If this is the normal server operation then I am less than impressed! Forum/thread transfer times are terrible. This at 5:30AM. I suggest a proposal to the members to donate whatever is required in money from each to purchase,modify or do whatever is required to bring this equipment up to a level needed for its intended purpose. I like to read/post here so let me know and I will send the first check.Thanks.
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New TFL Server
- Thread starter Tom B
- Start date
TheBluesMan
Moderator Emeritus
Thanks for your offer of help, Tom. 
You've been here a while, so you should know that TFL is usually very fast.
The slow-down you experienced may not have been with TFL's server. Have you checked your ISP, connection speed, Internet Weather Report, etc.?
That said, we have been experiencing some technical difficulties of late. The server seems to be up to speed now, though. Rest assured that Rich & Co. are working day and night to make sure you have a lightning-fast connection every time.
You've been here a while, so you should know that TFL is usually very fast. The slow-down you experienced may not have been with TFL's server. Have you checked your ISP, connection speed, Internet Weather Report, etc.?
That said, we have been experiencing some technical difficulties of late. The server seems to be up to speed now, though. Rest assured that Rich & Co. are working day and night to make sure you have a lightning-fast connection every time.
Rich Lucibella
Staff
Tom-
The slowdowns of late are due two two factors:
1) A major breakdown over the weekend (human induced)
2) The resources I've been hogging in the back room as I bring up the new version of the software.
Both these have been resolved as of an hour ago.
We do have a new server on order that should be in this week. Price: $5,000+ How much of a contribution did you have in mind?
Rich
The slowdowns of late are due two two factors:
1) A major breakdown over the weekend (human induced)
2) The resources I've been hogging in the back room as I bring up the new version of the software.
Both these have been resolved as of an hour ago.
We do have a new server on order that should be in this week. Price: $5,000+ How much of a contribution did you have in mind?
Rich
Well you have 8735 registered members so if only half donated that would be about $1.25 each. I will be glad to chip in $50. myself. Email or post the name and address and I will get a check in the mail tomorrow. I won't even ask for a Tom B forum or thread locking rights for the donation.
Gunslinger
Moderator
With the number of servers available at little or, in some cases, no cost why does it require such large sums of money to operate TFL? I realize that TFL has grown to huge proportions and the size alone dictates dedicated software. However, even in it's infancy TFL has reputably been a large financial burden to bear. In those days, as one of the earlier members, I recall many of us "creating" topics in order to induce discussion and therefore "establish" a firearms board on the Internet. Even now that the volume is without question enormous I would still think that there would be other avenues to pursue that would not propose such an expense.
Rich Lucibella
Staff
Tom-
I was only funnin' about the contribution, but we truly appreciate the offer.
Gunslinger-
Quick corrrection and long explanation comin'.
"Since it's infancy, TFL has been a large financial burden?" On who? When did you ever hear such complaints? Even now, we're not complaining about the server costs...it goes with the responsibility of the site. The only time we've ever brought up TFL costs is:
1) In response to direct questions such as Tom's
2) When individuals have attempted to use the bandwidth to promote personal products.
3) When individuals have attempted to use the TFL name, without our knowledge, to hawk vendors for discounts, gifts and kickbacks.
I know you like EZ Board for your site. EZ-Board is a fine system. And it's free, I know. But I've heard tales of sites as large as ours being forced to archive and delete old messages due to disk space limitations. I also hear that it experiences frequent slow downs. We've never liked the advertisements that come with less expensive alternatives (nor do the Members)....basically, I think you get what you pay for.
When it comes to TFL and similar sites, there are two costs:
Storage and Bandwidth.
Storage:
Our data files for the posts alone are over 200MB; add in Membership and sundry data files, programs, image files and room for backup and you're well over half a gig. (The old UBB flat files doubled that). Take that figure and check some of the Web host compaies like Verio: once you get above 100-200MB, you're into commercial rates.
Bandwidth
Last I checked (November), TFL was serving up 1.5 gigabytes of information every day! That's a lot of bandwidth...I've been told it's more than General Motors! I'm not sure if that's true but I'd love to compare us to Brownells, for instance. As I write, there are 90 distinct Members and 66 guests accessing TFL files. Their average time on the site is far greater than most commercial sites. Take that bandwidth number and shop around on the internet. I'd be interested if you find any real bargains.
Talk to Erick from Glocktalk about this...he's had to switch web host companies as often as his underwear, due to the success of his site. We even colocated on a dedicated server with him for a while....they bounced us off for excvessive use.
Talk to Spark from BladeForums. We were on his dedicated server for about the first eight months...he had to throw us off just to keep his own site up.
As for the new server, a Dell Poweredge 2450, we're purchasing this to avoid the storage fees talked about above. It also allows us to increase memory without saying "please". Finally, if you look at the specs, this is not exactly a PC. It comes with three separate hard drives and a system known as Raid5 for guaranteed disaster recovery.
Will it guarantee us a problem free future? I doubt it. But it will help us to continue to set the bar for others to follow.
Rich
I was only funnin' about the contribution, but we truly appreciate the offer.
Gunslinger-
Quick corrrection and long explanation comin'.
"Since it's infancy, TFL has been a large financial burden?" On who? When did you ever hear such complaints? Even now, we're not complaining about the server costs...it goes with the responsibility of the site. The only time we've ever brought up TFL costs is:
1) In response to direct questions such as Tom's
2) When individuals have attempted to use the bandwidth to promote personal products.
3) When individuals have attempted to use the TFL name, without our knowledge, to hawk vendors for discounts, gifts and kickbacks.
I know you like EZ Board for your site. EZ-Board is a fine system. And it's free, I know. But I've heard tales of sites as large as ours being forced to archive and delete old messages due to disk space limitations. I also hear that it experiences frequent slow downs. We've never liked the advertisements that come with less expensive alternatives (nor do the Members)....basically, I think you get what you pay for.
When it comes to TFL and similar sites, there are two costs:
Storage and Bandwidth.
Storage:
Our data files for the posts alone are over 200MB; add in Membership and sundry data files, programs, image files and room for backup and you're well over half a gig. (The old UBB flat files doubled that). Take that figure and check some of the Web host compaies like Verio: once you get above 100-200MB, you're into commercial rates.
Bandwidth
Last I checked (November), TFL was serving up 1.5 gigabytes of information every day! That's a lot of bandwidth...I've been told it's more than General Motors! I'm not sure if that's true but I'd love to compare us to Brownells, for instance. As I write, there are 90 distinct Members and 66 guests accessing TFL files. Their average time on the site is far greater than most commercial sites. Take that bandwidth number and shop around on the internet. I'd be interested if you find any real bargains.
Talk to Erick from Glocktalk about this...he's had to switch web host companies as often as his underwear, due to the success of his site. We even colocated on a dedicated server with him for a while....they bounced us off for excvessive use.
Talk to Spark from BladeForums. We were on his dedicated server for about the first eight months...he had to throw us off just to keep his own site up.
As for the new server, a Dell Poweredge 2450, we're purchasing this to avoid the storage fees talked about above. It also allows us to increase memory without saying "please". Finally, if you look at the specs, this is not exactly a PC. It comes with three separate hard drives and a system known as Raid5 for guaranteed disaster recovery.
Will it guarantee us a problem free future? I doubt it. But it will help us to continue to set the bar for others to follow.
Rich
Caeca Invidia Es
Staff Alumnus
Rich, you beat me to it..... but I'm going to leave my post up anyway 
Gunslinger, there are many many options available for dedicated server solutions. The problem with most of them is that it does not put the server under absolute control of TFL. Without owning the server yourself you are still subject to restrictions/obligations put forth by who ever does own it. Not to mention that they will always maintain the right to end your service without notice whenever they get the urge.
Rich's dedication to the forum requires that the forum and server remain absolutly in his control, and that is not cheap.
I for one and incredibly thankful to him for the time and money he has put into this forum.
Gunslinger, there are many many options available for dedicated server solutions. The problem with most of them is that it does not put the server under absolute control of TFL. Without owning the server yourself you are still subject to restrictions/obligations put forth by who ever does own it. Not to mention that they will always maintain the right to end your service without notice whenever they get the urge.
Rich's dedication to the forum requires that the forum and server remain absolutly in his control, and that is not cheap.
I for one and incredibly thankful to him for the time and money he has put into this forum.
Tom, You have been around here longer than I have and you should know the answers to all of the above. I have offered on several occasions to help with this or that and I assure you that I had a bit more than $50 in mind and have always been politely refused. Rich knows that I don't want to purchase influence and would like to help out but he is doing it because that is the way it is.
Best forum? You Know It!
Best forum? You Know It!
Rich Lucibella
Staff
PostScript Regarding "Free" Servers
The CEO of EZ Board's ears musta been burning. He posted the following today at http://login.ezboard.com/fezboardfrm32.showMessage?topicID=34.topic
Many of the EZ Boards are down sporadically, including Plainsman's at http://pub7.ezboard.com/bplainsmanscabin and Sandy's at http://pub2.ezboard.com/bpsychotalk
Rich
The CEO of EZ Board's ears musta been burning. He posted the following today at http://login.ezboard.com/fezboardfrm32.showMessage?topicID=34.topic
Many of the EZ Boards are down sporadically, including Plainsman's at http://pub7.ezboard.com/bplainsmanscabin and Sandy's at http://pub2.ezboard.com/bpsychotalk
Rich
Rich Lucibella
Staff
RWK-
Thanks. It's appreciated. You've been added to the list of "soft touches".
Dean-
Yup, we got a new, dedicated server. But we didn't own it; our web host company did. Then we spent a month trying to get the memory upgraded....because we didn't own it.
Now....we intend to own it!
Ricg
Thanks. It's appreciated. You've been added to the list of "soft touches".
Dean-
Yup, we got a new, dedicated server. But we didn't own it; our web host company did. Then we spent a month trying to get the memory upgraded....because we didn't own it.
Now....we intend to own it!
Ricg