Unknown major server lag + Extreme framerate drop when approaching structure

[sammy0025]

Hi people, I've been hosting a more or less successful Tekkit server for my schoolmates. However, the performance took a major hit somehow a few days ago. The Ticks Per Second (TPS) could be around 10 (normal is 20) with only 5 players (FYI, my server dealt with 5 players easily in the past). I tried things like reducing mob count in worlds (Multiverse enabled server), disabling DimensionalAnchors, but none of them actually worked. I even removed BuildCraft for that matter of fact (people claim BuildCraft to be a lag cause). Also, just as I was about to rectify the problems with BuildCraft, another problem cropped up that when I approach some of the structures I build (no machinery inside, and is claimed using Grief Prevention Plugin), the framerate can drop to 1 with the CPU usage on the debug screen going to max instantly. I used minimal graphic settings and still happens. I also tried tuning up the amount of RAM allocated to Tekkit client but the framerate drop still persists unless I move/teleport with commands away from that location. This whole thing is so uncanny it really caught me with shock just as I thought my server is gonna reach its most awesome state.

[fabricator77]

First things first:

1. Write down the coordinates of the buildings involved

2. Save-all, stop server

3. Make a copy of the map folder, save it to a different drive/folder.

Now you have a copy of the map for safe keeping or testing purposes.

Now fire up MCedit, open the map copy, and go to the coordinates of the buildings involved. Select them carefully and save them as schematics. Also try opening this map in single player by making a 3rd copy, does it lag the same without the server being involved ?

My theory is you have one or more corrupted chunks, there are several ways to regenerate/delete the chunks. Not had to do it myself on a server so do some research or something. Anyway with the new empty chunks on the server, see if it behaves normally. All going well you can paste the building schematics back in one at a time, better still try stuff in single player first.

There is another possible cause, if your using blocks from specific mods in the buildings. Is there a lot of that sort of thing, or is it vanilla Minecraft materials ?

[sammy0025]

By the way, try looking at the startup logs of my Tekkit server which is located here: https://gist.github.com/3497448. I do use blocks like computers from the RedPower mod, and a bunch of WR-CBE Wireless Redstone devices, and finally another MFSU and a charging bench. I don't think MCEdit can handle Tekkit custom blocks though. One more thing: I noticed on the logs that there are automatic disconnects with the log item disconnect.overflow. Bad news is: Tekkit SSP mode simply crashed on me when I tried to load it.

[Kull14]

It's also been happening on my private server, it only happens when I go to my friends house, the rest of the map is fine. I get like 5fps there and. Normally get 30, any quick and easy way without losing the house?

[sammy0025]

I tried using MCEdit to fix it. Problem persists. I probably want to use the old method: download Tekkit server files, and put all the necessary files such as world folders and plugins into it, then start the server. This seemed to work every time.

[sammy0025]

Nope, that did not work. The CPU load according to debug screen rises to 100%, FPS 1-5.

[gavjenks]

Something doesn't add up here. How can you possibly have an MFSU and a charging bench and no machines? Why would you ever do that? There's not even anything listed to charge the MFSU...

So you must be leaving some things out of your list of stuff inside. Massive power transfers (thousands of EU/tick) are very capable, in my experience, of creating permanent local lag if they persist for a long time, for example. Even if there a few machines (e.g., just a bunch of HV solars attached to a mass fab and thats it)

[sammy0025]

I made a central nuclear & solar power distribution system for everyone, but only 3 including me uplinked to the power station. I removed the MFSU and the charging bench and nothing happened. Everything within a 5 block radius of my house is the lag zone. I also have a self-powered (with solar panels) central machine workbench for people to use IC2 machines without having to build their own and it is not attached to my house. Also, I find DimensionalAnchors to generate logs around a whole gigabyte, so I removed it.

[gavjenks]

Once power-based lag builds up, removing the machines does not necessarily fix it. =/ So whether it be that or something else, you may just have to destroy the chunks in some editor and let them regen.

Also a screenshot would be very helpful.

[TheBard]

Are there maybe cable loops in the building? Looping cables in circles can cause bad lag I believe.

Conductive Pipes in loops can also cause bad problems.

[fabricator77]

I made a central nuclear & solar power distribution system for everyone, but only 3 including me uplinked to the power station. I removed the MFSU and the charging bench and nothing happened. Everything within a 5 block radius of my house is the lag zone. I also have a self-powered (with solar panels) central machine workbench for people to use IC2 machines without having to build their own and it is not attached to my house.

These _are_ machines, the MFSU, the charging bench, the miles of cabling you didn't mention. How about some details now, how long are these cables, are they glass fibre or 3x insulated HV. There is an issue with really long glass fibre cables, every 40 blocks it needs a booster device*.

Ignore gavjenks advice, start by removing the transformers, Its easy to create a loop installing then, but you need to remove the transformer to clear the problem. Then the cabling especially the long ones.

* its just two HV transformers with the 3 dots touching, put a lever on the transformer the power comes from.

[sammy0025]

BTW, FYI I do not use BuildCraft. The glass fibre cabling are enough to not use a booster. Since all of my clients for my power station uses HV except for some self-sustaining devices inside the power station, I may want to remove some of em'.

[sammy0025]

Nope, non of them actually worked. People are actually complaining that somehow things got deleted...

[pattymq]

Tekkit is buggy as hell. I had a similiar problem on my private server. I'd built a warehouse where all my items go and get sorted. One day when ever I was in the same chunks as the warehouse my fps drop to about 10-15 (from 40-60) Me and my GF decided we were going to start a new world but keep some of the items. What we did was stuck a lot of items into the condenser to convert them to red matter. The strange thing was the lag improved and by the time we'd finished converting most of are items into red matter from the chests the lag was go.

We were using a few crystal chests. If you have some of those try emptying them and removing them. I might be an issue with to many stored items in a chunk?

[sammy0025]

Hmm, maybe, as I always use Crystal Chests for storage. That might explain it. Weird thing is that those Crystal Chests do not exist in that chunk.