Regarding the changes to the server, the entire server is running on a dedicated server now, so this means there will not be much down time.
Possible reasons for down time:
1. Server could just be down.
2. Servers internet could just be down.
3. Someone hacks the server, and takes it down.
4. If we are doing updates.
Those are the only reasons to why the server should ever be down now.
(If you are unable to log-in now, please use the updater to get the latest file. (run the updater as admin if your vista/7)).
~Zylon