I found this post but it was locked:
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"Please use the Report Abuse feature located on the server page to report fake servers and players. We'll take care of it from there. You only need to report a server once.

Servers must have more than 3 undetected fake players / bots.

If you are reporting many servers on one IP Address, report one server on that IP address and mention that the entire IP has fake servers."

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Can you elaborate on this? Does this mean that servers cannot be operated in co-op mode because those would be bots? I know someone who had their server blocked and their account banned because their server had "bots". Many of these games are old and do not have a large player base. It is good to run co-op mode so there is always someone to shoot at.

If servers run more than 3 bots which are not detected on the page (it doesn't show up with a "Bot" icon next to it), it may be deranked if found. We are not willing to make exceptions for those who wish to unfairly gain rank above others. Deranking is the first option taken if the server is an actual server.

If your bots are detected on the page, there would be no problem. You can always prefix the names of bots with "Bot" to get them to show as bots, such as "bot1", "bot2", etc. You can also manually disable your rank.

The only way your account would be banned due to fake servers: 1) mass-spamming fake servers 2) repeatedly being caught adding new fake servers over time

burn wrote:
If servers run more than 3 bots which are not detected on the page (it doesn't show up with a "Bot" icon next to it), it may be deranked if found. We are not willing to make exceptions for those who wish to unfairly gain rank above others. Deranking is the first option taken if the server is an actual server.

If your bots are detected on the page, there would be no problem. You can always prefix the names of bots with "Bot" to get them to show as bots, such as "bot1", "bot2", etc. You can also manually disable your rank.

The only way your account would be banned due to fake servers: 1) mass-spamming fake servers 2) repeatedly being caught adding new fake servers over time

I guess I'm still not understanding. Games like BF1942 have bots in co-op mode, but this doesn't seem to be an issue. When you look at the server on GameTracker, it does not show any players unless they're human. I guess this is not a problem?

Some games that run in co-op, I think ET: Quake Wars or BF2142 may be like this, the bots show up on GameTracker as players.

The reason I ask this is because I don't want to get banned if I put these servers on GameTracker. The person I know first had his server blocked without notice and when he inquired as to why, he was refused an explanation as to why the server was blocked. Was told that he should just know without being told and then had his account banned when he again asked for the reason.

I don't want this to happen.

{EDIT}

Okay, I added a server (ET:QW) and the bots show with a "BOT" icon next to them. So I take it it is okay as long as this is how it is tracking?

The only time I need to be concerned is when bots are showing up as players without the "BOT" icon?

Yes, if the bots are not even reported by the server in the query response, it wouldn't have any impact here. Or if they show up as bots, they would not have an impact on the ranking.

You can find a post on possible reasons for de-rankings and bans in this thread http://www.gametracker.com/forums/forum.php?site=1&thread=75205 We provide a complete detail in there of every possible reason an action on a server could have taken place. If a server owner is truly oblivious and does not know, they can always meet the conditions for an appeal and submit an appeal request. We have never banned or deranked servers for something outside of our publicly posted guidelines and are very conservative about any actions we take.

It's safe to say your friend isn't tell you the whole story - two posts isn't spamming. I understand he probably has regret from whatever he did, but based on your descriptions it doesn't fit well within any guidelines GT admins would have followed.

Lets imagine a scenario:
Your server gets banned. You're angry. You make a post asking why. You get redirected to the post to make an appeal. You make another post asking why. You get redirected. You leave.
- In this case your account is fine, though you could have made an appeal to get it tracked again.

Lets imagine a scenario:
Your server gets banned. You're angry. You make a post asking why. You get redirected to the post to make an appeal. You rectify and make an appeal to get the server unbanned. Your appeal is resolved. You are happy.
- In this case your account is fine.

Lets imagine a scenario:
Your server gets banned. You're angry. You make a post asking why. You get redirected to the post to make an appeal. You make another post asking why. You get redirected. You make another post. You PM an admin. You PM an admin. You make another post. You PM an admin.
- The more you do this, the more likely you'll get banned. We're mods, not parents.