Main Site Downage / Rebuilding Updates [Changed Title]

[jbouley]

Many of you have probably noticed that the main site is down...and it's been a fairly long outage.

The problem is at Xfernet's end, and we are trying to find out what that problem is.

The forums, though, are fine, as they are located on a separate network.

We'll keep you posted as to developments. Sorry for any invconvenience. (I'm one of the people being inconvenienced, by the way...I had JUST released a new version of my mod. )

[onyx]

Any idea when it's going to be up again?

[jbouley]

If I did, I would have posted something.

This is a challenge when you're a site like us that must rely on free hosting.

We don't charge a dime to members, we don't have a way to generate revenue, and we have a lot of downloads and high bandwidth usage. So, we have to rely on other companies to provide us with space. If they have problems, those problems translate over to us. It's happened before, it will happen again, and it's possible (though I hope not) that we'll have to locate a new host.

Would be nice if Blizzard funded us with a grant. Or if some rich benefactor gave us the means to purchase a server or find a large paid host with nothing but a stable, great reputation. But, I also wish I would win the lotto.

Sorry guys. We'll let you know something as soon as we know something. It's a pain, but that's life.

[Aazzlano]

Still down!? i was on the downloads page when it went down so I knew exactly when it was down...but that was yesterday!

*thinks it should be fixed by now*

[jbouley]

I agree. But no need for all of you to start boosting your blood pressures through the roof...myself and the other admins have plenty of anger about the situation already.

Let us have the strokes and heart attacks...we'll figure something out as soon as possible.

[Ssergit]

Argh. I've been hoping against hope that I can test ES 2.3 and now that Cell's sent me the link, I can't get at it. Do you guys know if Xfernet's people are the type that only work 9-5? As in, it Sux2B us 'till Monday?

If SiC (or ES 2.3) aren't too huge, I could probably host them on my webspace 'till Xfernet comes back online...

[jbouley]

I appreciate the offer. If Cell is interested and you can host his mod, I'd say go for it.

I don't want to impose on you, though, mainly because I'd feel weird putting myself before all the other modders and hosted sites. As an admin, I'd feel that was an abuse of power and privilege.

I do have a very temporary solution I posted in my forum for my mod...but it's one that doesn't step on anyone's toes (at least, I don't think it will )

[kingpin]

No one can be perfect either, it doesn't matter what host you are using. There will always be a problem sometimes and we still have the forum to visit. Its quite genius that site/forum is on different servers

[jbouley]

Thanks God for our forum tech person, spin, and the company he works at Rednas Group, for providing us that separate space.

It's a shame that at the moment, his company cannot donate us server space for the file center, because of the huge bandwidth usage for the file center and the costs that would incur his company.

However, we are in the midst of a changeover that will probably bring the site (EXCEPT for the file center) onto the same server as the forums. Unfortunately, we aren't in a position to launch that new setup yet. And I have no timetable, as we've been setting that up over several weeks and still have substantial work to do.

But just wanted to let people know that long-term, we might have the capability to host the site pages in a couple places for emergency purposes someday in the foreseeable future.

The file center will always be a tough issue, though, as mirroring it will be difficult to do (for free at least)

[onyx]

Its quite genius that site/forum is on different servers

Yes, it's true. If the forums are down, this will cause too much troubles (or should I say assertions? ). Many people spend much time here, and many people come here for help. I think it will cause a chaos on the mod-making scene, with everybody having problems and no one getting help

[Ssergit]

np, Jeff, I just figured I'd offer. I'm thinking that by the time Cell would read my offer the site'll be back up--he's been checking once a day around 12am. You're kind to preserve the boundary of favoritism, but I don't think anyone would have blamed you for trying to make it available, considering we've all been slavering over the news of the update anyway.

Isn't it funny how life strives to teach us patience, usually at the exact moment that we wish it wouldn't...

EDIT: nice re-direct

[demonachizer]

What sort of bandwidth do you guys use monthly?

[shaky]

Does anyone have any info on how and why this happend and when it is expected to be fixed.

[jbouley]

What sort of bandwidth do you guys use monthly?

Phrozen Heart would have a better handle on this...I never paid a lot of attention. But the figure would be fairly large, with all our downloads (mods, tools, etc.). Maybe he can specify a fairly recent figure.

Does anyone have any info on how and why this happend and when it is expected to be fixed.

Not enough to provide any real answers. But we've already begun to look for alternate solutions (i.e. options for mirroring the site and/or finding a new host)...so we're aiming to solve this as soon as possible, and "fixing" it may mean us having to take action. We're NOT counting on Xfernet to fix anything for us.

EDIT

I think we may have identified a solution to getting the site up pretty soon. I'll let you all know for sure when things are more or less set in stone...but it looks promising right now. As you've probably seen from Phrozen Heart's recent thread, we have some temporary links set up, so we're moving forward at least. Looking to have the site completely back up as soon as humanly possible.

We appreciate your patience in the meantime; we really don't like this any more than you do, and your access to the sites downloads and resources is at the top of our list right now.

[morning star]

Thank all of you guys for working so hard to get the site back up and keeping us informed at the same time It sucks the main site is down, but it's great that the fourms are still running.

On a side note, it's really suprising that you guys are having a hard time to find free mirroring, being the center of the D2 modding community. One of the mirrors for OverClocked ReMix has the bandwidth meter run by the hour, not by the day, so even if it gets hammered it won't be down all the time. And they use 3-5 GB a day. Maybe something to look into?

[Phrozen Heart]

Thank all of you guys for working so hard to get the site back up and keeping us informed at the same time It sucks the main site is down, but it's great that the fourms are still running.

On a side note, it's really suprising that you guys are having a hard time to find free mirroring, being the center of the D2 modding community. One of the mirrors for OverClocked ReMix has the bandwidth meter run by the hour, not by the day, so even if it gets hammered it won't be down all the time. And they use 3-5 GB a day. Maybe something to look into?

OverClocked ReMix?

[jbouley]

OK...we've got a new server to upload to thanks to DaMidget, who has sent me FTP login info as of this morning.

I will get the most recent backup of the site up ASAP, then Phrozen Heart, Alkalund and I will get to updating links so that we can get the site live again very soon.

There will be some missing content that we'll need to fill in, as my last backup of the site was in July and because of technical issues, we don't have anything more recent. First priority will be to get the main site up. We'll contact hosted sites as we get them set up so that they can upload their pages and files to the new server.

Thanks again for all your patience. As soon as the site is live again, we'll let you know.

[onyx]

Thanks again for all your patience.

Do we had a choice? Just joking...

I'm very happy that you found a solution, being temporary or not. And hope Xfernet fixes it's problems or you find your new permanent server soon!

[DaMidget]

Hi guys, hope you enjoy the server. If you have any problems you can contact me via AIM, MSN, or EMail and I will do my best to fix the problem.
~DaMidget~

[morning star]

Thank all of you guys for working so hard to get the site back up and keeping us informed at the same time It sucks the main site is down, but it's great that the fourms are still running.

On a side note, it's really suprising that you guys are having a hard time to find free mirroring, being the center of the D2 modding community. One of the mirrors for OverClocked ReMix has the bandwidth meter run by the hour, not by the day, so even if it gets hammered it won't be down all the time. And they use 3-5 GB a day. Maybe something to look into?

OverClocked ReMix?

A game music website, they even got some Diablo stuff there It'll give you something to do while the keep is down.

OC ReMix

[jbouley]

And hope Xfernet fixes it's problems or you find your new permanent server soon!

Xfernet is not likely to fix its problems, and Raziel, formerly of the now-dead (and probably permanently so) Xfernet had better not end up in a dark alley with me or Phrozen Heart any time soon.

[Phrozen Heart]

A game music website, they even got some Diablo stuff there

Thanks, I might take a look

It'll give you something to do while the keep is down.

Nice thought but right now we already have something to do...get the Keep back up again

[Kardon]

I have an "unlimited bandwidth" web-host. This could be a great way to test if it's truely unlimited. Phrozenheart or Jbouley, email me

kardon@x-trememodz.com

[DaMidget]

Just so you guys know the site is back up. Same url and all

DaMidget

[jbouley]

A good chunk of the site still needs to be uploaded...mostly File Center stuff. But I'm having FTP problems all of a sudden, which is delaying that.

Will resume as soon as I'm able. Also, we'll try to start getting hosted sites set up on the DaMidget's server as quickly as possible so that you can re-upload your sites and your files.