Posted by Kim on January 29, 2012, 6:45pm
My fellow citizens of the RP repository,Today our site was done a mighty blow on the field of battle. Its shining steed, our server, collapsed from under it, and toppling in its full suit of armor left the site most injured.
Although the elven healers have since been able to come to its aid, the time has come that we cannot ignore the infirmities of our current server.
This is the worst downtime we've ever had. On a personal note, I am frustrated and deeply embarrassed that this occurred on the same day that I spent hours seeking out sources of drain and waste on our server and taking steps to eliminate them to help stave off further down time. And then our host goes down completely, for reasons beyond my control. I'm so sorry it disrupted your game time.
I want to begin by thanking our host for giving us this shelter over the past year. When we first outgrew our original server, this one was the perfect size for us, and a price that we could actually afford.
Since then, we've grown so rapidly that we've had to upgrade our current server twice, and as we continue to grow we can be assured that we'll need to do it again.
In light of the level of unreliability our host has shown, it may be time that we move to a "big boy" server with a much more professional rig. This is an exciting and frightening step. Protecting the site is my greatest priority, but even small steps up from here come with an associated price increase that is quite steep.
We knew that we would have to go eventually. I had just hoped that we could wait to do it until we'd also grown financially strong enough to make that transition easy. We had just reached the point of breaking even on our current monthly costs. If we were to go now, we'd be right back to where we started: Nervous about breaking even every month.
We've done this before. The real question is: Do we want to do it again?
If you have ever purchased a power up for your RPR account, know that you are the reason the site is still around in a very real way, and you have the thanks of everyone who uses the site. If we move, we will depend on Epic Members like you more than ever.
So what say you, citizens of the Repository? Shall we sally forth into the wild unknown in search of a new land to build our empire? Or should we try to stick it out here a little longer?
Next: Our host explains the reasons behind today's downtime »
« Previous: January's Big Breakthroughs
Comments
Mermaid
January 29, 2012
7:08pm
Oh, an addition to my idea of the donation bin and bar... maybe involve templates as the motivation. Have the goal bar dual-directional. People donate towards one theme or the other, and whichever end gets the most "votes" when the goal is reached, then we get that layout we chose. New templates are ALWAYS fun, but if you guys went with that idea, maybe need someone to specifically dedicate some time to that so it's not all on your shoulders?
Gosh, pardon my onslaught of input and ideas, I'm just full of them tonight... P:
Gosh, pardon my onslaught of input and ideas, I'm just full of them tonight... P:
Believe me when i say if I could afford it, I'd get an epic membership. Not even for the bells and whistles that come with it. Just to help the site out. As it pertains to now though, I may not like it, but I can handle downtime. That's my opinion in this matter.
Mermaid
January 29, 2012
7:02pm
I agree with CelestinaGrey. It is a big decision to move, and if we are not able to afford it yet, why stress it? It would be lovely, but is it worth the stress acne (LOL)?
That being said, what about a donation bucket, with motivation? A bar that reaches up to the "goal point" every month, and if we reach the goal, some good event to occur? Or everyone gets a half a day, or a full day of Epic as thanks? That is, IF we achieve the goal point. I think there's enough members active on RPR that even if everyone donates a dollar or two, perhaps the server could be paid for? Not to mention, the tease of epic might convince people just how... EPIC... epic is. It's just a toss-out, just to help.
Now, I tried out Epic when you had the two-for-one deal going, and I really love it, I want more. Browsing without ads, being able to customize my personal profile, allt he extra character and image space, and all at once to support the website. If even I only did so for a month. If my college benefits stuff is approved, I do plan on getting a year's worth of Epic, just as I plan on getting a year of Silver Sponsorship on Furcadia. Until then, I'm with CelestinaGrey as far as being a broke college student goes.
Let's cross our fingers, pull our heads together, and strive for the best result, even if it means staying put for now.
That being said, what about a donation bucket, with motivation? A bar that reaches up to the "goal point" every month, and if we reach the goal, some good event to occur? Or everyone gets a half a day, or a full day of Epic as thanks? That is, IF we achieve the goal point. I think there's enough members active on RPR that even if everyone donates a dollar or two, perhaps the server could be paid for? Not to mention, the tease of epic might convince people just how... EPIC... epic is. It's just a toss-out, just to help.
Now, I tried out Epic when you had the two-for-one deal going, and I really love it, I want more. Browsing without ads, being able to customize my personal profile, allt he extra character and image space, and all at once to support the website. If even I only did so for a month. If my college benefits stuff is approved, I do plan on getting a year's worth of Epic, just as I plan on getting a year of Silver Sponsorship on Furcadia. Until then, I'm with CelestinaGrey as far as being a broke college student goes.
Let's cross our fingers, pull our heads together, and strive for the best result, even if it means staying put for now.
First let me say you guys do an amazing job, none of this was on you and no matter what other posters say (I doubt they say anything bad though because this community rocks) I wanted to let you guys know that.
I haven't been able to do a power up as of yet, but if the site does choose to migrate to a new server I would do as much as I can to help the site out as in power ups when I can.
In the end no matter what you all decide to do, you know you have a whole community behind you that will step up and help you guys. You are remarkable m'lady, you captain this ship very well so we'll do what we can to help you in your choice.
I haven't been able to do a power up as of yet, but if the site does choose to migrate to a new server I would do as much as I can to help the site out as in power ups when I can.
In the end no matter what you all decide to do, you know you have a whole community behind you that will step up and help you guys. You are remarkable m'lady, you captain this ship very well so we'll do what we can to help you in your choice.
I have to agree with Celestina, I'm a poor college student, I don't have a job right now. I go to school full time. If I could buy an Epic Membership I definitely would, but that is just not possible for me right now. Yeah, the downtime really sucks, but I've had to deal with it on other sites in the past. As long as information is not being lost, I think we should stay here until more users can help pay for the move, as I have the understanding that the Epic Memberships pay for the majority of the site.
I don't think moving to a more expensive server is a great idea if you're nervous about making the payments. I'd hate to see anything happen to this site.
But if you do, maybe make the Epic accounts... more flashy? Make people want them more? ..profit???
I can't really afford one because I have bills, so I don't mind the downtime... but its still annoying
But if you do, maybe make the Epic accounts... more flashy? Make people want them more? ..profit???
I can't really afford one because I have bills, so I don't mind the downtime... but its still annoying
I wont pretend to know anything about a lot of this. But if the current host can't support the site because of it growing, and if this would keep happening more and more because of that to the point where it will just be down more then its up......It might be best to move to a bigger one. Otherwise it would be like wasting money on something that can't run properly with what were using. ((Or that's how I see it))
Speaking as someone who is dirtpoor with no job and college to pay for soon, I say this:
I can handle downtime. It's sad, yes, but it's manageable. Like the 'blackout' many websites did for SOPA. It's just a little bit. And as long as the site isn't damaged (lost pages or character info or things like that), I wouldn't mind putting up with some downtime if it meant Kim being able to sleep easy at night after moving to a new host.
If we're not financially stable for this move yet, I feel like we shouldn't do it until we are.
I can handle downtime. It's sad, yes, but it's manageable. Like the 'blackout' many websites did for SOPA. It's just a little bit. And as long as the site isn't damaged (lost pages or character info or things like that), I wouldn't mind putting up with some downtime if it meant Kim being able to sleep easy at night after moving to a new host.
If we're not financially stable for this move yet, I feel like we shouldn't do it until we are.
SeraphicStar
January 29, 2012
6:50pm
The server has failed the RPR. One does not fail the RPR and live.
Legion
January 29, 2012
7:09pm