Brand new shiny CA server

[smokie]

I’m delighted to be able to share some very exciting news -  (OK, I know, I need to get out more…!!)

The performance issues on the existing server were analysed as being due to the shortage of memory, which could not be further upgraded. Tonight an order has been placed for a new, much more capable server on which Club Arnage will be hosted. This should be in place in good time for the 2008 rush, so we should not see any of the performance problems which have dogged the site during the run up to June in previous years.

The new server is being funded solely by money raised through the forum, so can I be the first to say thank you to all who have contributed in any way, whether it be by organising or buying merchandise, chipping in when the site funding was on it’s uppers, or helping/serving on t’committee.

The committee is arranging the procurement of the server, which will be delivered to Lennart for configuration and installation. The server is on a 10 day lead time and was ordered today. I’ll keep in touch with progress and update this thread with some sort of timetable once firmer dates are known.

The new server has many times more memory, so should not only give us faster forum performance and future proofing but also gives scope for new and enhanced services to be considered.

Ownership of the new server hardware will remain with the “Club”. No conditions or restrictions have been placed on the precise usage of the server - it may well be that Dave D’s other sites continue to be hosted on this server, as the revenue from these contribute to the hosting costs. The server will continue to be hosted in its current location.

Lennart worked with Tom to develop the spec of the new server, so for the technically minded amongst you, here is the spec:

Dell PowerEdgeTM SC1435
Dual Core AMD Opteron™ 2216; 2.4GHz, 2X1MB Cache, 95W, 1Ghz HyperTransport
4GB DDR2 667MHz Memory
SAS 5/i Integrated Controller Card for SATA and SAS Hard Drives
Motherboard SATA, 2 Hard Drives connected to the onboard controller
2 x 250GB 7,200rpm 3.5inch SATA hard drive
Static Rapid Rail


On everyone’s behalf I’d like to thank the committee (including past members) for providing the coordination and drive that has brought this long-standing issue to resolution, but once again, most importantly, thanks to all of you who have in any way contributed to this.  You will have seen in other threads that there has been some success in broadcasting the Club Arnage “brand”: it’s reassuring to know that the server will be man enough to cope if we were to get an influx of new members as a result.

[Andy]

Thanks for that info Geoff.
Its good to hear we are still moving forward to keep CA alive. I for one arepriud to be a member of an excellent fans web based forum such as thatcares and shares.

[Fran]

Good news indeed.

Just out of interest tho, what are the server costs to us or total website costs)?  ie.  How much money does CA have to raise annually to keep it running? 

I saw on a thread somewhere a while back that we had a figure of £2000 approx in the server fund which would keep us running for another year - so does that mean we have to raise £2000 a year on a ongoing basis?

F

[DelBoy]

Fran, you remember correctly that in February, I posted that we had just over £2000 in the kitty - a bit more now from the proceeds of t-shirt sales.  I also stated at that time :

"The Fund-Raising Committee set itself an initial objective to build up a fund which would keep CA afloat for a rolling 12 months period, and we feel that this objective has been achieved.  The objective now is to maintain the fund at that level, hopefully by the sale of merchandise and other similar initiatives rather than waving the begging-bowl around.

It is difficult to state a particular time-scale ........because the amounts demanded from us vary considerably. "

It was obvious from the outset that there would probably be a significant outlay to upgrade or replace the server, and whilst a sum of money was not exactly set aside for it, it was 'factored in'.  I'm pleased to say that, barring 'force majeure' of course, there is still enough in the kitty to keep CA going for (at least) the next 12 months - as we do not expect the running costs to CA to be anywhere near £2000 per annum.

Smokie mentioned that  Club Arnage will retain ownership of this new equipment, and I think it apposite here to quote from Dave Davies, referring to the acquisition:

" ........in fact I pleases me very much that CA forum is still strong enough to organise this activity"

Del

[Perdu]

I'll echo the thank you from us ornery types to the committee for making this possible
 
great news Smokie and all

bill

[Werner]

Thanks to everyone involved in this

Cheers

Werner

[Nobby Diesel]

Good work all and thanks to everyone concerned.

That includes all those who have, helped, advised, contributed (financially or otherwise), slaved and encouraged along the way.

[paulydee]

This lavish outlay was in no way connected to the fact that when I tried to access this very site earlier this evening all i could get was links on where to buy Bentleys??? 

I even tried Clubarnarge.com but that didn't work either....   

Good work team, thanks for keeping the site up & running for the forseeable future.

[Leftie]

Well done everyone.

[Lawnmower Man]

I have the shiny new sever.  :-)

Due to the fact that they would only ship to the Card Holder address I put it on my card and so it was shipped to me.  I now have to get it Djet but I can't do that until Monday.  So over the weekend I'll be putting the OS on ready Lennart to take over but he will be able to hit the road running.

t.

[DelBoy]

Great, Tom.  Arrived a bit sooner than expected.

Are you going to meet up with Lennart, or just drop the kit off?

Del

[Lawnmower Man]

Lennart is going to pick most likely.  It depends on my engagements on Monday.

I've installed the OS and boy is it quick.  The only problem is it make a lot of noise.  So I can't really have it running for long cos it does my head in.

t.

[smokie]

I love getting new toys...

Most recent addition to the family was the 160Gb iPod which I thought I'd easily fill -not so, even with a couple of movies!! A while back there was the device which allows you to use USB external drives as network drives - now a redundant paper weight. Still trying to fill the 1Tb drive I bought in Florida. Oh, and today's treat was two more Virgin Plus boxes - goodbye Sky at last!!

Have a fun weekend with it Tom...   

[Bob U]

The only problem is it make a lot of noise.  So I can't really have it running for long cos it does my head in.

t.

Sounds like you bought the female version Tom

[Canada Phil]

I love getting new toys...

Most recent addition to the family was the 160Gb iPod which I thought I'd easily fill -not so, even with a couple of movies!! A while back there was the device which allows you to use USB external drives as network drives - now a redundant paper weight. Still trying to fill the 1Tb drive I bought in Florida. Oh, and today's treat was two more Virgin Plus boxes - goodbye Sky at last!!

Have a fun weekend with it Tom...   

Hi Smokie,
               Been a while since I had a Virgin and I've never had a Virgin Plus what ever that is.Not sure I could handle TWO at this stage. Is the Sky still blue 
Canada Phil