[DocJohn]

Hi folks,

As you noticed, we experienced some downtime today. A quick database optimization turned into something a bit more and led us to conclude it's best if we replace our database server sooner rather than later.

We'll have that new server online later today, and once it's online, we're going to begin the process of moving the data over. This is a lengthy process.

Once the new server is online later today, we're going to do an export of our current database. This takes about 10 minutes, and we'll likely take the forums offline during this period to ensure there's no problems.

We'll bring the forums back online after that, but there'll be a notice on every page saying that anything you post after that time will NOT transfer to the new server.
================
Then we'll do the transfer of data from one server to the other...
================
Sometime tomorrow (we hope sooner rather than later, but again, this is a LOT of data to transfer), we'll have the new database server up and running.

There'll be a new notice on the pages once it's safe to post again (if you want to see your post again!) and the transfer is complete.

You are welcomed to post during the interim transfer time, but your post will not be on the new server -- so you've been given fair warning.

Again, sorry for the unexpectedly long down-time today and we hope everything will be smooth sailing again sometime tomorrow.

Best,
DocJohn

[Catmom3]

MANY cannot select a custom avatar after your last server change... people are booted suddenly from the chat rooms more than ever... people are shown as having left who haven't and as there who aren't. Sometimes Chat will show a 0 before you go to it and you go in and there are 13 people there. The server change you made on Tuesday seems to have been a BAD move. In that move I lost a new photo album with only a few pictures in it in my profile.... I will remake it when I have time as it showed my cats Richie and Joanie.

I understand servers have a life span and must be changed once in a while. I'm just noticing there were a lot of glitches with the last move, and now you're doing it again a few days later?

I'm not understanding all this well. Hope it all gets resolved soon.

Hugs,
Catmom (Carol)

[PenultimatePeril]

the chat room seems to be playing up too half the messages arent sending and are not showing up in chat :/

[The Fox & the Hound]

So how do we know the transfer is done?

[pachyderm]

You can't win, Doc.

[-jimi-]

When looking at "long downtimes" these days.... think back, LOL! These days we're pretty spoiled with hardly no downtime, excessive drive space and quick data transfer.

Back then... you practically had to carry the ones and zeros over one by one.

Originally Posted by DocJohn

Hi folks,

As you noticed, we experienced some downtime today. A quick database optimization turned into something a bit more and led us to conclude it's best if we replace our database server sooner rather than later.

We'll have that new server online later today, and once it's online, we're going to begin the process of moving the data over. This is a lengthy process.

Once the new server is online later today, we're going to do an export of our current database. This takes about 10 minutes, and we'll likely take the forums offline during this period to ensure there's no problems.

We'll bring the forums back online after that, but there'll be a notice on every page saying that anything you post after that time will NOT transfer to the new server.
================
Then we'll do the transfer of data from one server to the other...
================
Sometime tomorrow (we hope sooner rather than later, but again, this is a LOT of data to transfer), we'll have the new database server up and running.

There'll be a new notice on the pages once it's safe to post again (if you want to see your post again!) and the transfer is complete.

You are welcomed to post during the interim transfer time, but your post will not be on the new server -- so you've been given fair warning.

Again, sorry for the unexpectedly long down-time today and we hope everything will be smooth sailing again sometime tomorrow.

Best,
DocJohn

I am new here, but wanted to say thank you for caring enough to let us know we are in good hands. Sincerely, Guy W.

[DocJohn]

I'm sorry, Catmom, but this isn't a thread to lodge issues with the chat rooms.

This is a server change notice for our backend database for the forums. It has nothing to do with the chat rooms. Sorry that wasn't clear in the initial note.

Thanks,
DocJohn

[DocJohn]

Wow, that went a lot faster (and smoother) than the last time we updated the database server (in 2010). Gotta love new hardware!!

Aww done. Report any problems with the FORUMS (forums only) please in this thread.

Thanks,
DocJohn

[pegasus]

So glad it's up and running again. Thanks for all you do.

[Pikku Myy]

yeahhhhh

[-jimi-]

That went fast. I wish you would have given me an antivert before exporting me with that speed. I rarely travel with that speed normally so now I'm all dizzy.

Yay too new tech right!!!