Temporary Server Shutdown today

Due to the recently reported glibc server vulnerability, our provider will be stopping our server host to apply a critical patch. To avoid an in-game crash that may cause damages to our servers I will be shutting them off for today. This will also provide time to do some updates as well.

Thanks for your patience.

Thanks Obit. Too bad we can't get our fix somewhere else. Going through withdrawal issues here!

Any word on it coming back up?  Still down this evening.
Thanks!

I was just typing that myself

I am reinstalling a lot of stuff to undo some issues that appeared when I foolishly updated a mod without full testing on a sandbox copy. My bad. If I had done this at work I would be in serious trouble lol.

This is unrelated to the glibc exploit.

I've been playing rock, paper, scissors with my cats, so NBD.

HINT: always throw scissors against cats.  All they can do is paper.

Thank you for everything, Obit, it's really a great server and the players are all really great, it's one of the most enjoyable things I get to do. Thanks again.

Come on I need a fix......now I have to sit and talk to my wife and kids.....HELP!

Still down as of 11pm est....(drums fingers on desk) tried playing other servers but I am stuck to the ground!  Hope you can fix it.

Valkyr wrote:Still down as of 11pm est....(drums fingers on desk) tried playing other servers but I am stuck to the ground!  Hope you can fix it.

 
There are at least two other servers I know of where you aren't stuck to the ground, FYI. Yesterday I played a third, BBA's server, saw MrZoso on there, and I was stuck to the ground, moved frustratingly slow, it was my first time so it takes time to build up "abilities" as with traditional ET, and there was a slow fire rate & limited ammo. I was like, "WTF, am I in a bad dream here?" the kind where you're trying to run but can't move.  I like the BBA guys, but that server is SLOW and has limited ammo. On the plus side, the bots were harder to play against

Hash, try paper, rock, scissors, buddy.

It's down for now. I have to rebuild everything from the operating system back up to undo the changes directed at my particular configuration of a certain popular mod. There were changes in the qagame_mp_x86.dll that had no purpose other than to disrupt a hexeditor that would have been using pre-sighted addresses based on relative locations to known hex sequences. Specifically, there were extra zeros added between the addresses used for increasing the rate of fire for the mp40/thompson, and the known hex sequences that precede them (the known addresses provide an easy reference point).

If I was doing these edits with a pre-packaged tool (like the Redsector jaymod hexeditor tools) instead of manually with my own eyeballs, I would never have been able to locate the new address.

So, with that piece of evidence in mind (unusual addition of zeros in front of the addresses for the mp40/thompson), plus repeated server intrusion attempts, I began to get unverifiable suspicicions.

When I booted up the server after all my edits and migrating the player data over, it looked "fine" and it played fine, but the server facades would not run. Server facades provide critical visibility on the master list so we can get more players. I inquired with the mod developers who assured me there was nothing wrong of course.

So I reverted back to the previous version of the mod, uninstalled ET, uninstalled and reinstalled the server facades, and nothing would get them to work again. So my suspicion is that something was changed internally within the OS to block the use of server facade. I have no evidence other than "I upgraded and now it won't run properly" which is not proof of anything.

Remember that ET requires administrative privileges to run, so it can make any changes to your computer that it wants. This makes ET a perfect "trojan horse" type vector. There have been many instances of this. Anyone could could add code to the source code to create a back-door. Nitmod installed a back door into the actual server, and this was made public a few years ago, which is why I do not run that mod (in addition to the nitmod memory leak). By adding extra code to ET you can lock or open certain key ports, prevent services to run, etc etc. After the code is compiled it would then be given administrative privileges to run on the target machine when ET.exe or ETDED.exe is run.

So I am in the process of a full re-installation of the host OS just to be safe. This also requires backing up thousands of files prior to the wipe. Unfortunately my personal time is limited. This should be done soon.

I take our security very seriously and I trust that this approach is valued. I could easily turn the servers on right now but in my mind they are compromised.

Thank you for your patience.

Thank you Obit for your time and hard work.

Thank You for all your invested time in trying to make sure we have an awesome & safe gaming experiance, I do appreciate all your hard work. Look forward to getting back to kicking butt when its all done

Thanks obit.  In all seriousness, your efforts are much appreciated.  Playing on hopelessly hacked servers that you couldn't certify would end unpleasantly for all of us.

On a lighter note, my paper/rock/scissors sessions have enabled me to really reconnect with my cats.  It's amazing how far you can drift sometimes, and I'm glad that we have had this time together.

Im glad you're on that Obit. I didnt understand most of what you said but I got enough. Def don't want those kinds of issues for the server or us. Thank you!

Smuck .... thanks for sharing! I'm not sure which species is more emotionally closed off or challenged, men or cats. Kudos! I'm tearing up. I so happy for you!

Thanks Obit..... We all appreciate what you do for us and all of your time you give to maintain and secure the servers. We all are so use to coming home from work turning on the computer and just playing. I know on your end its not that simple. ET is like a drug, you can play for hours or just one board and you can satisfy your "fix'..lol.... Thanks again Obit!!!! Hurry up!!! lol.... Playing Rock, Paper, Scissors by myself is getting to strategic and it shouldn't be.....lololol

I notice people are waiting for Asylum to return and in the meantime are spending quality time in the real world, playing some other game, or primarily in 1 of these 3 ET servers (you can find all of them listen on Gametracker, where I go to look before joining to see if anybody is actually playing before I log on. http://www.gametracker.com/games/et/

The first two servers listed have low-grav and fast weapons with unlimited ammo. The 3rd does not have those things.  Also the first server has panzer jump capabilities (yay!). 

 YardysServer
68.232.171.187:27960

Panzermania
31.186.82.128:26010

<{BBA}>1 XP Saver
173.230.141.36:27960

-- Happy playing, and waiting for your Asylum fix to return 

Hey Obit. 

I hope the server issues aren't grinding you too badly. I'd never have the patience to manage one. I'd be up in the tower with an AK-47 within a day. 

I was going to update to Windoze 10 and try that out, but I think I'll wait until Asylum's up and stable before I stick my head in the toilet. And maybe ask to see if anyone else survived the update.

Much appreciation and respect for all you do for us addicts.

Cheers man,
jono

FWIW, the alternatives that Hash posted are all good interim ones.  I didn't even know that Yardy had a server, and its tweaked out settings are pretty fun.  Plus plenty of familiar faces there sometimes.

^^ Best profile picture ever

Hey Obit. How's the server rebuild going? We're all missing the action. :-)

jono

I need a fix..........

Well Obit did ask for patience. I guess we wait....... I hope they have internet in the nursing homes for everyone ! We can get on asylum and forget where we are in the map and whose team we're on....wait I do that now. See ya then!

sj wills wrote:Well Obit did ask for patience. I guess we wait....... I hope they have internet in the nursing homes for everyone ! We can get on asylum and forget where we are in the map and whose team we're on....wait I do that now. See ya then!

And I thought that I was the only one doing that!! 

Hey all, are we ever coming back to play?? Hope everyone is surviving thru withdrawls!!

Patiently awaiting Obit to rebuild the server from the ground up. I check to see if it's alive again every time I come online to play. So far, 

Any updates, Obit? I know the situation was pretty catastrophic.

Looking forward to a reunion on the battleground.

Trying to stay busy but having a tough time without ET.
To everyone out there have a nice Easter Sunday.

The cats are learning and have found sufficient ways to express "scissors" and "rock", albeit in rudimentary fashion.  They have also begun some unspoken form of collusion, which deprives me of the sweeps that I previously enjoyed.  The competition is much more fierce.  I enjoy the challenge.  But I must admit to being more than a bit frightened at their progress in this short time.  I imagine that Turing experienced this phenomenon in his life more than a few times.  That's my report anyway.  Smuck out.

You are welcome to visit our servers:


Az-LinuxN!tmodSnipe 216.27.113.122:27962

Az-linuxN!tmod 216.27.113.122:26948

What's everybody up to? I have tried to play on other servers but I can't get seem to get use to them. Plus I really haven't found any of you guys on any other ones. So in other words I haven't played in a very long time, here's hoping Obit gets his up sometime soon.

Agree with you, Dickh.

It's gonna be fun to play with you guys again.

I've been playing this server
208.146.44.115:27955  PANZERMANIA

Cool settings, but as you wrote, it's not the same

Hi guys, i think the asylum server will not coming back .
maybe we see us on 208.146.44.115:27955  PANZERMANIA.
cool settings.bye

Yah, we are here

I miss playing here.

Maybe the damage was even more extensive than obit thought...

Still hoping it comes back!

For now though, I've found the PANZERMANIA server has (almost) the same gameplay, so I'm playing there

Ox wrote:Maybe the damage was even more extensive than obit thought...

Still hoping it comes back!

For now though, I've found the PANZERMANIA server has (almost) the same gameplay, so I'm playing there

I agree with Ox about Panzermania, been playing there some myself and find it as good or even better in some ways than Asylum.  Like being able to get a Sten as a medic, very nice addition.  Only thing I miss is being able to keep a uni as a covie. See you guys there!

Been playin at yardy's sometimes Panzermania, but I don' find as many non bots there.

Really miss this server, others are not the same.......

Hello guys.  I check this forum and am sorry to see that the servers are probably gone for good.   Last night this forum or at least the search link was blocked by a browser highjack.  

I was not around for the clan meltdown so I do not know the details but I can guess from past history.  Without a clan and active forum and admins things looked bad.

 My bet is that Obit has abandoned you guys and said **** it.  The biggest indicator is the lack of updates on this forum.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Hi, Friedrich, long time no see you
There are other servers where I play. Panzermania is pleasant, the parameters are similar. Some players and I have is good fun
See you !!

Recipe for Deep-dish Duck ****:
 
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup bread crumbs
6 oz shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
1 cup flour
2 tbsp baker's yeast
1 can of tomato paste
6 large or 10 small duck penises
1 jumbo egg
 
Mix 1/4 cup olive oil, the flour, the egg, and the baker's yeast in a medium-sized mixing bowl.  Stir in 1 cup of very warm water until the mixture is starting to solidify as a ball.  Knead up the ball for 2 minutes or so and leave in the mixing bowl, covered, for 5 more minutes.
 
Preheat the oven to 375.
 
Coat a medium sized lasagna or pizza pan with olive oil.  Spread the dough ball over the surface of the baking pan, leaving an area around the edges for crust.
 
Dice up the duck dicks into 1/8-inch pieces.  Put in a mixing bowl with the breadcrumbs, most of the cheese, the tomato paste, and a 1/2 tsp of salt.  If you like, add a pinch of oregano, to taste.
 
Spread the contents of the mixture inside the shell of dough created in the baking dish.  Spread evenly, ensuring coverage over all areas of the pan.  Lightly sprinkle the remaining olive oil and some breadcrumbs on top.
 
Bake for 20 minutes at 375, rotating the pan at the halfway point.  After 20 minutes, cut up and serve.  Feeds 4 comfortably.
 
Consider serving with Beaujolais or Chianti.  Should be served with a red European wine, preferably something with body and a fruity side.  Also should be served with a hearty bread.
 

Enjoy.

Hey Smuck !!

Long time no see....

Thank you for your recipe, I will certainly try. At the cottage on the lake with your red wine (very good red wine), it should be delicious with my family.
Tks again
See you

Cheers Nero!

Hello Everyone.

I trust you have had a productive year away from ET.

Over the last year I have fixed up and sold my old house, quit drinking, completed a college course in C++, and gotten a raise at work.

In the meantime, I am proud to say that the server did not have one aimbotter, one admin abuse allegation, and no stacking. There was no ddos or drama. It was actually very nice.

I have given it some thought and I am bringing the server back, under linux this time, so as to hopefully mitigate the plague of ddos attacks that I had to deal with before.

New server will be called FUNBOY (RELAPSE).

Since I am building it from scratch in linux it will take some time.

Wow. I just about gave up on Funboy. This is excellent.
Congratulation on whats sounds like a very productive year.

Glad to hear life's going well Obit, you deserve it  .

Also good to hear about the server coming back! I'm afraid not everyone will read this, but I'll make sure to pay a visit!

I don't know much about servers and such, but I'll be happy to help if I can.

Thanks Koenios!

Yeah we put the note up on the facebook page last night, Maria wants me to hurry up and roll it out since her college semester is almost over and she wants to invest her time into playing ET again.

I've done a lot of tinkering in linux to try to get a functional setup (I am an unapologetic windows user so it takes a bit more time to google everything).

Main problem as you are well aware is recreating all the little modified files in linux format. Hexediting when you don't know where to start is a lot of work. Locate your point of reference and then start seeing where the weapons are buried in the binaries.

I'm hoping we don't get buried in network attacks again. Part of that was just us being a threat since the ET establishment doesn't like competition. And there are a lot more tools to mitigate them in linux than in windows, since 90% of the world's servers run linux not windows.

Noelle has been running a copy of FUNBOY (BEGINNER) on her laptop and getting good at the admin stuff, it's cute because a few years ago I remember her just learning how to walk around an empty map and now she's booting her own local server on her laptop. So she might be on a lot more now than before.