Host Switchover - Friday May 11th

[SinCity R/T]

This site has been experiencing SQL resource errors with the current host, and due to their technical support incompetence I haven chosen to pay for what should hopefully prove to be a better host with much higher resource limits.

On Friday morning 5/11/07 I will be temporarily shutting down the forum so I can transfer this website to the new server. The SQL database here is extremely large (over 1.2GB in size) so it will take awhile (2-4 hours) for the entire transfer to be completed - the internet links I have at work are much more robust than the typical home connection, this is why the process is occurring during the daytime. When this transfer occurs, the domain information for the site (the internet record that takes you to the proper server when you type http://www.dakota-durango.com) will be updated to point to the new server, but it may take some time before your local internet provider picks up the revised address.

I will post updates on the main page of the website as the process begins, as your local provider catches up with the domain transfer you will be able to use all of the features of the website as usual.

Approximately 1-2 weeks after the transfer has taken place and basic bugs are worked out, I will freeze the forum for 1-2 hours once more (most likely later at night on a weekend) so I can update the forum software to the newest version so additional site enhancements can be added.

[addicted2blue00]

thank you so much steve for your loyalty to the site, it is very appreciated as the site is very important to our daily routine.

[fastdak]

thanks for all the blood, sweat & tears. and thanks for creating this site too!!!

[DAKSPORT1PA]

Thanks for the heads up Steve. :onethumb:

[DakotaLivLrg]

Thanks Steve for the update and all you do for the site :onethumb:

[IndyDurango]

The DOC is in a similar situation. Good luck! We'll be there soon I fear.

Even without any existing posts after the transfer (Yikes! :jester: J/K!) it will still be the same Dak-D.com enjoyed by many.

Go get it.

IndyDurango

[SinCity R/T]

The DOC is in a similar situation. Good luck! We'll be there soon I fear.

Even without any existing posts after the transfer (Yikes! :jester: J/K!) it will still be the same Dak-D.com enjoyed by many.

Go get it.

IndyDurango

I already have a backup of the site's SQL database from a couple of days ago, and will make another one Friday. The worst case scenario should be the loss of 1 weeks posts. I may make another backup tomorrow from work just in case - my download throughput at work makes backups pretty routine.

[dakota g33k]

w00t bulletproof portals rulz!!1one

[SinCity R/T]

w00t bulletproof portals rulz!!1one

The last time I did a throughput test, I got ~16,000kb/sec download, and ~20,000kb/sec upload. Having a dedicated gigabit fiber backbone rocks, as long as the server you're playing with on the other end is robust as well. I've seen download rates as high as 25MB/sec from local sites.

[blk03rt]

I have no clue what the hell ya'll are talking about with the computer jargon. But THANKS STEVE! for everything you do to keep the best site in the world up and running :beer:

[krweby]

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :banana2: :banana2: :clap2: :clap2:
:usa2:

[Dakudaman]

'Cudos' go out to you!

[realdeal7369]

nice. thanks a ton man. great site too. id be a bored sumbitch without it man.!

[DakotaPwr]

I second what RealDeal says!

[WeezyRT]

Good stuff Steve, glad to here it. I and everyone else on here, especially those that get on here several times a day everyday, REALLY appreciate all your hard work and dedication you put towards this site. Thanks a ton, you da man! :beer:

[Jasoon]

I have no clue what the hell ya'll are talking about with the computer jargon. But THANKS STEVE! for everything you do to keep the best site in the world up and running :beer:



Couldn't have said it better ! Thanks Steve!

[rebelfootball]

Thanks for the awesome place Steve. The internet would suck for me if this place weren't here.

[ucimaplaya2]

thanks steve!
The last time I did a throughput test, I got ~16,000kb/sec download, and ~20,000kb/sec upload. Having a dedicated gigabit fiber backbone rocks, as long as the server you're playing with on the other end is robust as well. I've seen download rates as high as 25MB/sec from local sites.
i didnt even know that those words made up a coherrent sentence but it sounds like a good thing :woot:

[DakotaLivLrg]

damn what will i do tomorow ????????????????

[Taz_FL]

Cool, Thanks :bow:

[AmberFireDaK]

THANKS STEVE! for everything you do to keep the best site in the world up and running :beer:

Amen :twothumb: :beer:

[SinCity R/T]

BUMP!

The website transition will begin this morning in a couple of hours. I am making extra backups of the files that don't involve the forum first, then I will lock up the forum's SQL database so it can be saved and transferred over without losing any data. The rest of the site should be functional during this time, although as with all domain transfers (the pointer for http://www.dakota-durango.com is being switched from the old server to the new server) it may take some time before your local internet host links you to the new server. I will attempt to post some technical tips when available for anyone who is having troubles reaching the new server.

[SinCity R/T]

Ugh... Sorry for the extended downtime, folks... The control panels on the new server are considerably different than the old server, and it made the attempted transfer a lot more difficult than I originally thought it would be. Unfortunately none of the tier 2 techs who work with my type of hosting plan were available today, so I was winging it on my own... After trying a dozen different ways to make the conversion work (with an hour of upload time required for each attempt), I eventually gave up and simply unlocked the forum on the old server so people could use the site during the weekend.

When the tier 2 techs get in on Monday I will attempt another transfer to the new server.

[Dj Wolf]

Damn that sucks, hope ya get it all worked out

[5.9 R/T]

well anyways, in the name of all members, Thanks for the time you put in this forum for all of us!!. we would be very sad if this forum would have to close... so sincerely Steve thank you for your engagement and your help for the dakota-durango community and for keeping the site up even if you do not still own a dakota! very nice from you! keep up the good work! :bow: :clap2:

[Dakudaman]

Man that was the longest day of my life! Glad we are back up and running thanks Steve for all the hard work and commitment! :bow: You the man!

[slvdak]

Thanks Steve and thanks for being so dedicated keeping the site up and running
:clap2:

[Nemesis]

Ugh... Sorry for the extended downtime, folks... The control panels on the new server are considerably different than the old server, and it made the attempted transfer a lot more difficult than I originally thought it would be. Unfortunately none of the tier 2 techs who work with my type of hosting plan were available today, so I was winging it on my own... After trying a dozen different ways to make the conversion work (with an hour of upload time required for each attempt), I eventually gave up and simply unlocked the forum on the old server so people could use the site during the weekend.

When the tier 2 techs get in on Monday I will attempt another transfer to the new server.


did you ever ger it transfered over? because i've been having ALOT of problems accessing and posting on the forums latly. mostly in the past couple weeks.

[SinCity R/T]

did you ever ger it transfered over? because i've been having ALOT of problems accessing and posting on the forums latly. mostly in the past couple weeks.

Not yet... I'm doing a test transfer behind the scenes right now as we speak to get the routine down pat before I take the site offline again. If things go well I will switch the site over on friday or monday.

Today's problems are general issues with the host's MySQL service, it's affecting all of the websites on the server. I've already forwarded my complaint to tech support, but at the moment I can't do anything but sit back and prepare for the service switchover.

[Nemesis]

whats version of SQL server are they running?

[endgame]

I hate SQL. It's too much trouble for its worth. I know used right it can do all kinds of things, but it can take forever to get it to that point.

whats version of SQL server are they running?
I would hope 4.0 or higher for this site. At least 3.0.

[Nemesis]

if they are running 3.0 someone needs smacked, lol
:slap:

[endgame]

if they are running 3.0 someone needs smacked, lol
:slap:
That could explain the problems. :jester:

[SinCity R/T]

SQL is up above 4. The new server is running a slightly newer version than the old server, but I think my issues are mostly because of a difference in control panels (vdeck vs. plesk) and the sheer size of the SQL database I'm trying to import (1.22GB) rather than the SQL itself.

I will make another attempt at switching the website over on 5/21. I made some test conversions behind the scenes over the last couple of days and I think things will go better this time around. One way or another we will be on the new server and I'll address any bugs that might pop up after the transfer - I'm really tired of the service issues with the old host, and I certainly don't want to be wasting the bigger bucks for the new server by letting it sit idle.

[DakotaDan23]

SinCity R/T
Webmaster

2007 Silver Charger SRT-8 - 6.1L Hemi
1999 Black Dakota R/T - 6.7L Magnum

6.7L Magnum, eh? I think the server isn't the only thing getting a major upgrade. :mullet: And you've only had it for a few days!

Dan

[SinCity R/T]

6.7L Magnum, eh? I think the server isn't the only thing getting a major upgrade. :mullet: And you've only had it for a few days!

Dan

The truck came with the 408 - one of the many considerations for making the purchase.

[Jasonb61]

The truck came with the 408 - one of the many considerations for making the purchase.

Who built it? You like? :onethumb:

[SinCity R/T]

Who built it? You like? :onethumb:

Justin Vincent (most people probably don't know who that is) helped with the 408. Unfortunately I have virtually no information about the engine's contents at all - the previous owner is trying to contact Justin, hopefully I can get a shopping list of what parts went into the motor, the cam specs, etc.

So far I like the truck a lot. It's a good thing I have lots horsing around with previous R/T's - romping on the gas with the 255/55-17's on back is like trying to run across an ice rink with sandals on. 325/45-17 M&H's are a definite must-have in the near future.

[endgame]

Justin Vincent (most people probably don't know who that is) helped with the 408. Unfortunately I have virtually no information about the engine's contents at all - the previous owner is trying to contact Justin, hopefully I can get a shopping list of what parts went into the motor, the cam specs, etc.

So far I like the truck a lot. It's a good thing I have lots horsing around with previous R/T's - romping on the gas with the 255/55-17's on back is like trying to run across an ice rink with sandals on. 325/45-17 M&H's are a definite must-have in the near future.6.7 in a Dakota is just sick.

On a side note, your avatar is killing my brain. I can feel it going numb every time I see it.

[SinCity R/T]

On a side note, your avatar is killing my brain. I can feel it going numb every time I see it.

GIR is a pimp.

[endgame]

So he/it is. :jester:

[DakotaDan23]

The truck came with the 408

My bad, I thought I caught you in a typo! Why can't I ever find a 408 just laying around? :rant:

Dan

[SinCity R/T]

Everything has now been transferred to the new server - sorry for the delays, this website is extremely large. I had to download nearly 2GB of data from the old server to my computer, then upload that same 2GB to the new server - throw in some issues that needed to be diagnosed, and the whole thing ended up taking about 14 hours to complete.

Because the website was moved to a new server, the process of updating the domain name (ie: when you type www.dakota-durango.com you get pointed to the new server, not the old one) has to be performed. I have submitted the transfer, but it can take anywhere from 1 to 72 hours for your local internet provider to pick up the switch in service.

My sincerest apologies to everyone for the transitional delays. I anticipate that the new server should alleviate all of the SQL errors the previous host was bombarding us with for good.

In a week or two after everything has stabilized & everyone is pointed to the new server, I will begin the process of updating the forum software.

[Mopar4Life]

Thanks Steve!

[DakotaLivLrg]

Thanks Steve!


x2 :twothumb:

[AmberFireDaK]

Everything has now been transferred to the new server - sorry for the delays, this website is extremely large. I had to download nearly 2GB of data from the old server to my computer, then upload that same 2GB to the new server - throw in some issues that needed to be diagnosed, and the whole thing ended up taking about 14 hours to complete.

Because the website was moved to a new server, the process of updating the domain name (ie: when you type www.dakota-durango.com you get pointed to the new server, not the old one) has to be performed. I have submitted the transfer, but it can take anywhere from 1 to 72 hours for your local internet provider to pick up the switch in service.

My sincerest apologies to everyone for the transitional delays. I anticipate that the new server should alleviate all of the SQL errors the previous host was bombarding us with for good.

In a week or two after everything has stabilized & everyone is pointed to the new server, I will begin the process of updating the forum software.


Dude you work to hard :jester:

But thanks :beer:

[Nemesis]

Dude you work to hard :jester:

But thanks :beer:

agreed..

but now that its back time to get back to what we do best..
:blahblah: :blahblah: :blahblah:

[SinCity R/T]

The old host was a shared website plan, which meant ~600 websites were crammed onto one box, and the host took care of all the DNS/mail/etc. settings on their end. The new server is a virtual server package so I have a LOT more resources available, but I found out the hard way that they don't configure the DNS options the same way. This is part of the reason why it took so long for people to get back onto the site after the server swap, the other portion was because the domain host screwed up the transfer.

I found out that a number of e-mail providers such as MSN, Hotmail, AOL, etc. are having a fit because of the new server configuration - they are bouncing e-mails into the trash or spam folder because there was a glitch with the DNS settings on the virtual server. Until this DNS problem is fixed, people who are using AOL, MSN, Hotmail, and other mainstream services may not receive e-mail notifications from this site. I have already submitted a trouble ticket, and hopefully this will take care of things as far as e-mails are concerned.

Sorry for the inconvenience, I am told this problem should go away within the next few days as the DNS settings propagate (again) out to each internet host.