There’s nothing better than getting a server up and playing together on a server. Exploring the land, building ultimate structures, mining for resources

…I said mining for resources…

Oh dear, it looks like every time we mine a block, it just keeps popping back. It eventually drops, but it happens every time. What’s happening?

This is what is generally known as lag, and it is used to describe any instances of the game slowly responding. The cause of lag could be from anything, and it could manifest in all kinds of ways. Even the same category of lag can do different things, so how do we know how to fix it?

What is Lag?

Before we can get into understanding the different types of lag, we need to understand what lag actually is. “Lag” is a general term used in gaming where a game may seem to run slowly, jump back a couple seconds, or fail to respond in a timely manner.

Let’s imagine it like sending mail. You have a letter you want to send to someone, and this is done by depositing mail in a post box. If everything is running smoothly, the delivered mail will be picked up by the postman, and it will then be delivered to the other person or to the post office.

When we get lag, there would be a snag in this process that would slow down the delivery. Maybe the postman called off sick that day, or there are roadworks on the way between destinations, or perhaps the post box has been damaged in a way that makes collecting mail difficult. Now, let’s take this little mail example and apply it to the different forms of lag.

Client-side Lag

You have a letter to send to someone, so you package it up and make your way to the post box. Suddenly, a swarm of angry bees! The bees are looking quite content with hanging around the post box, but they are not content with visitors. Because of the bees, you can’t deliver the mail, not safely, at least.

When you experience client-side lag, the source is likely from your own device.

Client-side Lag describes lag that only occurs on your device or game. The following is most likely to happen when experiencing client-side lag:

  • Reduced FPS (Frames per second)
  • Visible stuttering
  • Other players are not experiencing lag

Here are some potential causes of Client-side lag:

  • CPU overload - If your CPU is working overtime, it won’t be able to perform all tasks in a timely manner.
  • Full PC storage - Did you know that your computer can slow down if you run out of storage space? Try cleaning up some unused files.
  • Too many special effects - Sometimes, lag only appears when certain rendering tasks are performed, like lots of particles. Try reducing the graphics settings.
  • Shaders - We all like the crisp visuals of shaders, but these can put strain on your computer. Try adjusting settings or disabling them.

Network Lag

Okay, so now we can deliver mail just fine. Deposit the mail into the post box, and you’re all set. However, when the postman drives off to deliver the mail, they are suddenly attacked by a swarm of angry bees! Due to this, the postman will need to make a detour to get away, slowing down or preventing the mail delivery.

Network lag occurs when the source of the issue occurs between the client and server, such as the router or in the network traffic itself.

Network Lag is when lag is not occurring on the client or the server, rather it is happening between the two, such as when connecting to the server. The following are the symptoms of network lag:

  • High Ping
  • “Timed out” connection errors
  • Unusually slow connection speed

The following are possible causes of Network lag:

  • Poor connection quality - while you may have fast speeds, the speed does not matter if what you send or receive is malformed. Try rebooting the router.
  • Outdated DNS connections - The DNS, or Domain Name System, is what lets you navigate the internet. If there is an outdated connection, you will be unable to connect. Try restarting the computer or flushing the DNS.
  • Physical distance to the server - The server’s ping is how long it takes for packets to get from you to the server. It is normal to experience a little latency if you live far away from the server’s region.

Server Lag

Finally, the mail has been sent to the post office, ready to be sorted out. There’s just one small, slightly vexing issue. All the staff has been replaced with a swarm of angry bees! These bees don’t know how a post office works, so all they can do is bumble and grumble about it.

When everyone experiences lag, this is server lag. The most likely cause of server lag will be overload.

When you start to experience server lag, this is when the host is experiencing some technical difficulties. There could be a variety of causes, from too much load on the server to a lack of resources. These are the symptoms of server lag:

  • Smooth visuals but stuttery gameplay
  • Unresponsive or slow responses
  • Rubber-banding (movement jumping around)

There can also be a number of ways to handle server lag. Fixing it can depend on what the source of the lag is:

  • World generation - With games that make use of procedural generation such as Minecraft and Vintage Story, the server will need to generate as more of the world is created. Try reducing how many chunks generate.
  • Too many entities - If there are too many objects or entities in a world, it can also lower performance. Try culling how many entities there are on the server. Too many players can also affect performance. In this case, try increasing the server memory.
  • Machine configuration - Sometimes, games contain features that are like a computer inside of a computer. However, just like a computer, these can get overloaded and impact performance. Try checking for any malfunctioning machines.

No more lagging behind

It can be confusing when a server starts acting as if it’s in slow motion, but now you know the basic signs for each form of lag. Once you know why lag is happening, all it takes are some quick troubleshooting steps on the right device!

Want a stress-free multiplayer experience? Try hosting a server with us! Our powerful server hardware means that you can host a server with very little server lag. If you need help, feel free to reach out to our friendly Support team for 1-on-1 server support. Check out affordable plans and get started with your next server! Don’t forget to check out the Knowledge Base for detailed articles on how to set up and troubleshoot a server.