Last night, the network that this server sits on was having a lot of trouble. There was random packet loss throughout the evening getting worse and worse over time, so I took the decision to shut down the L4D servers to prevent disappointment.
Apparently a Cisco router had a bad memory leak which caused lots of trouble, though emergency maintenance which should have take 45 mins to fix the problem dragged into the early hours of the night as the updated software version created a whole new world of hurt.
Everything appears to be fine now, and the L4D servers are all back up and running again now.
Update: The network trouble is far from over. The ISP that provides the connectivity is having major trouble with its networking equipment and connectivity is still shaky at best. The L4D servers have been shut down for the moment until things get better. Sorry folks!
Update: The network is now much more stable and the servers are back up. However, I’m told to expect a little more downtime later on in time for a final fix for things, so please beware.
Update: The ISP has now given the all-clear, so things should be completely back to normal. Phew.