Breakfast Topic: The trouble with instance servers
by Robin Torres 
Sep 2nd 2009 at 8:00AM
My server rarely encounters the Door Boss, but many of you have to deal with the above error on a constant basis. The error originated as a fix for high population realms that had issues with instance lag and crashes. Rather than have you frustrated with problems while in the dungeon, Blizzard decided to put a virtual bouncer at the "door" to keep the load down on the instance servers. While I do think that this was a good idea on Blizzard's part, I think that they erred greatly by not putting a queue at the "entrance" so that you can do other things while you wait -- much like the way Battlegrounds are handled.
My friend Joe has to deal with the problem with on his realm and therefore made sure to ask his designated Blizzard representative when he attended the Laguna Art Museum benefit dinner. Producer Carlos Guerrero replied that they needed to upgrade the hardware on the affected realms in order to allow more instances to be launched at the same time. Presumably, that is what the extremely extended downtime was for on Tuesday.
So my question to you is, did it work? Are you meeting the Door Boss with the same regularity, or are you able to enter instances more frequently now that your realm has been upgraded?
My friend Joe has to deal with the problem with on his realm and therefore made sure to ask his designated Blizzard representative when he attended the Laguna Art Museum benefit dinner. Producer Carlos Guerrero replied that they needed to upgrade the hardware on the affected realms in order to allow more instances to be launched at the same time. Presumably, that is what the extremely extended downtime was for on Tuesday.
So my question to you is, did it work? Are you meeting the Door Boss with the same regularity, or are you able to enter instances more frequently now that your realm has been upgraded?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Realm Status, Blizzard, Breakfast Topics, Instances
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Gusshanks Sep 2nd 2009 8:04AM
I'm on Staghelm. When the servers came up last night, that was one of the things I tried. I managed to get into Deadmines, but then couldn't get into Gnomer, or Zul'Farrak later on. So the problem hasn't gone away just yet. However, a bunch of the servers (including Staghelm) were going through rolling restarts this morning, so perhaps that might help.
Shadowxx Sep 2nd 2009 8:09AM
I quit doing heroics because of it. But now that its being fixed I think there will be even more people trying and it will be just as bad.
BaxterFinley Sep 2nd 2009 8:48AM
i'm on staghelm too and i hope they fixed it - haven't been able to get in anything the last 5-6 nights that i've tried!
Rob Sep 2nd 2009 9:04AM
First thing I tried to do last night when they came back on was go in to Stocks and got the damn message. So looks like they spent all that time yesterday then gave up and rolled back because my server is down again today!!!
explorerguy98 Sep 2nd 2009 10:12AM
I noticed on Laughing Skull that all of the dailies were the same as the day before... I thought that was kinda fishy. I wonder if they did have trouble getting the updates to work properly and went back to the backups...hence maintenance/restarts today...
t0xic Sep 2nd 2009 10:18AM
When my realm was upgraded it took extended maintenance for two weeks in a row before we saw the upgrade working. As with any kind of major roll-out schedule they learn from their mistakes and improve for the next one.
It may be that the amount of work they're doing actually takes TWO maintenance days. I wouldn't assume that "it didn't work and they rolled the changes back" just yet.
noblegods1 Sep 2nd 2009 11:01AM
Im on staghelm too. its not just a problem of additional instances cannot be launced, but the fact that they were having this problem befor 3.2 and then made there biggest server problem so important to get top end gear.
If you cant support it befor its mandatory why would you make it so everyone and there mother (yes my mother plays), has to do it?
Nostrum Sep 2nd 2009 11:09AM
Let me tell you why 3.2 still came out despite the instance server problems. The Team that makes and releases new content is NOT the same team who maintains the hardware. Simple as that.
t0xic Sep 2nd 2009 11:31AM
@Jon Do:
"1) Why did Blizz release 3.2 with emblem changes that were sure to INCREASE the number of instance runs without a fix already in place?"
Management: We're keeping our release cycle. Catalysm is coming. Keep it on schedule!
Hardware Architecture Group: We need upgrades to support all of these new players that came back to the game.
Put bluntly they refused to let hardware limitations slow down their production cycle. The patches just keep coming regardless of whether the servers can take the load or not. In a nutshell it's a poor management decision.
"2) If they are conceding now that it is just a matter of a hardware upgrade, why wasn't this done a long time ago given that they have ~11 million paying customers, more than any other MMO?"
(*these are all hypothetical numbers for the purpose of illustrating a point*)
If you have 5 million "active players" that balloons to 11 million every time a new patch drops that can create a huge issue for hardware capacity. They can add capacity for more players (over time). Once you've made the investment in hardware you can't just tell Dell to take it all back when people leave the game until the next patch. It boils down to having the right amount of capacity for the users without spending too much on unnecessary upgrades. They may have estimated a bit on the lower side, and now they're paying the price with emergency upgrades.
I think all of this can be summarized with one sentence: Blizzard is a victim of its own success.
t0xic Sep 2nd 2009 11:33AM
I fail at replying to the right thread =(
Not THAT Matt Sep 2nd 2009 11:44AM
I heard problems getting in on Laughing Skull last night - but assume that's what the hours upon hours of maintainence this morning is for - the same realms listed last night seem to be listed this morning.
In other words, F Blizzard. F them in the A.
Verit Sep 2nd 2009 12:44PM
Also on Staghelm - later in the evening the server wasn't letting us into instances again - level 80 heroic ones no less.
resa1983 Sep 2nd 2009 1:59PM
The extended maintenance yesterday was to prep the hardware, install the hardware, hook things up, and install needed programs onto the new hardware.
Today's downtime was to integrate the new hardware with the old & fix settings and do some fine-tuning.
The other 2 datacentres which have been completed also had this same 2nd day of maintenance.
skummer Sep 2nd 2009 8:05AM
Nope. No additional instances can be launched error within a few minutes of eonar coming back up last night.
Admiraldom Sep 2nd 2009 8:27AM
I could not enter any instances last night on the Greymane server. Nothing has changed!
Orrine Sep 2nd 2009 8:06AM
My realm is "low" populated, but during peak hours we see this error often.
The funny thing is when noone can get to the instance, there's less PvP then you expect to see near entrance in areas where you can't fly (CoS, AN, UK). It seems everyone is too frustrated to do anything :)
rjbman Sep 2nd 2009 8:08AM
My server, Emerald Dream US, was one of the ones upgraded. But the door boss lives on.
The worst part is when there's one or even two full other faction groups trying to get in. It's almost impossible to summon or try to get your own instance.
Hasteur Sep 2nd 2009 8:15AM
Seconded.
First 15 or so minutes were perfect becaise everyone was running around Dalaran and PVP vendors to buy new season's worth of gear. I was actually able to zone into Dire Maul, however after I reset the instance I got locked out.
c4eliquid Sep 2nd 2009 10:48AM
Horde or Alliance on E.D.? I play a Horde Mage, Sumtengwong, shoot me an ingame mail.
Kate Sep 2nd 2009 11:25AM
FYI - Crygil (customer service Blue) has posted that the maintenance yesterday was not the "final step" in the fix, and as such people shouldn't consider those realms fixed yet. Actual quote and link:
"While this maintenance was a step in the process of the reconfiguration, it was not the final step. We will need to perform additional maintenance to complete the process. "
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=19675937821&pageNo=2&sid=1#21