I've discovered a couple of database methods that will hopefully make this a reality, and it may even be easier to implement and scale than I had originally hoped. I will be familiarizing myself with the underlying system(s) and begin testing in the coming days. If it works well, this will be huge step forward. If it "doesn't work", it will still allow for server splitting but at the expense of massive network load.

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what is exactly entailed by server splitting? sorry, i'm not very smart in these things, even though it should be simple, i'd like a better understanding of what it does. if you dont mind that is.

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It means having different instances of BYOND running different areas of the game, all with access to shared data. For example, in FFO, if the continents were on separate servers and taking a boat caused you to connect to a new server.

This allows for a number of improvements such as reduced lag per server (less players per server = less lag), instanced dungeons, and a massively scalable world.

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ah, ok. that's a great idea, and i hope all the work goes through rather well

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I'm currently backing up the Terulia test server's database for testing purposes and will be transferring it to the forum server. Should anything go wrong during this transfer or the subsequent testing, I will have to reload the forum server using the most recent backup. Backups are made every 2 hours.

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how will you test this when terulia only has one tiny island xD

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reply to Cea:

It's not the scope that matters; it's whether server B can get into from server A and write back as needed.

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I volunteer to go through the wormhole from server A to B.

This will be a difficult task that may do anything from killing me to unmaking me, but I feel that someone as selfless and elven as myself should be brave and noble enough for the task. I may not come out the other end, but I will gladly devote my life in the name of science.

Letha 2016.

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Hail Letha. _________________________________________

reply to Dr. Letha:

I dunno, I think we should send a monkey at first.

Actually, you'll do fine. 8)

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Grameramera wrote:

It means having different instances of BYOND running different areas of the game, all with access to shared data. For example, in FFO, if the continents were on separate servers and taking a boat caused you to connect to a new server.

This allows for a number of improvements such as reduced lag per server (less players per server = less lag), instanced dungeons, and a massively scalable world.

I remember this idea, you guys spoke of this years ago.
I find it to be a useful idea however. :o

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All of the core data transfer protocols necessary for server splitting are in place and have been tested. Shards can download files from the forum server, shards+forum can update local databases using information from the master server, and shards+forum can themselves make updates on the master server (which are then propagated to all shards+forum).

This doesn't mean that the server has been split, but this has shown that it can and will work. Next I will be working on the admin/moderation side of things, as this will be done via the forums and no longer from within the game.

then PC icon checker

then server splitting

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Awesome stuff. :D

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Now that server splitting has finally been implemented, if you feel so inclined, I could use some help with trying to break the system. The current setup:

S1: byond://www.terulia.com:24420 is the login server
S2: byond://www.terulia.com:2448 is the "regular" Fort Eldon server
S3: byond://www.terulia.com:2449 is a simplified/test Fort Eldon server

Trying to login to anything other than S1 should redirect you to S2 (your spawn server) if you already have a character, or otherwise direct you back to S1 to make a new character.

Once you are logged in, using "say" will teleport you between S2 and S3 for testing purposes.

The test will be up all day as needed. Please report any weirdness that you encounter; thanks.

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reply to Grameramera:

don't necro old threads you delinquent

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