Server Location

[OSTKCabal]

Hey TF2 division!

I know I'm new around here, but having worked in the game server hosting industry for over 5 years as everything from a Support Rep to my current position as Head of Operations, I'd like to think I know a thing or two about game servers.

It's my belief that a Dallas location isn't ideal for our playerbase. Not only is the location itself generally out of the way, inclusive of internet traffic, it isn't the "central" location that supports the fair nationwide pings you're looking for. In addition, Psychz (the host in Dallas) isn't exactly known for having a great network outside of their LA location. I know the owner and multiple sales reps at Psychz, they're good people, but I wouldn't say the Dallas and Ashburn locations are game-server-oriented.

Generally, servers in Chicago or on the East Coast will see a bump in players as those players who play from across the pond will be more willing to hop in as well. Chicago and New York are major internet hubs, which generally makes it less of a problem than it sounds, as many players in Europe will be able to play in the 80-120ms ping range. In addition, a Chicago location would be able to better support continental U.S.A. players, as it remains more of an internet hub than Dallas and has the location that most players will be looking for.

Just food for thought and consideration.

Wyatt T. / OSTKCabal

 

[Mister36]

Thank you for the input. The servers are actually being moved to a Chicago location of our current provider in the near future, though at the time it is not known when this is happening. EOReality is in the process of building their own DC so that eventually their services can be moved there, though again, not sure when that is.

 

[OSTKCabal]

Thank you for the input. The servers are actually being moved to a Chicago location of our current provider in the near future, though at the time it is not known when this is happening. EOReality is in the process of building their own DC so that eventually their services can be moved there, though again, not sure when that is.

EOReality uses USDedicated in Chicago, which in turn uses InterNAP bandwidth. That will certainly be a welcome change - InterNAP's bandwidth is some of the best you can get.

Thanks for your response and I'm looking forward to playing more on the new Chicago servers.

Wyatt T. / OSTKCabal

 

[HaloRacer]

 

[Steelbilly]

!up serverMoveToChi

 

[Misterboy]

Thank you for the input. The servers are actually being moved to a Chicago location of our current provider in the near future, though at the time it is not known when this is happening. EOReality is in the process of building their own DC so that eventually their services can be moved there, though again, not sure when that is.

Welp hopefully it doesn't RIP my ping

 

[OSTKCabal]

Welp hopefully it doesn't RIP my ping

Unless you live in Texas, it's more likely to improve it overall. Obviously, there will be some exceptions... the internet is such a glorious, imperfect thing.

 

[BeauL5]

Rip me I live in Louisiana so my ping was always gud

 

[Sr. Crabs]

I live in Central America...


Rest in Ping

 

[HaloRacer]

I think some people are missing the point that servers that are physically farther away can still be faster depending on their location relative to major IT infrastructure hubs.

 

[Mister36]

I think some people are missing the point that servers that are physically farther away can still be faster depending on their location relative to major IT infrastructure hubs.

Correct. Physical distance has some bearing, but most of it depends on the lines coming in and out of the area and the DC itself. This move is because of the myriad of issues we have been having in Dallas...like the current server outage.

 

[HaloRacer]

Correct. Physical distance has some bearing, but most of it depends on the lines coming in and out of the area and the DC itself. This move is because of the myriad of issues we have been having in Dallas...like the current server outage.

Will the server IPs be changing?

 

[Mister36]

Will the server IPs be changing?

From the move from Dallas to Chicago, yes.

 

[HaloRacer]

From the move from Dallas to Chicago, yes.

We need to get the word out early and often. Even if we don't know the new IP or whatever, but just to let regulars know we still exist.

 

[OSTKCabal]

My advice would generally to be to set the current servers up with an obvious MOTD and message for a couple weeks letting people know about the move & updated IP(s).

 

[StealthGus]

Alright just to clear up some confusion:

1. Yes we're moving to Chicago, this is because the Dallas DC was rented out by a company by the name of PsychZ. Due to some issues we were having such as 50-100% packet loss when communicating with the servers, which caused multiple issues across the servers we host, we're moving to Chicago.
2. So yeah, the IPs are changing but because we take advantage of both DNS and the Steam Account feature for Gameservers, literally nothing will change. Ranks won't be affected and IPs will change within people's favorites automatically. So no need to go all Paul Revere, lol

If there are any other questions just ask them here. But the change should have a 0 affect on any daily eGO operations. One day you guys will all join the server and you will now be in Chicago.

 

[HaloRacer]

Sooo.... What if the British really are coming?

 

[Steelbilly]

Alright just to clear up some confusion:

1. Yes we're moving to Chicago, this is because the Dallas DC was rented out by a company by the name of PsychZ. Due to some issues we were having such as 50-100% packet loss when communicating with the servers, which caused multiple issues across the servers we host, we're moving to Chicago.
2. So yeah, the IPs are changing but because we take advantage of both DNS and the Steam Account feature for Gameservers, literally nothing will change. Ranks won't be affected and IPs will change within people's favorites automatically. So no need to go all Paul Revere, lol

If there are any other questions just ask them here. But the change should have a 0 affect on any daily eGO operations. One day you guys will all join the server and you will now be in Chicago.

Danke! Appreciate the additional information, very good stuff. Do you have a ballpark idea when the change will take place? Are we talking days, weeks, or months?

Thank you!
- SB

 

[StealthGus]

Danke! Appreciate the additional information, very good stuff. Do you have a ballpark idea when the change will take place? Are we talking days, weeks, or months?



Thank you!

- SB

Days. I'll be starting here soon, wish me luck