Sunday, February 26, 2012

Server status - in the meantime...

The server is down for four days due to an attack and inability to manage the server remotely in a proper way. Considering the circumstances, the question emerges: what can or should be done?

After the initial problems we've had, the server could have been pinged most of the time and the the low-level host control panels were responding, but booting up the old chap with primary OS was impossible. The technical support was (probably) doing their best to answer to our requests, but the communication was tedious, usually taking too long or resulting in additional waiting intervals. In other words, remote management proved to be quite difficult, which we were counting on, since we're talking about one of the cheapest hosting solutions among those offered by our host. Good news is that the game session and other critical data look good thus far. We will continue working on getting everything back up, but no rational estimations can be given at this point.

I'd dare to say that this is not a case without solution and we have been considering several options for quite a time already. Long story short - one of the most intriguing ideas right now is to move to another host, i.e. to find better offer for beans, getting... ehmmm... more (and better) beans in the process. Currently, our critical control point proved to be the above mentioned server management, which provides us with next to none flexibility when it comes to keeping the server up n' running. As all of us already know, a proper server management is necessity for projects like 2238, no more, no less. According to some unofficial feedback, there's a good portion of players and the community interested in backing up such kind of "exodus", which is a good sign and a wind in the back for meeting the final decision. We would like to use this opportunity to thank everyone for supporting us during all good and hard times we've been through together.

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Saturday, February 25, 2012

Server issues - update #2

Short update. Server was (finally!) unlocked yesterday, but it looks like during the "emergency shutdown," performed by our kind provider, the operating system image got damaged and - in the time of writing this note - we are still unable to boot it.

In other news - current situation brings back the latest discussion about changing server, which had been planned for the next few months. We are currently checking various offers and will pick one soon shortly. This should solve some of the issues which we have experienced already - current server machine configuration is a few years old and it hasn't changed much during that time.

In the meantime, we're preparing the various elements, which we have access to, for migration. Once again thanks for patience!

Friday, February 24, 2012

Server issues - update

Time for some more news - apparently, it was an attack. Our line got saturated with almost constant 80M transfer, and our provider policy is...to lock such server if it's under attack. Yes, we know it's crazy, it's like they're actually helping the attacker by doing that (when such server is locked, we can't do a thing on it as well).

The problem is, that they've said they're gonna take off the lock in few hours, but they didn't do it till now. Even if they stated so in tech support request message.

So we're still waiting...

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Server issues

We've encountered strange server machine behavior lately (you've probably noticed it as well - as the resulting lags). We were investigating the issue and, as a part of investigation, we performed machine hard reboot.

The machine ceased to reply after that. We currently do not know more details about the issue, we'll try to keep you up to date with information.

Thanks for your patience.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Server forecast for Friday 06-Jan-2012: Wipe with heavy data loss

COMMERCIAL: This server forecast is brought to you by "Rotators", the world leader in donation beggings & solutions!

FORECAST: on Friday, 6th of January, we may count with some heavy wipe followed by data loss on global scale. The wipe will most probably pass the Central and Western Europe at 09:00 PM (21:00), causing complete data loss for everyone. The unstable post-wipe conditions may last for the next two days, but we believe there will be no unexpected data loss during that time.

We advise you to gear up properly, including protective suits and equipment, take a lot of meds with you and go out. There's no need not to enjoy the next few days until the wipe hits us.

Don't forget to let the Brahmin out and burn down your accomodation!

Until our next forecast - have a nice time!

Friday, December 23, 2011

Please read: a personal appeal from the FOnline: 2238 Developer Lisac Twok


I feel like living the last of my days in a polluted, unclean world, infested with bugs, glitches and crashes.

Imagine the world where every human being on the planet could wipe their virtual reality as they want, whenever they want. Although we're currently far away from that vision, it doesn't mean we have to give up on our dreams! Wipe, my brothers and sisters, wipe is our reality.

With the latest features being tested and discussed, with those last bugs being squashed or pulverised with pulse rifle, with each and every stinking breath of the stuck NPCs that break your quests - we are one step closer to our vision! As I write these words, the critical amount of bits and bytes are being accumulated in Paris, waiting to come into contact with a void function that shall release the Big Bang and bring us the next wipe, the salvation! The last of our days are coming, beware!

Not soon, but very soon, the wipe will bring the end of days as we know it and bring a new life to the brave world that has to be born on the ashes of the old one. Very soon.

Gather your forces. Wake up your sleeping moles. Send a telegram to Rangers. Take your minigun from the rusty tribal chest. Get your granpa stand by your side. Because, very, very soon...

It's about to wipe.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Wanted: Donations - Dead or Alive

Like the title says, we are in dire need of donations for keeping the server running for the upcoming three months. The deadline is 6th December and the server fundings are currently short for ~80 €. Any amount is greatly appreciated and shall help the developers to concentrate on finishing the new features for the upcoming wipe, rather than to see their efforts being hampered by failing to oblige a quarter invoice for the server maintenance.

As always, Cvet & Rotators are grateful for your donations, as well as for any other great work and feedback provided by the FOnline communities.