It appears that both servers crashed at 1:00am PST last night? I see on Gametracker that both were full and instantly dumped their traffic at that time. Whats good to see is that the Conquest server had everyone come back immediately. Cool! What I'm noticing though is that after a crash, in particular on the DM server, it will sit empty for many many hours. I think this is mainly attributed to the map that the server(s) is running. I've run tests the past few weeks on putting up different maps when the servers are empty and have noticed a trend on what gets people on the servers. In particular those first 1-2 people who stick it out until others arrive.
As you all should know by now, when a server does a full reboot, the settings needs to be reinitiated. That is, HC needs to be turned on, and Killcam and Crosshairs needs to be turned off. Everything else is turned on accept Punkbuster. PB has been causing a lot of instability on the servers and its been recommended that we turn it off.
Once done, the map needs to be either restarted or changed to the next map for those settings to take place. When the DM server is restarted, it usually defaults to the Winter Pass (MP_007SDM) map. That map is BY FAR the most unpopular map in this game mode. I've noticed on Gametracker that the server will literally sit empty all night when that map is running, such as last night. If you have to restart the server/reset the settings after a crash, its its best that you also change the map to one of two maps. Either bring up Isla Inocentes (MP_004SDM), or Arica Harbor (MP_006SDM). The best map to attack traffic to an empty server is Isla Inocentes. If you let the server sit on either Winter Pass or Laguna Presa, people will not join. Laguan Presa is a good map but not for a single person to try and get server traffic going with.
Remember that each map has two rounds so that when you hit the Next Map button, the map screen shot will not change. Also, sometimes it takes a bit for BC2 Guardian to register the new map image. Sometimes I log in and out of Guardian to register the latest map image. Also, please give the server at least 20-30 seconds to load the map between hitting the Next Map button. You may also want to verify in the in-game browser that the server is in fact running. Twice this week the server was actually down according to my game browser, however I could still access it via Guardian. Regarding the Conquest server, the best maps to set to attrack traffic to an empty server is Panama Canal, Laguna Alta, or Atacama Desert. Laguana Presa and Winter Pass don't do well in attracting people to get on an empty server.
They will eventually get this crap fixed. In my opinion these recommendations are the best way to continue to attack and maintain server traffic. As you all can tell, our servers are getting more and more popular. Its important to maintain as much traffic as possible even during our non-playing times. That way we're guaranteed 24/7 traffic so that when we do want to play, there will be targets on the servers :-)
Thanks for all your help when I'm not around to take care of this stuff.
As you all should know by now, when a server does a full reboot, the settings needs to be reinitiated. That is, HC needs to be turned on, and Killcam and Crosshairs needs to be turned off. Everything else is turned on accept Punkbuster. PB has been causing a lot of instability on the servers and its been recommended that we turn it off.
Once done, the map needs to be either restarted or changed to the next map for those settings to take place. When the DM server is restarted, it usually defaults to the Winter Pass (MP_007SDM) map. That map is BY FAR the most unpopular map in this game mode. I've noticed on Gametracker that the server will literally sit empty all night when that map is running, such as last night. If you have to restart the server/reset the settings after a crash, its its best that you also change the map to one of two maps. Either bring up Isla Inocentes (MP_004SDM), or Arica Harbor (MP_006SDM). The best map to attack traffic to an empty server is Isla Inocentes. If you let the server sit on either Winter Pass or Laguna Presa, people will not join. Laguan Presa is a good map but not for a single person to try and get server traffic going with.
Remember that each map has two rounds so that when you hit the Next Map button, the map screen shot will not change. Also, sometimes it takes a bit for BC2 Guardian to register the new map image. Sometimes I log in and out of Guardian to register the latest map image. Also, please give the server at least 20-30 seconds to load the map between hitting the Next Map button. You may also want to verify in the in-game browser that the server is in fact running. Twice this week the server was actually down according to my game browser, however I could still access it via Guardian. Regarding the Conquest server, the best maps to set to attrack traffic to an empty server is Panama Canal, Laguna Alta, or Atacama Desert. Laguana Presa and Winter Pass don't do well in attracting people to get on an empty server.
They will eventually get this crap fixed. In my opinion these recommendations are the best way to continue to attack and maintain server traffic. As you all can tell, our servers are getting more and more popular. Its important to maintain as much traffic as possible even during our non-playing times. That way we're guaranteed 24/7 traffic so that when we do want to play, there will be targets on the servers :-)
Thanks for all your help when I'm not around to take care of this stuff.