I know I mentioned this on the Quake Wars/COD 4 thread, but I didn't want to cloud the issue in another thread. Hence, I am writing this thread to address the topic specifically. I don't mean to beat a dead horse here, but this is very important to me.

For the most part, I understand the issues involving EA's restricted access requirements to "Ranked" boxes, but I would like make a few suggestions:

1) Could you experiment with one or two Windows boxes (mine in particular), and create an account that would have "limited" or "no" access to Cortex and it's sub folders. This could be done without violating EA's "Ranked Server Agreement", and would make many of us very happy. You could even create a "Cortex" partition, and make it so users could not access that partition.

2) Another approach would be to have those of us who need "Administrator/Root" access the boxes, sign the same "Ranked Server Agreement" (or whatever it was called) the Planet did, so we too could be an authorized agent to police our own boxes. I would personally sign, swear and affirm, via notarized letter, that I would not add, remove, modify, or delete the Ranked server files.

I cannot tell you how many times I've submitted support tickets, only to have the tech respond back to me saying it was not their responsibility to defrag my drive, or be threatened to pay additional fees to have it done. I can also remember struggling to get a 3rd party mod installed using Cortex, or trying to make PunkBuster screenshots viewable from the web. These issues could all have been solved by allowing us Administrator/Root access to our boxes. It would also reduce the ticket load for game releated issues.

Sorry for ranting on, but it is so frustrating trying to administrate my box via Cortex, or wait and wonder if new game files will be ready on release day. Very, very frustrating...

> 2) Another approach would be to have those of us who need "Administrator/Root" access the boxes, sign the same "Ranked Server Agreement" (or whatever it was called) the Planet did, so we too could be an authorized agent to police our own boxes. I would personally sign, swear and affirm, via notarized letter, that I would not add, remove, modify, or delete the Ranked server files.

I am fairly certain that you will need to talk to EA directly about that.

Klaude and crew tried to create 1. I even talked to him about it once or twice. In all ways, we came up with ways to crack into Cortex partition.

Sorry, BF2 and stuck to whims of TP or no BF2 and get full control over your box.

I wrote them way back when this whole "Ranked" server issue came into play. They never responded to me. I was hoping you may have greater influence to get it done.

If not, perhaps my first suggestion about granting us access to all areas of the server except for Cortex and the ranked files.

If you can't do this, please just let us know now (officially), so we can finally put this issue to rest.

I'll see if I can find a post, but when Klaude / Reese were still here, This is what they said:

"We have looked into every option to allow those who run ranked servers to have access to RDP, or SSH, however, no matter what we did we were alwasy able to find a way around security measures installed"

That is paraphrased some, but basically sums it up. I know they looked at creating a limited account, that had no access to the ranked files, but they always found a way to get around the lockout, and gain access to the ranked files.

I'll try to find that post and link it for you.