Servers - Moving forward to BF3 (And other games)

[Dax]

Ok, so lets start simple, what do we have, we have 2 dedi box's, Box 1, and Box 2 as I am going to inventively call them.

Both box's are "Dell PowerEdge R210 Plus" have identical specs as follows:

Intel Xeon X3450 Lynnfield Processor (4 x 2.66 - 3.20GHz, 8MB Cache, Turbo Boost Technology, Hyper-Threading).

4 physical and 4 logical CPU's scaling to 3.20Ghz via Intel's Turbo Boost Technology.

4GB ECC 1333MHz DDR3 Ram (2x2GB Dual Rank DIMMs).

Sata2 250B 16MB cache hard drive.

1000Mbit network port as standard.

Unlimited Gaming Bandwidth.

Windows or Linux.Intel Xeon X3450 Lynnfield Processor (4 x 2.66 - 3.20GHz, 8MB Cache, Turbo Boost Technology, Hyper-Threading).

4 physical and 4 logical CPU's scaling to 3.20Ghz via Intel's Turbo Boost Technology.

4GB ECC 1333MHz DDR3 Ram (2x2GB Dual Rank DIMMs).

Sata2 250B 16MB cache hard drive.

1000Mbit network port as standard.

Unlimited Gaming Bandwidth.

Windows or Linux.


According to our RSP, as posted in another thread, this box SHOULD be able to handle 4*64 player, or 8*32 Player BF3. (Or 2*64 + 4*32 etc).

At the moment, the servers are running the following:

Box 1


6*32 Player BFBC2
1*32 Man TS3


Box 2


6*32 Player BFBC2
1*24 Player MOH


At current, each of the game server uses ~120MB RAM, and 3-5% CPU, with TS3 using 0% CPU and 15MB RAM.

My Suggestions

Looking at the number of BC2 servers that are usually filled every morning, I do not think we need this many. With not playing BC2, I honestly have no idea on how many people think we need, so if anyone who plays it regularly has an opinion on this, please post it, until then, I'm just going to assume 6, as I tend to see 4-5 active servers. So my suggestions are as follows:

Box 1


6*32 Player BFBC2
2*24 Player MOH
1*32 Man Teamspeak
1*64 Player Red Orchestra 2
1* 32 Player Red Orchestra 2


I have no idea how much server specs red orchestra is going to take, so this is just a rough guess, trying to keep CPU usage below 50% (We have plenty of RAM).

Box 2


2*64 Player BF3
2*32 Player BF3
2*24 Player BF3


Note: As far as I know, Conquest is 64 player, Rush 32 player, and TDM 24 player on BF3.

These are just suggestions, what do people think of this? I don't want us to ditch BC2 or MOH all together until they have died. And I know a few people, me included have got red orchestra on pre order, and others have said they will buy it.

[Timosfrag]

I love BC2 but in onlinegaming i am "monogamous person". And BF3 is my new :love: , this means that when i have BF3 in my pc i will not play BC2 again. Of course i will help servers when needed, and when a friend asks :yo:
I vote for all BF3 servers :whistle:

[Dax]

If you want all BF3 only, then you only need one box, and we can save ashoof lots of money ;)

[Bert]

We need to migrate onto BF3 not kill our successful BC2 servers immediatly when BF3 comes out.

That said, to my mind BC2 is going to take a massive hit in player numbers on Oct 25th. So 6 BC2 servers is too much in my opinion
I would like to see max 4 with the extra capacity transfered to BF3.

So perhaps something like:

Box 1-

1 x 64 slot BF3 or 2 x 32 slot BF3
3 x 32 slot BC2
2 x 24 slot MOH
1 x 32 slot TS3
1 x 64 slot RO2
1 x 32 slot RO2

Box 2-

2 x 64 slot BF3
2 x 32 slot BF3
2 x 24 slot BF3

[Ripper]

I agree, BC2 will suffer a lot when BF3 comes out, ofc there will be ppl playing it but not enough to fill 6 servers, even now sometimes there isnt, imo ofc. :)

[fiffi*]

i agree with Bert, dont think we need 6 BC2 server
2 MoH servers would be fun , im sure i will keep playing MoH even when BF3 comes
i will of course play BF3 to but i dont think i will play BC2 again, but i will help start the servers

[OFERIKOLA]

This should be in two or three steps. gradually taking out BFBCII servers and introducing New BF3 severs..
I guess that two months after the release no more then 2-3 BFBC2 servers will be required.

[ShutUpAndFire]

When BF3 is released I would say we only need a max of 4 BC2 servers (Valpa 06 , Oasis 04, 03 and either Rush or 07) and as time goes on and the player numbers drop just take the quiet/empty servers offline.

One thing I would urge Face or whoever is incharge of the ingame messages on the BC2 and MOH servers is to start advertising NOW that we are going to have BF3 servers available on launch day so we dont have the problem of our servers getting lost with the rest like what happened with BC2 at the start ;) The more folks that know about them before they install the game the better :)

Moving on to the BF3 servers does anyone know how many maps and what kind of maps are going to available from day 1? I guess we will need an infantry server, a vehicle server and one for the plane/heli whores out there. So I think max 6 BF3 servers to start and if they are packed all the time then we can change other servers that arent as busy (ie BC2 and MOH).

I dont know much about Red Orchestra 2 tbh but I guess running a couple of servers to see how it goes at the start is a good idea.

So I guess thats-

4 x BC2 (Valpa 06 , Oasis 04, 03 and either Rush or 07)
6 x BF3
2 x MOH
2 x RO2
1 x TS3

Thats just a quick thought from me, havent really looked at the 2 new games much yet.








PS- What about a MW3 server :p:

[Bert]

One thing I would urge Face or whoever is incharge of the ingame messages on the BC2 and MOH servers is to start advertising NOW that we are going to have BF3 servers available on launch day so we dont have the problem of our servers getting lost with the rest like what happened with BC2 at the start ;) The more folks that know about them before they install the game the better :)

You read my mind, I have been working on the message this morning, waiting for Face for his input

[BINIATAS]

We must have a 64 player map in bf3...

[Bert]

there is no question of that at all, frankly I want to see at least 3
its game modes that limit the slot count though, we will want rush and TDM which (as far as im aware) are 32 and 24 slots respectively

[Dax]

Also, I think I read that there are 9 maps total, all avaliable in all 5 game modes. Rush, TDM, CQ, Squad DM, Squad Rush

[Chriss-FIN-]

I think also that 6 BC2 servers are too much, so couple of them could be used for BF3. I assume lots of players will move to BF3 when its out.

Yep, there is 9 maps at launch + 3-4 (not sure how many) from back to karkand pack.

[Dax]

Back to karkand isnt available at launch ;)

[Chriss-FIN-]

Back to karkand isnt available at launch ;)

Its available at launch day if you got that version. There is confirmation from Dice about that, but if dont have right version you get it after 1 month of lauch if i remember right.

[BINIATAS]

Back to karkand isnt available at launch ;)

what ??? and when it will be available ??? limited edition has and back to karkand......the f@$#%ckers.....they will probably launch this map pack after the bf3 launch to make people buy these extra maps !

[Bert]

with all that in mind I forsee an initial 'massive' drop in player numbers on BC2
we need to go all out with advertising that we will be running BF3 servers
I have added messages about this to the servers repeating every 3 minutes.

as for the servers themselves I have been thinking more about this:
I think we should have 1 BF3 box in whatever format of servers we work out
and the other box will need to be set up dynamically

Initally pick the 4 most popular BC2 servers and keep those.
have 1 (or more) 64 or 32 slot BF3 servers
+ the other games

I think we need to be prepared to sacrifice as many BC2, MOH or RO2 servers for BF3 as we need to..

[Dax]

Right, but I dont see a point in sacrificing all game servers, to run 12 BF3 servers, when only 6 of them are ever going to get filled.

If other games are dead, then we get rid of the second box, simple.

[Bert]

exactly, dynamic... if we cant fill all BF3, but can fill BC2, MOH, RO2 then increase those accordingly, or if BF3 is overly popular add more of those at the expense of the others
It wont take long to find the balance

I would say though, we need to learn from our BC2 experience, we need to be aware that It will take some time to get the servers filled initially.

Also I think we are going to get an awful lot of battlefield, return regulars
those who have got bored of (or just never got round to trying properly) BC2
think of all those timeless regs from the 2142 servers who just disappeared when BC2 came out
Im sure we will get them back again

[niii]

timeless has been quiet for a long time and with the creation of battlelog i don't see it getting any better, people will have no need in joining gaming forums to link with other players and timeless might struggle because of it.
it might be easier to host less servers and properly concentrate on them, hoping to build a community of regulars around the existing ones instead of spreading admin and financial resources over many servers.
i know that timeless philosophy is seeing big but doing the opposite might very well help give timeless a better kick start. and if you are right bert, and forum members rise up again, maybe timeless could expand again.

[Kharak]

timeless has been quiet for a long time and with the creation of battlelog i don't see it getting any better, people will have no need in joining gaming forums to link with other players and timeless might struggle because of it.
it might be easier to host less servers and properly concentrate on them, hoping to build a community of regulars around the existing ones instead of spreading admin and financial resources over many servers.
i know that timeless philosophy is seeing big but doing the opposite might very well help give timeless a better kick start. and if you are right bert, and forum members rise up again, maybe timeless could expand again.

I have to agree.

I've been thinking in these lanes lately.

Less servers - tighter community, we can't please every player on battlefield.

[Raven]

After reading the thread i'd say that with the Battlelog Timeless may take a hit not with the old or current members but in grtting new members. The only time we may get peeps to come here is if they get banned and want to be unbanned ( tbh out of all the bans on BC2 how many have botherd to come here registerd and stayed ? )

I know Timeless has in the past been about the BattleField franchise and why not its the best series out there, but as Kharak said we can't please every player on battlefield.

so Why put all "our eggs into one basket"
so my idea would be

4 x BC2 (Valpa 06 , Oasis 04, 03 and a mixed mode cq/rush)
6 x BF3
2 x MOH ( sector control & combat mission)
2 x RO2
1 x TS3

at the end of the day if these don't run then we can turn them off or try something new, but its not goma show results over night and we have to be flexibe if the comunity is gona continue to grow. lets face it game houses aren't gona make it easy for us or other comunitys out there with things like battlelog before long other gaming houses may see a benifit to them and do the same.

I'll shut up now as theis is just my 2 cent

[ShutUpAndFire]

From what I have read about the Battlelog its a glorified friends list nothing more, while the forum has been a bit quieter recently I dont see Battlelog as being the final nail in the coffin. I feel that we just need to start being abit more inventive to drag people to the forum, things like starting up the old admin tag hunt to get a free slot on the server, maybe every week/month give the top scoring player on each server a slot, simple things that will keep bringing the players back to the forum to check their progress. You can also look at the Battlelog as a tool to get people to the forum rather than a threat, I find that when I am in the heat of battle that I dont often take the time to really get to know other players with the Battlelog you can start to leave offline messages to regulars on the servers that dont visit the forum, updating them of whats going on and how to get reserved slots, competitions we can run etc. I see the Battlelog as a great way of expanding the community not making it smaller we just have to make it fun for the new guys when they get here ;) And I think tag hunts for slots are a great way of doing that, we could even have a rolling list of admins that get chosen to be the "victim for a day/week" and the winner gets a new form of AM status for a week/month to get to know us better then hopefully they will stick around and become a member of the group. All in all Battlelog is only a threat to us if we allow it to be, its like any social networking site use it well and you can create masses of traffic for a website.

:think: that was meant to be a quick comment on the Battlelog :blush:

[Bert]

I think battlelog will change the way small clans work not communities or large clans
as SUAF says its looks to be a fancy chat system (quite like the LOL one for those who use it)
small clans will love battlelog because it will help them organize, and communicate...
BUT for communities/larger clans its different because there will be no-where to hang out but for the 10million other users out there on the forums.
for communities like ours its not really going to make a load of difference from what I see.. simply because its just a fancy friend list.



Battlefield 3 Battlelog web destination; featuring powerful social tools, feeds and detailed player stats. Battlelog also lets you manage your friends lists, squad up, create platoons, use voice chat and follow your friends’ progress in real-time, and more. Battlelog will be available for free.

The main area of Battlelog will be Battlefeed and it will be similar to a Facebook feed. It's a real-time area that displays your friends' activities, such as ranking up, unlocking guns, or awards achieved. For example, instead of pressing "Like," you would press "Hooah!" under a status update. Comments can be left on any action posted in the feed. The service will offer a detailed stat-tracking system that features a "soldier progression section, bringing full stats tracking for every shot fired and every action performed in your Battlefield career."

A teaser screenshot reveals that the stats site will look very clean, and detail factors such as rank, accuracy, K/D ratio, time played, score per minute, top weapons, multiplayer scores, latest awards, and much more. It's assumed the service will be as detailed as the unofficial Battlefield Stats Web site.
http://www.battlefield3online.com/attachments/battlefield-3-general-discussion/603d1311249141-battlefield-3-battlelog-battlelog-1.jpghttp://www.battlefield3online.com/attachments/battlefield-3-general-discussion/600d1311249037-battlefield-3-battlelog-battlefeed.jpghttp://www.battlefield3online.com/attachments/battlefield-3-general-discussion/601d1311249066-battlefield-3-battlelog-battlelog-profile.jpghttp://www.battlefield3online.com/attachments/battlefield-3-general-discussion/602d1311249085-battlefield-3-battlelog-battlefield-3-battlelog-screenshot-640x325.jpg

so what we have essentially got is a combination of x-fire/in-game VOIP/facebook/bfbc2
we already have all of those tools for other games, them being in 1 place isnt going to make a huge amount of difference to my mind