Admin Announcement: Full server, what now?

[majkp]

Some questions:
-How long would it take for the databases to syncronise (estimate)? Example, a character is created then the player wants to log onto the second server. Would it be practically instantaneous, or would there be a delay?

I hope that with servers located at the same location it would happen almost instantly after a player logs off. There would be no need to run full database synchronization as for that servers would need to be offline.

-Would the second server be run 24/7? While we may reach peak players in some time zones, in pacific time zones there can be as low as 30 players on the main server. Would it be efficient for the server to be running constantly, when the 200 cap has not been reached?

I haven't thought of that yet.

-Will there be any way for players to communicate with those on the other server? Ie, a player wants to talk to a faction which is on the second server (without logging off and relogging onto the second server).

Yes, there would of course be a messaging link as well.


The thing is that we could start with the first option and end with the second one as both share some needed functions. For example character's file needs to be sent to the other server after logout in both options...

[SevereTrinity]

If a messaging link could be done, could a grouping link not be done as well?

[majkp]

If a messaging link could be done, could a grouping link not be done as well?

Maybe yes, maybe not. Groups do appear in the player list, while messages don't. I don't even know if players on the other server are going to be visible in the player list. It's too soon to discuss this...

[Drifter84]

Temporary derailment ....

I am an absolute tech moron so can't really contribute much here but I would like to say that you are an absolute legend , majkp , for looking after our precious server for us .... I just hope you get to enjoy playing sometimes too .

Back on the rails....

I like the second option but it seems it may take a huge amount of real hard core programming and testing . If you guys need cash donations , let us know . I've probably saved a fortune in not buying new games since discovering Disco , paying some of it back is the least I can do .

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[sempai17]

The second option looks best for the server (it technically doubles the server limit unless I'm misinterpreting) I imagine, since you are (at first) using 2 servers, you put the edge and border system on one server, and all systems that belong with houses on another. This would give the feeling of complete detachment from the rest of populated houses.

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[tazuras]

I have to say this all sounds great, there is a lot of possibility to here and I am happy to have confirmed that once again the admins are way ahead of us in terms of planning.

I do think however that a third option should be investigated which is hiring programmers to build a better FLserver. If we can raise the money for a new server extremely easily I think we can raise money to implement this. I dont know about hiring anyone full time but I think it would be possible to hire people. Some of you may be saying it cant be done without the source code which is actually not true. Programs can be reverse engineered without the source code, it is just much harder. In fact I have heard of a project where a group of programmers are reverse engineering Windows XP to make an open source version. The issue that we start to get into here though is legality. With this I have no expertise but as long as we dont sell the software I doubt any legal action will be taken if any laws have been broken. So yeah, what do you think of that, or at least looking into it?

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[Tenacity]

I like the second option but there would definitely be some issues with it.

Say we split it up by house, with one server handling rheinlandberty/bretonia (and all the borderworlds/independent systems therein) and the other server handling gallia/kusari (and the taus, etc.)

Anyone on one side, say a player in liberty, could not even speak to a player in gallia/kusari due to the server split, from what I understand of the concept...

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[Epholl]

There could be an option between those two, that if a player went from one half of universe to another, he would log out in the apporpriate system, relog on other server and continue. Like if one server hosted Kusari and Rheinland, while the other one hosted Liberty and Bretonia, the Lib + Bre part would be empty on 1st server, but crowded on the other server and vice versa.

The problems would be the need to keep players away from actually playing in the empty parts of universe, which would become perfect for powertraders, smugglers and wreck looters, so those would maybe need some flhook commands in there, or slightly different mods.

- Just brainstorming.

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[Unseelie]

Beyond the obvious attention this proposal gathers from the possibility to add more people, which is awesome, I think it also might allow for us to do some graphics work, and multiple projectiles, for example, as things we've been unable to accomplish because of the serverload.
An awesome idea.

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[Xydonus]

Is there sufficient demand for a new server required? I mean, if the server is full, how often is it full, or is it a case of it being full and only a few players not being able to get in? Rather than say 50 players are left hanging?...

I think its a great idea though, just wondering however if the second server will be used to its full potential.

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