If no updates are released on a Friday, then updates won't be released on a Friday evening in any time zone ;)
And, in the past 8 weeks, there's been at least 4 Friday updates that I can see. "Try to be at the front of the update queue" isn't sustainable advice - someone has to be at the back - and also, in my experience you run into problems if you update two servers on a specific disk at once. The result, from the player's perspective, is that when an update comes out, their own downloads are needlessly slower, and when they _HAVE_ updated their favourite server has a decent chance of still being down. By contrast, I'm sure most people have noticed that servers are quieter in the middle of the week; surely this would be a better time to release updates? Surely allowing server downloads some time before client downloads would smooth things out? Then the larger hosts could download the update while it's quiet, figure out what files have changed, and then just copy the changes to their other installs when the update goes live - that would also massively reduce load on the steam servers. All that being said, the reason this issue is cropping up is because of the very large number of updates being released currently, which I'm sure we all agree is a Good Thing(TM) > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:hlds- > [email protected]] On Behalf Of DKA-MUG brown > Sent: 24 July 2010 02:32 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [hlds] Improving the update procedure > > > "Week after week we get updates released at 10pm on a Friday during > peak gaming hours" > > > In what country? updates are distributed all over the world in many > timezones, I will admit getting some updates at crap times in > Australia, but I would imagine that updates will be in peak time for > some server admin in some part of the world. > > > > "a pre-published time" > > > Major releases like TF2 Character upgrades are generally pre-published, > other updates are coders responding to bug fix's. > > > All in all no time would suit all countries and I really don't > understand why Valve should be expected to restructure for lazy server > administration. > > > > > > > From: [email protected] > > To: [email protected] > > Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:11:17 -0400 > > Subject: Re: [hlds] Improving the update procedure > > > > Be quick on an update and you'll be fine. I've never had much of a > > problem "waiting in line" to download an update. > > > > That or use NemRun, it will save your life. > > > > > > On Sat, 2010-07-24 at 02:07 +0100, Steven Hartland wrote: > > > I must say the updates are becoming a pain. More and more regular > and more > > > often than not they break things :( > > > > > > We all appreciate the work being done, don't think for a minute we > don't, > > > but I do think that there could be some definite improvements to > how things > > > are done atm. > > > > > > First off don't release updates a absolute PEAK gaming time for the > week. > > > > > > Week after week we get updates released at 10pm on a Friday during > peak > > > gaming hours, by all means prepare a weekly update and release it > but > > > pick a sensible day / time. Tuesday / Wednesday would be much > better, it > > > means people are more likely to be about and if there are any > issues > > > they can be fixed in time for the weekend sessions. > > > > > > Please please let us know in advance! Is there any harm in getting > an > > > update ready then delaying its release for 24 hours or so during > which > > > time admins can download the updates to prepare for the release. > Then > > > at a pre-published time the client releases, server admins flick > the switch > > > their end and everyone's happy. > > > > > > The benefits of this:- > > > 1. Admins can prepare > > > 2. Lower load on the Content Servers as admins aren't downloading > at the > > > same time as the Clients > > > 3. Clients are happier as their servers are updated quickly instead > of > > > having to wait while admins struggle to get the servers update. > > > 4. Admins can pre test with their server up and raise issues before > > > all hell breaks loose. > > > > > > All in all everyone wins. > > > > > > Please consider reviewing your release engineering to incorporate > some > > > or all of the ideas above, it will make everyone's life so much > easier. > > > > > > Regards > > > Steve > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: <[email protected]> > > > To: "Half-Life dedicated Win32 server mailing list" > <[email protected]> > > > Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2010 1:42 AM > > > Subject: Re: [hlds] Counter-Strike: Source Update Available > > > > > > > > > > Releasing a required update without the capacity to handle > everyone updating at once is a problem -- expecting people to leave > > > > their servers broken to reduce Valve's load isn't an acceptable > solution. > > > > > > > > Valve should either invest in the infrastructure to handle it or > work with a service such as Akamai to handle the load from > > > > updates. > > > > > > > > If TF2 is any indication, don't expect advance notification or > beta releases (Valve even released an update they knew would > > > > break almost all management plugins without giving notification > or a beta for the plugin developers to work with). > > > > > > > > > ================================================ > > > This e.mail is private and confidential between Multiplay (UK) Ltd. > and the person or entity to whom it is addressed. In the event of > misdirection, the recipient is prohibited from using, copying, printing > or otherwise disseminating it or any information contained in it. > > > > > > In the event of misdirection, illegible or incomplete transmission > please telephone +44 845 868 1337 > > > or return the E.mail to [email protected]. > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list > archives, please visit: > > > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list > archives, please visit: > > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds > > _________________________________________________________________ > Browse profiles for FREE! Meet local singles online. > http://clk.atdmt.com/NMN/go/150855801/direct/01/ > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > please visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds
