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Server Update


stevegrant

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Evening all

 

As I'm sure you're well aware, we've been experiencing unacceptable amounts of downtime during matches over the last 4-6 weeks. We did think we had solved the problem back in September when a number of system changes were implemented, but it seems as though they only had a temporary effect.

 

As a result, we have decided to change the way the infrastructure is set up. Rather than have the web server (i.e. the bit that handles everyone accessing it and sends the web page back to your browser) and the database on the same server, we are buying a second server whose sole responsibility will be to handle the database. This new server has more than double the power of the current one, and as we believe the main problem has been the resources taken up by the database, it's obviously hoped that lightening the load on the main server in this way will provide a long-term solution.

 

Naturally, while we migrate the database to the new server, the site will experience a further period of downtime, which is obviously regrettable but we'll do our best to limit this to off-peak times as much as possible. We aim to have the new server in place before Saturday's game at Colchester.

 

Baj and I have been as frustrated as you have with the frankly ****-poor performance at crucial times, and hopefully this will correct that.

 

Any (sensible and on-topic) questions, let me know.

 

Cheers

Steve

 

Update: 4th March, 3.05pm Just as a prior warning, I will be testing various aspects of the new setup this afternoon and evening, so there may be intermittent periods of downtime, particularly of the "Database Error" message variety. Many connection failures will show up instantly (i.e. without the loading page hanging for ages and then deciding it can't connect), this will be where the database process isn't actually running, as when I make changes to the DB configuration, the whole DB needs stopping and restarting.

 

Summary: you will probably see occasional "Database Error" messages between now and midnight. It's not a fault. I'm testing stuff.

 

Update: 5th March, 11.55am We are now running the site on the new server, with the database remaining on the old one. So far, everything looks a lot quicker and smoother, but the real test will be when there are 700-odd people online at full-time this afternoon. I haven't made any config changes to the "web server" bit of the new server yet, so it's possible there may be some further adjustments needed, but it's difficult to test that without actually being in the real life situation of loads of people adding posts to the database. I've tested concurrent users online with decent success, but the process of writing to the database is much more resource-intensive than reading from it. In short, we'll see how we go this afternoon...

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What hardware was Keith running on back on S4E? Things seemed to run a lot smoother back then than they do now, and it was busier and the forum had no income other than donations.

1) It was running on a windows box with extremely simple forum software

2) It was NOT, contrary to what everyone seems to think, busier then

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We all got pushed out :( tbf it is a thankless task - but not as difficult as people like to think.

 

Don't start dissing saintlee saint_clark or you and me are going to be rolling up our sleeves and having a good old fashioned scuffle.

 

:lol: Wasn't he Lee Hoos or something?

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Speaking as someone who does a lap of honor when he get the computer to switch on can I just say a big thank you to all the fans who make this site work and for the time and effort taken on our behalf .....

 

cheque made payable to .....

 

Thanks!!

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Hey I'm glad this place exists but I'm sure the admin have their reasons for doing it and it has its rewards. I'm also sure there would be a ton of people willing to step into their shoes should they want to leave.

 

Pardon my french, but **** off.

We have absolutely no gain from running this website what so ever, neither myself or steve have taken a penny from money generated from the website and its costs us FAR more in time, money and effort than any kind of pleasurable reward we get back.

 

Sick to the back ****ing teeth of people assuming me and steve run this for some sort of gain, we dont, quite the opposite.

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Pardon my french, but **** off.

We have absolutely no gain from running this website what so ever, neither myself or steve have taken a penny from money generated from the website and its costs us FAR more in time, money and effort than any kind of pleasurable reward we get back.

 

Sick to the back ****ing teeth of people assuming me and steve run this for some sort of gain, we dont, quite the opposite.

 

Didn't imagine it would take long for you to pop up. At what point did I say you got any monetary gain from doing this? Why do you even bother then if you hate doing it so much? Whatever gains you receive must outweigh the desire not to bother or you wouldn't be here.

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Didn't imagine it would take long for you to pop up. At what point did I say you got any monetary gain from doing this? Why do you even bother then if you hate doing it so much? Whatever gains you receive must outweigh the desire not to bother or you wouldn't be here.

 

They're doing it so people can come on the forum and post about sh!t - it's called being selfless. Maybe have a bit of empathy before you come on here spouting sh!t about how crap the forum is, because without Baj and Steve it wouldn't exist.

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Didn't imagine it would take long for you to pop up. At what point did I say you got any monetary gain from doing this? Why do you even bother then if you hate doing it so much? Whatever gains you receive must outweigh the desire not to bother or you wouldn't be here.

 

You know, your avatar is totally w*nk.

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Didn't imagine it would take long for you to pop up. At what point did I say you got any monetary gain from doing this? Why do you even bother then if you hate doing it so much? Whatever gains you receive must outweigh the desire not to bother or you wouldn't be here.

 

I'd hate to live in your world. People dont always do things for personal gain, and this is exactly the case for me and steve running this forum. We run it because it offers everyone a good platform to talk about saints.

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Hypo just shut up you annoying little b*stard, as much as I have a small dislike for Steve and Baj as they for some reason seem to have a bit of a dislike for me they do run this site and spend a lot of effort keeping it up and running, for that i have to thank them.

 

You really are the most pompous, pedantic utter tw*t i have never had the displeasure of meeting, i mean seriously.

 

Also, what would you actually do if this site wasn't here ?? No report buttons or anyone to winge to, good christ you would have to go back to making sure the kids are wearing the right uniforms, ensuring they are keeping in with the school intranet policy and checking they have returned their books on time.

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Really?! Is that a safe assumption?

 

Time to shift from entitlement mode to gratitude mode, methinks.

 

Perhaps if the forum were free then that would be the case. And yes that is a safe assumption going on the history of this site AND the fact that most major clubs have a half decent web forum.

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They're doing it so people can come on the forum and post about sh!t - it's called being selfless. Maybe have a bit of empathy before you come on here spouting sh!t about how crap the forum is, because without Baj and Steve it wouldn't exist.

 

That is completely untrue.

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Didn't imagine it would take long for you to pop up. At what point did I say you got any monetary gain from doing this? Why do you even bother then if you hate doing it so much? Whatever gains you receive must outweigh the desire not to bother or you wouldn't be here.

Altruism? Just a thought, I know it might be an alien line of logic but why not?

 

PS, despite my not subscribing, thanks Baj and Granty!

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That is completely untrue.

 

Tell you what then Hypo, and I don't say this in an antagonistic way, but seriously, set a forum up. Really, it's obviously fairly easy to do and it obviously would satisfy your curiosity about how easy it is to do.

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Fact is if this forum were shut down tomorrow, another one (probably free) would be set up immediately and carry on in exactly the same way that this one sprang up after the demise of S4E. There is too much demand for that not to be the case.

 

Having said that (and please listen carefully those who will only read from this post what they want to.) I am grateful to Steve for using his time to improve the site. Though I do not think the act of running the forum is entirely selfless or without reward, I am grateful to him for what part of it is selfless.

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Tell you what then Hypo, and I don't say this in an antagonistic way, but seriously, set a forum up. Really, it's obviously fairly easy to do and it obviously would satisfy your curiosity about how easy it is to do.

 

No point as it would die a death due to this forum already being established. Should this one go down tomorrow though, that is exactly what would happen. To make out that something similar to this would not exist if this disappeared is not true.

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Why do you have to try and be ''controversial'' in every thread Hypo? You used to be a decent poster.

 

When you get admin acting like bellends behind the PM system then it gets somewhat irksome. Anyway I have expressed my gratitude to Steve more than once.

Edited by hypochondriac
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Fact is if this forum were shut down tomorrow, another one (probably free) would be set up immediately and carry on in exactly the same way that this one sprang up after the demise of S4E. There is too much demand for that not to be the case.

 

Having said that (and please listen carefully those who will only read from this post what they want to.) I am grateful to Steve for using his time to improve the site. Though I do not think the act of running the forum is entirely selfless or without reward, I am grateful to him for what part of it is selfless.

 

It's nice to know you love steve so much, ill pass on your best wishes.

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Perhaps if the forum were free then that would be the case. And yes that is a safe assumption going on the history of this site AND the fact that most major clubs have a half decent web forum.

 

Do you thank people who serve you in a pub? In a restaurant? In a shop? Why thank them, when they're getting paid? I suppose you scowl and grumble and stomp out?

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I am more than happy to pay Hypo's fiver so he can be grateful for the service the forum provides. In fact, I might even see if we can get a government grant to support such 'Care in the Community' project.

 

Cheers to the admins for sorting this out and hoping that it fixes the glitches so we can all go back to moaning about the team.

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I am more than happy to pay Hypo's fiver so he can be grateful for the service the forum provides. In fact, I might even see if we can get a government grant to support such 'Care in the Community' project.

 

Cheers to the admins for sorting this out and hoping that it fixes the glitches so we can all go back to moaning about the team.

 

I am grateful for the service the forum provides. I'm also grateful to the time that some admin give selflessly to make the forum better. I'm not going to pretend though that the motives for running the forum are entirely selfless or that the forum wouldn't exist without them. This forum is one way to run a forum. The brighton fan highlighted how it could be run in a different way.

 

Anyway that's enough now, lets hope this sorts the problem and the forum becomes usable again on matchdays.

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