A first look at BattleField3 PC game servers

[ArithonUK]

This from Mikael Kalms of DICE, posted on the EA Forums:-

RSPs

The game server machines themselves will be run by a number of Ranked  Server Provider (RSP) companies. We do not allow other companies to run  game servers, or for other people to run game servers from home.
We try to strike a balance where there are game servers available across  the globe, while still keeping the number of RSPs at a level where we  can offer reasonable support to each individual company. Since we prefer  to work with larger hosting companies, and we focus on countries where  we have a larger player base, there will not be game servers available  in every country on the planet.
The list of RSPs which will run BF3 game servers at launch is not ready yet. Once it is, we will publilalalala widely.
 
 
Server administrators
 
While the RSPs run the physical machines, most if not all will be paid  for and administered by the players themselves â€" individuals, groups of  friends, or clans.
A server administrator control some aspects of the play experience â€"  which maps are being played, which people are allowed onto the server,  and can also affect the play style through various direct and indirect  controls. Generally speaking, servers that are administered by  reasonable admins attract players, while servers which have arbitrary  rules imposed see less traffic.
 
 
Ranked vs Unranked

One of the biggest choices which a server administrator has to make is, whether to run the server in Ranked or Unranked mode.
In Ranked mode, player progression is tracked on EAs master servers.  Weapons are unlocked by playing the game. Player progression is also  visible on Battlelog. The server administrators will have to abide by  the Battlefield Rules of Engagement.
In Unranked mode, player progression is not tracked on the master  servers. Server administrators have free reign on such servers â€" no  Battlefield Rules of Engagement to heed. They can control in detail  which weapons are available to the players, etc. This mode is suited to  playing clan matches, tournaments, or to those players who just like the  fairness of everyone having the same range of weapons available to  them.
 
 
PunkBuster
 
BF3 will use PunkBuster as its anti-cheat system. Game servers that run in ranked mode are required to have PunkBuster active.
There have been problems with the PunkBuster screenshot mechanism under  DirectX 10/11 in the past. However, we have collaborated with  EvenBalance to make screenshots function reliably with DX10/DX11 in BF3.
 

Third party anti-cheat organizations

There are several community initiatives against cheating. These  initiatives are usually volunteer organizations that maintain their own  databases with cheaters. They do both manual work - reviewing  screenshots, game recordings, and other cheating evidence â€" and also  implement automated systems.
It is up to each individual server administrator whether to join with one or more of these organizations.
 
While not officially partnering with these organizations, we try to  ensure that BF3 works well with their systems in time for the launch.
The biggest three organizations that support Battlefield games are PBBans (PBBans | Always Quality over Quantity), GGC-Stream (GGC-Stream / News) and PunksBusted (PunksBusted.com Sponsored by Ventrilo). There are also several smaller organizations around.
 
 
Server administration interface
 
BF3 will support a Remote Administration interface similar to that of  BFBC2. The basic protocol will be the same, but commands differing a  bit.
There is a plethora of tools available that can talk to the remote admin  interface. We are in contact with several of the developers who created  tools for BFBC2, and will aid them in adding support for BF3. If you  have developed a BFBC2 remote admin tool which is popular (used on  >100 game servers), send me a PM.
The protocol itself is still under constant revision. Expect the  protocol to be published by the time that the retail game is released.



Now I know you have a gazillion other questions. Spectator mode?  Battlerecorder? mixed mode rotations? I don't have solid answers for  most questions yet. Hopefully we can cover those once the Open Beta is  live.