It’s not the cost, it’s more about the time. John has redistributed and balanced the load over our existing servers and has the situation well under control. We typically replace part of our plant every couple of years or so. We just added two big new servers a couple years ago and added a whole lot more memory and disk resources. I’ve asked John to get some quotes on a major system upgrade, but he hasn’t got a round tuit yet. I was thinking earlier that he’d probably be in a hurry to replace the dead server but he doesn’t seem to be. He did hint a year or so ago that he might like to replace a big part of our system, but haven’t heard much from him about it since. I’m guessing now that he’ll just wait until our next major upgrade. He’s even more tight lipped about this stuff than I am. Typically answers my questions with one word or grunt (if at all). Yes, no, ok, done, not now, etc.
And actually I’ve lost count of the exact number of servers in our system. At one time I believe we had as many as twelve. Over the years we’ve added some new larger and more powerful servers and rotated out some of the older ones. Whether the current number is 7 or 8 or even nine or ten I don’t know and don’t know if it makes any difference.
When John decides to tackle the update project, I’m sure he will and then it’ll happen in a hurry. He’s my major partner and that’s his part of the business and I trust him completely
Understood that right away.
Jim, I want to thank you quite publicly for sharing this information with all of us. This is EXACTLY the kind of info we all were looking for and that we argue ENDLESSLY about until you, the Big Boss, fills us in.
We want only what we've already said a hundred times - a thriving FR in the vision that you've set up already. We want to do more if more is needed.
Lacking this information, you KNOW what we FReepers are going to do... we are going to fight about it. ;0) Under the circumstances though it was my opinion that it wasn't helpful to do so, so I spoke up. That's all.
I request that we keep talking and asking questions and clearing the air of whatever is appropriate for public consumption. But it's just a request. Brainstorming helps. A lot of ideas, and a few or even one good idea that furthers the cause. That's what I believe in.
Thanks again. (Please also consider a bit more formal succession plan for the website...?)
Thank you. I honestly find this “behind the scenes” stuff interesting.
IMHO, I REALLY miss the “# of page views” thingee.
Is that feature on the “dead” server?? It really gave more of an indication of FR traffic and thread subject interest and selection.
Jim and John, would you give some thought to the idea of experimenting with a couple of conservative college students as interns? Get them from likely places by advertising for any who live in SoCal but attend Hillsdale College, or are members of Leadership Institute or the like. Check 'em out and give them limited duties, even online instead of on site, to see if it works out. If it did work out, over the next few semesters you might be able to offer to be an official internship site and use grunt labor to tackle some drone tasks like system testing or your aforementioned archives scrubbing.