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Site Update
In case you are wondering why the site seems to die every week for eight or ten hours, we're in a very... interesting, to say the least, predicament. Our server is actually devastatingly out of space, so it has moments weekly where it crashes and won't come back online.
I have a new server ordered with 2 TB of space (and actually double the RAM, which I'm interested to see how it handles the site's load) but we're trying to figure out how to migrate the data. You see, when you have a site this large, data migration can take 2-3 days due to the sheer amount of it. Yet, even if you let it migrate data in the background of the old server site running, new data is constantly being added (by the actions all of you take onsite, making pets, exploring, new accounts being registered, forum posts etc.), which means that new data doesn't get copied over to the new server as it's created on the old server.
So we have a fun situation where we're trying to figure out how to minimize the data loss in moving. It's obvious that we can't shut the site down for three or four days to migrate the data; that would just suck for all of us.
I have an idea but we'll just have to see how it pans out. It seems like what takes up the most space are custom images. The goal is to get moved to the new server by next week though.
Well, anyway, that's your little update. This situation is annoying for Yasu and I, believe me...
Posted by JAK
(#15) on Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:45am
- Sweetpea
(#447)
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Posted on: Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:48am
eh. shut down the site for a few days if that's the best way. im sure no one will die. people will realize it's worth it, to actually have the site working proper.
i came back this month after being away since.. jan 2010.. and i was really discouraged about even staying because of how bad the site was. i'd love to see it return to its former smooth-working glory.
do not worry about whiners. just do whats best
- (N) -n- (M)
(#5672)
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Posted on: Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:48am
I'm actually at a loss as to why sites like this don't utilize cloud server technology to avoid this kind of problem, especially considering I've seen it used successfully for online games before. I'm sure there's some technical reason I wouldn't understand, not being one who works or knows too much about the backends though.
Anyway, I'd agree that your best option is probably to issue a warning ahead of time, then shut down the site entirely to transfer data. You run less risks of data loss that way and will end up with happier Aylings.-nmd
- Jackieohs
(#31656)
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Posted on: Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:54am
A vote... Shutdown or not... The benefits will far outweigh the inconvenience... as a computer geek, I know the transfer will not go well unless you can mirror the drive to the new drive but that will still require some downtime... Perhaps offering something in return for a 3 day shut down.... Just a thought... I'm good with just reaping the benefits of a better server :)
- Shadow Rose
(#29394)
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Posted on: Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:56am
I say you should just shut some parts down for the time being. I'm not sure how any of this works, but perhaps while you're transferring certian things, you shut them down? Like when transferring lair data, shut down lairs, when transferring breeding data, shut down breedings? If that's a silly idea, then just ignore it xD I definitely think you should take down the registration page and maybe the custom page. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't think a few days of not being able to submit customs will be too much of an issue....
- Murasaki
(#28088)
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Posted on: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:16pm
On Chicken Smoothie, once it was in even worse shape.....and it took hardly any time to move over. In fact, it took only a few hours. Nick thought it'd be down for a week, but apparently not.
- Eggy
(#18951)
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Posted on: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:18pm
Just another person chiming in to say that I absolutely would not mind a shutdown of a few days if it meant that the site is faster and better when it gets back! The most important part is that we're warned ahead of time.
Alternatively, if you want people to have something to visit, maybe just leave the forums available with a notice that all posts made after x date won't be saved (or set up a temporary forum)? That way people can still hang around and chat and those in charge have a means of communicating with us if necessary. Not that I know how difficult or easy doing this would be, but just tossing it out there. XD
- Lunch & Obi
(#2021)
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Posted on: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:21pm
As most of the statements made, I wouldn't mind for the site to be shut down for a few days. A warning beforehand would be nice. I would also like to suggest maybe doing away with a lot of the locked threads all together? As in erasing them completely from the database? I'm not sure how much space the forums take up, but I do know that I've seen lots of locked threads that are just sitting there. I know I have my own threads floating around in there, so I really wouldn't mind them being deleted and starting afresh when the new server comes around. I would also like to mention that I've not removed the thought of asking people's permission about this, so maybe a vote for it? It would also help to completely remove threads made by banned accounts as well. I don't know, I'm just trying to help out on how you guys can maintain the data and keep what is necessary for the site. I hope everything turns alright in the end of it all anyway. Thanks for all your hard work. :)
- kelsey
(#6094)
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Posted on: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:35pm
I wouldn't mind seeing the site shut down for a few days. You guys have the benefit of great communication, where all of your users (well, all the ones who read the news) know that the other side of those few days will have a brand-new server. As kind of a "mini-suggestion," maybe you could set up a free/temporary forums while the site is being transferred? If you find a way to link to it from the aywas page, I think people would really appreciate having a way to keep in touch/chat/have a little Aywas during the downtime. Just a note like, "We're transferring servers--in the meantime, you can hang out with your friends on this forum!" Even if it's just deleted after the server move, that's something I would really like.
- Kirema
(#264)
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Posted on: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:36pm
I say go ahead and shut it down for a few days. It'll be better overall. If you really want to keep something up, put up a temporary forum so the users can still chatter, but it let it known it is only a temp forum and nothing will be saved there. Sometimes sites need to go down for maintenance, it's part of the life of any good site.
Posted on: Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:37am
Ty for trying your best for us.. Both Slash and Yasu.. Yea I would be one of those who will be sad without Aywas for days. I hope we won't have big loss. I will not be submitting customs to be made in the meanwhile if I can. Hopefully this helps a lil bit with the moving of customs.