Log in problems and update

If you've been having problems logging into the server the last few days there's bad news, It's only going to get worse! But thankfully, it's not my fault at all!

The reason why logging on to Minecraft or the server has been tricky recently is because of Minecraft.net (where you log into) having some issues.

Notch has said: "Minecraft.net is suffering some difficulties at the moment, with the database getting overloaded. We’re working hard on fixing the problem."

So why is it going to get worse?
Well as you all know, every time Minecraft is updated in a big way, it breaks all the posh admin tools. The update should be coming tomorrow. But knowing Notch/Mojang it's going to be at least 2 days late.

Whats in the update? (That hasn't been mentioned here already)
Most importantly, this:

 

Also, betterlight is being made official and may be in this update, if you know what this mod is, then you know how awesome this news is.

The information about this update is rather spread out throughout the mess that is the internet, shall I put more information up when I find it or it gets published?

So whats going to happen to the server when the update is released?
To be brutally honest, I have no idea!
It's highly likely that I'll be creating a new temporary map to play on until the admin tools are updated, at which point, the town will be slapped back onto the server. It would be great fun to do a multiplayer lets-play if we start a new map, if you have a mic and you'd like to be filmed/recorded then leave a comment. Like actually leave one, not just think about leaving one you muppet.

 

19/02/2011 - New Pages

If you haven't already noticed, the blog has been going through a lot of changes. There's now a twitter feed on the right, which contains messages from the server about people logging in/out and dying. It also has notches and my messages on their too. If the server goes down I'll post updates there so everyone knows whats going on. There's lots of new pages under the new banner, you should have a look at the updated rules.

Server Updates:

• IMsoxy has become a Citizen.
• The map has been extended a lot in the last couple of weeks, most recently I expanded it by 100 blocks today. It will not be expanded again - unless we get loads of donations and/or the new save file format takes up a lot less space.
• Half of the regular members went on an awesome "adventure" a couple of days ago, we might make these explorations a regular thing because they are fun :)
• There was a redstone repeater in Seeks and Chowders basement, this caused about 10-20% less FPS for anyone near it. It had a switch, so I just turned it off. Repeaters like this are absolutely fine - but you should turn them off before you leave the server.
• Mumble has been working well. Anyone who doesn't have a microphone, should get one, I'm never going to say you have to have one, it's just nicer than typing.
• I've been switching around bukkit plugins loads in the last week, check the "Server Information" page for the updated list.

13/02/2011 - We has Bukkit

Technical (sorta) Server Updates:

• The server now has 1.5GB or RAM and 3 vCPU cores.
• There are now 10 slots on the server, a larger map, and it restarts less often
• We are now using Bukkit, rather than the outdated hmod.
• The server is using just over 1GB of RAM usually, so it's no longer being limited by the amount of RAM available.

General (more helpful) Server Updates:

• In case you missed it up up there ^ , the map is now way larger, its also round rather than square.
• You can now protect your signs with "/cprivate", just like chests.
• The server now runs on a whitelist, this means that only people I have personally added can join the server, however once they have joined the server, they can build/destroy blocks straight away. If someone new comes on, keep an eye on them! - This is mostly due to complications with Bukkit and plugins.
• Creepers have come back to terrorize the town, they shouldn't damage terrain.
• TNT explosions don't damage terrain, this will be changed back sometime.
• Death notifications are back!
• Fire and water physics are now much better. Fire spreads much quicker and blocks no longer burn forever. Water is much faster to place and get rid of. Some peoples fireplaces/chimneys may be affected by this. I need a couple of people with shops to start selling netherstone.
• I'm going to put up a new list of commands on a page on the blog soon, new ones have been added (some just for councillors), and some have been modified.
• I'm going to change the server rules slightly and put them up on a page here, don't worry there won't be any big changes.
• People are using note-blocks for doorbells and things, it's awesome, maybe you should give it a go :)

Server Updates just for Councillors:

• You can now send/receive "mail" on the server, type "/mail" and you can figure out how to do it. Remember, Citizens can read mail sent to them, but can't respond.
• If you request, you can have any name colour you like, just send mail to me on the server or comment here. Here is the list of possible colours.

*Quick edit: Fixed Whitelist.

12/02/2011 - Updates and Upgrades

Server Updates:

• I still haven't turned creepers on, I will as soon as possible!
• iced_apple has become a Citizen.
• akeller00 became a Citizen, then donated and became Councillor
• Ctrl_Alt_Llama built a large "robot" near the town and has been banned for planning on building more, and having been warned not to build near the town several times.
• I have an awesome new house :) I'll be posting pictures of it on deviantart eventually.
• Remember that if you cut down trees, you have a chance of getting apples, and a very small chance of getting a golden apple! If you've managed to find a golden apple, post a comment here =]
• Thanks to some very generous donations from akeller00 and Anina, I can upgrade the server!
• The server will be upgraded from 768MB, to 1.5GB of RAM, and from 2 to 3 vCPU cores.
• I am going to start switching over to bukkit (a new, better, admin and plugin tool).

 What do these upgrades mean for the server?

• It wouldn't have to restart every 2 hours any more, to keep performance up It may still restart every 12 hours, although the exact figure is undecided.
• The maximum amount of players that can be connected could increase from 6 to 10.
• When several people have logged in and out over a short period of time, it won't go slow anymore.
• I will increase the map slightly, at the moment it is around 800x800 blocks, I'm hoping to increase it to around 1000x1000.
• I might be able to run a VOIP server alongside the Minecraft server, allowing people to shout at each other and pretend to be sheep more hilariously. I tested out mumble on my own computer with Anina and Richy today, and it worked quite well.
• More plugins will work again or be update, most importantly CreeperNerf (so we can have creepers back), LWC (so we can lock doors, dispencers and signs as well as what we can now), death notifications (I think) and probably some others I've forgotten.

 Upcoming Minecraft updates:

• Notch has said: "I’m also half-way through finishing my Advanced Diver course. Expect more underwater content in Minecraft." - This sounds good!
• Wooden and cobble half blocks. - This might complicate things if to make the pavements around town we need to use smoothstone rather than cobble. More info on the wooden variety here.
• New save file format. With the new format, loading is now seven times faster. - This should make server restarts quicker and let me make maps more easily.
• New Minecraft launcher. This is a great communication tool for us (Mojang) as we will be able to give you guys important information directly in the launcher.
• Various bug fixes!- Probably not boats traveling vertically!
• New redstone-related block! More info here. - We might make a music hall with these in :)
• Secret update! Oh, yes. There will be that as well. - No idea what this will be.

Minecraft.net down

After hearing we might need a roll back because *someone* burnt something down (I don't know how bad the damage is yet), I tried to connect to the server but It won't let me. I think it's due to the minecraft.net servers being screwy, I'll try again later this evening.

In other news, Notch has said: "I’m also half-way through finishing my Advanced Diver course. Expect more underwater content in Minecraft." - I'm very excited about this and you should be too :D we might have to have an aquarium or something in the town =]

*Edit*: Minecraft.net seems to be back up now, but I still can't connect to the server, I'll be on as soon as I can.

*Edit again*: There is not going to be a roll-back. Llama your going to have to re-build the cafe the best you can, and then give some resources to Anina if he wants to change anything. If you do this then everything will be fine, however if you don't and something similar happens again you will be banned. You shouldn't have been carrying lava around without a good reason anyway.

*Edit again again* I did a roll-back, sorry to anyone who lost anything. I won't be giving people back stuff that they have lost, and Llama if you do something like this again you'll be banned, it really isn't that hard to not accidentally burn down a building. Oh and minecraft.net is being dodgy again which is why anyone who is trying to connect to the server right at the moment can't

04/02/11 - Major lag fixed

Server Updates:

The server has been lagging a lot in the last day or so, this was mostly caused by chowder7116 and seek129's crazy flashing dance floor and lights. This has now been removed and the lag has gone. If you build stuff with redstone on the server, please make sure it can be turned off easily (nothing switching between on and off).

If any "un-citizenised" people are reading this, they sorry I haven't been on the server much in the last couple of days, I've bee very busy with college work, my job, and I got a shiny new graphics card that I had to play a few games on in the little time that I had spare. I should be on the server quite a lot over the weekend.
(Mirrors edge, FarCry2 and Crysis look awesome on full :D)