Down Servers. Including mine. What's the deal?

Anubis · Post by **Anubis** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 1:03 pm

All Im saying is that I dont see a need to take the servers down. It seems that the other servers Ive looked at today are still up and running normally. I just feel that NFo decided to be a little too defensive and other server companies arnt, including GriffinRUN, Game Daemons, Stargate, TodaysClan and Art Of War Central. Is NFo being a little jumpy? Seems so to me.

Call me irate, irked or whatever. It just doesnt make much sense to shutdown all HL servers when 5 other major providers arnt and for a bug thats been known since April 14th 2003. Especially because the patch is only "supposed" to be out later tonight. What if its not? Servers stay down for however long it takes valve to fix something they havnt been able to fix since April? If someone really wanted to hack the servers, do a DOS or hack NFo's website they would and could. The sad thing is that there isnt all that much you can do to stop them.

dL-Templisk · Post by **dL-Templisk** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 1:35 pm

You've got an excellent point, today's generation can do whatever they want whenever they want and it's very hard to protect yourselves, but this is one of the few things nfo can do to protect not only themselves but us as well. And I can definitely see where you're coming from, some people had plans today to meet with friends on the servers and play I understand that, but in the end it's usually best to play it safe. If they did leave the servers up and they did get overly screwed like half the cs servers are going to be today because of the exploit it'd take even longer. But, again Anubis is right where do we go if the security patch has a setback and doesn't get released til next month?

For those that thing I'm onesided, re-read my post I've used theoretical examples in both favors =P
But I do support NFo's decision I'd much rather have the excuse to stay off the computer for a day and go swimming, or something

RUFUS · Post by **RUFUS** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 2:13 pm

John make sure Anubis's server is the last one to be back up.

Post by **Edge100x** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 2:19 pm

We choose to be more security-conscious than some other companies, it is true. We also have more vulnerable servers since we are running the latest patches from Valve, which do not have an easy fix possible for them. Most companies do not keep up with the latest patches from Valve, which, in a strange twist of fate, makes it so they can use currently available unofficial fixes for the current vulnerabilities.

Anubis · Post by **Anubis** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 2:24 pm

RUFUS: Its called being a devils advocate and creating an opposing side to an arguement or situation. Sorry Im not a very passive guy. Say something relevant or dont say anything.

Edge: That addresses the problem of why your the only one who is shutdown but there are more problems than just that. One being that valve is never very timely. So, if the patch is not out tonight then what will you do? What happens if valve says that they cant get the problem fixed until next week? Will the servers be down until then? And if fixes are unofficial why are you using them? Unless you have some odd ties with valve I dont see how you can get unofficial fixes for vulnerabilities. You would think that keeping up with the latest patches would be an official fix. And if the fix is unofficial, is the problem unofficial as well?

Post by **Edge100x** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 2:34 pm

Anubis, we'll take those problems as they come. If Valve can't give us a patch today as it has indicated it would, we will likely implement some sort of server-restart scenario as a stopgap so that people can play tonight.

Valve can be timely if it needs to be -- it has been in the past for updates to 4.1.1.1, and more recently for the VAC. Hopefully the number of complaints will get them moving. I'm actually surprised it is taking Valve so long today, since the fix is just a change of two bytes in the executable (and then updates need to be made to the WON servers for authentication purposes).

And if fixes are unofficial why are you using them?

We're not -- other people are. For dedicated server version 4.1.1.0, there is third-party patch that changes two bytes in the executable to make it not crash. For dedicated server version 4.1.1.1, which is what we run and is the latest update from Valve, there is no working third-party (unofficial) patch.

Again, "unofficial" just means "third-party" -- made by someone else. Many server providers have implemented the unofficial patches, but they only work for old versions of the Half-life Dedicated Server (HLDS).[/quote]

dL-Templisk · Post by **dL-Templisk** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 2:35 pm

k too many officials and unofficials for me to keep up with, congratulations you've suceeded in confusing me to the point that I no longer see everything in one field of vision, I've gone crosseyed -_-

Anubis · Post by **Anubis** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 5:31 pm

I know what the use of the word "unofficial" pertains to in this matter. I just like being informed and getting all the information possible. GG.TX

Any news yet on the update?

Anubis · Post by **Anubis** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 5:35 pm

Nevermind that last question. My server is running so I am assuming that others are as well. Thanks for getting it updated in a timely manner and thanks for taking my "drill instructor" inquiries.

lol

Post by **Edge100x** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 5:59 pm

Have you been missing out on my emails today? I sent out a second one a couple of hours ago about having the patch and putting servers back online

. Again, also posted in news.

Anubis · Post by **Anubis** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 7:06 pm

I guess dude. Ive been hassling with the bank I just bought my Pathfinder from becasue they cant figure out how a 22 year old makes enough money for one. Maybe thats why I seemed irate. I have no idea. But I apparently didnt see the back online one or whatever.