FJRiders Forum Host and Performance Discussion

[gixxerjasen]

Hey now!!!

[Redfish]

You clever rascal.

[fjrob]

Before Wayne stepped up to the plate here , some of the gang were donating to help ease the pain. I just wanted the forum to run... that's all .

Rob

[bigjohnsd]

Wayne, I participate in a upland bird hunting forum. If one contributes, is identified as a "Contributing Member, and receives access to a couple of select threads not seen by those that don't contribute, Marty's Pornhub link?, And one can post a limited number of photos directly into the forum, there are some size guidelines. It works well for the single guy that moderates and runs that sandbox.

[0face]

Do the research for me - annual host plan, bandwidth, memory limits, storage limits, etc...

Does anyone here have experience with Amazon Web Service - hosting a website with them?

What I've learned here is that you have to look deeper than the marketing and sales brochures. Help educate me - you ask why not, I ask why...

Curiosity Question: Why not setup on AWS?

Well some "light" reading later.... https://aws.amazon.com/service-terms/

Check out paragraph 57.10

[DesignFlaw06]

Do the research for me - annual host plan, bandwidth, memory limits, storage limits, etc...

Does anyone here have experience with Amazon Web Service - hosting a website with them?

What I've learned here is that you have to look deeper than the marketing and sales brochures. Help educate me - you ask why not, I ask why...

Curiosity Question: Why not setup on AWS?

Well some "light" reading later.... https://aws.amazon.com/service-terms/

Check out paragraph 57.10

Have you actually setup anything with AWS? In my experience, it isn't a walk in the park. And the sites I have used with AWS can be very slow.

[0face]

Do the research for me - annual host plan, bandwidth, memory limits, storage limits, etc...

Does anyone here have experience with Amazon Web Service - hosting a website with them?

What I've learned here is that you have to look deeper than the marketing and sales brochures. Help educate me - you ask why not, I ask why...

Well some "light" reading later.... https://aws.amazon.com/service-terms/

Check out paragraph 57.10

Have you actually setup anything with AWS? In my experience, it isn't a walk in the park. And the sites I have used with AWS can be very slow.

Short answer... No.

Longer answer... I'm more old school and would probably co-locate a rack in a data center, pay the rent/bandwidth and perhaps use some other site to run a backup to.

The two issues here are time and money.

[Uncle Hud]

Longer answer... I'm more old school and would probably co-locate a rack in a data center, pay the rent/bandwidth and perhaps use some other site to run a backup to.

Wouldn't that be the easiest method? Rather than share a virtual server, lease one and pay the custodial fees? With some Contributing Members that may or may not receive recognition?

My oldest kid actually purchased a very high-end desktop that he placed in his spare bedroom and connected to his cable TV provider -- he ran a low bandwidth web server that way. (<--- And that sounds like how the FJRForum may have been set up. Explains why RAID drive failure would be so catastrophic.)

[0face]

Longer answer... I'm more old school and would probably co-locate a rack in a data center, pay the rent/bandwidth and perhaps use some other site to run a backup to.

Wouldn't that be the easiest method? Rather than share a virtual server, lease one and pay the custodial fees? With some Contributing Members that may or may not receive recognition?

My oldest kid actually purchased a very high-end desktop that he placed in his spare bedroom and connected to his cable TV provider -- he ran a low bandwidth web server that way. (<--- And that sounds like how the FJRForum may have been set up. Explains why RAID drive failure would be so catastrophic.)

The main issue is TIME. Wayne and the others who help, only have so much time to give. Time isn't free, every minute dedicated to you morons is a minute not doing something else, like watching porn.

[bungie4]

Look into Rackspace or Linode. Failing that, I've got a good buddy in the hosting business I can probably get you a screaming deal on a VHost.

[Bounce]

I'm in operations; we are constantly resetting customer expectations because the sales team said, "sure, we do that" without actually knowing what we can and can not do.

Gack! Thanks for reminding me. I hated that and it seemed that no amount of explaining got them to change (or even invite us into the conversation before they committed us).

[extrememarine]

Couple of points...

Having this site set up on a server in a data center (or basement) in a manner that is a 'side project' or 'hook up' is exactly how this forum died the first time. I will avoid that option at all costs, which is why I've absorbed the cost of the Dreamhost annual hosting plan.

Providers have service plan options. Right now, we're on one that provides the server space in a shared environment. It's affordable, reliable (for the most part) and based on the marketing and advertising, should more than meet our needs bandwidth and memory wise.

Dreamhost has an option for a VPS - virtual private server - which is free for 30 days. I intent to migrate the site to that environment to test it out. If it resolves the page load errors and performance, great. Reviews from other users are mixed; it's a marketing strategy "you're site's slow, it needs a VPS" has been in every single chat session I've had with support. But with that, if it works out, will come extra cost monthly / annually - I will ask for donations at that point to cover the cost.

Backups. Backups are done and stored both on the host and locally. If the host were to crash and burn, or try to hold the site hostage, I have backups stored off host as a security measure.

I like the idea of "contributor" status, and that could be linked to having access to the "backyard" subforums - a pay to play area (which includes the TGIF thread).

Moving to another host is a gamble unless someone there has one they use and the provider has a solid track record via first hand experience. Google web host providers and see how many hits you get. Also, take a look at this and you'll notice that Dreamhost is one of the highest rated providers when the article was published on March 7th.

There is some optimization to be done here; I've started working through that with Tim's help. The clean up may have an impact; but at a minimum, it will remove more of the push back I am getting from Dreamhost when I point to their marketing materials.

Wayne

Longer answer... I'm more old school and would probably co-locate a rack in a data center, pay the rent/bandwidth and perhaps use some other site to run a backup to.

Wouldn't that be the easiest method? Rather than share a virtual server, lease one and pay the custodial fees? With some Contributing Members that may or may not receive recognition?

My oldest kid actually purchased a very high-end desktop that he placed in his spare bedroom and connected to his cable TV provider -- he ran a low bandwidth web server that way. (<--- And that sounds like how the FJRForum may have been set up. Explains why RAID drive failure would be so catastrophic.)

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks Wayne!

[0face]

Thanks Wayne!

Oh jeez... Shut it. Wayne is never gonna invite you to the reindeer games no matter how much you try. Concentrate on not leading group rides down dirt roads and maybe we’ll let you buy beer at the end of the day.






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[wheatonFJR]

...

[DesignFlaw06]

The main issue is TIME. Wayne and the others who help, only have so much time to give. Time isn't free, every minute dedicated to you morons is a minute not doing something else, like watching porn.

Like watching porn takes longer than a minute.

Actually, I'm glad you brought up this point. There is work being done, it's just behind the scenes right now. Kudos to Wayne for doing a lot of the effort here. Once we figure out what the best solution is, then we can figure out the best way to pay for it. At the same time, we don't want to overpay for something we might not need. I think immediately suggesting that we go to a VPS is a way of absolving Dreamhost of what the actual problem is and getting us to spend more at the same time.

The focus is on the what right now, then we can worry about the how.

[Uncle Hud]

I like the idea of "contributor" status, and that could be linked to having access to the "backyard" subforums - a pay to play area (which includes the TGIF thread).

Wayne

Smartass response: Oh great. Now Wayne's a porn salesman.

Responsible adult response: However we can help, sir. Just let us know.

[extrememarine]

Confirmation.

Through some clean up and optimization work, I've confirmed with Dreamhost that the site on my domain that is hitting the server memory limits is this forum (surprise - not). Also got clarification on what exactly "unlimited" means regarding the shared host package (unlimited bandwidth, unlimited storage space, LIMITED server RAM usage).

Next steps.

Once I get enough site performance trend for a comparison, I'll move the site to the VPS trial and monitor. I will announce when that happens and start a separate thread for members to post specific dates and times if / when site load errors happen. That will be a no B.S. thread, I will delete any B.S. or topic drift.

IF the switch to VPS resolves these Shared Server nanny shut downs, great - I'll open a thread with a way for those who wish to donate to the operating costs can do so. I will set a goal and stop accepting donates once it's hit. I do not want to end up sitting on any substantial amount of excess funds.

Additional topic - Tech Library. We are discussion options for creating and hosting a tech library; a place to capture and share tech related topics. This new area / subforum will be a no B.S. zone; Each tech article will have an associated discussion thread where topic related questions can be asked and answered; as a means to make that a resource for the community, it will be moderated and B.S. off topic posts will be removed.

Wayne

[Redfish]

That sounds mean. And somehow so familiar...

Fortunately I don't ever have anything technical to post. But it is fun as hell to drift a topic and watch the posts that follow just try to ignore you. Now I get a tiny glimmer of what Don Stanley must have felt while posting in a Fred W thread.

[gixxerjasen]

That will be a no B.S. thread, I will delete any B.S. or topic drift.

This new area / subforum will be a no B.S. zone

With THESE guys? Geez, you are gonna need a new keyboard and go ahead and sell the bikes because you aren't gonna have time to sleep, let alone ride with all of this you'll be doing.