MIGWeb Server Load Issues - PLEASE READ

[MikeWarner]

As many of you know, the MIGWeb server is getting a bit overloaded at peek times. As a result, I have made a few changes to the vBulletin settings to tide us over. Some of you may spot a few features (minor ones) missing. Hopefully the board will use a few less resources now.

Features removed:
1. Popup notification of new PMs.
When switched on, the site checks for a new message on every single page load. MIG has over 100,000 pages loaded each day - there are only 86400 seconds in each day, so this was being done at around every 0.8 seconds on average. If you consider peek times, this could be done 5 or more times per second! Removing this feature has obvious benefits.

2. Flood check times extended.
This means that instead of 20 second between searches, emails, PMs, posts - it is now 30 seconds. This obviously spreads the load on the server more evenly. Apologies for any inconvenience caused by this.

3. Subscription icons removed.
This icon appears in forum listing next to thread to which you are subscribed. This is a really intensive process for the server as it has to check this each time a forum listing / search is loaded. To see the status of your subscribed threads, please go to your User CP.
I have changed a few other features to, but they are less noticeable. Please keep reporting server issues and please give the exact message you receive (copy and paste).

We are currently considering the purchase of a more powerful server, but this will take a while to get in place. Once in place, full vBulletin features will be restored.

Many thanks

Mike

[Trig]

Ditching Avatars should b the next move...

[GSi-R]

Ditching Avatars should b the next move...

Or only allowing paid members a small one, and users a given GIF.

[Haynzee]

any chance of paying a tenner or something and getting all the features back, and maybe some more PM space?

[MikeWarner]

Not an issue of money at the moment. We will try and get a new server ASAP, but it is going to cost a crap load.

Any donations are greatly welcome via PayPal to admin@migweb.co.uk

[DonkeyOaty]

More advertising could help pay.

[DarrenH]

further updates

Features removed:

4. Glasgow robs ability to post.
When switched on, rob checks for a new message on every single page load. there are only 86400 seconds in each day, and yet manages to reply to 1,898,654 threads per second. Removing this feature has obvious benefits.

[Rik]

says mr 32,056

[Snowy_astra]

further updates

Features removed:

4. Glasgow robs ability to post.
When switched on, rob checks for a new message on every single page load. there are only 86400 seconds in each day, and yet manages to reply to 1,898,654 threads per second. Removing this feature has obvious benefits.

pmsl lmao

[Zoe]

further updates

Features removed:

4. Glasgow robs ability to post.

lmao lmao

[Addz]

2. Flood check times extended.
This means that instead of 20 second between searches, emails, PMs, posts - it is now 30 seconds. This obviously spreads the load on the server more evenly. Apologies for any inconvenience caused by this.

As much as i find this annoying, I can see why you have increased it.

Mike, can i ask what hosting company MIG is with? And what package it is?

PM if you dont want it public.

Also, would it not be an idea to have all the avatars hosted on another server? Or insist on MIGClub users to host there own avatars? Would reduce the load on the server a bit i would think. I know this means not having control of avatars, but surely the MIGClub members are a responsible lot?

Just an idea

[Snowy_astra]

PM if you dont want it public.

My guess is he wont tell anyone because they are sh*te

[MikeWarner]

MIG is on a dedicated P4 2.0GHz server (1GB RAM). It is supplied and maintained by EV1Servers. We really need more RAM but there is no room in the box.

[MikeWarner]

My guess is he wont tell anyone because they are sh*te

It is nothing to do with the "host" - it is up to us to buy a server that will do the job.

[Snowy_astra]

It is nothing to do with the "host" - it is up to us to buy a server that will do the job.

Eh?! So you supplied the server and they provide the bandwidth?!

Thats a pretty f*cked up situation Mike, got hosting companies down this way that offer the whole package for penuts.

Whether my idea of penuts is your idea of penuts i don't know, but surely there are better options for you and your pocket Mike?

[Addz]

MIG is on a dedicated P4 2.0GHz server (1GB RAM). It is supplied and maintained by EV1Servers. We really need more RAM but there is no room in the box.

Just had a look at prices.

I presume you pay a lot out of your own pocket for MIG?

Does that mean MIG is hosted in the States then? My site is also hosted in the States (Conneticut I think).

Are there no UK hosts that can do you a deal? Considering the amount of traffic the site recieves, must have good advertisement potential?

[tomstickland]

Good work. I prefer a stripped out approach to the forum. Remove intensive features and get it running fast.

[Addz]

Good work. I prefer a stripped out approach to the forum. Remove intensive features and get it running fast.

lmao Should have expected a comment like that from you Mr Stickland!

[coolamasta]

MIG is on a dedicated P4 2.0GHz server (1GB RAM). It is supplied and maintained by EV1Servers. We really need more RAM but there is no room in the box.

Jeeeez, I would say it needs a good 2gig of ram to deal with the amount users on here, most servers will have 4 dimm sockets, (prob 4x256 in there now) so i think 4x512's are needed!
Also please tell me its a dual p4 2gig, if its a single processor then no wonder its dying under load!
Being in the industry, I work with hi spec servers everyday and can get parts a lot cheaper, so if anything is needed let me know and I will try and get a good quote...

[MikeWarner]

Nope - just a single processor. The server was find for what we needed when we got it, but MIG has double in traffic in the last year - plus vBulletin3 uses more resources than vB2 did. A new server will help no end.

The server is indeed in the US. We don't buy the server per say, more lease it. All running costs come pretty much out of advertising revenue.

Snowy_astra - we can't use "packages" as MIG is way too big for that sort of setup.

[astramojo]

Mike, out of interest what spec is the existing server?

[coolamasta]

Nope - just a single processor. The server was find for what we needed when we got it, but MIG has double in traffic in the last year - plus vBulletin3 uses more resources than vB2 did. A new server will help no end.

The server is indeed in the US. We don't buy the server per say, more lease it. All running costs come pretty much out of advertising revenue.

Snowy_astra - we can't use "packages" as MIG is way too big for that sort of setup.

Ah right, thats it then, server just can't handle it when theres loads of people running requests etc.... Isn't there a way we could upgrade to a bigger better server or have the one we use physically upgraded?
But I suppose then theres the question of the cash needed to do this....

[MikeWarner]

Current Spec:
Single P4 2GHz, 1GB DDR RAM, 2 x80GB IDE HDs.

Proposed Spec:
Dual Xeon 2.4GHz, 2GB DDR RAM, 2 x73GB SCSI HDs

[coolamasta]

Current Spec:
Single P4 2GHz, 1GB DDR RAM, 2 x80GB IDE HDs.

Proposed Spec:
Dual Xeon 2.4GHz, 2GB DDR RAM, 2 x73GB SCSI HDs

Now thats more like it, it will fly with Xeon processors, will be better getting 3x73gb hard drives and running them in Raid-5 for reliability and speed

[MikeWarner]

Ah right, thats it then, server just can't handle it when theres loads of people running requests etc.... Isn't there a way we could upgrade to a bigger better server or have the one we use physically upgraded?
But I suppose then theres the question of the cash needed to do this....

We can't upgrade the existing server. No more RAM slots (only 2!!).

A new sevrer is the only way I see it getting better. We should be OK for cash, I need to discuss it with the other admin staff before going ahead.