Speeding up the server

[AiryndunThirinthalas]

The server lag around the dawn of each new day is absolutely horrendous, as we all know. We also realize that this is because of about 80 bozillion people all trying to communicate with the server at once. I have an idea that has worked for other online games that I have played. The idea is to limit the number of communications per IP per minute. That is, suppose it is set at one every five seconds, or 12 per minute (this figure is arbitrary, I'll leave the ultimate decision to the powers that be). I am certain that it would reduce the load, because I myself, while in the forest, generally go at about a page per second, and this is probably a little long when the server is speedy. This idea will make it better for all concerned. I know that when I log on at about dawn time, I generally wait 10-15 seconds for a page to load, on a high performance connection. Only waiting five would be an improvement. Anyhow, just wanted to toss that out for a little discussion.

[LadyPhoenix]

I don't know anything about it, so I would be unable to make an informed vote. I'm too stubborn to make an uninformed one. :)

[talesin]

I guess this falls in my responsibility - if we talk about the main server.
On newday we have about 720 People connecting. This makes a network load of 77% for our server. The problem is that the mysql-http connection has problems to handle that hughe ammount of data. MightyE and JT are working on some coding issues that will solve the problem.
On the other hand i am working on a cheap cluster solution that will bring a visible fall in load. But as I am providing the server at an incredibly low price (10$/Month) its not that easy for me to give more servers without having some additional jobs that will cover the costs.
Normaly a customer with the same ammount of usage would cost 120$ with full support. But as I love this game and play it myself i did some calculations and went up with this server solution. I am currently working to get a highly profitable job. If it succeeds I will have 2 spare servers that i can add for this game. Until then we all have to wait and see what is comming up.

Btw. If my english does not sond that good its 5:30 am and I am not a native speaker so sorry ;-)
I hate the high load times myself. Simple solution i set my "own" new day to 4 hours after "normal" newday and i have a perfectly stable and fast server ;-)

[AiryndunThirinthalas]

Hey, not to be a jerk about it, but I guess today reinforced my point. I realize all the down time was due to the SQL rebuild, but that did nothing to improve the speed at which the game operates.

Am I getting bent out of shape before I have all the facts, and this is just a temporary situation, or is there something seriously wrong here?

This was taking place nearly an hour before the new day, about 5:45, server time, when the server is very rarely busy. Is this something to do with the rebuild, or was there another reason for the issue?

Anyhow, just a few questions I had to churn the calm waters of genius. Your last post cleared things up a lot for me, but this new issue leaves me puzzled indeed.

[LadyPhoenix]

Personally, I don't feel it's good form to complain about something you get to use for free. The solution is to pitch in money to help the admins afford better servers (or afford to pay Talisen more so he can provide better servers), not complain about what is currently in place.

[AiryndunThirinthalas]

Phoenix, don't get me wrong; that this is available is great and that it's free makes it more so, but I am trying to generate a little brainstorm here to see if we can't make it better.

I think it's totally cool that Talesin does this for us, and also really cool to have a staff that is willing to give us their valuable free time at no cost. However, the point I was trying to raise was not that this sucks, but that the experience would be a lot better for all concerned if we could amend the current situation and get it to work more smoothly. In no way was I trying to file a complaint as to the way the server is run/administered.

Also, this forum is designed specifically to be able to voice things we may feel the actual game to be the wrong meduim for. If I were to start complaining in channel, it would indeed be poor form. It is the concern of only those who choose to make it so, and for me to bring it up in the middle of the North Pole may have been inappropriate. This, however, is the ideal place for such matters.

In closing, Phoenix, I respect what your point is. However, I feel that calling my opinion invalid or the way I voiced it poor form was a little uncalled for. I'm just trying to shed a little light on a matter which I know is a concern for everyone, not create an even bigger issue.

[LadyPhoenix]

My problem was not the suggestions, it was going on to then complain about down time that was done specifically to improve performance. Users can't have it both ways. They can either put up with poor speeds, or accept the fact that sometimes changes will need to be made to fix those problems that will force the server to be down a short while. Since speed DID increase after the recent changes, I didn't feel it was fair to Eric or Talesin to then complain that they were doing the very thing you asked them to do (decreasing load times) in the first place. Hope that makes sense.

[AiryndunThirinthalas]

Am I getting bent out of shape before I have all the facts, and this is just a temporary situation, or is there something seriously wrong here?


This was the intent of the post, Phoenix. When I logged on, after reading the MoTD, I still was dealing with unusually long load times. This was during a time when the server is usually at its fastest. I was inquiring as to whether this was a new problem, or if it was just a temporary adjustment period.

I apologize if I offended anyone with my rather brusque manner in that post. That was not the intent. Rather, I wished to bring to light an issue that I was concerned over.

Also, I appreciate your concern for our admins, Phoenix, but they are big boys and girls... they can take care of themselves if they feel they have been affronted. I would not have used my name from the game if I intended to say anything I didn't want them to know about.

[SaucyWench]

I think the easiest workable solution is to place the New Day time at a time most people will not be logging in. This would go part way to staggering the rush. When I put the different time zones into a spreadsheet I was horrified to see that New Day occurs smack-bang in the middle of peak internet time for the entire USA (7pm until 1am).

If the New Day were moved to five hours later, most of the USA would be asleep when the night-time New Day hits. (If they are badly addicted and want to play in the morning, well they all get up at different times :) )When the daytime one hits a good lot of them would still be at school. So as they get home their login times will trickle in over the next few hours rather than all at once.

Just an idea.