Skip to main content

Server Pools

A pool groups multiple servers so OrbisManager can pick one automatically when routing players. This is useful for load balancing across game servers, keeping the network available when one server goes down, or as a fallback target.

Creating a pool

Click + New Pool and fill in:

  • Name: A label for this pool (e.g. Survival Servers, Minigame Pool)
  • Slug: A short identifier used internally (auto-generated)
  • Load balancing strategy: How OrbisManager picks a server (see below)
  • Sticky sessions: Whether the same player always goes to the same server
  • Initial members: Optionally add servers right away

Load balancing strategies

StrategyHow it worksBest for
Weighted Round-RobinDistributes players in turn, respecting server weightsGeneral use
Least ConnectionsSends players to the server with the fewest active playersEven distribution
RandomPicks a server at randomSimple setups
IP HashSame player IP always goes to the same serverSession consistency

Sticky sessions

When sticky sessions are enabled, a player who has been to a server before will always be sent back to the same one, as long as it's available.

Useful if servers hold temporary state like match data or inventory caches.

Skip offline servers

With Skip Offline enabled, OrbisManager automatically excludes servers that are offline or unreachable from the pool. Players will never be sent to a dead server.

Enabled by default.

Server weights

Each server in a pool has a weight that controls how often it receives players. A server with weight 2 receives twice as many players as one with weight 1.

You can also use Auto Weight, which sets the weight automatically based on the server's max player count.

Adding servers to a pool

Open a pool and use the Add server dropdown at the bottom to add existing servers. You can adjust each server's weight individually.