World of Warcraft (en) Forums -> 01/10 Instance Capacity Update

Ancilorn

Blizzard Poster

0. 27/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 06:26:39 PDT

We understand that players have been experiencing situations where the active instance limit was reached. We realise that this is very frustrating for the affected players, and would like to say a few things regarding the issue as a follow-up to our previous update:
http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=9941934722&sid=1

The limit on active instances was originally implemented as an interim solution to ensure that all active instances perform smoothly. Within the last few weeks, we have configured and optimised our infrastructure to better handle the instance load, and many players are no longer experiencing issues with instance creation. However, to incorporate these upgrades across every realm is not a minor undertaking; it requires fairly complex coordination with third party affiliates who actually host the hardware we utilise.

This reconfiguration is already complete on more than 40% of the European realms, the optimised realms are listed below, and the situation has noticeably improved on these realms. We are continuing to work towards the implementation of this reconfiguration for all realms, which we expect will resolve the instance creation issue for all players. We expect the optimisation for all realms to be fully completed within the next couple of months, and would like to assure everyone that every effort is being made to ensure that this is completed as soon as possible.

List of optimised realms:

Aerie Peak
Agamaggan
Aggramar
Ahn'Qiraj
Al'Akir
Alonsus
Anachronos
Arathor
Argent Dawn
Aszune
Auchindoun
Azjol-Nerub
Azuremyst
Balnazzar
Bladefist
Blade's Edge
Bloodfeather
Bloodhoof
Bloodscalp
Boulderfist
Bronze Dragonflight
Bronzebeard
Burning Blade
Burning Legion
Burning Steppes
Chamber of Aspects
Chromaggus
Crushridge
Daggerspine
Darkmoon Faire
Darksorrow
Darkspear
Deathwing
Defias Brotherhood
Dentarg
Doomhammer
Draenor
Dragonblight
Dragonmaw
Drak'thul
Dunemaul
Earthen Ring
Emerald Dream
Emeriss
Eonar
Executus
Frostmane
Frostwhisper
Genjuros
Ghostlands
Grim Batol
Hakkar
Haomarush
Hellfire
Hellscream
Jaedenar
Karazhan
Kazzak
Khadgar
Kilrogg
Kor’gall
Kul Tiras
Laughing Skull
Lightbringer
Lightning's Blade
Magtheridon
Mazrigos
Moonglade
Nagrand
Neptulon
Nordrassil
Outland
Quel'Thalas
Ragnaros
Ravencrest
Ravenholdt
Runetotem
Saurfang
Scarshield Legion
Shadowsong
Shattered Halls
Shattered Hand
Silvermoon
Skullcrusher
Spinebreaker
Sporeggar
Steamwheedle Cartel
Stormrage
Stormreaver
Stormscale
Sunstrider
Sylvanas
Talnivarr
Tarren Mill
Terenas
Terokkar
The Maelstrom
The Sha'Tar
The Venture Co.
Thunderhorn
Trollbane
Turalyon
Twilight's Hammer
Twisting Nether
Vashj
Vek'nilash
Wildhammer
Xavius
Zenedar

[ Post edited by Vaneras ]

"Once we jumped off the boat and into the jungle, we cranked up the volume and marched to our own drummer..."

Community Team - English

Carliana

< Nandaror >

The Sha'tar

1. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 06:31:17 PDT

Kinda suprised you optimised the Sha'tar's servers, we never had any probs to start with, due to our low population :P

Silverbane, Alaister, Nanexia, Bigoak, Sunbeam - some of my awesome friends of the Sha'tar.

Aliya

< Atic Atac >

Frostmane

2. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 06:33:10 PDT

I still think this should've been done before implementing 3.2, everyone and their mother saw these problems coming.

Anyway, good to see you're working on it, here's hoping Frostmane gets fixed soon :)

Tenzarin

< The Old Guard >

Thunderhorn

3. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 06:49:47 PDT

Things are much better on Thunderhorn now - haven't seen a single "Additional instances can not be launched." error since the upgrade.

Please convey my thanks to the server team.

This is not the greatest signature in the world, this is just a tribute.

Doomcast

< Escapism >

Bloodhoof

4. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 06:56:12 PDT

Bloodfeather was on the previous thread (27/07).

So please tell me you meant Bloodhoof as that has been long overdue?

[ Post edited by Doomcast ]

Junkshop

Bronzebeard

5. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 07:03:53 PDT

Q u o t e:

We expect the optimisation for all realms to be fully completed within the next couple of months, and would like to assure everyone that every effort is being made to ensure that this is completed as soon as possible.

A couple of months is NOT good enough. This problem has been around for a year already....a bloody YEAR!! And now you expect us to wait yet up to another couple of months.

Really, it's starting to get ridiculous now. Why did you not start this process a long long time ago?

[ Post edited by Junkshop ]

Exîtî

< EVIL DEAD >

Aggramar

6. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 07:15:21 PDT

stop the crap already, we both know the problem with "Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched" hasn't been around for a year as it started with WotLK, which FYI has not been out for one year yet... srsly people.. stop over-dramatizing stuff

Also, Hope Aggramar is next ;D

(\__/) All your arguments about " arena rating-It's under 2k!!!!" frankly fail
(o_O) This is Bunny.
( > < ) Copy Bunny and paste it to your signature to help him in his quest for World Domination.

Junkshop

Bronzebeard

7. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 07:19:32 PDT

Q u o t e:
stop the crap already, we both know the problem with "Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched" hasn't been around for a year as it started with WotLK, which FYI has not been out for one year yet... srsly people.. stop over-dramatizing stuff

Also, Hope Aggramar is next ;D

Ohh forgive me, then its still 9 months. In 2 months it will have been 11 months. Almost a year then. Do you think 11 months is a respectable response time to fix a problem that locks many people out of the most important part of the game???

Nebula

< Cake or Death >

Bloodhoof

8. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 07:26:08 PDT

I don't know how the situation is on other realms but currently on Bloodhoof the message pops up from 11 in the morning until 4 at night. I am not sure how the realms are chosen but having problems to get into instances for 17 hours per day, and reading that low population realms get fixed instead, well I hope it's a matter of common hardware or something to get specific realms fixed first, otherwise someone has to look at which realms have the biggest problem and take the decision to fix them first.

Unless there are realms that are wose than BH... in which case I dread the players on these realms.

[ Post edited by Nebula ]

Bullshot

< Imbalanced >

Jaedenar

9. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 07:33:04 PDT

Q u o t e:

A couple of months is NOT good enough. This problem has been around for a year already....a bloody YEAR!! And now you expect us to wait yet up to another couple of months.

Really, it's starting to get ridiculous now. Why did you not start this process a long long time ago?

You don't know how companies work, do you? Don't worry, once you start working and you get out of an entry-level position, you'll realise the red-tape and bureaucracy needed to get things done. Pointless as it may seem, those things are unfortunately needed for accountability.

PvE is hard. Sometimes there is a fire. Move out of it.
PvP is hard. Sometimes there is a pillar. Move behind it.

Thogan

< Mystic Daggers >

Azjol-Nerub

10. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 07:35:20 PDT

Q u o t e:

Ohh forgive me, then its still 9 months. In 2 months it will have been 11 months. Almost a year then. Do you think 11 months is a respectable response time to fix a problem that locks many people out of the most important part of the game???

And I suppose you have a working knowledge of both the problem, the causes of the problem and a quick fix that can be distributed to all realms within a couple of months? Or do you have an experiennce of running, and maintaining a server base that serves well over a million people(i'm talking EU here).

Problems like this can be incredibly difficult to pin down, add in the amount of users affected, and the problem increases.

This needed to be Investigated, all possible fixes tested extensively to make sure there was no impact on the playing experience of the majority of people and then it need to be rolled out in a manner that is both quick and methodical, to ensure the stability of the realms after the fix has been placed.

Of course, you all knew that already....

Right?

Fiskerdin

< HottieHamsters >

Ravencrest

11. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 07:37:36 PDT

Q u o t e:

This reconfiguration is already complete on more than 40% of the European realms, the optimised realms are listed below, and the situation has noticeably improved on these realms. We are continuing to work towards the implementation of this reconfiguration for all realms, which we expect will resolve the instance creation issue for all players. We expect the optimisation for all realms to be fully completed within the next couple of months, and would like to assure everyone that every effort is being made to ensure that this is completed as soon as possible.

Not to nitpick, but don't you mean English realms, or is it because the changes also affect german/french/russian/spanish realms not listed here?

Junkshop

Bronzebeard

12. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 07:43:27 PDT

Q u o t e:

You don't know how companies work, do you? Don't worry, once you start working and you get out of an entry-level position, you'll realise the red-tape and bureaucracy needed to get things done. Pointless as it may seem, those things are unfortunately needed for accountability.

Don't patronise me. I'm probably older than you and your Parents.

I have been a large scale Operations Manager for 15 years. I deal with very big problems for a Multi-National companies and NONE of the problems that have fell in my lap have EVER taken this long to sort out. And believe me, some of these problems can be huge. I have to deal with many Company Directors (who are hard people to pin down) to get major decisions. But still, nothing takes this long. Unless someone is sweeping it under the carpet and hoping the problem will go away.

They have only started to deal with it for the last month or so. More than that, they have actually only just admitted there is a problem that they need to deal with.

Carliana

< Nandaror >

The Sha'tar

13. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 07:47:00 PDT

Q u o t e:

And I suppose you have a working knowledge of both the problem, the causes of the problem and a quick fix that can be distributed to all realms within a couple of months? Or do you have an experiennce of running, and maintaining a server base that serves well over a million people(i'm talking EU here).

Problems like this can be incredibly difficult to pin down, add in the amount of users affected, and the problem increases.

This needed to be Investigated, all possible fixes tested extensively to make sure there was no impact on the playing experience of the majority of people and then it need to be rolled out in a manner that is both quick and methodical, to ensure the stability of the realms after the fix has been placed.

Of course, you all knew that already....

Right?

As someone who used upgrade servers for a living, I must agree. It can take a VERY long time to upgrade a server. First of all you must draw up a plan, get it approved, then go through rigorous health and safety checks (These can take months), finally when you get the go ahead you have to specifty the precise parts you need from a supplier (This can take about a month) And finally, implement the changes to the server and hardware. If the server is still running at the time, this can take longer still.

I'm going to tell you one simple thing. You're lucky. The problem is actually being fixed a lot faster than most businesses.

Silverbane, Alaister, Nanexia, Bigoak, Sunbeam - some of my awesome friends of the Sha'tar.

Carliana

< Nandaror >

The Sha'tar

14. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 07:50:27 PDT

Q u o t e:
Don't patronise me. I'm probably older than you and your Parents.

So why do you post on a low level Gnome Alt? :)

Silverbane, Alaister, Nanexia, Bigoak, Sunbeam - some of my awesome friends of the Sha'tar.

Thémuffinman

< Nox Noctis >

Frostwhisper

15. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 07:53:42 PDT

sidding on the side of blizz, i havent have the additional instents prob on froswisper since they did what ever they did, so hope it comes to your server soon too.

This is space. Some call it the final frontier.Of course it's impossible to have a FINAL frontier because there would be nothing for it to be a frontier TO, but as frontiers go it's pretty penultimate

Sylkh

< Xi >

Draenor

16. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 07:55:24 PDT

Any news of when the Blackout Battlegroup servers might be scheduled for this?? I know that we're one of the oldest groupings, but it's getting more and more frustrating as time goes on.

We haven't been able to get our weekly Old Skool raiding nights (sure, not that important, but a bit of fun and great for a social exercise) going for the past two weeks due to beating our heads on instance doors for an hour at a time. It is seriously starting to affect guild morale.

Wiwo

< Anarchy >

Kilrogg

17. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 08:57:10 PDT

Q u o t e:

... They have only started to deal with it for the last month or so. More than that, they have actually only just admitted there is a problem that they need to deal with.

From a commercial pow the current situation only show that Blizz have failed to understand how service oriented bussiness works. They have a very large customer base that generates lots of income. In order to keep the income flowing they are obliged to keep the customers somewhat happy. Ofc there are lots of detailed things ppl are not very happy with, BUT, if the services that customers pay for are not available at all, then you have a very serious situation since customers will start turning somewhere else for their gaming experience.

An operation the size of blizz cant afford "oops, the instance servers don't work anymore", "lets do some dmg-control on the forums while we try to sort this out"

And if a situation like this anyway arise they need to take it abit more seriously that they have so far, i don't feel any emergency at Blizz over this matter what so ever. Sure GM's write in the forum etc, which is cute. But will that enough? I doubt it.

The ppl responsible for Blizz business management need to communicate what they are doing to offer their customers a decent gaming experience. This is a serious situation for Blizz and my feeling is that the ppl really responsible for the company are either a) not aware that the majority of their wow-customers are really pissed b) dont' give a #@%@ if a) or c) just plainly incompetent.

This rises an interesting question, who is actually responsible for the WoW business case? Hardly a GM/developer. Who is deciding on budgets and allocation of company resources. Hardly a GM/developer. Who gets sacked if WoW starts to loose a substantial part of its customers due to a lousy service? Hardly a GM/developer.

Simple, it's the person in charge. I'd like to hear what he/she has to say about this situation, why it arised and what they do to avoid it in the future. Thats the normal dmg control companies do IF THEY THINK THE SITUATION IS SERIOUS, If not, they send forward ppl from the 4-5-6-7'th management level to do the communication for the company.

Alizea

< ScrubBusters >

The Maelstrom

18. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 09:11:51 PDT

Good job with the Maelstrom!

Too sweet to be sour
Too nice to be mean

Perserpine

< Death Stalker >

Bloodhoof

19. Re: 17/08 Instance Capacity Update – Part II 17/08/2009 09:33:48 PDT

Fix Bloodhoof!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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