GPN-Perf2: Game private networks and game servers performance optimization

GPN-PERF是由Okanagan College及其行业合作伙伴WTFast.实施的一个两阶段项目。第一阶段于2014年开始，是正在进行的NSERC CCI ARD Level 1项目。它的主要成果是(A)设计和实施一个实验性的GPN(游戏专用网络)基础设施，以在“体外”实验室环境中测试游戏服务器软件的性能；(B)将服务器软件的影响与网络延迟和带宽隔离，这在WTFast通过互联网连接玩家和服务器的工业设置中是不可能的；(C)测量和解释GPN性能的关键统计数据。该项目将利用项目第一阶段创建的基础设施作为框架，在其上测试和构建能够实时优化和监控WTFast游戏服务的游戏服务器软件。这一基础设施将允许自动部署和配置新服务器，以用作私人游戏服务器，同时还可以监控其性能和使用统计数据。通过使用新的创新预测模型(由该项目创建)，当通信量水平将需要更多资源来维持最佳性能时，可以自动添加新的服务器。网络基础设施和网络软件的测试将使用一个程序来完成，该程序模拟许多玩家连接到网络中多个虚拟机上的多个游戏服务器。网络测试的目标是确定网络软件不能再跟上流量的时间点。测试还将用于确定游戏服务器及其主机虚拟机的容量，以确定它们可以支持的玩家数量。这些知识和相关的实验功能在行业中是绝无仅有的，将给我们更深入的知识，以及游戏网络领域的产业创新。

GPN-Perf is a two-phase project conducted by Okanagan College and its industrial partner WTFast.The first phase begins in 2014 as an undergoing NSERC CCI ARD Level 1 project. Its main results are (a) thedesign and implementation of an experimental GPN (Game Private Network) infrastructure to test game serversoftware performance on an "in vitro" laboratory environment, (b) isolation of the effect of server softwarefrom network latency and bandwidth, which is not possible in WTFast's industrial setup that connects playerswith servers over the internet (c) measuring and explaining key statistics of the GPN performance.Okanagan College's goal is to schedule the second phase immediately after completion of the first phase so asto retain student interest, continuous involvement of WTFast and thus reduce the lag between academic R&Dand future high-value WTFast services. This project will utilize the infrastructure created in the first phase ofthe project as the framework on which to test and build game server software that can optimize and monitorWTFast game services in real time. This infrastructure will allow new servers to be automatically deployed andconfigured for use as private game servers, while also monitoring their performance and usage statistics. Byusing new innovative predictive models (created by the project), new servers may be automatically added whentraffic levels will require more resources to maintain optimal performance.Testing of the network infrastructure and the network software will be done using a program that simulatesmany players connecting to many game servers on several virtual machines in the network. The goal of thesenetwork tests is to identify the point at which the network software can no longer keep up to the flow of traffic.The tests will also serve to identify the capacity of the game servers and their host virtual machines in terms ofthe number of players they can support.This knowledge and associated experimental functionality exists nowhere else in the industry and will give usdeeper knowledge, plus industrial innovation in the game networking area.