Server Trouble

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Peterae

Server Trouble « on: 2015-10-28, 17:55:47 »

Group: Administrator
Hero Member

Posts: 4698

OK chaps, just to let everyone know whats going on.

We had server unreachable for certain parts of the globe, some UK, Poland and Canada and probably more, but it worked fine in other various places, the website timedout, it looks like the internet backbone was blocking certain paths to the server, it turned out it was not just OUR infact every website hosted on the shared server was affected.
I did not know that at the time, our host was unable to even see any fault and could not fix it, as i did not know how long it would last i started working with another host in the UK and was in the process of transferring to that host, but when the site was backed up for the transfer, it failed to backup due to the large size of the files, i pruned loads of stuff not used and managed to back it up OK.

When this backup was finally transferred (took time to download and upload) it became apparent there were still issues with the back up, i then used ftp to get all the files down, i already had previous ftp backups.
I then realized that loads of attachment files were missing on the current server, it is looking like we have exceeded the max files that a UNIX server allows, so when i tried re uploading the missing files via ftp others then vanished, it was impossible to get the full set up, i then tried the new host and the same thing happened, it was at this point i started looking for the reason, it looks like we are exceeding the total files allowed in a folder, so the thing i need to sort out is to split the attachments folder and spread all the files.

I have all the files and at this current point you will find some attachments that appear to be missing, and they are until i fix this problem.

I am only just starting to work out this problem, and at this point it is looking like our old version of smf does not support multiple attachment folders, so it is looking like i need to upgrade our current version to the newest version of smf, this is no easy task due to the extensive changes we did to get our current theme running and all the different features we have running, like chat etc.

So i am working on these issues and have a lot to sort, mean while if you see certain attachments not working, best not to try re uploading them as that could make it impossible to restore them from my backup files.

I will keep everyone updated as i go in this thread.

Cheers
Peter

muDped	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #1 on: 2015-10-28, 18:57:33 »
Group: Tinkerer Hero Member Posts: 3324	Thanks Peter. Your update is much appreciated. It is unfortunate that what should be a straight-forward process has become incredibly difficult. --------------------------- For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

poynt99	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #2 on: 2015-10-28, 20:39:01 »
Group: Administrator Hero Member Posts: 3538 It's not as complicated as it may seem...	Thanks a million Peter!. Sorry for all the hassle. --------------------------- "Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe." Frank Zappa

Peterae	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #3 on: 2015-10-28, 22:10:25 »
Group: Administrator Hero Member Posts: 4698	Thats Ok, about time we upgraded smf anyway.

poynt99	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #4 on: 2015-10-28, 22:57:16 »
Group: Administrator Hero Member Posts: 3538 It's not as complicated as it may seem...	And I think we agreed already what the new theme would be over a year ago. --------------------------- "Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe." Frank Zappa

JimBoot	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #5 on: 2015-10-29, 01:05:31 »
Group: Tinkerer Hero Member Posts: 1950	Thanks Peter - I'm sure there are a bunch of us that can help out if you need any. The joys of server upgrades!

T-1000

Re: Server Trouble « Reply #6 on: 2015-10-29, 19:17:00 »

Sr. Member

Posts: 405

Thanks Peter for update.

For max files issue you might read and configure like in these links:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8238860/maximum-number-of-files-folders-on-linux
http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-increase-the-maximum-number-of-open-files/

There are some 30 000 000+ files in one of backup Linux servers in my work so this number can give you rough idea how big it can be on the filesystem.

Cheers!

Peterae

Re: Server Trouble « Reply #7 on: 2015-11-15, 19:23:03 »

Group: Administrator
Hero Member

Posts: 4698

OK chaps tonight is the night i am going to try a smf upgrade and server transfer, who knows whats going to happen, i have been trying to do trials with mixed results, either way we will be upgraded to a new smf version and this theme will no longer work, so i have started building a new theme similar to this one, there will be a lot of code edits needed to get it how we want and this will be done as i get time and we work out what needs doing.

The important thing is if you are having problems post them on here.

As from this post any new posts on this forum will not be transferred, so best to stop posting until you see the new theme.

If it goes horribly wrong then i may have to abort and go back to this server, only one way to find out

See you all on the other side in a couple of hours hopefully.

Cheers
Peter

Peterae

Re: Server Trouble « Reply #8 on: 2015-11-15, 22:48:46 »

Group: Administrator
Hero Member

Posts: 4698

OK any problems then post them in here and i will try to sort them out.

Things so far

The shoutbox is redesigned and newer than our older forum version but seems to stall the website during a page refresh, page seems to take 1 second to load with shoutbox enabled.

I added topics at the top and started a stats section like the old website had, need to delete user and stats at the bottom of the website.

Need to get the image veiwer working so we can see larger images like before.
Need to add spelling checker to posts
the user information on a post is halfway down the post instead of at the top.

Matt Watts	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #9 on: 2015-11-16, 05:07:07 »
Hero Member Posts: 809	It's looking pretty good so far Peter. I remember these forum conversions well when I helped Russ move open-source-energy.org over from myBB to SMF and finally to Wedge. What a pain. Lots of little clean-up items that take weeks to finally get right. After several months we finally declared, "it's good enough".

Grumage

Re: Server Trouble « Reply #10 on: 2015-11-16, 11:26:55 »

Group: Renaissance Man
Hero Member

Posts: 3122

Dear Peterae.

I realise that things have to change for one reason or another but I personally am finding the format difficult to read.

The darker blue on a light blue background, not easy for my tired old eyes!! The home button, gone from the bottom of the page, argh!!..... So useful.

Maybe it's just me but the front page seems to lack contrast ?

Just some observations with the realisation that you have had the " Devils own job " to get things back up and running for us, it's not something I would be capable of, many thanks.

Cheers Grum.

---------------------------

Nanny state ? Left at the gate !!

T-1000	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #11 on: 2015-11-16, 13:40:35 »
Sr. Member Posts: 405	Hi, I just tried to use OVR3A theme and now the board got broken for me. I can only browse topics using mobile "wap2" extension now. Can you reset theme for me or fix broken one? EDIT: Managed to hack way back to default theme by using settings url from other browser tab and wap2. The OVR3/OVR3A theme still need a fix. Cheers!

Centraflow

Re: Server Trouble « Reply #12 on: 2015-11-16, 17:33:54 »

Group: Experimentalist
Hero Member

Posts: 3966

Quote from: Grumage on 2015-11-16, 11:26:55

Dear Peterae.

I realise that things have to change for one reason or another but I personally am finding the format difficult to read.

The darker blue on a light blue background, not easy for my tired old eyes!! The home button, gone from the bottom of the page, argh!!..... So useful.

Maybe it's just me but the front page seems to lack contrast ?

Just some observations with the realisation that you have had the " Devils own job " to get things back up and running for us, it's not something I would be capable of, many thanks.

Cheers Grum.

Hi Peter

I'm with Grum above exactly, tired eyes as well, the blue seems to penitrate for some reason, oh well we will get used to it I'm sure, and thanks for all you do

I'm a bit tied up at the moment, mainly look in for a read only, a lot of personal problems here.

regards

Mike

---------------------------

"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third, it is accepted as self-evident."
Arthur Schopenhauer, Philosopher, 1788-1860

As a general rule, the most successful person in life is the person that has the best information.

Peterae	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #13 on: 2015-11-16, 17:37:21 »
Group: Administrator Hero Member Posts: 4698	Hi Matt Yeah what a job, why did you switch away from smf in the end? Grumage I agree lacking contrast, i will address this at some point. T1000 Yes the old themes no longer work, they are for early versions only hence the reason we are having to build a new one, i can reset you to the new one and will delete the old ones soon. Thanks Chaps, we will get there, keep the problems coming. Peter

Peterae	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #14 on: 2015-11-16, 18:11:54 »
Group: Administrator Hero Member Posts: 4698	OK been looking into no spell checker, looks like there is software needed to be installed on the server, so have opened a ticket to get that sorted.

Grumage	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #15 on: 2015-11-16, 18:36:09 »
Group: Renaissance Man Hero Member Posts: 3122	Hi Peterae. Getting better!! Still something lacking, it doesn't jump out at you yet. How about the home tab? I really liked the one at the bottom of the page, particularly when using my iPad. Cheers Grum. --------------------------- Nanny state ? Left at the gate !!

Farmhand	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #16 on: 2015-11-16, 18:36:58 »
Hero Member Posts: 564	I have to agree the theme makes reading long posts difficult and a bit of a strain on the eyes. Though I'm sure we all very much appreciate the efforts gone to to keep the site running. Thanks.

Grumage	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #17 on: 2015-11-16, 18:59:17 »
Group: Renaissance Man Hero Member Posts: 3122	Is it me?? Or is the font size smaller? Or do I needs some new ?? Without tint...... Cheers Grum. --------------------------- Nanny state ? Left at the gate !!

Peterae	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #18 on: 2015-11-16, 19:17:26 »
Group: Administrator Hero Member Posts: 4698	Hi Grum I'm looking into it now, first thing is the text is black on the old forum, i will check the size as well Peter

Peterae	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #19 on: 2015-11-16, 19:25:37 »
Group: Administrator Hero Member Posts: 4698	Well hows that now it's black, the font is slightly larger on the new than on the old, just checked

Grumage	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #20 on: 2015-11-16, 19:32:15 »
Group: Renaissance Man Hero Member Posts: 3122	Hi Peterae. Wow, that's better!! From this rather " pedestrian " member a big thank you for all your hard work. Cheers Grum. --------------------------- Nanny state ? Left at the gate !!

Peterae	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #21 on: 2015-11-16, 21:34:01 »
Group: Administrator Hero Member Posts: 4698	Hi Grum No problem. Some bad news spell checking no longer seems to work, the host has installed the correct files and it still does not seem to work with smf, having done a bit of research it would appear that versions of php 5.3 and above the spell checker is unsupported. So the other way to do this is to use your browser spell checker. Cheers Peter

Peterae	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #22 on: 2015-11-17, 18:23:17 »
Group: Administrator Hero Member Posts: 4698	OK fixed the most online today & most online ever i hope I will look at the members & guests list next then.

Peterae	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #23 on: 2015-11-17, 19:24:16 »
Group: Administrator Hero Member Posts: 4698	OK installed and fixed High Slide Viewer for our theme so we now get attachment image pop ups

Peterae	Re: Server Trouble « Reply #24 on: 2015-11-17, 20:11:27 »
Group: Administrator Hero Member Posts: 4698	Moved personal Avatar and ranking info on posts to top instead of middle of each post.