Server upgrade discussion...

DeVore

Recent performance and near future upgrades! (Thanks for bonking)!!
--

Most of you probably didnt notice but a few nights ago our (nearly) brand new server, the one we bought recently, went spang and has had to be sent back to be repaired. Hosting365, god bless their preparedness, have loaned us a server which Regi has restored in record time. We owe them a debt of thanks for the loan!

Luckily the admins had one of our occasional real life meetings and we took some decisions regarding hardware.

Let me explain the current situation and then what we want to do. We currently have one big fat server called (pork)pie.boards.ie which ran the main website before it b0rked.
This usually talks to a smaller database server (the web server needs the power) called "wang" and remaining members stuff and other bits and pieces are on "muppet".

What we are going to do now is to move that big server (pie) to the database end, retiring the two smaller servers (muppet and wang).
In their place will be put an n-server load-balanced infrastructure. We're going to start with 2 (brand new) monster servers but we expect to be expanding this roughly every 6 months.

This will clean out our coffers almost completely. Its just as well we put up the Sex & Sexuality forum (even if it is a bit.... saucy, at times!) as the number of subscriptions it generated helped a great deal financially!

Finally if you like Boards.ie and want to see the service continue (not to mention all the neat stuff you get for subscribing!) then please consider subscribing to boards today.

Thanks for reading, here's to a stable and speedy future.

DeV and the Admins.

Sparky

as a subscriber im glad im contributing to the develpment of boards and dev if needs be you can always pm me and ill donate a few more quid to the fund if needs be.
no joke now.

CuLT

Hmm, I better get around to this while I have the cash and gotten one of those 3V pseudo-creditcards to actually validate my sorely underused paypal account.

mike65

I so miss the New Posts feature, sniff!

Mike.

RopeDrink

I was afraid to ask in mIRC after watching one or two people get roasted under the textual stare of Ecksor in #Boards.ie, but is there ANY other possible way of donating / subscribing?

I don't have any means of sbscribing through a credit card, and PayPal really doesn't like me.

Even if someone were to accept a hefty donation in person (Preferably when sober so that said contribution could be remembered) I'd do it no problem - I already owe the site quite a handy sum of dosh - but I doubt anyone will accept it that way.
Been here with Boards for ages now, and I'd have absolutely no problem chucking some money towards the cause, if I had a way to do so.

Other than that, best of luck with the changeover (Any chance of a 'mass mark forum read' option? Hate having to do it individually, due to utter laziness )

Keep up the great work!

Moriarty

www.3v.ie

RopeDrink

Thank you kindly, Mord!
I shalt see to it, after this weekend at least, that I work on upcoming donation

Also, in regards to the mass mark forum read list option, I retract that statement on the basis that I am a complete nublet, who just found the option after a two second scan of the Quick Links menu.

I'll hit myself with the n00b stick, now.

*KNOB*

Mercury_Tilt

This post has been deleted.

masteroftherealm

Sell the old servers to us? Id buy at least one of not both of them TBH.

Zaph0d

Mercury_Tilt wrote:

This post has been deleted.

Leasing is usually best for a newish business because you avoid tying up working capital, limiting your likelihood of going bust. However boards isn't like a normal business. It has tiny outgoings and income and its strategy seems to be to attract more and more users without risking any investment cash. Slowly but surely it is building up its goodwill value which the owners presumably hope they will one day convert into their pensions.

With this long term view, buying equipment makes more sense than leasing.

The best part of the business model is the bit where you get an army of subeditors to work, not for cash, but for a small measure of authorita.

unkel

Said it before, here it is again:

Do what you have never done before (why not?) and encourage people to subscribe! Even with a depressingly low-low uptake of <1% of members, it will still net a healthy €20000

I for one am a happy subscriber

Goodshape

RopeDrink wrote:

I was afraid to ask in mIRC after watching one or two people get roasted under the textual stare of Ecksor in #Boards.ie, but is there ANY other possible way of donating / subscribing?

I subbed with a bank transfer. Got the deatils from ecxsor at the time (he was in a good mood )

SouperComputer

been meaning to subscribe for a long time, but procrastinated as you do.

Anyway, hope the funds help the new server stay up and running happily.

Sparky

yeah any old servers that are for sale id purchase off boards and the money can go towards the new servers

just an idea

Squirrel

Ill subscribe when I get the money, and when I'm able to, Credit Card and PayPal and all that.

Beruthiel

I'm quite sure there is more you could do to encourage suscribers DeV

time for the 'Legal' Highs board I reckon, set it up the same as the S&S forum, bet it gets loads to suscribe!
I'll quite happily Mod it for you with the Scchhtick from Hell flaming by my side

evilhomer

I just donated through paypal, I love this service and am happy to pay to make it faster and more reliabale.
As regards the subscription thing. I can't find where to subscribe, maybe thats a common problem (Or I'm an idiot and it's right in front of me)?

[edit] I actually am an idiot subscribe here [/edit]

Praetorian

I hope ye are ordering dual core opterons!

masteroftherealm

Sparky_S wrote:

yeah any old servers that are for sale id purchase off boards and the money can go towards the new servers

just an idea

Hey their mine!

Dingatron

Been meaning to get a subscription for quite a while now, so no time like the present. Good luck with the upgrade guys.

Sparky

masteroftherealm wrote:

Hey their mine!

i want for my forum

CuLT

Sparky_S wrote:

i want for my forum

Hosted for free by getphpbb.com - free phpbb forum hosting provider. Powered by multiple DUAL OPTERON, 4GB RAM, SCSI RAID 1 dedicated servers. All our dedicated servers are running on premium bandwidth located at top notch data center.

I'd stick with your free forum tbh

...or boards.ie ¬_¬

Hobart

Is there any way you can leverage off the For Sale fora? Maybe a 1% levy on the vendor for hosting the service ? I understand that the methods of transaction are varied, could it be simplified?

flogen

might I suggest a wikimedia style fundraiser?
I'm not sure if the admins are against fundraising and would rather just see people subscribe, but even if you weren't a budget and donations list could certainly help.
I know a lot of people (and I include myself in that grand sweep) don't know what kind of money is spent per annum on maintaining boards.ie and with regular upgrades on the way that means it's going to get more expensive.
Granted Wikimedia is the website and the traffic and upkeep there is blindingly expensive, but as boards.ie is much smaller it is also much cheaper by comparison.

Sparky

CuLT wrote:

I'd stick with your free forum tbh

...or boards.ie ¬_¬

im in a process of building my own forum on my own server, i just have an issue of a bloddy dynamic IP

Neuro

DeVore wrote:

This will clean out our coffers almost completely. Its just as well we put up the Sex & Sexuality forum (even if it is a bit.... saucy, at times!) as the number of subscriptions it generated helped a great deal financially!

As the saying goes - Sex Sells!

CuLT

Sparky_S wrote:

im in a process of building my own forum on my own server, i just have an issue of a bloddy dynamic IP

You have a dynamic IP on a large pipe?

Or if you mean you're going to host one on adsl or something don't bother; even one person browsing the forum would have a painfully slow run of it

Sparky

CuLT wrote:

You have a dynamic IP on a large pipe?

Or if you mean you're going to host one on adsl or something don't bother; even one person browsing the forum would have a painfully slow run of it

yeah i know, its just for my own self experience, it will never compare to the free forum tho

CuLT

Sparky_S wrote:

yeah i know, its just for my own self experience, it will never compare to the free forum tho

upgrade to a l33t phat pipe <_<

(get IBB synchronous 4MB ;D )

RuggieBear

how about another SSF fund raiser....but then stiff all the children and keep the money.....





i'm joking....seriously

Chong

The whole amp / pam fundraiser must made quite a bit of money. How about ecksor , cloud changed their name to something based upon peoples suggestions culminating in a poll. That should easily rake in some cash.

Chong

Also I reckon maybe some of the guys over at the slydice specials forum would pay a subscription if they are not already to get nipples included in posts over there.

Chong

Sorry about all the posts in a row but the ideas to raise cash are endless really.

The Sweeper

FUNDRAISING CALENDAR!!

I'd like to reinstate the idea, from four years ago on irc, of the boards.ie calendar. If I recall, the pictures I had at that stage included WWMan in an air-hostess costume, and half naked pictures of some of the then-regulars that were sent to me one dodgy sunday on #boards.ie in irc... Not that I'm recommending we go with those...

I for one would HAPPILY buy a boards.ie calendar each year, with twelve jolly images on it from the preceding year. We could vote the images in on a thread, then we'd need to get printing costs, and commitments from users (including advance purchase to offset the costs of printing) - I'd recommend it be an A4 wall calendar...

Think of it, we could plan 2006's events a year in advance and put the dates on the calendar...

Now's the time people, perfect opportunity to get this mocked up and on sale for Dec 05 christmas presents in time for the new year...

(That and if I have to spend another year writing my events on something stuck to the fridge with images of fluffy kittens on it I'll go bats)

ecksor

Do I get to be the winter of everyone's discontent?

Beruthiel

ecksor wrote:

Do I get to be the winter of everyone's discontent?

you've got my vote

great idea majd

Tar.Aldarion

ok,which admin wears a bikini for the summer one,eh!?

it's a good idea.

Beruthiel

Tar.Aldarion wrote:

ok,which admin wears a bikini for the summer one,eh!?

no contest
DeVore

Tar.Aldarion

must..not..ph..otoshop image..would....be...ba..nne..d....
/slaps self out of it.


maybe they could seel some boards merchandise at the beers('and you are sure that is some of <insert admins name here>'s hair')

Sparky

WDK wrote:

Also I reckon maybe some of the guys over at the slydice specials forum would pay a subscription if they are not already to get nipples included in posts over there.

yes me want nipples

DeVore

Lol!!

Ok two things:

1. We're not yet desperate for cash, dont worry... there may not APPEAR to be anyone at the helm here but trust me like the cylons we have a plan! I appreciate the keeness to help though.

2. I like some of these ideas, especially the Boards calendar. I dont know anywhere we could get it printed but I'm sure there are places out there that will! I particularly like the idea that we make the calendar as a community effort.



We have to rememeber that SSF is very different from Boards.ie (speaking of which, its coming round to that time of the year that I have to start thinking about it!)

DeV.

stevenmu

What about a 'quote a day' calander, each day quoting a different post that was funny/insightfull etc. Though it might be hard finding posts that make sense out of the context of the thread, and even harder picking out 365 of the best ones, without some kind of rep system.....


/*runs*

flogen

stevenmu wrote:

What about a 'quote a day' calander, each day quoting a different post that was funny/insightfull etc. Though it might be hard finding posts that make sense out of the context of the thread, and even harder picking out 365 of the best ones, without some kind of rep system.....


/*runs*

Or a Gathering card of the day... although a few more cards may have to be made first...

ecksor

Would nobody buy a word of the day calendar?

evilhomer

ecksor wrote:

Would nobody buy a word of the day calendar?

Would the words be printed on the bikini DeVore is going to wear?


BTW: any help needed in fundraising, i'm more then happy to help.

Tar.Aldarion

ecksor wrote:

Would nobody buy a word of the day calendar?

i would,but only for the best words!
i do enjoy reading back over the words as mine all have memories attached to them,good or bad.great thread!

Santa Claus

Had been meaning to renew my subscription for a few months now so just took a 3 month one (can't stretch to 1 year at the mo).

Santa

DublinWriter

DeVore wrote:

This will clean out our coffers almost completely. Its just as well we put up the Sex & Sexuality forum (even if it is a bit.... saucy, at times!) as the number of subscriptions it generated helped a great deal financially!

If you don't mind me saying, I think you should get yourself a commerical manager and start selling advertising and banner space on here. It seems to be a little bit of a missed opertunity to me.

mike65

Seems to me the best way to raise funds is to 'engineer' a failure and then start a thread about service issues

Mike.

ps say no to banner ads.

Sparky

how about highlighting the boards merchandise, some lovely t-shirts and mugs there
maybe the admins should sell some on ebay or something, and get some money rolling in.


another thought would be a devore, cloud and regi action figures or voodoo dolls
and a boards behind the scene's DVD

Boston

DublinWriter wrote:

If you don't mind me saying, I think you should get yourself a commerical manager and start selling advertising and banner space on here. It seems to be a little bit of a missed opertunity to me.

Sorry? But they do sell banner adds here. They have it all set up through some app called ad-server. wheres the missed oppertunity? Or maybe you're talking about banned adds in posts? what good would a commerical manager be? I'm pretty certain the admin team have allot of experience in that field.