This is a very important announcement.
I have decided on an interim step between this current, overloaded server and the server I have half built (see the new years newsletter for more information). This interim step is moving us to a new dedicated server with better specifications. It costs a little more, but thanks to some generous donations I have recieved in the past 24 hours I can cover the extra for this month and budget to cover it in future months.
Current Server Specification:
AMD dual core 3GHz processor
2GB ram
1 x 500gb sata drive
2TB bandwidth
price: $250 a month
New Server Specification:
AMD quad core 3GHz processor
8GB ram
2 x 250gb sata drives
2TB bandwidth
price: $280 a month
The new server will be hosted in the netherlands and has very good ping times (average about 100ms for everybody who checked). The technical support team are also much better than our current host.
What this means:
Within the next hour I shall be closing the gallery to new uploads (you can still view everything, just not add any more!)
Within the next hour I shall be closing the downloads area to new uploads (You will still be able to download, but not upload any new files)
Within the next 24 hours I shall be closing every site to new posts (you will still be able to view, but not post anything new)
Within the next 24 hours I shall be closing the gallery to new comments
Within the next 36 hours (hopefully, if the new host delivers it's 24 hour setup time) I shall move all the data from this server to the new server and set everything up on the new server
Within the next 48 hours I will change the name servers on the domains to point towards the new server.
The new server will take up to 72 hours from the point I change the name servers to become available to you - this is out of my control as domain propagation can take a long time.
Once I can access the new server myself (again, up to 72 hours) I will reopen everything I have closed and the site will resume as normal
The downside: We may be without this site for up to 5 days if there are problems
The upside: We will have a brand new server with over twice the current power ours has.
This is important! Please tell everybody you know who is a member here about this as downtime will occur!