FalcFans Forums

Thanks for bringing the board back!!!

I couldn't agree more!

3 cheers for Pudge!

(I about went insane not being able to rant on the Matt Ryan contract topic.)

don't tell anyone, but i kinda missed you guys....well, some of you.

Sorry guys, I was getting the run around from the site's webhost for about 3 days before I really got an answer on how to fix the problem.

The issue basically is that the forum's membership is too big for the webhost's servers to handle. The issue of the "max user connections" is based on how many times people connect to the board. While the board can handle 100 people on the site at once, basically if 50 or more of them are looking at 50 different pages at a given time, then it overloads the board since my host's server only allows 50 connections.

So basically, I cannot guarantee it won't happen again. I believe my current contract with my webhost runs out in August, so between now and then I will look at different webhosts in the event that this problem doesn't go away (I don't think it will) that will allow more than 50 connections.

The solution my webhost offered was to go from a shared server (which the site currently uses) to a virtual private server. The only problem that incurs an additional $400 annual cost, something I simply can't afford right now and even if I could, I don't know if fixing this problem is worth it.

But I'm going to see if I can increase the site's ad revenues in the coming months to potentially pay for that.

The board is up for now, but this problem could come right back. It could be 12 hours, 12 days, or 12 months before this problem crops up again, but I'm pretty sure with my current hosting plan, that it will crop up again. I just don't know when. I'm hopeful it doesn't happen between now and August in order for me to find a more permanent fix.

That's great man! The site is getting more hits than it can take if I read you right. That is a testament to the quality of the members here, whether they are loved or disliked to any degree by anyone.

As said,...it's good to see the site running again.

Read your blog about Ryan and it was good. I was wrong about McKay. he did the whole deal from what I've read.

Thanks Pudge!

It's great to have the forum up and running again! Thanks, Pudge!

I was begining to think you switched teams on us.Thanks for bringing the board back Pudge!

Yay! My favorite method of screwing off at work is back.

Pudge - Now that your site is back online many employees with typically great work ethic will once again slack off so they can talk about their beloved Falcons.

Yeah thanks for working hard to get this back up. I don't post much right now but I do read often. Thanks for making this site available Pudge!

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I'd be willing to donate a few dollars to get the site on a larger server. I'm sure if everyone throws in a few dollars, the money will add up quickly.

LOL, yeah Pudge, do you accept Paypal

MF1

Thanks for the info, Pudge. Youand I might need to start weeding out some of the "less desireable" members to ease the burden, perhaps. Float me Admin privileges for a day or so and I'll tweak the database for you if you'd like. You're welcome.

[OK seriously, good job getting things back up. Why not set up a paypal contribution link? I'm sure many of us would be glad to drop a couple of bucks occasionally to help the site out. You could even show a running tally vs. target if you ar concerned about getting "too much" contributions.]

i'll contribute.

The sad part of paying to help the site is that it will ruin the site in the end. Payment means that people will feel they have a part of the site, they can say what they want [because they paid!], they can't be banned [because they paid!], etc. Helping Pudge out just isn't an option because of human nature.

MF1

Only if it is completely annonymous to the site owner. It is much to ask of people to give without any them thinking they deserve preferential treatment. Gifts are just that - gifts with no intent of anything in return. Then it becoems hard (usually) for the owner not to feel guilty for discplining a member - sometimes they overcompensate for a perceived preferential treatment.

Some places it works, some places it doesn't. I think it would work here as it is a one man show with trusted lieutenants as moderators. There is no ruling clique to appease. No hidden agendas. Rational and relatively consistant moderation. With a few notable exceptions, a very low troll factor that has been rendered moot with the blessed ignore option. All of which would make it doable.

W

FWIW, my real name is not "Birdman".

Pudge,
I know one forum I hang out in uses actihosting. After much research by the site admin, he found this one to be the best. Apparently, they are used by a lot of porn websites.

One thing that has bothered me about some forums is that a lot of them cry poor. Am I missing something? To me, it looks like a dedicated server costs $170 a month. This is not directed at you Pudge, because you aren't running a forum to make money. One forum I go to is always crying about using their advertisers or the forum will fade away. Another uses the forum as support and advertising for their business, but I always have to hear about how they need to make money. Hopefully, some basic advertising can pay for the site and forum.

This site's annual advertising intake is more than enough to support their maintenance of the site and to also afford some nice prizes for the mock draft contest. So I won't claim to be poor. And I think the ads would cover the move, but it wouldn't leave too much leeway, particularly if 1 or 2 advertisers pulled out and what not.

I could do it of course, but obviuosly the issue I'm going to have to consider in the coming weeks/months is the extra $400/yr. worth it? Could I still accomplish my goal for half that price? So it's something I'm going to have to do research on.

But thanks for the tip on actihosting. I could make a crude joke, but I don't wanna get banned.

:: hovers finger over the "Eject Pudge" button ::

I was looking at the FAQs at my current host's site about the private servers, and it seems like there is a fair bit amount of work that is involved in maintaining a server on my own. So far in my limited research, it would seem the best deal for me is to stick with my own host as far as the private servers go. But due to the potential amount of work, it would seem that I would probably need to take on at least 1 other person as an admin that will help with the maintenance of this site. OBviously, someone with experience running a website would be preferred, but considering I learned on the job about 9 years ago, I'm not against someone else doing the same now. Although it's a lot more to learn now than it was then.

But just saying this more as a heads up for any individual here that might be interested in helping out. If there are people that are interested, more information will come in the future.