Server Downtime

[bazzah]

Well, the forums are back up and running. I would like to apologise for the time this is taking, but we are working on this as hard and fast as we can. There were several issues preventing the database for the forum being imported, but with a lot of persistence, our host Starteck Online has managed to get them working!

Next we need to get the cover gallery imported and up and running. This may take a while, as it is very very large. So, please be patient while we work on the rest of the site. It may be a while before it is all 100% again.

You may have also noticed that anything posted between the 22nd June and 3rd July has disappeared. Unfortunately this could not be recovered. So if you have made an upload to a gallery or post in the forums, you will need to post again.

So what happened? Well, we had another HDD failure. And it was so bad, we couldn't recover anything from it. So we had to restore from out last back up (22nd June). This means ALL data, including new registrations, has been lost between 22nd June and 3rd July. If you have subscribed during these dates, please contact me so I can restore your account. I will need to know your method of payment, if you have paid (Google checkout number or PayPal transaction ID) so I can confirm your payment, and upgrade your account.

The good news is, out of every disaster, comes something new and improved. And for us, it is the way we operate the backups. We will be using a mirror RAID array from now on. For those of you that do not know what that is, basically every time you upload a cover, or make a post in the forums, it will be written to two drives. Coupled with this we will also be carrying out nightly offsite backups and the precious databases full of your posts will be copied twice daily to a remote server. Only the end of the world can stop us now!

It will take approximately two weeks to fine tune the server to the needs of the website which may produce the odd error on your screen. Please try and use the site as normally as possible during this time so that we can evaluate the best way to 'tune' the server.

We really do appreciate the understanding that you have given us during this disastrous time and wish to thank you for your continued support.

[user name]

Thanks for the info Bazz.... should we wait to re-upload anything from Jun22 - Jul3 or can we begin the re-ups now?

[bazzah]

you can upload now But there will be times that the site grinds to a halt, as we are importing etc. So it is possible you may see errors.

[user name]

Alrighty then....Love the new "way we operate the backups" process. Should keep the site up till the end of time.

[Andy.]

cant seem to upload baz getting 0 uploads was successful i know you got alot to do but just thought i would post incase its just me

[Irrob]

Try uploading again.

[ValueVPS]

the upload limits have not yet been set so any file over 2mb will fail

[sauron]

Isn't there a way that you could get it to automatically backup everyday?

[bazzah]

Yes. We are going to install a Mirrored drive array, as well as a separate server that will download the site. Our host has also set up a system that automatically sends the host and myself a backup of the databases everyday. Our aim is to make the site fail proof in the future.

[sauron]

QUOTE(Bazzah @ Jul 4 2008, 12:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes. We are going to install a Mirrored drive array, as well as a separate server that will download the site. Our hist has also set up a system that automatically sends the host and myself a backup of the databases everyday. Our aim is to make the site fail proof in the future.

That's good then