It looks a bit different m8. Its ONLY about desync between Battlelog and the server. The first time it happened we thought about bots issue, but its not about them.
It usually happens after a map change, but its not a rule.
1) We removed all of the maps from the rotation and left only 1 - server worked fine for quite a long time, we were able to play up to 3 rounds with battle reports appearing in BL, but after some time players werent able to join anymore. Also how many times in a row can you play Bazar. 🙂
2) While we were able to join the server we added a map to the rotation - after that we werent able to join anymore.
3) While we were able to join the server we forced a map change - werent able to join anymore.
We tested it (with bots turned off) in, i guess, every possible way, those above arent all of them.
So as above we had bots, as well as server`s Adkats, turned off (ingame admin commands/player commands and so on were disabled - you couldnt !assist / !report etc., banlist was off, 0 bots populating the server) and exactly the same things happened as now when bots are again turned on (players unable to join, server disappearing from the Battlelogs server list). The max bots amount on the server is limited and regulated. They cant overpopulate the server in normal conditions. We had bots for a long time before latest maintence - everything worked fine for years. Also those full queues might be, lets call them, "ghost players" - players who tried to join the server but left the queue and somehow they still remain in it as connection between Battlelog and the server is disturbed. In this case Battlelog has outdated and distorted information about real player count.
But still always, no matter what, the first thing that happens is disability to join the server -> then server looks overpopulated (with bots turned on) -> then it disappers from the BL.
We have also another, less known 16 slot Banana server. Everything is off there, it probably never had bots provider and same story - you`re unable to join it after some time, usually 1 round when map changes to another one. Yeah, in this case queue isn`t full, but still youre not able to join and after some time server disappears. Only server restart makes you able to join it again.
After such desync we have full access and control over the server via admin tools like procon and dashboard, server remains active/online. Also sometimes there still remain players on the server even when its already invisible on the Battlelog.