Server Thread Hitch Warning

The "Server Thread Hitch Warning" is one of the most common performance-related warnings in FiveM servers. This guide will help you understand what causes these warnings and how to resolve them.

Understanding the Warning

You might see messages like these in your server console:

WARNING: Server thread hitch detected! (XX ms)

This message indicates that the server's main thread was blocked for too long, causing a hitch. Hitches can lead to lag and other performance issues for players.

Common Causes

Resource Issues
- Heavy synchronous operations in resources
- Long-running loops without proper yielding
- Excessive database queries
- Complex calculations on the main thread
- Unoptimized event handlers
- Resource conflicts and dependencies
Configuration Problems
- Insufficient server resources
- Incorrect thread pool settings
- Too many concurrent operations
- Resource priority misconfiguration
- Network buffer settings
- Memory allocation issues
System Limitations
- CPU overload
- Memory constraints
- Disk I/O bottlenecks
- Network congestion
- Hardware limitations
- Operating system constraints

Server Owner Solutions

1. Server Configuration

# Add to your server.cfg
setr sv_maxClients 32  # Adjust based on your server capacity
setr sv_threadPoolSize 4  # Number of worker threads
setr sv_maxResourceThreads 8  # Maximum concurrent resource threads
setr sv_maxResourceMemory 512  # MB of memory per resource
setr sv_scriptHookAllowed 0  # Disable script hook access
setr sv_enforceGameBuild 2699  # Enforce specific game build
setr sv_minClientVersion 1.0.0  # Minimum client version
setr sv_scriptHookAllowed 0  # Disable script hook access
setr sv_scriptHookAllowed 0  # Disable script hook access

2. Resource Management

# Add to your server.cfg
ensure resource_name  # Load critical resources first
setr sv_resourcePriority "high"  # Set resource priority
setr sv_resourceStartupTimeout 30000  # 30 second timeout
setr sv_enforceGameBuild 2699  # Enforce specific game build
setr sv_maxClients 32  # Maximum number of clients
setr sv_maxPlayers 32  # Maximum number of players
setr sv_maxConcurrentConnections 64  # Maximum concurrent connections
setr sv_maxConcurrentConnectionsPerIP 2  # Maximum connections per IP

3. Performance Monitoring

# Use these commands in txAdmin console or server console
resmon  # Monitor resource performance
netgraph  # Monitor network performance
net_statsFile "performance_metrics.csv"  # Log performance metrics to file
status  # Check server status
players  # List connected players
resources  # List loaded resources

4. Resource Loading Order

# Add to your server.cfg
ensure mysql-async  # Database first
ensure oxmysql  # Alternative database
ensure es_extended  # Framework
ensure esx_menu_default  # UI components
ensure esx_menu_dialog  # Dialog system
ensure esx_menu_list  # List menus
ensure esx_menu_default  # Default menus

5. Network Optimization

# Add to your server.cfg
setr sv_netRateLimit 1048576  # 1MB/s per client
setr sv_netRateLimitBurst 2097152  # 2MB/s burst
setr sv_netRateLimitPerClient 100000  # Per-client rate limit
setr sv_netRateLimitPerClientBurst 200000  # Per-client burst limit
setr sv_netRateLimitPerClientInterval 1000  # Per-client interval

Developer Solutions

1. Thread Management

-- Example of proper thread management
local function heavyOperation()
    CreateThread(function()
        -- Long-running operation
        for i = 1, 1000 do
            -- Do work
            Wait(0)  -- Yield to prevent hitches
        end
    end)
end
 
-- Example of async database operations
local function asyncDatabaseQuery(query, params)
    return MySQL.query.await(query, params)
end
 
-- Example of proper event handling
AddEventHandler('event:name', function(data)
    CreateThread(function()
        -- Handle event asynchronously
        processEventData(data)
    end)
end)

2. Resource Optimization

-- Example of optimized resource code
local function processData(data)
    -- Split work into chunks
    local chunkSize = 100
    local chunks = {}
    
    for i = 1, #data, chunkSize do
        local chunk = {}
        for j = i, math.min(i + chunkSize - 1, #data) do
            table.insert(chunk, data[j])
        end
        table.insert(chunks, chunk)
    end
    
    -- Process chunks asynchronously
    for _, chunk in ipairs(chunks) do
        CreateThread(function()
            processChunk(chunk)
        end)
    end
end
 
-- Example of caching
local cache = {}
local function getCachedData(key)
    if cache[key] then
        return cache[key]
    end
    
    local data = fetchData(key)
    cache[key] = data
    return data
end

3. Error Handling and Validation

-- Example of robust error handling
local function safeOperation()
    local success, error = pcall(function()
        -- Potentially dangerous operation
        heavyOperation()
    end)
    
    if not success then
        print('Operation failed:', error)
        -- Implement fallback or cleanup
    end
end
 
-- Example of input validation
local function validateInput(data)
    if type(data) ~= 'table' then
        return false, 'Invalid input type'
    end
    
    if not data.requiredField then
        return false, 'Missing required field'
    end
    
    return true
end

4. Performance Monitoring

-- Add performance monitoring to your operations
local function monitoredOperation()
    local startTime = GetGameTimer()
    
    -- Your operation code here
    
    local endTime = GetGameTimer()
    local duration = endTime - startTime
    
    if duration > 10 then  -- 10ms threshold
        print('Warning: Operation took', duration, 'ms')
    end
end
 
-- Example of resource usage monitoring
local function monitorResourceUsage()
    local memory = collectgarbage('count')
    if memory > 1000000 then  -- 1MB threshold
        print('Warning: High memory usage:', memory, 'bytes')
    end
end

Best Practices

For Server Owners

Regular Monitoring
- Use resmon to track resource performance
- Monitor network performance
- Check for thread hitches
- Review error logs
- Monitor player count and server load
Configuration Management
- Keep thread pool size appropriate
- Enable security features
- Configure proper resource limits
- Maintain network settings
- Update server configuration regularly
Resource Management
- Monitor resource performance
- Check for resource conflicts
- Review resource loading order
- Maintain resource updates
- Test resource compatibility

For Developers

Code Optimization
- Use asynchronous operations
- Implement proper thread management
- Optimize data structures
- Use appropriate caching
- Minimize main thread usage
Error Prevention
- Validate input data
- Handle edge cases
- Implement timeouts
- Use proper cleanup
- Monitor performance
Resource Structure
- Organize code efficiently
- Use proper dependencies
- Implement error handling
- Monitor resource usage
- Test thoroughly

Additional Resources

Always monitor your server's performance and address thread hitches promptly to prevent server instability. Regular monitoring and maintenance are essential for optimal server performance.

For more information about thread management and performance optimization, refer to the CitizenFX documentation and server commands reference.

Server Thread Hitch Warning

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