all games everywhere are down

Gandalf Parker · #1 April 18th, 2004, 11:05 PM

not a major problem if the server doesnt go down again. maybe there will be a check added to the next patch to catch down-server

JaydedOne · #2 April 19th, 2004, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fahdiz:

Give me - and Illwinter - a break. [/QB]

My thoughts exactly. Personally I was impressed that the issue was resolved in an hour's time at what must've been an inconvenient hour Illwinter-time.

That said, as Arch points out, it becomes an issue if the problem continues to repeat itself. However, IW's track record leads me to give them the benny of the doubt. Somehow I think they'll make sure it's not a recurring issue.

Yossar · #3 April 19th, 2004, 12:50 AM

So if something were to happen in the near or distant future and the server were to go down permanently, we'd be unable to play the game multiplayer? I hope it would be fairly easy for someone to come up with a hack should that occur.

Gandalf Parker · #4 April 19th, 2004, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Yossar:
So if something were to happen in the near or distant future and the server were to go down permanently, we'd be unable to play the game multiplayer? I hope it would be fairly easy for someone to come up with a hack should that occur.

Sure. Anyone can put up a server. The worst that can happen would be that if they had no backups that the server would have to be started without a CD-key file. All that would mean is that the pirates would be able to play again.

Cainehill · #5 April 19th, 2004, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:

quote:
Originally posted by Yossar:
So if something were to happen in the near or distant future and the server were to go down permanently, we'd be unable to play the game multiplayer? I hope it would be fairly easy for someone to come up with a hack should that occur.

Sure. Anyone can put up a server. The worst that can happen would be that if they had no backups that the server would have to be started without a CD-key file. All that would mean is that the pirates would be able to play again.

Eh - if they have anything tricky in the bit of code that the callback routines talk to, it'd take a good bit of programming to come up with a hack that'd allow a new server.

For instance - a robust validation mechanism might use PK crypto. It's not just a matter of putting up a server that listens on the appropriate port.

Of course, robust crypto would be using "Brilliant Pebbles" to crack walnuts, for Dom2 validation. As is, it's not too hard to get around - but you shouldn't have to reconfigure your routing tables or reconfigure your firewalls in order to play the game.

Right now, your average bear is SOL when this happens.

Gandalf Parker · #6 April 19th, 2004, 04:00 AM

I didnt mean anyone ELSE putting up a server. For one thing if you could figure out how to get the game to "dial home" to a different server then you could figure out how to get it to not dial home at all. Hmmmm.... actually, come to think of it.. no never mind.

What I meant was that no matter what happens to the server it wouldnt be much for Illwinter or Shrapnel to put up another. Its not a big expense for a server like that. And even if the key file was lost it would just start over building a new one.

Zapmeister · #7 April 19th, 2004, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Personally I was impressed that the issue was resolved in an hour's time at what must've been an inconvenient hour Illwinter-time.

Certainly. However, the fact that it happened at all must have been a major embarrassment. Checking that a connection has succeeded and taking appropriate action (allowing access, in this case) if it hasn't, is fundamental functionality in any application that does network communications.

EDIT: Hmmm, simply allowing access may be too exploitable.

[ April 19, 2004, 03:12: Message edited by: Zapmeister ]