Has Apolyton become too big?

Seeker · January 19, 2003, 01:14

Well? It seems like we get a new forum every month or so.

Besides off-topic, I always check the EU2 and Civ Creation to see if someone has made the big WWII scenario I'm waiting for.

How can you possibly afford such a big, expensive site guys??

VJ · January 19, 2003, 03:44

How would they make it smaller? Ban all who have pc of under 1 000? :/

Dis · January 19, 2003, 04:04

they got rid of some older forums.

they should probably delete inactive screen names. But it is no big deal I suppose. I can't imagine a screen name would take up too much room.

ixnay · January 19, 2003, 04:44

As long as it still runs, it's not too big.

alva · January 19, 2003, 05:46

Maybe a split-up in the OT section?

Serious, on some days it's impossible to follow the OT.

Datajack Franit · January 19, 2003, 05:49

Agreed, delete the older forums

DrSpike · January 19, 2003, 06:56

Does it matter how many forums there are? Surely it's just traffic that is the issue.....and aside from very occasional mishaps the server seems to handle the load well.

Solver · January 19, 2003, 07:21

It's not too big, except that, from a technical view, we should really stop using mySQL for a database, and do something else. Long times for editing posts, occasional database mitakes and UUUUUUU messages show that the database is too big somewhat.

spartak · January 19, 2003, 07:43

What would you suggest if not SQL?

Solver · January 19, 2003, 08:24

I don't know what would the server support.

Alex · January 19, 2003, 09:16

Apolyton is not too big; we are too small.

Oerdin · January 19, 2003, 12:19

The OT has to much going on for just about anyone to follow but I wouldn't say 'poly is to big. We''ll know when it gets to big because it will take five minutes to load a page.

Rasbelin · January 19, 2003, 13:28

1. MySQL is just fine for the database. vBulletin only supports MySQL and it can handle large databases, as can vBulletin handle larger amounts of users than on Apolyton. This isn't the largest community that uses vB.

2. What would these old forums be? GGS maybe, but nothing else maybe. Pruning old messages and unused user accounts would be the best approach to this. vB has good administrative pruning features, so that's not the problem. The only obstacle is if Dan and Markos agree to do that and what the criterias would be for account pruning.

3. I have actually tackled this size issue in a The Column writing which has not yet been published, but generally speaking I could add that using a separate database server would also be a good idea.

4. The service quality can't be addressed with limited funds and as the potential funding models have been dismissed until further notice (i.e. the models of donations and paid memberships I've promoted because of that). I'm not trying to say I know better than Dan and Markos how to run this site, but indeed I have some insights on this issue. No more cash = no improvements in quality. More funding = improved quality.

Rasbelin · January 19, 2003, 13:30

Just to clarify: service quality = server speed and capacity, bandwith, website uptime. So it's not related to the contents of the site.

Inverse Icarus · January 19, 2003, 13:38

Quote:

Originally posted by Solver
It's not too big, except that, from a technical view, we should really stop using mySQL for a database, and do something else. Long times for editing posts, occasional database mitakes and UUUUUUU messages show that the database is too big somewhat.

i still say the UUUUUUUUUU is caused by the banner-ad script and not the mySQL DB.

Inverse Icarus · January 19, 2003, 13:43

hey rasby, a little aside here, but could you put a space somewhere between "Tampere/Tammerfors" in your locale? in my crappy laptop resolution (1024 x 768) the text moves your cell over into the message area and it looks ugly

what poly could do is get another server to handle the mySQL requests only, and the main one to handle the PHP only. that way neither box would be strained to any serious degree with our userload (most pages are either 50-50 or 75-25 PHP-mySQL).

and, setting that up would be easy.

Rasbelin · January 19, 2003, 14:03

Yeap, it's easy with vBulletin to use an another server for the database. However I still must point out my remark about the funding issue.

Uber: is it better now?

St Leo · January 19, 2003, 15:20

GGS maybe, but nothing else maybe.

Dinosaurs.

I propose we get rid of the OT and ban all of the OT-only posters.

VJ · January 19, 2003, 16:05

Quote:

hey rasby, a little aside here, but could you put a space somewhere between "Tampere/Tammerfors" in your locale? in my crappy laptop resolution (1024 x 768) the text moves your cell over into the message area and it looks ugly

I've been having the same issue for ages, but he hasn't done it, even when
I specifically requested it on ST... was it 5 or 6.

H Tower · January 19, 2003, 16:18

Quote:

Serious, on some days it's impossible to follow the OT.

oh boo hoo, another OTF newbie claims that he can't keep up with all the talk, just look on page two

Rasbelin · January 19, 2003, 16:23

Quote:

Originally posted by Tuomerehu

I've been having the same issue for ages, but he hasn't done it, even when I specifically requested it on ST... was it 5 or 6.

Meh, just keep whining.

I've already fixed it once, but it doesn't work properly. Complain to the administration, if you feel that it disturbs too much your Apolyton experience.

mrmitchell · January 19, 2003, 17:20

As I say:

ApALLyton

Asher · January 19, 2003, 23:33

The UUUUUUUUUUUU isn't caused by the bannerscript thing, or by a DB, it's caused by the webserver (Apache).

For some reason (usually under a high load), it spits out UUUUUUUUUUUU before the beginning of the HTTP header.

I think we should upgrade Apache, PHP, etc.

I think it'd be cool to upgrade to Apache 2.0 (turn on its multithreading) then upgrade the CPU to a 3.06GHz P4 with hyperhtreading.

Oerdin · January 19, 2003, 23:42

Sounds $$$$$$$.

Skanky Burns · January 20, 2003, 01:37

I don't think the advertisements get that much money for Apolyton.

Rasbelin · January 20, 2003, 02:35

Well, indeed, the version of Apache which is used on Settler is rather old (1.3.19), so an update to the version 2 series would be a good idea (IMO). However PHP has been recently updated, if I should mention something positive.

ixnay · January 20, 2003, 03:28

And if vBulletin 3 ever gets released, they could possibly upgrade to that.

Dis · January 20, 2003, 04:42

did I mention that when I make moderator I will ban all lame posters?

This will reduce the number of posters and keep apolyton nice and trim.

Rasbelin · January 20, 2003, 05:26

Ixy,

you can already get it. Just go to the restricted area if you still have a valid access right and apply for the beta testing.

As for the actual release, I would estimate it in one month or sooner. However Markos has stated previously that it would become too time consuming to update from ACS Forums' very customised and fine tuned 2.0.3 setup to 3.0, so most likely he won't update it, unless there's that great advantages, which isn't the case IMHO.

Alex · January 20, 2003, 08:17

Quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
did I mention that when I make moderator I will ban all lame posters?

This will reduce the number of posters and keep apolyton nice and trim.

I did not know a mod could ban himself...