Whose Server is it Anyway?

There has been a lot of anger towards the new Free-to-Play service. Not the least of which has been from players currently on existing servers that continue to struggle with lag. Thus far, we’ve heard that Free-to-Play will be launching with one server initially from an existing stock of decommissioned servers, with other servers to follow, possibly old EQ2 servers as they are upgraded to new hardware. In mid August, the Antonia Bayle and Nagafen worlds will find themselves within the comfy confines of a brand new server.

From SmokeJumper:

Sorry it didn’t come across very clearly, but the Live servers will be upgraded *before* we launch the new service.

From Rothgar:

The new EQII hardware has 6x as many CPU’s and 12x as much RAM as the old hardware, per machine. This is such a huge difference in hardware capacity that we think we can turn the EQII servers into mega-servers with twice as many players or more than what you have now on AB or Nagafen. To do this, we would need to merge some of the servers together which changes our hardware requirements. This is why we aren’t ordering a boatload of hardware in the beginning. We need to see how the servers do with the new machines and what sort of load they can handle.

We’re very dedicated to the original EQII servers. The new EQ2X service isn’t going to change that. This is why you’re getting the new hardware and EQ2X isn’t!

In response to questions about where this hardware came from, and who is getting which servers in which order, SmokeJumper elaborated:

The new hardware that we ordered for EQII will actually be ready before EQ2X goes live. So we did in fact make the best decision for the EQII servers. You’re getting the best hardware and you’re getting it first.

We haven’t had this hardware available to us. It was only made available in the past two weeks. In fact, our engineers are still preparing it for the live EQ2X server. The Alpha server that is up today is making use of our expansion Beta hardware.

and further from SmokeJumper:

a) The Extended server will be on better hardware than the current EQII servers…BUT…

b) …we’re buying brand new (better and faster than the Extended hardware) servers for EQII and upgrading AB and Nagafen as quickly as possible (probably before Extended launches in August).

c) We’ll be watching to ensure the lag goes away on AB and Nagafen before deciding whether to upgrade other subscription servers. (We want to ensure that the problems are solved before taking that plunge.)

I was about to post my commentary on what this all means, but then I read Gungo‘s comments on EQ2Flames. I cannot believe I am about to quote Gungo on EQWire, but here goes…

SmokeJumper has pretty much flat out said what he intends to do:

step 1) use the old Vanguard servers to set up several EQ2X servers (to replace the 6 year old EQ2 servers).

step 2) buy new hardware for naggy/ab that can hold 2x as many players.

step 3) wait for massive player attrition

step 4) merge the remaining servers into the new hardware or even use a few old hardware pieces.

step 5) use the rest of the old eq2 servers to help eq2x.

step 6) $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I hate to say it, but this is my analysis as well.