Hardware Donations

[Rogean]

Hey Everyone,

I wanted to post a quick note to the community about hardware donations. While the project does receive a steady income of donations to cover most costs, there are some of you that have inquired about what kind of hardware we'd be looking for, which may be helpful before needing to spend any of that money.

In 2019, shortly before Green launched, we purchased a brand new HPE Gen10 server which is currently dedicated to hosting our production game databases and the Green server. That server is solid and will last us for some time.

Other than that server, however, we are running on a hodgepodge of used hardware consisting of Cisco UCS M3 and Dell R710. While Green and Blue run on physical hardware (Green on the HPE Gen10, Blue on a Cisco UCS M3 C220), the rest of the servers are in a VMWare Cluster. This includes virtual machines running Red Game Server, P99 Website, EQEmu Website, EQEmu Loginserver, Wiki Website, Replication Databases, Backup Jobs, and our Backend system (Used for logs and CSR Tools).

Cisco UCS M3 and Dell R710 both went end of sale in 2016. To give you an idea, the UCS Server's CIMC Interface (The motherboard management) utilizes a flash interface, which is not possible to access on modern browsers. Cisco has no plans to provide a firmware update to resolve this (Basically: Tough shit, upgrade your hardware).

This hardware has served us well over the years, but it is starting to show it's age. We're beginning to see some instability, particularly with the Cisco UCS that is acting as our SAN right now.

Let me be clear about this post though, we are not currently in a predicament or begging for help. We are simply evaluating our options to replace some of this hardware, and felt that a post might be a good idea before we start looking to spend thousands of dollars on hardware. We've always made sure to spend the Donation money sparingly and intelligently.

So, if you are in a position that gives you access to, or the ability, to donate relatively newer/used enterprise level hardware, please reach out to me on Discord.

Thanks!

[BlackBellamy]

https://i.imgur.com/s79aaV4.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/SAIS7cb.jpg

[Gustoo]

Thanks for sharing some info about the project we all enjoy so much.

I might be able to acquire some not-quite-so-old enterprise hardware.

[bomaroast]

Finish making Charm and Spell Interrupts classic. They're both overpowered and broken currently.

[EQGenaro]

Not sure if current thought process or rules would consider name or race changes for donations? My dark elf necro would like some iksar loving!

Just a thought, no bullets please :)

[arkile]

Pretty neat.. I work on that kind of stuff at work but I don't think they would give me any of it lol

[Steven01]

Sounds like a Green 2.0 plan is about all I really understood

[Barnes]

Curious why red server still deserves it's own server? only 10 players online atm. Why not at least make it a teams server (good races vs evil) ? The current red server is just a place for griefers to feel like they have a life.

[Old_PVP]

Curious why red server still deserves it's own server? only 10 players online atm. Why not at least make it a teams server (good races vs evil) ? The current red server is just a place for griefers to feel like they have a life.

Dude, the same shit could be said about Blue. After all, why have 2 separate servers with same rule set at the same patch level. Plenty of reasons to play Red… actually 1 more reason than blues / greens can list, which is the occasional PVP. Red even has exp bonus, making it a better choice for casual levelers that actually have a life, contrary to your assessment. So maybe fuck off with all the Red hate & go back to waiting in your bread line on blue / green.

I like the teams idea though!

[Lammy]

I hope you find the hardware you need. Thanks for keeping us up and running!

[Lune]

thanks papa rogean for all you do

[Viscere]

We all play on exotico OP custom water cooled desks just to make sure we have the highest level of immersion

I sure hope someone is going to be able to provide Rogean with some OP servers, the elf realms deserve it !

Pras P99

[Darlore]

Have you contacted Elon Musk about this issue? He can help!!

Happy to pony up and donate if/when time comes.

[Lammy]

wtt server for gnome sk

[Tunabros]

Dude, the same shit could be said about Blue. After all, why have 2 separate servers with same rule set at the same patch level. Plenty of reasons to play Red… actually 1 more reason than blues / greens can list, which is the occasional PVP. Red even has exp bonus, making it a better choice for casual levelers that actually have a life, contrary to your assessment. So maybe fuck off with all the Red hate & go back to waiting in your bread line on blue / green.

I like the teams idea though!

BECAUSE NO ONE GIVES A SHIT ABOUT RED

[Gustoo]

BECAUSE NO ONE GIVES A SHIT ABOUT RED

Guy who seeks every post where red is mentioned and comments. Someone cares.

[AenorVZ]

Purple is Coming

[Zemgus]

Dude, the same shit could be said about Blue. After all, why have 2 separate servers with same rule set at the same patch level. Plenty of reasons to play Red… actually 1 more reason than blues / greens can list, which is the occasional PVP. Red even has exp bonus, making it a better choice for casual levelers that actually have a life, contrary to your assessment. So maybe fuck off with all the Red hate & go back to waiting in your bread line on blue / green.

I like the teams idea though!

A+

[Tunabros]

Guy who seeks every post where red is mentioned and comments. Someone cares.

I care about red "players" shutting up

maybe if you spent time playing red instead of asking a new red, the red server

wouldn't be dead!

[Jettison]

I care about red "players" shutting up

maybe if you spent time playing red instead of asking a new red, the red server

wouldn't be dead!

Yikes... the jealousy is real with this one.

[Trexller]

Hey Rogean,

Hows about just straight up telling us what you guys need to keep the project running, and offering a little transparency about the donations you receive, how they are spent and what hurdles you encounter when tryin to acquire new hardware, which even I know isn't cheap.

Like many other players, I'm no IT guy but i make money in other fields, a lil bit of which could be donated (ive never donated, but thought about it)

So here is what I propose: P99 staff crunches numbers based on projected future hardware needs, or even immediate hardware needs. As well as publishing donation info, and how these funds are used. Obviously you can't give us too much info because the rest of these plebs will pick it apart and diligently work to find ways it could be perceived as mismanaged.

Just saying it would be interesting to get a glimpse behind the scenes.

TL;DR:

Just come out and say, "We need to upgrade X component, of Y machine, or we need to purchase an entirely new Z machine.

We could totally crowdfund this hardware, and with relative ease.

Everyone who still plays on P99 is ultra-loyal to the project, and would be happy to help keep it going, or even improve! (looking at you, forum load times)

So hows about telling us what you want, and seeing where it goes.

P99 Dev team should know that they are not alone in the operation of this project.

[Shamanistic]

I haven't seen the donation link yet. Doesn't seem right, does it?

[Lammy]

Hey Rogean,

Hows about just straight up telling us what you guys need to keep the project running\

Did you even read his post?

[mcoy]

I haven't seen the donation link yet. Doesn't seem right, does it?

It's on the home page on the right-hand side:

https://www.project1999.com/index.php

-Mcoy

[Jimjam]

“So, if you are in a position that gives you access to, or the ability, to donate relatively newer/used enterprise level hardware, please reach out to me on Discord.”

This is a request for hardware donations not pure cash guys ...

[Ennewi]

Thread reads like the ooc/say of a classic GM event, with a bunch of players trying to figure out what the GM-controlled NPC seeks from them, having none of the usual [keywords] in brackets to lead the conversation.

[Issar]

Hey Rogean,

Hows about just straight up telling us what you guys need to keep the project running, and offering a little transparency.

So hows about telling us what you want, and seeing where it goes.


Not trying to slam you here, and as a fellow p99 citizen, I appreciate your willingness to help.

Rogean was incredibly transparent here with detailing the hardware and hypervisor used for the various servers that they host. He is also not asking for cash, but if any of us have access to relevant hardware to replace the aging stuff.

Until 2019 I worked for a company that would frequently hand out enterprise grade hardware. Before I moved half way across the country in 2020 I sold the hpe proliants, Nimble storage, switches and cables that were handed to me. If I still worked for that company, I can guarantee I would have viable replacements in my possession.

My point being, for some in the IT industry, having access to this hardware is not uncommon and this approach allows Rogean and team to best utilize the funds.

[derpcake2]

There were some people offering large donations for a new red server.

At some point in time I was prepared to throw in 2000$. Heartbrand and others made similar promises. Seems even a meagre 5k in donations would go a long way covering new hardware, but that opportunity was squandered.

Good luck anyway.

[Disease]

There were some people offering large donations for a new red server.

At some point in time I was prepared to throw in 2000$. Heartbrand and others made similar promises. Seems even a meagre 5k in donations would go a long way covering new hardware, but that opportunity was squandered.

Good luck anyway.

Ohh shucks, 2k!?!? Guess you guys got turned away and now found somewhere else that wants your money?

[Gustoo]

Thanks for the good post. I also think thats what is going on. I thought my sibling in IT may have something, but he didnt.



Not trying to slam you here, and as a fellow p99 citizen, I appreciate your willingness to help.

Rogean was incredibly transparent here with detailing the hardware and hypervisor used for the various servers that they host. He is also not asking for cash, but if any of us have access to relevant hardware to replace the aging stuff.

Until 2019 I worked for a company that would frequently hand out enterprise grade hardware. Before I moved half way across the country in 2020 I sold the hpe proliants, Nimble storage, switches and cables that were handed to me. If I still worked for that company, I can guarantee I would have viable replacements in my possession.

My point being, for some in the IT industry, having access to this hardware is not uncommon and this approach allows Rogean and team to best utilize the funds.

[AenorVZ]

There were some people offering large donations for a new red server.

At some point in time I was prepared to throw in 2000$. Heartbrand and others made similar promises. Seems even a meagre 5k in donations would go a long way covering new hardware, but that opportunity was squandered.

Good luck anyway.

Given how scummy Heartbrand is, I'm not surprised they turned you down. Thanks for nothing. You haven't brought us any closer to teams.

[derpcake2]

Given how scummy Heartbrand is, I'm not surprised they turned you down. Thanks for nothing. You haven't brought us any closer to teams.

Ohh shucks, 2k!?!? Guess you guys got turned away and now found somewhere else that wants your money?

These kind of posters are why there needs to be asked for donations.

Strong opinion, highly active, zero donations.

[AenorVZ]

I have donated. I was wondering how stupid you have to be to make a "tough shit you didn't take my cash when it was offered" post in a thread in which the server admin specifically asked for hardware. Thanks for answering my question.

[Disease]

These kind of posters are why there needs to be asked for donations.

Strong opinion, highly active, zero donations.

Have donated thousands the last 3 threes. Have ran server wide give aways on green. Have personally power leveled groups of people for free. The list goes on. Don't question my credentials lady.

[Gustoo]

Can confirm Disease has both a big mouth and a big heart he loves this damn game.

We all get antsy looking for news

Derpcake is also right. Lets get something going theres hundreds of players that liked red enough to get to level 60 and spend countless hours camping gear who are waiting in the alleyways to play pvp 2.0 and the staff leaves it dark.

A post like "realistically, not in 2022" would let us know to fuck off for the rest of the year or play one of the existing servers.

[Smedy]

There were some people offering large donations for a new red server.

At some point in time I was prepared to throw in 2000$. Heartbrand and others made similar promises. Seems even a meagre 5k in donations would go a long way covering new hardware, but that opportunity was squandered.

Good luck anyway.

I was willing to put up 5000$ paypal towards the project if hb did the same a few years ago but never got a reply, now we're upon tough times, would be willing to put up 2000$ paypal towards the project if they would guarantee a freshly wiped red99 within reasonable time from donation, preferably without any rules because if gms cant enforce the ruleset 100% of the time its better to not have any at all and let the community just develop strategies to deal with training instead

[derpcake2]

I have donated. I was wondering how stupid you have to be to make a "tough shit you didn't take my cash when it was offered" post in a thread in which the server admin specifically asked for hardware. Thanks for answering my question.

Sorry, for a moment I forgot that money doesn't buy hardware, I even thought being able to buy hardware which you pick yourself is beats random 2nd hand stuff.

You are a fucking idiot. I hope lots of donations come in so people like you are kept off the street and out of society.

[derpcake2]

I was willing to put up 5000$ paypal towards the project if hb did the same a few years ago but never got a reply, now we're upon tough times, would be willing to put up 2000$ paypal towards the project if they would guarantee a freshly wiped red99 within reasonable time from donation, preferably without any rules because if gms cant enforce the ruleset 100% of the time its better to not have any at all and let the community just develop strategies to deal with training instead

Yea I remember that. So much stuff has (not) happened since I doubt I'd ever come back though.

[Zoolander]

I was willing to put up 5000$ paypal towards the project if hb did the same a few years ago but never got a reply, now we're upon tough times, would be willing to put up 2000$ paypal towards the project if they would guarantee a freshly wiped red99 within reasonable time from donation, preferably without any rules because if gms cant enforce the ruleset 100% of the time its better to not have any at all and let the community just develop strategies to deal with training instead

this would result in a macroquest-infested red shithole.

[AenorVZ]

Sorry, for a moment I forgot that money doesn't buy hardware, I even thought being able to buy hardware which you pick yourself is beats random 2nd hand stuff.

You are a fucking idiot. I hope lots of donations come in so people like you are kept off the street and out of society.

If you had one iota of reading comprehension you would realize that op indicated staff already has thousands of dollars on hand and hand selecting new hardware is an option that is already on the table.

[Fammaden]

This thread will certainly convince them to open a new red server for you fine deserving fellows.

[AffEcT]

this would result in a macroquest-infested red shithole.

Did you read what he wrote?
He is talking about "Play nice Policy", like training or corpse camping, anything where a staff member can jump in and suspend/ban people on a whim.
Suspending guilds and banning guilds for stuff like this is one of the main reasons why Red99 died. It opens up to the human nature of favouritism and corruption.
You even had a staff member who banned people on Red99 for miscellaneous reasons just so that he could RMT the items on the banned accounts.

Cheating is 100% illegal on all P99 servers and it's an issue where GM's really can make a difference for the betterment of the servers and community.

We just want a new PvP server.
People came together a while back to convince Daybreak to make a TLP PvP server for the EQ PvP community.
They ignored it and I don't know why, but if I could guess it would probably be because of the amount of staff they would need to enforce PNP rules and what not.

Project 1999 managed to recreated the amazing game that we all know and love, it's just that some of us want the R-Rated version.

[AenorVZ]

This thread will certainly convince them to open a new red server for you fine deserving fellows.

OP: We're not soliciting cash donations in this thread

Dimbulbs: My willingness to give cash donations positions me to dictate terms on a server that's not happening.

[Shac]

559

https://www.amazon.com/RyzenTM-Beelink-SER3-500GB-Computer/dp/B09HJQN9RH

[derpcake2]

OP: We're not soliciting cash donations in this thread

Dimbulbs: My willingness to give cash donations positions me to dictate terms on a server that's not happening.

You have to be one sad little person to be envious of the fact that people might one day enjoy a new pvp server.

Normal people would just say "its not for me, but have fun guys", but here we are with a dipshit like you that is ignorant of his own character being on display.

Carry on with the good work.

[gradyk]

I will also donate for a new red server to help pay for new hardware. Teams? Different ruleset? EC safe haven? Played rallos zek on live but never on p99.

PM me if this ever becomes possible. 100% percent down.

[SeriousSyrium]

We had a lot of hardware we were donating at work (we replace every two years), I tried to reach out on Discord to Rogean and never heard back, that was over two weeks ago.

[blurrysticks]

I have about 64GB in ram that'll fit an R710 and some hard drives if having some spares will help you for now that's about all I have.

[Rushmore]

I was willing to put up 5000$ paypal towards the project if hb did the same a few years ago but never got a reply, now we're upon tough times, would be willing to put up 2000$ paypal towards the project if they would guarantee a freshly wiped red99 within reasonable time from donation, preferably without any rules because if gms cant enforce the ruleset 100% of the time its better to not have any at all and let the community just develop strategies to deal with training instead

The king has spoken. Only reason RED is dead is that no one listens to RED people.

[heartbrand]

Just happy to be guilded with Rogean on Mischief. Go Celtics.

[Zoolander]

Just happy to be guilded with Rogean on Mischief. Go Celtics.

heartbrand....lol

[Ulwyn]

Yikes... the jealousy is real with this one.


Jealous of what? Red is cancer

[erioshi]

Greetings, I'm a P99 newbie but have many years of IS/IT experience and the requisite stash of old hardware.

If someone from staff would like to reach out to me via email or messaging I may be able to offer some assistance. I'd just feel more comfortable discussing things privately.

[pdub]

It's interesting how all 10 of the red players come out of the wordwork on these things. Steve Clover literally just said the other day on a Pantheon stream that EQ pvp was always intended to be consensual. There is a reason PVP mmos fail, PVP servers fail, there is a reason only 10 people play on red, all of whom should be thankful and grateful that there is even a red server at all. I imagine red server is a financial burden to p99 as a whole. It would be quite easy to shut it down and no one would care.

[Salaryman]

Sorry, you only had 1 chance at getting a manastone. I have 1 btw

[Crylol]

what hardware do I need to send so I can reset my passwords via sms :X

[Shinko]

ban that fool

[Rimitto]

What I gathered from this is that the reason the wiki doesn't load sometimes is because the red server exists.

[Trexller]

What I gathered from this is that the reason the wiki doesn't load sometimes is because the red server exists.

a swing and a miss, bot

[blurrysticks]

I have about 64GB in ram that'll fit an R710 and some hard drives if having some spares will help you for now that's about all I have.

This is no longer available after no replies were received

[Digitalmocking]

I've got a bunch of M4 servers that are being retired, ton of memory and pretty kitted out if the admins are still interested in new hardware.

[Arkaan]

I have a custom-built storage server with over 100TB mechanical storage.
Supermicro CSE-847 w/ 2x backplane
LSI SAS9207-8i
X11SSL-F
Xeon E3-1240
32GB DDR4 2400 ECC
12x ST3300657SS 300GB
The rest a mix with some 10TB HGST, etc..

Yours free if you send a box and label. PM for details.

[Rygar]

I have a custom-built storage server with over 100TB mechanical storage.
Supermicro CSE-847 w/ 2x backplane
LSI SAS9207-8i
X11SSL-F
Xeon E3-1240
32GB DDR4 2400 ECC
12x ST3300657SS 300GB
The rest a mix with some 10TB HGST, etc..

Yours free if you send a box and label. PM for details.

FYI rogean mentioned in the original post to reach out to him over discord with this info. Server hardware is beyond my understanding, no clue if the above is an upgrade or what have you