Automatic scaling

You find it in the Automatic scaling tab of your game server or your Bots & Apps server. Only the account holder can switch it on or change it, since they agree to its extra costs. A team member with billing sees the tab read-only and can only switch it off; the holder then gets a notice, and the history says who it was. A person a single server is shared with does not see the tab.

What you set

Largest plan

The server grows no further than this. It grows one plan at a time.

At most a month extra

What the automatic enlargements may cost together in a calendar month, on top of the plan you chose yourself.

Make it smaller again

After 72 quiet hours the server moves one plan down from the next renewal, never below your own plan.

When to restart

A game server only uses more memory after a restart: either in your maintenance window (two hours from the time you choose) or at once. Bots & Apps need no restart.

When you switch it on, the page says in full sentences what you agree to: the largest plan and its price, your own plan, the monthly limit and how to switch it off again. We store this consent as it was shown, with date and time.

When the server grows

• When memory or CPU stay above 85 % for 30 minutes. For Java servers such as Minecraft only the CPU counts, because Java fills the memory up to its limit, however much the game needs.
• Never in the first hour after a start, and at most two changes in 24 hours.
• Only if the host has enough room free. Otherwise the enlargement waits, we are told and you get a message; nothing is charged.
• Only with a saved payment method or enough balance. If your bank asks for a confirmation, the enlargement is called off and nothing changes.

What it costs

Every enlargement is an ordinary plan change: you pay the difference for the rest of the term at once, pro rata, with an invoice and an e-mail; after that the server renews at the larger plan's price. A reduction applies from the next renewal, as always. Once a month's limit is reached, the server does not grow further until the month ends. If a renewal on the larger plan would go above the limit, the server is made smaller to fit beforehand; if that is not possible, we credit your balance with what is above the limit.

Switching it off

With Switch off the plan no longer changes by itself. Your server keeps the plan it has now; under Change plan you choose it yourself. If you change the plan yourself while scaling is on, your new plan counts as your own.