Game server providers (GSPs) are companies that lease game servers.
Gaming clans will often lease one or more servers for their
chosen game, with members of the clan contributing to the server
rental fees. Game server providers often offer Web tools to control
and configure the game servers; most allow those that rent or lease
to modify the games being leased
Types of game servers
Game servers can be classified as listen servers and dedicated
servers. Listen server refers to a situation in which the server
typically runs in the same process as the game client, allowing a
player to both host and participate in the game. As a side effect,
the server is usually terminated when the client is. Listen servers
are operated mostly by individuals, often in
LAN Party situations rather than over the Internet, and usually
with a lower number of players due to the increased processing and
bandwidth requirements associated with operating both server and
client simultaneously on the same machine. Dedicated servers are
servers which run independently of the client. Such servers may be
run by individuals, but are usually run on dedicated hardware
located in data centers, providing more bandwidth and dedicated
processing power. Dedicated servers are the preferred method of
hosting game servers for most
PC-based multiplayer games.
Massively multiplayer online games run on dedicated servers
usually hosted by the software company that owns the game title,
allowing them to control and update content. In many cases they are
run on clustered servers to allow huge environments and large player
counts.
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