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The Twins are Coming Soon
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The Twins are Coming Soon |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US 
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It's been a bit over two years, now, since the forums were split from the main site and moved to their own web server (as detailed in this thread). It was a necessary move, rather than a voluntary one, because Ceres just couldn't keep up with all the traffic from both sites. Thus, was born our current server, Athena. It's hard to describe how happy I was with Athena. She was more than twice as fast as her older sister, with nearly four times as much disk storage. I upgraded Ceres several times, with more memory, with a second hard disk, but she was never a match for Athena. Ceres was eventually retired, and the server for the main site is now Aphrodite. The computer industry being what it is, Aphrodite is now even faster than Athena. There seems to be no crest to the computer revolution, so we all just keep climbing the megahertz hill. Both Athena and Aphrodite have (if you'll excuse the pun) served us well. No complaints. But the rest of the world doesn't stand still, and web servers are constantly being challenged. In particular, the hackers of this world keep trying to find ways to sneak through the backdoor. I recently became aware of a potentially dangerous security breech on Athena, and a little research indicated it would be cheaper and easier to replace our two-year-old than to try to fix her. To make what is a long story a little shorter, I ultimately decided to replace both of our servers at the same time. There are many advantages to doing so, not the least of which will be consistency. I will finally have two identical machines, with identical operating systems, and that will ultimately make my life easier. A LOT easier. That consistency also supplied new names for our servers, because it just so happens there are a pair of twins wandering those ancient Olympic ranges. Apollo and Artemis went on-line two days ago. Everything, of course, carries with it a cost, and the price of consistency isn't cheap. Doing it this way means that, for a time, we actually have four web servers running. Aphrodite is pre-paid until September, so it won't help any to rush that transition. But, Athena, being older, has been running month-to-month, and the sooner I can get us moved over to Artemis, the sooner the costs will decrease. The next payment on Athena is due July 27, and I would very much like to get the forums moved before that date arrives. Moving a database as extensive as ours, with over a million posts, won't be instant. But it will almost feel that way compared to moving the domain name to a new IP address. We have limited control over that, and will largely be at the mercy of the DNS system in place. With most web sites, that's not a big deal. When I move netpoets.com, for example, no one will even notice. Some visitors will end up seeing the old copy on Aphrodite for a few days, while others see the identical copy on Apollo. It won't matter because both copies will be the same. But that strategy doesn't work on an interactive site like pipTalk.com, because things here change by the minute. Once the data is moved from Athena to Artemis, I have NO CHOICE but to turn off the forums on the old server. Otherwise, the data won't remain consistent and we'll lose posts. After the forums are turned off, it may still take a day for many people to see the new server because of the DNS propagation. That will depend on your ISP and how often they update their DNS database. Some people may not be able to get to the new server for several days. Essentially, the forums may be "gone" for a while. This move, unfortunately, is going to be much more rushed than I would like. I always prefer "soon" when I have a choice, but sometimes those choices are tough ones to make. Shooting for the end of July is pressure we could all live without, but the financial savings if we succeed will be fairly substantial. And challenges, after all, make each day a little more interesting, don't you think?  Nothing will happen for at least a week, as I'll be busy configuring the new servers at least that long. I'll post a new Announcement when I have an actual target date, but thought I'd give everyone as much notice as I could. |
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| © Copyright 2002 Ron Carnell - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Uh-oh...another pending pun: Just keep us "posted"... and we'll all simultaneously hold our breath! |
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Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium |
Thanks for the detailed announcement... Regards to you, Ron, Sudhir |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Well, I'm glad to see you have come to your senses. Athena and Aphrodite to Apollo and Artemis.....never send a woman to do a man's job  |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
Yes, Mike, but now that you've brought it my attention, I'm apparently suffering from an awfully abstruse assonance problem. Believe me, it was unintentional. (I almost said it was an accident, but thought better of it.) And, uh, the forums will be on Artemis. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Tapping foot and keeping mouth fixed shut.  |
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Auguste 
since 2000-02-16
Posts 3953By the sea |
Can someone toss me a line so I don't get lost? |
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bsquirrel
since 2000-01-03
Posts 7855 |
That's great! One question, though: will the new forums have the added capability of being able to add a poet to the private library without needing to reply (because, I, for one, sometimes forget to click that little checkmark -- Tiersdin's still not in mine!!!) I know you've got enough to worry about with the move as it is, but I'm just wondering if adding that feature to the new forums would be wise to do now, when everything's kinda chaos anyway, or wait till a later date? Either way, yay to pip! Mike She said burn ... together. |
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Professor Gloom Member Elite
since 2000-07-23
Posts 3082of Depression |
Wow! What control she shows and how very unusual. Thank Ron, You are a marvel Gloom |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Sounds like you're going to be a very busy man ... this is wonderful!  Congratulations on the new twins Ron! |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Sounds Great!!! Let's hope the 'labor' pains are at a minimum and the 'weaning' process is without a hitch!  You have now passed through the 'pun zone'. |
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SmartChick Member Rara Avis
since 2001-09-23
Posts 7081On A Journey To The Unknown |
Ron, Will I still be able to get to passions by clicking on my saved link? Balladeer I can't believe you said that about us women. I think this is all I better say, cause this could get into a very lengthy discussion. Shame on you! |
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PoetryIsLife
since 2001-10-27
Posts 1763...in my boxers... |
Thank you for all your hard and diligent work, Ron. ~Titus As I'm out there, walking, searching, for myself, for you.... won't you join me? Let's walk this journey together. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
SmartChick, LOL! Believe me, if I meant it I wouldn't post it here and put my life in jeopardy!  I have the GREATEST respect for women....even Nan |
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Titia Geertman Member Ascendant
since 2001-05-07
Posts 5182Netherlands |
Ahum.....er.....yes....suppose so....I think Will they live happily ever after???? So as I understand, on a certain point you're changing the women into men??? So you're saying if I can't reach the blue pages I'm not supposed to say any dirty words?? OK I should be able to do that, for a short while...  Huhhhh suggestion: last weekend of July Ron? I'm off then anyway for four days counting sheep No seriously, you've explained it beautifully Ron, Titia Like scattered leaves...my words will flow |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
whispering "Balladeer means ESPECIALLY Nan" just though you'd like to know Liz |
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catalinamoon
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543The Shores of Alone |
Ron,just want to take a moment to thank you for doing this labor of love, to keep us all going here. Thank God someone understands computers better than I Sandra |
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SmartChick Member Rara Avis
since 2001-09-23
Posts 7081On A Journey To The Unknown |
Oh Balladeer, I didn't think you really meant what you said about us women. Just thought I would throw that in.  |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
Thanks again, Mike, for diverting everyone's aggravation from me to you. Let's hope it continues to work. Oh, and the check for your help is in the mail. Just a heads-up, guys, to let everyone know that the move is imminent. I wish I could give an exact time the forums will close, but several of the factors are out of my control. Maybe tonight. Probably tomorrow. How long it will take for the domain change to kick in for YOU will depend a lot on your location and ISP. For some it will be a few hours, for most it will be about 24 hours, and for those at the other end of that bell curve, it could be a few days. Sooner or later, though, you'll click on your usual (nothing will change) link to the forums and be sent to the new server. |
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the_loner_23 Member Ascendant
since 2002-06-08
Posts 5479Jacksonville, Florida, USA |
Thanks for the warning Cold hands means a warm heart |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Getting the pillows ready...    |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Trying hard to just BREATHE! I can make it..I can make it! |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Please Ron!! Don't make me suffer...  Get it over with as quickly as possible!! Oh what will I ever do?????  |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Ron, I was really proud of myself..(after I got over the initial embarrassment). I called my ISP and said I had a question about his DNA Database.  He said he thought I meant DNS..and after I made a quick recovery I asked how often they updated, and he said every 3 hours....so maybe it won't be too bad, huh? *Nancy exists more hopeful now*  |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Yippee!!! I made it through! It was almost painless and took only about 5 hours here! Bravo and thank you wizard Ron!! |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
LOL..Nancy!!! When you said you called your ISP to question him about his DNA, I thought you were calling him a bad name for not having PiP updated...lol..oh gosh...laughing hard here!!! LOL |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
Uh, Nancy? We haven't done it yet. You're still seeing the old server … We were down for a few hours earlier this evening, but that wasn't me and it certainly wasn't our move to the new server. I couldn't reach the server either, so if anything, it delayed our move. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
and here I hoped that it was over and done with...you're just testing us aren't you, Ron...LOL... Well, if it is NOT really a "done deal" yet...then rip that bandaid off.... |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
damn...and I've been searching the sheets for TWINS-- sigh...somebody e me when it's over? |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Don't worry, folks - He's on it - It'll be done 'soon' - provided the electricity in Colon doesn't magically go out...  |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
What??!! Ron!! It hasn't happened yet!  Then why was there no PiP for 5 hours? Yanno Nan...the size of Colon..it really could go out.. They don't need much to start with. Now I have to sit here and wait...?? I CAN'T TAKE THIS!! |
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