There is nothing more fun than having a party.You have to see your friend's face up front and personal as you frag them in your own garage.You can host your own party.You can learn how to get enough bandwidth and other things by following the steps below.
Step 1: How big will your party be?
You can probably host a smaller party with the equipment you already have.If you have more than 16 people, you may need to buy or rent more equipment.The venue is a limiting factor.It's a good idea to plan for 2 people per table.
Step 2: There is a venue.
The garage can be used for smaller parties.You can usually fit about 20 people in a garage.You should start looking for large meeting halls if you need more room.Ask around at local colleges, churches, and other public spaces.If no owners are willing, a hotel meeting room may be the best option.It can cost a lot of money, but they will be able to provide you with reliable power, air conditioning, and even tables and chairs.
Step 3: Obtain all the networking equipment.
You will need at least one of the following: Linksys BEFSR41 or D-Link EBR-2310).If you plan to have more than 3 people over, you may need a switch, as most routers only have 4 network ports.You should have at least one network port per person.gigabit speeds are nice for fast file transfers, but 10/100BaseT equipment is more than adequate for gaming.If you want to save money.You can find cheap switches on eBay.All the players plug into the switch.You will need a network card for every PC, and at least 2 100BASE-TX network cables if you have more than 10 PCs.You should get 100BASE-TX switches with enough ports for all your guests and enough cables to connect the computers to the switches.To save time and headaches, ask guests to have their network cards installed and configured before they show up.You should have some extra just in case, but they should also bring their own switches and cables.In addition to the previously listed equipment, you will need switches and dedicated server in order to avoid a lag.It's a good idea to run your server on 100 Base-TX or a gigabit network.
Step 4: Acquire all the power equipment.
If you overload your circuits, the circuit breaker will trip and the pressure will be on for you to fix it.To be prepared is the best solution.You will need extension cords if you are hosting in a garage or house.It's only possible to plug so many computers into one circuit.To find out which sockets are on which circuits, you need to go to the circuit breaker box.If you are lucky, the circuits are labeled.You need a second person in the house who can tell you which room's lights go out when you flip off each circuit.Distribution boxes, which have multiple 20 Amp circuits, are provided if you are at a hotel venue or using a generator.A good guideline is to have at least 4 people on a 15 and 20 Amp circuit.If you want to evenly distribute power, run extension cords to each table.It's a good idea to check every circuit and map it out on a piece of paper, give a copy to everyone, and label each outlet.Fridges and air conditioning are on the same circuit as PCs.They draw a lot of power when their compressor is on.
Step 5: Acquire seating.
Your dining table and desk may be all you need.You may have to rent some folding tables and chairs.You can get help from your local party rental store for less than $100.The 6 foot tables are the perfect size for 2 people.There are 8 foot tables that can fit 3 people.Tables and chairs are already available for you in the hotel meeting rooms.
Step 6: Decide which games will be played.
Choose from a variety of game styles.The newer the game, the more alienating older PCs will be.Decide the game, format, rules, and maps for the tournament.You can use software like LanHUB to track the tournament ladders.
Step 7: Set up dedicated game server.
A dedicated server will benefit most games today.Get everything installed and tested if you search the internet for configuration files.Learn how to use a server.You don't want to set it up on the day of the LAN.
Step 8: Plan other activities besides gaming.
It's not possible to sit at a computer for 24 hours in a row.Dodgeball, hard drive shuffleboard, and power supply chucking' are classic LAN party games.
Step 9: Make a plan for lunch and dinner.
It can be as simple as ordering food at a restaurant.You could hire or plan a BBQ.
Step 10: You can choose a date and other details.
The date can be determined by when the venue is open.If you want to keep your schedule open, make it at least 3 weeks in advance.
Step 11: Get a sponsor.
It's not hard to do.Small things like stickers, posters, and t-shirts will be sent by companies like OCZ.You might be able to give away some hardware if your LAN is large.It should be worth their time.Prizes can make your party more fun, but they should not be the focus.You are there for the gaming.
Step 12: It should be promoted.
This is the most important step.List it in forums, Blue's News, and post fliers in the area.Have your friends tell their friends.Make it clear what time it is, what games will be played, and what the person should bring with them.
Step 13: The games you plan to play should be downloaded a few days before the event.
You can put them in a shared folder on your computer.You can update your games without affecting your internet connection.You may want to burn these files to CDs to give to the attendees.
Step 14: The room should be set up the night before.
Set up chairs, tables, and trash cans.Prepare a sign-in sheet and assign internet protocol addresses to each name.Print out hand-outs welcoming the guests and describe some rules and guidelines if you are running a DHCP server.Test your networks and server by setting up and connecting them.