IMPORTANT: Server Move

[archibalduk]

As you may have noticed, the site has been inaccessible for the past 24 hours (yet again). The continued down-time and slow server is clearly unacceptable (it has been slow for at least the past 12 - 18 months now). Our host, Dreamhost, has been really unhelpful on the occasions I have reported the issue. Thus I'm going to find a new host and transfer the site across.

I have identified a suitable host and I'm in the process of comparing them with alternatives to check that I've made a suitable choice. The prospective new host is based in the UK which I think is a good compromise given that the community is predominantly based in North America and Europe. I've been looking ideally for servers located in Western Europe or the east coast of the US/Canada as it is as close to a mid-point as possible. Currently our servers are based on the west coast of the US. Getting the server as central as possible will help ensure as many users as possible get a fast connection.

I have a few days booked off work from the middle of next week and so it will provide a good opportunity to make the server move. The process should be reasonably straightforward but it will be time-consuming. First off, I will need to download our ~2gb site from our current server to my laptop and then upload it to the new server (unfortunately I don't have the fastest of broadband connections so this will take some time). I hope to be able to do this as soon as possible early next week (I can transfer the site across without interrupting access to the site). Once this is done, I will then move the site's database (~1gb) from the current server to our new server (again, I'll need to download it via my laptop). The database contains all of the forum posts, user accounts, challenge data, wiki data, etc from the site. Thus in order to transfer it, I'll need to disable the site. Hopefully I'll do this on Wednesday 16th April (if not, it'll be at some point between 17-21th April). Transferring the database is a bit of an involved/complex process and is the hardest part of the move.

Once the site is fully set up on the new server, I will update our domain name (i.e. http://www.ehmtheblueline.com) so that it points to the new server. It can take some time for the domain name to update (up to 72 hours IIRC), but I'll do my best to speed up the process. Hopefully it won't take more than 12 hours.

Fingers crossed that the server move goes well and we have a more reliable server henceforth.

By the way, I will be posting updates on our Facebook page during the server move. I think this is the best way of keeping people up to date on the progress in the absence of these forums. I don't think you have to sign up to Facebook in order to see our page. You can view our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ehmtheblueline

[CJ]

I hope it will help.

You're right about the facebook page. We can see it without logging in.

[philou21]

Good news! I hope everything will be better and will go well too!

[bruins72]

Good luck with the move!

[batdad]

Packing packing packing. It is all you ever seem to get to do archi.

[archibalduk]

I have opened an account with our new hosts and will hopefully have the site uploaded this evening. I will then need to take the site offline in order to transfer our database over to the new server. On top of this, it will take between 24-48 hours for our web address to point to its new server. Hopefully I'll be doing the transfer either today or tomorrow. So expect the site to be offline later today or tomorrow.

Packing packing packing. It is all you ever seem to get to do archi.

So true!

[archibalduk]

The main site has been uploaded to the new server. I just have the wiki site remaining.

I anticipate tomorrow I'll be taking the site offline to transfer the database and domain across. Once the site has gone offline, keep an eye on our Facebook page for regular updates: https://www.facebook.com/ehmtheblueline

[archibalduk]

The data transfer is complete and now I'm awaiting the domain name change to propagate. This is the process whereby the domain name (i.e. ehmtheblueline.com) will point to our new servers. This usually takes 24 - 48 hours to complete (it can potentially take up to 72 hours to complete).

In the meantime, we can access most of the forum via http://http://s524490223.websitehome.co.uk/forums/ but you may find that you'll be frequently logged out (the forum software isn't really designed to be accessed via a different web address like this).

P.s. I'm aware of the php errors appearing at the top of the website when you post items / login / etc. I'm working on it!

[archibalduk]

P.s. I'm aware of the php errors appearing at the top of the website when you post items / login / etc. I'm working on it!

Fixed!

If any other errors appear please let me know so that I can fix them.

[archibalduk]

It seems the normal domain name is now working. It won't necessarily work for every country worldwide yet, but it's great to see it take far less than the 48 hours suggested.

[bruins72]

That whole thing went so quickly! Great work!

[Tasku]

Well done, boss!