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Installing Low-Latency Kernel on Ubuntu ​

The low-latency kernel is optimized for systems that require minimal latency, which is crucial for Counter-Strike game servers. In competitive gaming, especially Counter-Strike, even milliseconds of delay can impact player performance and gameplay experience.

Why Low-Latency Kernel for Counter-Strike Servers? ​

Counter-Strike is an extremely latency-sensitive game where:

  • Player actions like shooting and movement need to be processed as quickly as possible
  • Lower system latency gives players better hit registration and movement accuracy
  • Competitive play demands minimal delay between player input and server response
  • High-performance servers need to handle 10+ concurrent players with minimal lag

A low-latency kernel helps achieve these requirements by:

  • Minimizing processing delays in the operating system
  • Providing more predictable response times
  • Reducing system jitter and inconsistencies
  • Optimizing CPU scheduling for real-time game server processes
  • Improving network packet processing speed

For Counter-Strike servers, the target is to maintain system latency yo ensure optimal competitive gameplay. The low-latency kernel is a key component in achieving this goal alongside proper server configuration.

Prerequisites ​

This guide provides instructions for installing the low-latency kernel on Ubuntu systems.

WARNING

  • Not all applications require a low-latency kernel
  • The low-latency kernel sacrifices some throughput for better latency
  • Keep both standard and low-latency kernels installed for testing and backup

Installation Steps ​

  1. First, update your package list:

    bash
    apt update

  2. Install the low-latency kernel:

    bash
    apt install linux-lowlatency

  3. After installation, reboot your system:

    bash
    reboot now

  4. Verify the kernel installation after reboot:

    bash
    uname -r

    The output should include "lowlatency" in the kernel name.

Kernel Parameter Optimization ​

After installing the low-latency kernel, you'll want to optimize several kernel parameters for better performance:

  1. Configure TCP and system parameters by editing sysctl configuration:

    bash
    nano /etc/sysctl.conf

    Add these lines:

    bash
    # TCP Low Latency Settings
net.ipv4.tcp_low_latency = 1
net.ipv4.tcp_congestion_control = cubic

    Then run:

    bash
    sysctl -p

  2. Set CPU Governor to Performance Mode:

    bash
    # 1. Install cpufrequtils
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y cpufrequtils

# 2. Set governor to "performance" for all CPU cores
for cpu in /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu[0-9]*; do
   sudo cpufreq-set -c "${cpu##*/cpu}" -g performance
done

# 3. Make it persistent across reboots
echo 'GOVERNOR="performance"' | sudo tee /etc/default/cpufrequtils

# 4. Enable and start the cpufrequtils service
sudo systemctl enable cpufrequtils
sudo systemctl restart cpufrequtils

  3. Verify the settings:

    bash
    # Check TCP settings
sysctl net.ipv4.tcp_low_latency
sysctl net.ipv4.tcp_congestion_control

# Check CPU governor
cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu*/cpufreq/scaling_governor

Reverting to Standard Kernel ​

If needed, you can switch back to the standard kernel:

  1. Boot into the standard kernel from GRUB menu
  2. Remove the low-latency kernel:
    bash
    apt remove linux-lowlatency
LOWLAT_PACKAGES=$(dpkg --list | grep lowlatency | awk '{print $2}')
apt purge -y $LOWLAT_PACKAGES
update-grub