As you may or may not know, the PVE server is a little flakey at the moment in that it is randomly deleting walls, building items and other stuff. After pouring over the scripts until 5am this morning and doing various things to my test server to replicate the issue, I believe the problem lies in the database. Either the database tables or the data itself is corrupt. I am over sitting on teamspeak pulling out my hair over reports that "this is missing" or "that has vanished" ..... Something needs to be done and done now.
Now, this has a number of possible outcomes.
1. I take the server offline, backup the database, rebuild the tables and import the data back to it and if the tables were the issue, the problem is fixed and we carry on as normal.
2. I take the server offline, backup the database, rebuild the tables, import the data and find out the DATA itself is corrupt, we lose everything ...... again.
3. I do all of the above, it fixes nothing and we are back at square one with objects going missing.
Before I go on let me say this. I am not a software engineer. I am not a scripter, coder or anything else. I am a father and a tattooist, that's it. 4 months ago I never even knew what an SQL database or an init.sqf file was. I originally built the PVE server so that regular long term players of the PEP servers, which were my home too, would have somewhere to continue playing after the servers shut down. In doing so, I have been learning as I go. I have since enrolled in a certificate 3 in IT course that also covers SQL so hopefully that will come in handy whenever I end up finishing that.
I don't want everyone to start over again, it was bad enough the last time. But, if it were to happen now would be the time before people have had to chance to build huge palaces and amass wondrous vehicle collections, wouldn't you agree? Regardless, something HAS to be done to fix the current issue and as I said, I firmly believe the issue lies with the database and/or it's data.
So, I will be taking the server down at the 8pm restart and doing what needs to be done. I will see you all out the other side come hell or high water and I will deal with whatever comes of it then. It's all going to go smoothly though. Think positively. I am.
I am currently on Teamspeak and will remain there until tonight before I take the server offline to discuss any issues, queries or information you may need or have.