Total Format Server Move Report And Information

[Detomah]

Over the last few weeks, preparations have been gradually put together so that Total Format could move to a much bigger, much more powerful and much more secure server host (and cheaper too) than we have previously been dealing with. These plans have been taking shape and are now approaching the critical stage of being implemented.

What this means to you:

Over the last 2 weeks, i've been transferring all of the files for Total Format to the new server and have been making all the necessary preparations for the full migration of the database and everything that you see on the site.

I am now in the last 10 percent of uploading of all the files and will immediately commence the reconfiguration of the paths, files and the likes as soon as that figure hits 100%.

As soon as that portion of the server move is complete, I will need to shut down TF for as lon as it takes to move the database itself over to the new server, to get it back online over there. This could be anything from 3 hours to 2 weeks, depending on how smoothly it goes. I have no way of knowing in advance how smoothly this is likely to happen, so can not give an exact timing for it and as you will probably know from the past, I don't like to give out deadlines for myself, as I hate missing them. and sometimes uncontrolable things can and do happen to scupper plans.

I was initially going to do various upgrades and the likes while the site was offline, but have chosen to stagger those changes once the site is relocated, to minimise the amount of downtime that will be needed, as having the site online is important for income as well as continuity.

If you have a pet, I would suggest you make sure it is fully fed and watered, although if any do die during the move, I will ressurect them for free.

I will make an announcement 24hours in advance of the downtime, followed by 12 hours, 6 hours, 3 hours, 1 hour and 10 minutes before the server gets switched off.

I was planning on setting up a temporary forum to keep people going, but I don't expect the site to be down long enough to really justify the work involved in doing that, so have now decided against that idea.

Regarding Tribal Wars, while I am busy with the server move, I will be leaving dazman, tfharv and tfsash in charge of the daily running of our tribe, but obviously I will still be logging into that game, so will be able to check things out.

If anyone has any issues or questions regarding this server move, please make a thread in the suggestions forum so that we can discuss them. Make it quick though as there will only be 3-4 days before I go ahead with the final movements.

Once the server is settled on the other side, many things on the Total Format will be changing and this will be done via an approximately once weekly dowtime period of a couple of hours so that these things can be implemented. It was either that or a minimum of a 2 week offline period, which I didn't want to do, as that means severe sleep deprivation for me and the last time I did that it nearly killed me.

[Detomah]

The uploading of files is about to complete, thus begins stage 2, which is the configuration of paths and files on the new server.

Therefore I am now giving official notice that the downtime due for this move is approaching fast, although still more than 24 hours away.

As always, I will keep you updated via this thread, as I progress. So please look at this thread often to make sure you don't get a nasty shock if the site goes offline for a while.

[Detomah]

This is your 3 day warning, that Total Format will go offline on Sunday evening so that the next stage of the server move can be completed.

The site will be down for as long as it takes, which could be anything from 6 hours to 2 weeks in honesty. I just don't know exactly how long this next bit of the move will take, as I can not account for unknown differences in server software and any potential unknown problems that could arise.

Obviously i'm seriously hoping that it will take a lot less than 2 weeks and more like 2 or 3 days, but I can't guarentee that, that will be the case, so I wont say so.

[Detomah]

Ok, you may have noticed the forum was closed for a few minutes, that was so that a database backup could be done.

To be safe, I did 3 full database backups, now all saved to disk, computer and external harddrive, just in case...

I will need to do one more, when the site goes offline on Sunday, but I needed to get one done in advance so that I can test out the new server with a proper live environment.

Now if the very worst were to happen and I managed to break something, the very worst we can now suffer would be to lose a couple of days worth of posts.

Of course, over the last 2 years of using the current host, daily backups have been made anyway, so data has always been safe, but those backups are of no use to me as they are internally stored on the current hosts backup servers, so they are no good to me when moving away from that host.

So far everything is progressing smoothly.

I would say I am roughly 60% through the server move now. but now the hardest part comes for me, making everything work on the new server.

[Detomah]

Just to let you all know, TF server move count down = 24 hours and counting.

In otherwords, 1 day before I shut down the old server and move to the new one.

[Detomah]

This is your 12 hour notice until the server goes offline.

[Sash]

dont Forget To Feed Your Critters!!!!!

[Detomah]

6 hours and counting.

And yeah, don't forget to feed your pets...

[Detomah]

2 hours people. The site will close in 2 hours.