Update on the New Login Server - Please Read!

[trevius]

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.