Hard Light Productions Forums

Announcements => Announcements => Topic started by: Fury on August 28, 2009, 01:08:07 pm

Title: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on August 28, 2009, 01:08:07 pm
Game Warden and Hard Light Productions will be moving to another server September. The reasons for this are purely financial. Our standing host still charges original sum monthly and we've been unable to negotiate a transfer to better server (we have need for more RAM) for same price or price reduction for our current server.

Expected downtime should be no longer than say, two or three days because DNS update needs to propagate to your DNS server. But expect Mr. Murphy to have a ball on this one, I know I do. I will announce date for the downtime as soon as I know it myself. However, it may be on short notice depending on circumstances, such as scheduling it around real-life. I know some of you will have strong withdrawal effects due to the downtime, but as we rely solely on ads and goodwill donations by admins and community alike, we want to make sure the few bucks are not wasted on overpriced server.

If you want to work on your projects during downtime, I strongly suggest to download whatever you need from our ftp as soon as possible.

Don't forget that you can keep in touch with the community on IRC via your favorite client or Mibbit (http://widget.mibbit.com/?settings=b73fe961ed217d9a3cbd9637dc7ba9bf&server=irc.esper.net&channel=%23hard-light&noServerTab=false).

Update 1: Looks like the downtime will begin either on September 1st (Tuesday) or 2nd (Wednesday).
Update 2: There will be longer downtime for FS2Netd as taylor has busy real-life schedule and may not be around to set it up right after the move.
Update 3: HLP's move will commence within 24 hours. GW's schedule is up to MatthewPapa.
Update 4: We're on new server!
Update 5: Hosted project sites are yet to set up. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: General Battuta on August 28, 2009, 01:11:16 pm
Back up any content that you really need to keep (posts with valuable information or whatnot.) Can't imagine what those would be, but it can't hurt, right?
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Fury on August 28, 2009, 01:12:43 pm
Incidentally you can use "Print" button that is in bottom right corner of every topic. It outputs a text-only page you can save on HDD or print. :)
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: FUBAR-BDHR on August 28, 2009, 01:22:39 pm
If you know what it's going to be can you post the new IP before the site goes down so we don't have to wait for DNS to update. 
/me foresees major withdrawal symptoms. 
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Mongoose on August 28, 2009, 01:43:03 pm
At least we have a backup to get our daily fix.  To the IRCcave, Robin!
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Spoon on August 28, 2009, 04:01:23 pm
I'm guessing the wiki will also be down in this time?
What's the easiest way to save info from the wiki onto a harddrive?
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: gavilatius on August 28, 2009, 04:20:07 pm
aww, ok, i guess i can work on my project... now
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: SadisticSid on August 28, 2009, 06:24:11 pm
You could set up a reverse proxy in the meantime to prevent DNS headaches.

http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.2/mod/mod_proxy.html
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Stormkeeper on August 28, 2009, 11:48:46 pm
I'll have to re-work my bookmarks?
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: eliex on August 29, 2009, 01:34:42 am
It seems to be the case.
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Mongoose on August 29, 2009, 02:48:59 am
Why would you need to change your bookmarks?  Transferring to a different physical server won't affect the site's domain name in the least.
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Flipside on August 29, 2009, 10:20:06 am
What is basically means is that the IP address of the Server is going to change, and it's going to take time for any routers between you and HLP to receieve the new IP address as it filters through their tables. The further you are from HLP, the longer the wait until it can be found again, but even then, it shouldn't be that long, the system works quite effectively.
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Colonol Dekker on August 29, 2009, 10:32:14 am
We'll have to cope. . . So bookmarks will be the same, but the IP will change?
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: gavilatius on August 29, 2009, 02:51:15 pm
so will it be the same url?
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Flipside on August 29, 2009, 03:01:19 pm
Yes, the URL will be identical, for people who have it bookmarked, nothing will change, you just might have trouble getting through for up to 24 hours until all the links between you and HLP know what route to take :)
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Sandwich on August 29, 2009, 03:45:51 pm
HLP = a house.

www.hard-light.net = P.O. Box.

You have always accessed HLP via the POB. That will not change. It's just where that POB will send things that's changing.
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Rick James on August 29, 2009, 04:15:38 pm
Are there any specific dates for when this move will occur?
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: colecampbell666 on August 29, 2009, 06:27:33 pm
I will announce date for the downtime as soon as I know it myself..
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 29, 2009, 08:19:39 pm
Will HLP IRC still be up during the downtime?
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: colecampbell666 on August 29, 2009, 08:36:22 pm
Probably, it's hosted on the EsperNet servers.
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Fury on August 30, 2009, 08:11:47 am
Looks like the downtime will begin either on September 1st (Tuesday) or 2nd (Wednesday).

There will be longer downtime for FS2Netd as taylor has busy real-life schedule and may not be around to set it up right after the move.
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 30, 2009, 08:52:06 am
Eep. That soon?
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Black Wolf on August 30, 2009, 08:57:48 am
Don't forget about sectorgame ( http://www.sectorgame.com/forums/ ) while HLP is out. :nod:
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 30, 2009, 09:14:59 am
Will FSMods still be up?
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Fury on August 30, 2009, 09:20:30 am
D'oh, fsmods is hosted elsewhere.

Edit: Don't forget that you can keep in touch with the community on IRC via your favorite client or Mibbit (http://widget.mibbit.com/?settings=b73fe961ed217d9a3cbd9637dc7ba9bf&server=irc.esper.net&channel=%23hard-light&noServerTab=false).
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Mongoose on August 30, 2009, 12:29:46 pm
Don't forget about sectorgame ( http://www.sectorgame.com/forums/ ) while HLP is out. :nod:
Yeah, we don't bite...much.  Unless there's a full moon out.
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: sigtau on August 31, 2009, 08:07:14 pm
Wait, so we're losing all threads on the forum and everything?  Can't we just back them up and restore the backups from the database?

(I have had plenty of forum admin experience in the past, it's really not that difficult >.>)
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: colecampbell666 on August 31, 2009, 08:45:04 pm
They're just moving to a different server. They're not deleting the forums.
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Mongoose on August 31, 2009, 09:59:19 pm
It's amazing how many of you have never been through a server move before. :p
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 31, 2009, 11:09:04 pm
It's amazing how many of you have never been through a server move before. :p

Yeah, but I use common sense. The questions I raised were just to double-check my common sense. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Droid803 on August 31, 2009, 11:54:23 pm
Server moves are traumatizing. :shaking:
Once...on another forum...an entire month worth of posts were lost.
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: Fury on September 01, 2009, 12:01:19 am
Wait, so we're losing all threads on the forum and everything?  Can't we just back them up and restore the backups from the database?

(I have had plenty of forum admin experience in the past, it's really not that difficult >.>)
:wtf: :doubt: :lol:
Title: Re: Downtime coming next month
Post by: FUBAR-BDHR on September 01, 2009, 12:06:09 am
/me noticed the topic needs changed to this month..........
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Stormkeeper on September 01, 2009, 06:23:40 am
Like, downtime coming nao.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Colonol Dekker on September 01, 2009, 08:20:20 am
That was remarkably short and sweet. Kudos to the guys responsible for making the downtime as quick and painless as possible. :yes:
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 01, 2009, 08:27:49 am
The move has not even begun yet. :p
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Colonol Dekker on September 01, 2009, 08:36:32 am
So what the heck was this morning?
:shaking:
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 01, 2009, 08:40:12 am
That was just the usual hiccup in apache our current/old server occasionally has.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Stormkeeper on September 01, 2009, 09:08:50 am
IIRC, there's a backup every day around 1pm GMT +8.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 01, 2009, 09:12:18 am
Not every day, only on friday on current/old server.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Stormkeeper on September 01, 2009, 09:19:02 am
Really? Well. Guess I have horrible timing. =/

Roughly how long will a server move take?
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on September 01, 2009, 11:00:07 am
Roughly how long will a server move take?

Read the first post of this thread. :p
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: BloodEagle on September 01, 2009, 11:30:34 am
Roughly how long will a server move take?

Read the first post of this thread. :p
It doesn't say.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Mongoose on September 01, 2009, 11:43:45 am
Exactly. :p
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Sushi on September 01, 2009, 01:16:46 pm
Really? Well. Guess I have horrible timing. =/

Roughly how long will a server move take?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-Q7b-vHY3Q
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 01, 2009, 02:39:56 pm
HLP's move will commence within 24 hours. GW's schedule is up to MatthewPapa.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Colonol Dekker on September 01, 2009, 04:42:12 pm
You mean that still wasn't it? :sigh:


I'm happy to wait though, HLP is teh bestesyest websiote evah!"
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: MatthewPapa on September 01, 2009, 06:17:16 pm
we are getting close. so far so good
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 01, 2009, 11:01:28 pm
You mean that still wasn't it? :sigh:
I think server crashed when MatthewPapa was doing a file transfer, it had to be hard rebooted. I dunno about the details, I was asleep at the time.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: FreeSpaceFreak on September 02, 2009, 09:58:55 am
What's this got to do with a certain blue-white forum theme?
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 02, 2009, 10:13:02 am
Nothing, I had to fix HLP theme paths.

In that note, welcome to the new server.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on September 02, 2009, 12:12:39 pm
It is fantastically slow, Fury, as compared to the old server. Some of the icons take forever to load; others require me to use Firefox's purge command (COMMAND + SHIFT + R) several times in order to load them. Otherwise, everything is fine, and I'm certain it'll load faster the more I visit HLP. :)
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 02, 2009, 12:16:39 pm
Tested with three different browsers, works fine here. The problem if any, is likely on your end or between the server and you.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 02, 2009, 12:27:15 pm
Hosted project subdomains have not been set up yet. I will do that tomorrow if I have the time. If I don't, my apologies to hosted members.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: MatthewPapa on September 02, 2009, 12:36:53 pm
if you are having problems with images, it might still be DNS issues. GW is having a similar problem
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: pecenipicek on September 02, 2009, 01:15:22 pm
dns propagated fine to croatia...
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Colonol Dekker on September 02, 2009, 01:24:38 pm
So it's all done now? Squeeeeeee! :wakka:
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on September 02, 2009, 01:31:44 pm
/me has just noticed a slight change in HLP's URL.

Spoiler:
The WWW bit is gone.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 02, 2009, 01:49:20 pm
Thanks for spotting, fixored.

So it's all done now? Squeeeeeee! :wakka:
Not quite, hosted projects are yet to be set up.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on September 02, 2009, 01:51:29 pm
Uhh, Fury, the interface has just underwent a colourswap...
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: eliex on September 02, 2009, 05:11:47 pm
Heh, I didn't notice that.  :p
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: colecampbell666 on September 02, 2009, 06:20:17 pm
That was fast.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Stormkeeper on September 03, 2009, 04:41:51 am
Nice. Fast and clean.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: asyikarea51 on September 03, 2009, 05:39:48 am
Ara... back online already? Oh yey.

I don't see any difference over here, well back to normal HLPism... oh wait the clock is wrong *goes off to change it*

And I keep thinking there's a button missing when posting...
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 03, 2009, 08:00:20 am
I noticed email notifications aren't being sent. Investigating as time allows.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 03, 2009, 02:08:07 pm
Most hosted project sites work again. Some may be partially broken, some I fixed myself. I will start handling out hosted project ftp-accounts tomorrow so that their webmasters can fix the rest.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: pecenipicek on September 03, 2009, 02:32:55 pm
please tell me you transferred mod databases too?
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 03, 2009, 11:51:40 pm
Well of course. d'oh.

In another note, has anyone suffered from frequent page loading problems on hard-light.net or game-warden.com? Such as 403 Forbidden error? MatthewPapa says he's gotten 403 frequently while I have not seen any kind of page loading problems. So I'm wondering if anyone else is.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: FUBAR-BDHR on September 04, 2009, 12:22:04 am
Been on both forums all day and none here.  The occasional add loading delay is about it. 
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Stormkeeper on September 04, 2009, 12:44:19 am
What he said.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 05, 2009, 10:30:45 am
The forums are in need of some database maintenance. Unfortunately there's a side-effect to one of the required operations, all posts will be marked as unread. It sucks I know.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: chief1983 on September 05, 2009, 05:17:11 pm
I was getting frequent Forbidden messages last night.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 06, 2009, 01:19:05 am
Probably because I restarted Apache to apply a few tweaks. And I messed around with wiki some, which indeed did produce 403's.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Stormkeeper on September 06, 2009, 01:43:15 am
One good thing. Now I know that there's actually an FTP for interviews, plus a webpage. Although I still haven't figured out how to use it.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Sandwich on September 06, 2009, 02:31:04 am
Unfortunately there's a side-effect to one of the required operations, all posts will be marked as unread. It sucks I know.

Ahh, I was wondering about that.
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Stormkeeper on September 08, 2009, 03:58:43 am
All marked unread again?
Title: Re: Downtime coming September
Post by: Fury on September 08, 2009, 04:05:00 am
Depends whether you marked topics read before or after last database backup. If after, then yes they are unread.