More server outages for Whirlwind and Emberstorm [Updated]
by Robin Torres 
Nov 24th 2009 at 11:01PM
Then again, we might be lucky and they'll be back in ten minutes. Who knows with these things? Keep an eye on WoW.com and we'll keep you posted should we hear anything. If you're not sure if you're part of one of these battlegroups, the full list is behind the cut.
Update #1: Blizzard is aware of the issue. Not much else at the moment.
Update #2: Looks like most servers are coming up. Our poor friends on Quel'Dorei are still down for the count.
Update #3: Maintenance on these realms not necessarily 'done' says Malkorix.
Update 11:57pm: Both battlegroups went down 12 minutes ago. More as we know it.
Update 12:18am: Blizzard says they are working on it and that any compensation will come after the problems have been resolved.
Update 3:37am: The servers are up temporarily, but will be intermittently taken down while they continue to resolve the underlying problem.
Whirlwind
Anub'arak
Blackwater Raiders
Bladefist
Cenarion Circle
Cenarius
Darrowmere
Echo Isles
Fenris
Hyjal
Korialstraaz
Lightbringer
Maiev
Misha
Ravenholdt
Shu'halo
Sisters of Elune
The Forgotten Coast
Uther
Vashj
Winterhoof
Emberstorm
Antonidas
Borean Tundra
Cairne
Drak'Tharon
Drenden
Farstriders
Garrosh
Hydraxis
Mok'Nathal
Moon Guard
Nazgrel
Nesingwary
Nordrassil
Quel'dorei
Rivendare
Shandris
Tortheldrin
Wyrmrest Accord
Filed under: Realm News, Realm Status
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Itanius Nov 24th 2009 4:03PM
Bad news, I hope they get it sorted out, and quickly.
Does anyone know which battlegroups belong to which datacenters?
Itanius Nov 24th 2009 4:12PM
Official Service Status thread:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=21333625232&sid=1
Oxjiin Nov 25th 2009 12:38AM
I wish this was a topic about a killer upcoming WoW Video Link but it's not,
more of a serious topic for the Battle Groups Emberstorm & Whirlwind...
For those that care bout our Realm Downtime please read up,
there may be a simple solution Blizzard can imply to resolve our issues...
Blizzard should seriously consider dropping Mzima @ the Seattle Data Center from Hosting Realms...
It is located in the Fisher Plaza (http://www.fisherplaza.com/)
which is responsible for the Emberstorm & Whirlwind Realms having downtime...
A recent fire, power outages & news that the building is for sale by Fisher Communications
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_Communications)
doesn't settle well with my Faith that my Realm of over 3 years will remain online consistently...
10 Characters & Long Term Friendships = I don't want to pay for any kind of Realm Transfers.
I would like to see Blizzard hold the Host of these two Battlegroup Realms responsible or find a New Host for them...!
38 Realms = How many paying customers...?
sean Nov 25th 2009 4:05AM
As to the post about Mzima and Fisher Plaza. Mzima is just a bandwidth provider. Most likely their power is supplied by the data center services from Fisher Plaza.
Mr. Tastix Nov 25th 2009 4:44AM
Blue-tongue, to you it may be "just" a few days downtime. To me it's a waste of my goddamn money, money which should be used to STOP this from happening TWICE in less than 24 hours.
ismael Nov 25th 2009 6:58AM
I do not believe that Mzima uses Fisher Plaza. That said, Mzima clearly sucks, and I hope this leads to Blizzard severing their relationship with Mzima.
talozin Nov 25th 2009 10:02AM
Oh yes. Because there's 8 different power lines outside my house connected to 8 different power companies all vying for my business. Yeah, power outtage? No problem! I'll just switch to a more reliable power company!
I'm guessing you've never worked in a data center environment. "Reliable power" is one of the key factors in picking a place to set up your server farm. If that means the hosting company needs to have its own generator so your servers keep going if PG&E screws up, then they'd better have that generator, and a big fuel tank, and arrangements to keep more fuel coming in if the outage goes on for longer than their tank size.
That's why it's hard for me to believe this is strictly a power issue. Reliable power is such a basic requirement for a large scale deployment that I have trouble believing Blizzard would neglect it; there's something else going on besides a simple power failure. I don't know (and we probably will never know) whether it's the data center administrators' fault, the system administrators' fault, the software engineers' fault, or an act of God, but I'd be very surprised if it's just that "the power company" stopped sending them electricity.
raspybunk Nov 25th 2009 3:16PM
Well, there went that achievement, who else is leaving town for thanksgiving? 2 nights of play with the person I just convinced to sign up gone too.
JM Nov 24th 2009 4:04PM
Woooo, way to maintain those servers! Might want to look into some more reliable power.
JM Nov 24th 2009 4:05PM
http://www.wowwiki.com/US_realm_list_by_datacenter
Itanius Nov 24th 2009 4:09PM
Thanks, JM.
aveiceae Nov 24th 2009 5:18PM
we've had a lot of wind and rainstorms in Seattle this week, and more potentially on the way... heck the power in my house went out a couple times as well. not sure where physically the servers are located here but I'm not surprised they're also feeling the brunt of the storms.
and yeah, I play on a Whirlwind server, so I had the outage issues too >.
Finnicks Nov 24th 2009 5:35PM
@JM
Oh yes. Because there's 8 different power lines outside my house connected to 8 different power companies all vying for my business. Yeah, power outtage? No problem! I'll just switch to a more reliable power company!
Seriously? Time to find "more reliable power"? Power outtages happen. It's no one's fault. No one can prevent them 100% of the time, and last time I checked, there's not much more than 1 option for electricity in any given region.
...more reliable power indeed... Bah.
Finnicks Nov 24th 2009 5:38PM
@JM
Oh no! I've just had a power outtage. Silly power company. So unreliable. I'll just walk outside and switch to one of the other 18 individually owned and operated power lines outside and switch my service to a new company that's more "reliable".
Seriously? Time to find "more reliable power"? Power outtages happen. Get over it. They can't be prevented 100% of the time, especially in inclement weather. And there aren't 18 different power companies vying for Blizzard's service, either. There's one electric company. One set of power lines.
...switch to more reliable power indeed... Bah!
Finnicks Nov 24th 2009 5:40PM
Requesting deletion of one of the two above posts (and this one).
Bob Nov 24th 2009 6:13PM
Requesting deletion of the three above posts (and finnicks).
Alex Ziebart Nov 24th 2009 6:08PM
Requesting deletion of *your face.*
Yeah, that's right.
How do you like them apple?
Benjamin Nov 24th 2009 6:36PM
did Alex Ziebart have too much candy today?
Lucidien Nov 25th 2009 1:00AM
Clearly, if power is indeed their issue, all they must do is listen when they try to click to put the off-line servers up, they'll be given one of three instructions and hence, a way to solve the problem;
"We need moar mineralz, mine moar mineralz"
"We need moar Vespene Gas"
"Build moar Pylonz"
Solved.
RndySasqatch Nov 24th 2009 4:04PM
It's kinda funny. I just logged in to turn in my dailies from yesterday (Pilgrims Bounty) and got booted again. Oh well time to play the new Ratchet and Clank !