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Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:47 pm
by jtaylor
We're reaching the limits of our current hosting, and will need to do something quite soon.....

We're using 94Meg of the 100Meg available for the database size, and we're using a lot more bandwidth than they appear to allow for, and I've had an email from 1and1 saying we're slowing down the shared-hosting server we're running on.

We have a number of options, some of which I'm already looking at.

1. We could move the hosting onto a dedicated server, which can cope with the load, staying with 1and1 (easy to do) - but this looks like £82.24 per month, rather than the £10.56 currently.
2. We could look at other hosting companies, and see what they can offer? I have a friend who runs one, who I'm already talking to.
3. Are there any Old Blues out there who are in hosting companies, who could provide us with a package of some sort?

All ideas welcome....

Cheers,

J

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:28 pm
by Mid A 15
My computing knowledge is negligible and if written down would leave room on a postage stamp.

However as a layman would it be possible to free up capacity by archiving some of the stuff to an alternative server?

Up to the end of 2006 for example just picking an arbitary date.

If that is possible I guess the problem becomes one of accessing the archive for ordinary members.

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:01 am
by jhopgood
Do we know how much space is used by photos? I assume it could be a reasonable amount.
If so, can we find a photo server host, put them there and link through from here?
It would also be interesting to know if the actual hosts feel we are overactive users compared to other forums, and what others have done in these circumstances.

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:27 am
by englishangel
This is actually quite a small forum compared to others I have seen (my offspring use them rather than me) so I would have thought a move was possible. As for photos, I don't think they are hosted on here are they? Mine are on photobucket.

Apart from that I am with MidA though I coulfd possibly use a large stamp rather than a small one.

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 1:19 pm
by jtaylor
jhopgood wrote:Do we know how much space is used by photos? I assume it could be a reasonable amount.
If so, can we find a photo server host, put them there and link through from here?
It would also be interesting to know if the actual hosts feel we are overactive users compared to other forums, and what others have done in these circumstances.
The photos are separate from the database, even if they're hosted on the 1and1 hosting.
The issue is with the database, which stores all the posts, forum topics, PMs etc. etc

I've been investigating another hosting option which a colleague at work runs.
He can provide the hosting we need, with no unreasonable limits on the database/queries.
This would normally cost £299 per year. He's giving me 1/3rd off, so we'd be looking at £200 for the year, ideally paid up-front for the year (minimises his admin costs)

So, we'll be looking at moving from £10.56 per month to £19.50 per month....and this would future-proof us easily and quickly. I'd prefer to go with someone I know.

I've not checked the accounts recently, but would guess we might be around £80 in debt (will check tonight).

So, can we raise around £200 in the next week or so in donations, and ideally £280 to include the current debt???

Thought?

J

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 1:45 pm
by jhopgood
I would be happy to pay the month of December
My Xmas present to the Forum

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 2:27 pm
by CHAZ
Let me know how to wire some funds from Lux! IBAN works well for me here.

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:00 pm
by icomefromalanddownunder
Julian, do you have a PayPal account?

I still owe you for last year :oops: I got paid today, so please get in quickly (before the Vet, my daughter, ...........................) :D

Best wishes

Caroline

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:31 pm
by J.R.
Julian.

I think I still have your address and would happily forward more funds next week, (on receipt of my Government pittance !)

Let me know on here or by pm.

J.

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:51 pm
by gma
As a 'newbie' to this forum I can tell you that I have: enjoyed the reminiscing enormously even when it was before my time or 'not my school', got over the 'stay away from Hertford' phobia, reacquired some fabulous long gone memories, found, met up with and staying in touch with four peers who were the mainstay of my life for a third of my childhood and had a bl**dy good laugh on a regular basis to boot.

Send account details PM, you're worth every penny!! :D

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:57 pm
by Katharine
I thought there used to be a button to enable a Paypal donation? I can't find it now, I would be happy top send some more money.

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:23 pm
by matthew
100Mb is nothing. It's hard to find a cell phone with that little storage.

Bandwidth might be more of an issue. Do you know how much we're talking about?

Have 1and1 given any indication as to the specs of their shared server and what proportion of its resources we're consuming?

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:45 pm
by cstegerlewis
Most other forums I am on have a rule that if a topic hasn't been touched for 12 months it is archived (except technical queries) - however with this particular forum I think that means we coul dend up with repeat threads, so it might not help.

Has the school got a server with the odd couple of terabytes handy?

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:07 pm
by matthew
cstegerlewis wrote:Most other forums I am on have a rule that if a topic hasn't been touched for 12 months it is archived (except technical queries) - however with this particular forum I think that means we coul dend up with repeat threads, so it might not help.

Has the school got a server with the odd couple of terabytes handy?
'Archived' still means the thread is stored somewhere. But I really think storage is the least of the issues mentioned, and certainly the easiest to fix. Performance and bandwidth (really, network usage) can be more problematic.

About this 'no unreasonable limits' thing: there are always limits. 'Unlimited' means that the service provider is unable or unwilling to tell you what they are. So you still need to figure out what the forum's processing and network requirements are and check with the provider that they won't be a problem.

Re: Problem - Running out of space on the CH Forum - ideas?

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:37 am
by jtaylor
I think that we're up against 1and1's cost model, which relies on shared servers with low usage - i.e. mainly only basic websites without lots of hits and lots of SQL queries being run. The hosting package clearly states 110Meg as the Datasase limit (posts, topics etc.), and 4Gig for file storage (i.e. photos, homepage etc. etc.)
We'll be reaching the 100Meg limit soon, so we need to move one way or the other.
The main issue is one of queries taking up server resources - this is therefore slowing down other users, which breaches their policy.
Most other large forums are probably hosted on more dedicated servers.

Thanks for the kind offers of funding - this is great, and very generous.
Before people actually donate anything, I'd like to suggest that I invite pledges via PM - once we then know the total we can gather, I can say "go" and ask for the money?
I suggest we aim for a target of £300, and anything over what we actually need now will go towards next year's costs? We'll need a minimum of £200 per year to continue to host the forum.
I'm also open to sponsorship offers, if there's a company who would like a "Funded By XXXX" logo at the top of the page, with a link to their site??

PM me with you pledge amount
Target £300