OVF UPDATE: New server and polite donations appeal

[robf]

Hello,

 

In addition to the site loss (thankfully restored via back-up) the site has suffered two further crashes in recent weeks.

 

I haven't been sitting idly while this happened and I have been asking a lot of questions to the customer services team of the hosting service I use.

 

To sum up - the dedicated server that OVF is an old one (it was a second-hand one when I took it over some years ago) and is running out of memory. Lack of memory caused at least one of the recent crashes, possibly two of them.

 

I am going to be doing the future in coming weeks:

 

* Moving the site to a NEW server with double the memory

* I have also added an automated back-up service

* And finally I have added 24 monitoring of the server (this should mean it is restored within an hour of going down - but with the extra memory any crashes should be reduced anyhow)

* There should be no site downtime when the server switch is made (hurrah)

 

All this should mean OVF will be much improved however it does cost more money!

 

If you would like to make a small donation to OVF running costs now is the ideal time to do so. All money received will go towards meeting the extra costs of the new server. If OVF cannot cover its costs then this site will be closed as I cannot afford to run it at a large loss!

 

The link to make a donation is here - http://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2012/01/ovf-website/

 

(scroll down and click on the big donate button)

 

Please note - there are a small number of regulars who are massively generous and give me regular donations. You know who you are and this appeal is NOT aimed at you (thank you for all you do) but rather anyone who is in a position to make a donation but perhaps hasn't done so for a while. I also appreciate that not everyone is in a financial position to help and that is also understood.

 

Thanks,

 

Rob

 

p.s. I am still working through a number of things that need adding/changing on the site since it crashed. If you spot anything odd or not working please let me know - I am very happy to receive your comments. If you want to send a screengrab the email is [email protected]

[robf]

Thank you very much to those of you who have donated over the last few hours - much appreciated.

[robf]

A quick update on this -

 

1. Thank you to everyone who has donated money - much appreciated

2. The server switch now has to be ordered (I intend to do it by the end of the month)

3. It should NOT include any site downtime but obviously there is a lot of work backing up things just in case so I will be pretty busy behind the scenes - apologies for any delays answering PMs, emails etc

 

The new server will be brand-new (compared to the second-hand one I got some time ago) with much more memory and all the latest scripts. This should be a massive help in stopping OVF crashes.