[SOLVED] Union questions

[Drabuna]

Hi, we are planning to start a new project soon, and currently looking for server-side solution for our game.
For our last game, we used node.js+socket.io for server-side, and Flash for client. There were many issues, and I'm not sure that we want to keep using node.js especially with Flash.
So I've found about Union, and few questions occurred, would be great if someone could help me with them to make decision for using Union or not.
(to make it clear - developing a realtime multiplayer game with Flash client which will communicate with server(Union) through sockets)

1. Firewalls and antiviruses. One of the node.js+flash problems was that some of users couldn't play, cause of the firewalls. Will same happen if using Union?
2. Is there built-in security policy server (crossdomain.xml for sockets) in Union?
3. Lobby. We'll need to have a global lobby on server, to which all users will be connected. As far as I understand, it can be implemented by extending Rooms - is there any limit for max users per room?
4. Scaling. Lets say we'll have 5000 concurrent connections - any additional code is required to scale? For example - we'll need to add clustering or can we just use union cloud? If so, global lobby will be possible if scaling to many servers/or cloud?
5. Is it possible to use mysql on dedicated server when using Union cloud?
6. Server-side development language - java or javascript? Can I extend server module with java script? Can we use custom classes and frameworks with Union?

Thanks!)

[derek]

Hi Drabuna,

1. Firewalls and antiviruses. One of the node.js+flash problems was that some of users couldn't play, cause of the firewalls. Will same happen if using Union?

If a client is blocked by a firewall it can automatically fallback to HTTP. If your users can connect to the web they can connect to Union.

2. Is there built-in security policy server (crossdomain.xml for sockets) in Union?

Yes. See http://www.unionplatform.com/?page_id=420.

3. Lobby. We'll need to have a global lobby on server, to which all users will be connected. As far as I understand, it can be implemented by extending Rooms - is there any limit for max users per room?

There are no software limits to the number of users that can join a room.

4. Scaling. Lets say we'll have 5000 concurrent connections - any additional code is required to scale? For example - we'll need to add clustering or can we just use union cloud? If so, global lobby will be possible if scaling to many servers/or cloud?

Depending on the amount of client-server communication of your application you may be able to fit 5000 concurrent connections on a single server. In particular, the amount of awareness that clients have of each other will have a large impact on performance. We have in our own production environments run with over 10000 users in a single room on a single server but there was no intra-user awareness aside from the number of users in the room. If you begin to add messaging and attribute sharing the amount of messages required grows exponentially.

Union does have support for clustering which you can read about at http://www.unionplatform.com/?page_id=3190. Client messages on a node are not automatically propagated to all other nodes. It's up to the developer, with code, to determine what kind of information needs to be shared among nodes. You can see an example application at http://www.unionplatform.com/?page_id=3193.

5. Is it possible to use mysql on dedicated server when using Union cloud?

Yes. See a tutorial on using MySQL with Union at http://www.unionplatform.com/?page_id=3721

6. Server-side development language - java or javascript? Can I extend server module with java script? Can we use custom classes and frameworks with Union?

Server side modules can be developed in Java or any scripting language that has a Java scripting engine. See http://www.unionplatform.com/?page_id=2643 for more information and some example Java and Javascript server side modules.

Regards,

Derek

[Drabuna]

Thanks for your answers!)