Update on the New Login Server - Please Read!
 

I just received an update from Cavedude that explains the state of the new Login Server solution that is in the works. It also explains why the new solution is taking a while to come into effect.

KLS, WildcardX and Cavedude have all been working on a new plan to solve all of our Login Server issues for good. This solution will give us full redundancy and also remove the security risks that can occur with the current LS. I can't really talk about all of the details of it, because some things are still being finalized. But, what I can say is that the new system will completely change how the current login process works. My understanding of it so far is that there will be a new app that clients will download and setup to use for handling at least part of the Login Process. The Login Server code to handle this has been completely re-written from scratch and works in a totally new way from any previous Login Server. The code for the new LS is almost completely done now. This also requires that we change the server code in all SVN releases after this change occurs so that it will only work with this new Login Server as the old one will be completely obsolete.

EDIT: The statement about EQEmu only working with the new LS system is false. Mini-Login will still work with it and this new Login Server will just be another option on top of those that should provide a permanent solution to all Login problems. This correction was made by Cavedude later in this thread, but I felt it was needed to make note of it here as well.

I believe that once doodman is able to hand the accounts table over to KLS, the new LS should be pretty much ready to go. I do not have an update on what will happen with the forums/wiki, but we are hoping to get that from doodman as well soon. Once this happens, I think we will probably be able to use some simple web-hosting to handle the forums/website/wiki.

KLS has every penny that has been donated accounted for. It hasn't been decided yet what will be done with the donations yet, but if it is decided that they are not needed, everyone who donated will get their money returned to them. Though, it is likely that the team will still be responsible for some form of hosting to keep the forums/website/wiki running and also for a place to download the new client app from. The donations may be needed to pay for that hosting. I don't know the full details on what will happen with the donations yet, but I am positive that whatever happens to it, it will be something that the community can agree on. I know KLS feels a heavy weight on her shoulders for having taken donations in the first place, but at the time, we were at risk of losing everything (the LS, and the forums/wiki/etc) very quickly and taking donations was the quickest solution to make sure that all wasn't lost. After that point, the current hosting was paid for another month because doodman didn't cancel it in time, so that gave the team considerably more time to work out a proper permanent solution. I just want to make sure that everyone is perfectly clear that the team will be doing the "right thing" with the donations that have already been sent and that there will be more updates on them in the future.

In summary; A new permanent Login Server solution is in the works and almost done. Please just try to be patient as this whole situation is actually alot more complex than most people might think. I will provide more updates to the community as I hear them. Many thanks to all of the team supporters that have been patient through all of this. We all know how frustrating this issue is, but hopefully it won't be much longer now.

right on, thanks for the update.

thanks for update im more looking forward to hearing news on login issues than playing the game haha...really appreciate the work you guys do to help you and ourselves play and enjoy the game :)

will there be a minilogin version, or still have the option to use Images minilogin? I really hope this does not force users to be stuck with out options.

I really Hope this will have an option at compile time?

Nice status quo I would say. Anyone who wants to be able to continue working with the current LS I released I suggest staying on your code base. This could be an attempt to lock back into a single LS again.

Edit: I say this as a warning because this is so vague about the real issue.

I never did understand the minilogin process if anyone could help me figure that out I would really appreciate it:D

Great job...but do you mean soon as in the next few hours, days, weeks? Just want to not sit at my desk if im not playing.

Trevius' reply below.

Could you be so kind enough to elaborate on the "real issue?"

They are breaking every previous release of the emu that currently runs on the login server, you will have to upgrade (for some server owners that means compiling in new code) - thats how I read it

Trying to answer as many questions here as possible. Though, most of my answers will have to be pure speculation for now unless I mention otherwise.

All current Login Servers and Mini-Login Servers will no longer be compatible with the future EQEmu code updates. This is because of the major overhaul to the entire Login System and it would be pointless to try to create code to handle both the old and the new, as the new code should handle every aspect of the Login process. This is to say that I believe for Public and Private Servers, they will both be able to use this new solution to serve their needs and not have to rely on a Public Login Server for it to work. I haven't heard the full details on it, but I am sure the solution would also cover LAN play for people who are not connected to the internet. So, you will not even need an option at compile time :)

Yes, you are right that anyone switching to the new Login Server options will no longer be able to use the code updates from EQEmu as they won't be compatible once the new system comes into effect. And yes, part of it is so that the EQEmu team who develops the code for the server also takes responsibility for how the users Login to their servers running that code. While some may think that this might be so we can control the users, it is actually so we can provide reliability to them while also ensuring that they are using a service that they can fully trust.

Also, yes it is vague, but that is mostly because the final details haven't been worked out. Also, I have said almost everything I have been informed about it so far, but I will definitely be clarifying the details as I hear them and get approval to pass on the information to the community.

You know as much as I do at this point as far as an ETA goes. It definitely isn't hours away, but maybe a few days or a week or so is more reasonable. This is all still heavily reliant on doodman to pass the needed information to the team so it can be finalized. It is being worked on as hard as is possible right now, and believe me that we want it as bad as everyone else does, if not more!

I guess we will have to wait to see how this works out, but I'm very nervous at this point!!

Oh dear, took me a few years to get this far. If that is the case, I do really hope it will be painless, as possible transition.

Live is not an option, again!

:shock: Ouch... I don't like were this is headed.. This would hurt a lot of servers. I Hope this is incorrect..

Minilogin /sniffle you will be missed.

Well since this is open source and other login server option are out there, A fork of the project could work at this point?

Sounds like killing off half the community to me.
Another option has to be worked out.

We released the full loginserver, with no restrictions have at it guys. Host your own worlds and get away from PEQEMu.

Could someone explain to me why people are getting upset in laymens (like, use an analogy about keys or cars or something ;) ) terms please? I am very confused; I see Trevius submitting what looks like a fine solution, and some people calling armageddon.

I believe Trevius misunderstood me a bit. Minilogin will not be going anywhere. If all goes according to plan when all is done we will all have MORE options then we do now in regards to logging in. If anybody wants to write their own alternate login server, there won't be anything stopping them.

What KLS came up with, and both Wild and KLS are working on all the time truly will put every single one of us in a better place in regards to EQEmu, I promise you that. It's just going to take time, as things need to be written from scratch.

Personally, I am sick of this login server bullshit. I just want to go back to database work and be done with this already.

Thanks CD. I figured something was a miss. I hope them the best of luck and take as much time as ness just to make it right.

I haven't played on anyones server since the login headaches started.

Image is still working on it but once finalized, you'll have a stable life-time copy of a minilogin to use there without any changes kids.

I apologize for the confusion! I read too much into the update I got from Cavedude and obviously misunderstood that part. I was trying to elaborate on the update I got as much as possible to make sure people got as much of an update as was possible.

Assume: Making an "ass" out of "u" and "me", but mostly just me in this case! Again, I am sorry and want to thank Cavedude for his quick clarification on the matter.

I updated the original post in this thread with an edit to clarify the correction Cavedude gave.

So, with image releasing his own unrestricted LS, and the EQEmu team switching hosts... I really don't see anything negative about either of them. This allows projects who want to go off on their own codebase can, and allows a central location for those who want to stay. I've heard a thousand times "the LS is the central connection place for our community" but that has dawned on me that it really... isn't. There will always be a central forum and its followers which the original codebase started on. And that's the beauty of open-source, the communities that come with it.

Regardless of all the tension that has come to be, I think we'll still be united in one way: A forum. We all know eqemulator.net brings us here, and we all know that even if a project like Shards of Dalaya splits off, they all follow us home, as noted in the off-topic section. In fact, KLS said she came from Shards to here.

I know no one mentioned the fear of having more than one LS, but I will mention the good thing about it: We all come back home in the end. A community can't be divided by an application, a community can only be divided by people willing to break off of that application and moving on to a new one. Chances are, no one in this community wants to break off and move to a new LoginServer, because we're already established here, and breaking off has no use. I can guarantee that if someone tried another Shards-like splitoff with a non-legit server, it would not work at all. The average lifespan of these emulated servers would not justify anyone moving to another LS... it's why this LS we have worked for so long.

Now that we have options for those who are brave enough to start their own splitoff server, I think those who are able to/want to can. The thing is, they probably won't get that high of a playerbase until they move back to a central location, and that is the factor that brings us all together. Not an application, but a community.

I really wanted to get this off my back, as the whole "two LoginServers won't work thing" is true, but in a different way. just adding my 2cp. :p

personally your wrong the unrestricted ls does have a central location as an option and with it being unrestricted those places can make a community for MANY Servers not just the one.

it wont be servers that spin off but whole other emu forks and thats good its time the egomaniacs of eqemu had some competition i think bring them back down a few pegs with the rest of us mortals in the world yeah ill probably get banned if anyone wants to use it my ls is public http://classiceq.org its on a dedicated server and its a monster of a server outside my own updating i have had 0 downtime even after being attacked for like an hour my ls didnt even blink image and devnoob actually got a clue what they are doing with it good job guys

Aergad back again? So much for the week ban.

Way to ban evade.

hey not my fault they deleted my acocunt and unbanned me take it up with the admins

Doesn't look deleted to me. Or unbanned, for that matter. Now Mattmeck's account, on the other hand, sure looks deleted.

I think what you mean to say is that they didn't go through the trouble of banning all of your login accounts so that you could at least use two out of the three (or however many you might have) to play, but your repeated posting makes it likely that they'll be sure to take the extra time for you and get them all.

Temp ban on his Aergad account still. I perma banned this dagrea account, and if he does it again, I will perma ban all of them. Rules and punishment for breaking them are there for a reason and avoiding that has to result in consequence.