Generic Arma2 Server Questions :: Maxplayers, Server Status, and more? Need help pls

[Generic Arma2 Server Questions :: Maxplayers, Server Status, and more? Need help pls]

I'm new to hosting Arma 2 Servers, and I have a few questions. My questions have probably been covered in the forums before, but there are a lot of threads here.

I've setup an Arma 2 server to run on my Linux server, and it works fine, but when the mission starts, the maxplayers change from 64 to however many the mission supports? I see a ton of servers with maxplayers set to 64, so why did mine change? Also, why does server status show as "creating" when I first start the server? Why doesn't it immediately start a mission by default?

Can you remove bots?

Here's my server.cfg

//
// server.cfg
//
// comments are written with "//" in front of them.


// GLOBAL SETTINGS
hostname = "My Server";			// The name of the server that shall be displayed in the public server list
password = "";						// Password for joining, eg connecting to the server
passwordAdmin = "removed";					// Password to become server admin. When you're in Arma MP and connected to the server, type '#login xyz'
//reportingIP = "armedass.master.gamespy.com";		// For ArmA1 publicly list your server on GameSpy. Leave empty for private servers
//reportingIP = "arma2pc.master.gamespy.com";		// For ArmA2 publicly list your server on GameSpy. Leave empty for private servers
reportingIP = "arma2oapc.master.gamespy.com";		// For Arma2: Operation Arrowhead
logFile = "server_console.log";				// Tells ArmA-server where the logfile should go and what it should be called


// WELCOME MESSAGE ("message of the day")
// It can be several lines, separated by comma
// Empty messages "" will not be displayed at all but are only for increasing the interval
motd[] = {
"", "",  
"Two empty lines above for increasing interval",
"Welcome to our server",
"", "",  
"We are looking for fun - Join us Now !",
"",
"One more empty line below for increasing interval",
""
};
motdInterval = 5;					// Time interval (in seconds) between each message


// JOINING RULES
checkfiles[] = {};					// Outdated.
maxPlayers = 32;					// Maximum amount of players. Civilians and watchers, beholder, bystanders and so on also count as player.
kickDuplicate = 1;					// Each ArmA version has its own ID. If kickDuplicate is set to 1, a player will be kicked when he joins a server where another player with the same ID is playing.
verifySignatures = 2;					// Verifies .pbos against .bisign files. Valid values 0 (disabled), 1 (prefer v2 sigs but accept v1 too) and 2 (only v2 sigs are allowed). 
equalModRequired = 0;					// Outdated. If set to 1, player has to use exactly the same -mod= startup parameter as the server.
//requiredBuild = 12345					// Require clients joining to have at least build 12345 of game, preventing obsolete clients to connect


// VOTING
voteMissionPlayers = 1;					// Tells the server how many people must connect so that it displays the mission selection screen.
voteThreshold = 0.33;					// 33% or more players need to vote for something, for example an admin or a new map, to become effective


// INGAME SETTINGS
disableVoN = 1;						// If set to 1, Voice over Net will not be available
vonCodecQuality = 0;					// Quality from 1 to 10
persistent = 1;						// If 1, missions still run on even after the last player disconnected.
timeStampFormat = "short";				// Set the timestamp format used on each report line in server-side RPT file. Possible values are "none" (default),"short","full".
BattlEye = 1;                                           // Server to use BattlEye system


// SCRIPTING ISSUES
onUserConnected = "";					//
onUserDisconnected = "";				//
doubleIdDetected = "";					//
//regularCheck = "{}";                                  //  Server checks files from time to time by hashing them and comparing the hash to the hash values of the clients. Causes heavy I/O, uncomment to disable feature


// SIGNATURE VERIFICATION
onUnsignedData = "kick (_this select 0)";		// unsigned data detected
onHackedData = "ban (_this select 0)";			// tampering of the signature detected
onDifferentData = "";					// data with a valid signature, but different version than the one present on server detected


class Missions
{
       class DM_Deathmatch
       {
               template = "MP_Deathmatch.Chernarus";// omit the .pbo suffix
               difficulty = "recruit";// difficulty: recruit, regular, veteran or mercenary (see CfgDifficulties in the main game config)
       };
       class DM_Detector
       {
               template = "MP_Detector.Chernarus";
               difficulty = "regular";
       };
       class Team_TeamDeathmatch
       {
               template = "MP_TeamDeathmatch.Chernarus";
               difficulty = "veteran";
       };
       class COOP_Paradrop
       {
               template = "MP_Paradrop.Chernarus";
               difficulty = "mercenary";
       };
       class CTI_CivilWar
       {
               template = "MP_CivilWar.Chernarus";
               difficulty = "regular";
       };
       class CTI_SuperPowers
       {
               template = "MP_Superpowers.Chernarus";
               difficulty = "regular";
       };
       class CTI_WarWelcome
       {
               template = "MP_WarWelcome.utes";
               difficulty = "regular";
       };
       class CTI_WhenDiplomacyFails
       {
               template = "MP_WhenDiplomacyFails.Chernarus";
               difficulty = "regular";
       };
};

Also, why was I banned when I first connect to my server? I had to turn the checking off... is it because of the DayZ mod? My server was the only one in which it banned me from immediately upon connecting.