Important-- Service outage tomorow ( and maybe tonight )

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:59 am

The web server that runs the list server, forums, and my.bzflag.org will be moving tomorow.

This means there may be times when the forums do not work ( as we move the data ). As DNS services move over there may also be aditional outages for the list server, images.bzflag.org, and my.bzflag.org.

we will do our best to get the move done as fast as posible. We are limited on time as to how long we can stay on this server ( bad things happend, and this machine must go to other uses ).

smartkid · Post by **smartkid** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:57 am

im being noasy but what bad things?

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 2:01 am

explosions.

Tanner · Post by **Tanner** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 2:02 am

I'm assuming although the list server will be down, we'll stilll be able to connect to servers but we'll have to do it in the dark?

-Tanner

pyr0 · Post by **pyr0** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 2:04 am

everyone go to silvercats pillbox server ... tis a must

Hannibal · Post by **Hannibal** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 2:07 am

Tanner
Im assuming that, yes, you can still go to "Join Game" and manually enter the server and port num.

A Meteorite · Post by **A Meteorite** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 2:14 am

Oh boy... no BZFlag fix for awhile then.

Let's hope the transfer is quick!

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 2:24 am

yes you can type in the server address, and your client will even use the last list it got from it's cache.

but global authentication may be down as well, so some servers may not let you in.

we are backing up all the files now, and disabling things that add new files ( like atatchments ).

we will then disable the board, and move over the databases ( after we test it all of course ).

during the move it will take time for the DNS records to update for everyone, this will mean that you may not see all the same servers as others. as soon as the records update for everyone then we'll all be on the same servers ( sometimes takes a day or so ).

smartkid · Post by **smartkid** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:00 am

ok this is a stupid question but why not just copy all the file and let the old machine run then once everythings copyed shut down the old server then start the new one so there would only be like 30 min down time?

jk, thanx,
smartkid

pyr0 · Post by **pyr0** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:51 am

i dont know if they have physical access to the system ... theyd need it to get everything proper, or at least get the company that has the server to do it. but i do remember them saying it was colo'd cheap or free... something along those lines. and that causes very little support. but all the same, its just what i believe the cause for a full move is, newer, faster server that they want to get custom cofig'd to work right, then theyll copy the data, leaving them with a new server thats already running under a new ip, so changing the dns is the logical thing to do, although it may take time (for me it seems to be instant in 95% of cases, which i always found intresting)

-pyr0

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:53 am

we will be doing that as much as we can, but at the point we copy the databases, we can't let anything write data to this site anymore or it won't be in sync.

most of our stuff works on databases. So when we move the stuff over, all this will go away ( we will disable them ), and you may not see the new server untill your ISP updates there DNS records. Those DNS updates usualy take a day. So we will have the new server up and running at the same time ( it's up and running now ), but you just won't be going to it using the bzflag.org domain 'cus of your ISP.

Scorch · Post by **Scorch** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:58 am

I would reccommend for everyone to go to http://db.bzflag.org/serverlist.php and save that page so they have a list of all available servers, most servers are up all the time.

Winny · Post by **Winny** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 11:02 am

Will the new server(s) have the same preformance as the old one or will it be better or worse?

hehe, like or joke bout our school server: "pedal faster! We need more power!"

smartkid · Post by **smartkid** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 2:38 pm

JeffM2501 wrote:we will be doing that as much as we can, but at the point we copy the databases, we can't let anything write data to this site anymore or it won't be in sync.

most of our stuff works on databases. So when we move the stuff over, all this will go away ( we will disable them ), and you may not see the new server untill your ISP updates there DNS records. Those DNS updates usualy take a day. So we will have the new server up and running at the same time ( it's up and running now ), but you just won't be going to it using the bzflag.org domain 'cus of your ISP.

OK, I get it! Thats interesting, I dont have a domain so I dont know much about them but it makes since now.

Thanx,
smartkid

Spazzy McGee · Post by **Spazzy McGee** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 3:04 pm

should i hold off starting up my new server today then? because obviously i won't be able to list it on the public list.
i'm just gonna cache my list now, cuz i got list server caching turned off.

edit: oh my! prehaps i won't start a server at all! the number of servers seems to have gone up by 60 in the last 24 hours! it's on about 250

Winny · Post by **Winny** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:13 pm

This is a tiny bit OT but I figured it would fit to put it here:

my servers global login (for usergroups) is not working, I was wondering if this is becuase my servers isp has not updated the DNS yet ( met brought me to this conclusion)

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 12:39 am

we haven't moved the servers yet. We are fixing some problems with the other server's configs, and looking for Tim to change the DNS.

pyr0 · Post by **pyr0** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:55 am

then whys this one running so nice right now?

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 2:53 am

we have to move not because this server has a problem. We have to move because this server works fine. The owner of it has to use it to replace another of his servers that failed ( a server that makes him money ).

You will know when we have moved, there will be an anouncement on the new server, and this server will have a "we moved" page.

we are still trying to get the details set up, so the move may not happen till tomorow.

Post by **Nidhoggr** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:55 pm

The server that the list server and forums run on is mine. It's been on this server for a little while now. One of my main servers died and I can't get replacement parts until at least Wednesday, so I have to use the bzflag server hardware to get my customer stuff back online.

I am working on getting a whole new server for bzflag stuff. With some generous donations I have almost enough money to buy a very nice new server for secretplace, and act as a backup server for the list server and forums. Secretplace will probably be down for a few weeks until I can get the new server ordered. I'm still just a little bit short of what I need to get the new server.

If anyone is interested in donating, they can paypal donations to frcameron@sacredcup.org.

I feel really bad that we have to move stuff off of my network. I am a long-time bzflag supporter and will hope to be able to give more in the future.

-Cameron (Nidhoggr)

Teppic · Post by **Teppic** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 6:05 pm

What nameserver(s) do you consider authoritive for this domain, so we can dig them whilst waiting for propagation please.

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 6:17 pm

we will be moving to bzflag.bz

so there will be ".bz" versions of all the domains that move.

Winny · Post by **Winny** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:28 pm

hope all goes as planned...

*shoes away murphys law*

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:35 am

We are moving now. Any posts made after this one may not make it to the new boards.