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Server requirements

2023-06-04
server, ccboot, requirement

The following outlines the software and hardware requirements for setting up a CCBoot server, including recommended Windows Server versions and hardware specifications for optimal performance.

CCBoot server software requirements

  1. It's advisable to use Windows Server 2016, 2019, or 2022 Standard or Datacenter editions due to enhanced cache management. Older versions are not recommended.
  2. Avoid using Windows 11 or Windows Server 2025, as they have a write-back data issue that prevents automatic disk clearing.
  3. Windows server 2022 ISO for download -
    https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=2195280&clcid=0x409&culture=en-us&country=US
  4. Windows server 2019 ISO for download -
    https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=2195167&clcid=0x409&culture=en-us&country=US
  5. Consider Windows 10 Pro as a secondary option. However, it's important to note that Windows 10 has a shared limitation of up to 20 PCs. Therefore, for centers with more than 20 PCs, this option is not recommended due to limitations in shared folder functionality, which is essential for saving game progress and resolving specific game-related issues.
  6. Windows 10 restricts the number of disks or LUNs that can be connected to a single iSCSI target session to 8.
  7. Consider using Windows Server (e.g., 2016, 2019, 2022), which does not have this strict limitation and supports significantly more LUNs per connection, typically up to 256.
  8. Avoid installing antivirus software on your server computer. Antivirus programs can significantly increase disk activity, leading to lag for clients and causing games to load slowly.

CCBoot server hardware requirements

Here is the recommended server hardware for CCBoot.

Component

Recommended Specifications

CPU

Intel Core i5 or higher

Motherboard

Server motherboard supporting 16GB+ RAM, with 6-8 or more SATA Ports, at least 2 NVME slots

No. of Clients

Server RAM

10 - 30

32 GB

30 - 70

64 GB

70 - 100

128+ GB

Network

10gb port

Storage Disk Types

  • Image Disk: Stores the client OS boot data, referred to as an "image."
    Choose an SSD (Samsung EVO) with a capacity of 512GB or more for the image disk.
  • Game Disk: Stores the game data. Please note, if your game disk exceeds 2TB, it should be initialized as a GPT volume. Choose an SSD or NVME (Samsung EVO 970) with a capacity of 2TB or more for the game disk.
  • Writeback Disk: Stores the client's write data. In diskless booting, all data are read and written to/from the server. Hence, a writeback disk is necessary to retain the client's write data. Choose 2 or more SSD/NVME (Samsung EVO 970) with a capacity of 512gb
  • Windows OS: Stores the CCBoot folder and the shared folder that
    Choose a SSD (Samsung EVO) with capacity of 512gb or more

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  1. If considering RAID 0, set it up via Windows disk manager rather than in BIOS for optimal performance. Maintain SATA mode as AHCI in the BIOS to enhance writeback disk performance.
  2. More than one write-back disk (required for 20+ users), avoid RAID to prevent disruption if one disk fails. Multiple write-back disks are automatically balanced by CCBoot, delivering improved write performance compared to RAID. SSDs or NVME disks are recommended for their higher IOPS.
  3. RAID 0 from SSDs for write-back does not significantly boost random read/write IOPS it primarily improves sequential read/write speeds. Therefore, it is not recommended.
  4. Format all disks (excluding the Windows partition) with a 32K allocation unit for better performance, especially in gaming scenarios where 32K units can resolve lag experienced with 4K units.
  5. If the disk is NVMe or a high-quality SSD for the game disk, do not use an SSD cache, as it is not necessary

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