19/10 17:00 Update:
All realms are now back up!

---

In addition to our scheduled realm maintenance tomorrow, Wednesday, 18th October, the realms listed below will be undergoing extended maintenance as part of our ongoing hardware upgrades.
We expect a total down time of 36 hours.
This maintenance will start at 05:00 on Wednesday morning and is scheduled to finish at 17:00 CEST on Thursday, October 19th.

The affected realms are:
English:
Balnazzar
Bloodfeather
Darksorrow
Defias Brotherhood
Earthen Ring
Frostwhisper
Genjuros
Haomarush
Hellscream
Laughing Skull
Lightning's Blade
Magtheridon
Neptulon
Nordrassil
Quel'Thalas
Ragnaros
Ravencrest
Runetotem
Shadow Moon
Shadowsong
Shattered Hand
Silvermoon
Skullcrusher
Spinebreaker
Stormrage
Stormreaver
Stormscale
Sylvanas
Terenas
The Maelstrom
The Venture Co.
Thunderhorn
Turalyon
Twisting Nether
Vashj

German:
Aegwynn
Alexstrasza
Alleria
Aman'Thul
Antonidas
Anub'arak
Baelgun
Blackhand
Das Syndikat
Der Rat von Dalaran
Destromath
Die Silberne Hand
Dun Morogh
Eredar
Frostmourne
Frostwolf
Gorgonnash
Gul'dan
Kel'Thuzad
Kil'Jaeden
Krag'jin
Kult der Verdammten
Madmortem
Malfurion
Mal'Ganis
Mannoroth
Nathrezim
Nera'thor
Nozdormu
Onyxia
Perenolde
Proudmoore
Sen'jin
Terrordar
Theradras
Wrathbringer
Zirkel des Cenarius
Zuluhed

French:
Conseil des Ombres
Drek'Thar
Khaz Modan
Les Sentinelles
Rashgarroth
Throk'Feroth
Varimathras

18/10 - Update for those who are deadly curious:
Yes, we will provide game time credit for this extended downtime. Details will follow soon after the maintenance is completed.

All realms (on the older WoW sites) have had or will have two periods of extended maintenance for the hardware upgrades. Some had them further apart, some will have them fairly close. I don't think either is much worse or better.

One 60 hour maintenance is not viable due to human considerations and that we also want the system to prove itself stabile after the first part of the upgrades before continuing on the second part. We understand the concerns about the downtime, but this is necessary for the upgrades, and will improve performance also for the future.

Feedback, comments and even venting seom frustration is welcome, but please use a proper language and try to stay constructive.

Thank you.

(Some posts were removed due to language.)