my biggest tip, decide what you're playing in advance and make sure that everyone has at least got the same version of each game installed before they get there, otherwise you'll waste loads of time installing and patching stuff rather than actually playing!!

Oh and have fun, sleep is for wusses, and its an excuse to live off takeaways for a weekend!!

JDwoods[TeamATi] · Apr 11, 2006, 03:00 PM

Depending on how many are going to be there you might want a secondary machine just to run the game server. Download the server clients for the games you want to play ahead of time and get familiar with the setup. This way you aren't trying to host the game from your box and play at the same time.

And to answer Z!ON's question yes he will need separate keys. Games like BF2 check the CD key even if you are playing on a local area network. If someone is in the game already with that key you will not be allowed to join the server.

Dark Lord · Apr 11, 2006, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr0digal jenius

....and folding tables work well....2-3 machines per table

i wasnt invited to LANS any more after i broke several folding tables... even the reinforced folding table bowed under the weight of my monitor. onlything i didn break, to the best of my knowledge, was the ping pong table.

Judas · Apr 11, 2006, 03:37 PM

your got a uranium case or what?

SFOSOK · Apr 11, 2006, 04:10 PM

All LAN parties are sausagefests. I second the women in skimpy clothing.

Dark Lord · Apr 11, 2006, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

your got a uranium case or what?

im positive i would have completly broke the tables if i put my case on it.

this was just my monitor. a 21" from about 1996 or so. weights in some where around 90-95LBS.

Judas · Apr 11, 2006, 04:44 PM

typically tabes are to withstand at least 200 pounds in a rather center point...

i've had 3 21" monitors on a fold out table....

i've seen 3 250 pound plus people standing on them kind of tables

JDwoods[TeamATi] · Apr 11, 2006, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Lord

im positive i would have completly broke the tables if i put my case on it.

this was just my monitor. a 21" from about 1996 or so. weights in some where around 90-95LBS.

Please tell me you have upgraded since then.

Calinerti · Apr 11, 2006, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al_Vampyre

turn your central heating OFF believe me you won't need it once you've got all those machines running...

I live in Arizona, and of course its hot here, but I found that with even 5 machines running with 5 monitors and 5 sweaty drinkers, the heat soon became unbearable. I had to crank up my air conditioning and even then I needed a fan blowing through the room. Was a blast all the same, and of course the next time I had all fans and AC already setup.

godrugal0 · Apr 11, 2006, 06:39 PM

Thanks again for all your help guys, we are now well underway to our first lan party. Just got to pick the games and do a dummy run with 3/4 pcs.
Cheers

Dark Lord · Apr 11, 2006, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDwoods[TeamATi]

Please tell me you have upgraded since then.

finaly got a new monitor about 2 months ago. that old 21 inch beast is sitting less then 4 feet from me right now.

JDwoods[TeamATi] · Apr 11, 2006, 07:07 PM

I can't believe you have a system like that and never upgraded your monitor.

Dark Lord · Apr 11, 2006, 08:06 PM

honestly, i had no need too. the picture quality was pretty good and it worked just fine.

although now that ive been useing an LCD for the last couple of months, i dont know how the hell i ever used that crt for so long.

the big Firefly · Apr 12, 2006, 01:03 AM

ctr's is here to stay man. if still got my 17" samsung ctr monitor. work beautiful. been to all my lans with it.....