Impending Doom!

[TG]

Actually not. This is good news!

As you may or may not know, Rainy has been hosting the forums for us for the past 3 years on his dedicated server in Germany, out of his own pocket. Sadly, he now needs to relinquish the (now) old and cranky box, which means that the site no longer has a home.

I have ordered a new (reasonably potent) server for us, from the same provider. The server is on a 100mbit connection, and sadly they have limited our bandwidth to a paltry 2000GB. If we reach that threshold in a month, our speed gets dropped to 10mbit. Villains!

I am busy preparing the new server, and as soon as it is ready (which will be VERY soon), I will take the forums offline, and move the site. The actual move shouldn't take too long, as the servers are in the same data centre (I think), however it may take 24-48 hours for the DNS entry to update, depending on your ISP's DNS server (If you use OpenDNS (http://www.opendns.org), I can get them to force the update).

With this new server, I am able to offer web hosting to clan members, either for your own personal page, or for your business, at no charge. Please PM me if you would like to make use of this, or if you want more details. NOTE: Clan members only! And you may make use of it whether you donate or not.

Obviously, the server itself comes at a cost, and the software that runs the forum has an annual support fee, which I am covering out of my own pocket.

If you were to make use of the server as a hosting platform, I would ask you to please consider making a donation (either once off or regularly) towards the upkeep. Even if you don't intend taking me up on my offer, any donations would still definitely be welcome.

All donations will be tracked. Donaters will remain anonymous.

[Darnit696]

Solid! A bigger brighter world! Very nice TG.

A big thanks to Rainy for quietly footing the bill over the last couple of years. I know that you would have also not have said a thing about it but unfortunately for you, you have some big mouthed friends. :D

So finally after all these years of non payment of my non subscription I finally get to see some service. :p

The web hosting magoodie sounds like a plan.

[Voicy]

If we donate, do we get fBlue back?

[Noodle]

If I donate can I get the power to Ban Voicy once a month :D

Sounds perfectly fine to me tg.

[TG]

Just thinking about it, there may not be any recognition for donaters. I don't want people to feel obliged to donate. Although if you donate, I'd like to know who you are so I can keep track of it.

[stinkthumb]

Thanks TG! :D Sounds like a brilliant plan. Can we buy advertising space on the site with our donations? Shotgun the top banner!

[TG]

Advertising has also been considered, yes.

[WondaWoman]

ooooh a personal webpage dedicated to my Wondafulness! What an idea!!!! :gyes:

[veer477]

:sharp:
What Voicy said

[Arbythep00nage]

Hooorays teegee, does I get a shell to mess wiff stuff? :p

[stokeza]

Blah blah blah blah .. what's the cost?
I'm all for donating, but not for paying for your new box of smarties.

[rainy]

Just to say this, I wish I could hang on to my server, or even afford an upgrade. But sadly at this point in time I can't.

[TG]

ooooh a personal webpage dedicated to my Wondafulness! What an idea!!!! :gyes:

Scary thought tho that may be. I can set up a wordpress blog install for those that are interested. Either with your own domain, or as a sub-domain of either wargeeks.org or my other domain.


Hooorays teegee, does I get a shell to mess wiff stuff? :p

Hell no.

[Punky3025]

Just to say this, I wish I could hang on to my server, or even afford an upgrade. But sadly at this point in time I can't.
Thanks Rainy, I never knew you were footing the bill for my WrG browsing pleasure, now I feel a little guilty.
~Drusky

[Voicy]

Hooorays teegee, does I get a shell to mess wiff stuff? :p

I already asked. :(

Apparently I need a #chick gf 1st. :sad:

[TG]

Suffice it to say:

I'm not a charity, so any donations will not be tax deductible, sorry :p
I'm not a company, so no invoices, sorry.
The server and site don't cost as much as you would think

The server is slightly less than R600 per month, depending on the exchange rate.
Software license renewal ranges between R400-600 a year, depending on exchange rate, and when I do the actual renewal.
Rainy is stubbornly footing the bill for domain renewals, and has footed the bill for the server for the past few years.

I will keep strict accounting of the donations, and who donated.
Donations will go towards the server upkeep, and software license renewals. If there's any extra, it will go into a "slush fund" which will be used for War Geek purposes. And against Rainy's protestations, I think it's only fair that some of the donations cover some of his expenses for hosting the site over the years.


Don't go mad with the donations. If I suddenly end up with a meelyon bucks (HAHAHA) in my account, I'm going to have to please explain nicely to SARS where all this money is coming from :p

[rainy]

Suffice it to say:
Rainy is stubbornly footing the bill for domain renewals, and has footed the bill for the server for the past few years.


Before anyone asks: the cost for the domain renewal is between R120 and R150 per year, again depending on the exchange rate. I have my own domain registry which is causing no other running cost except the actual domains. If anyone wants to offer to shoulder *that* cost, I am going to tell them what I told TG.

[Voicy]

If anyone wants to offer to shoulder *that* cost, I am going to tell them what I told TG.

"Ich liebe dich, mein schatz. :kiss:" ?

[Flatty]

Why don't you work out the exact cost, including domain renewal post it here & we can make a list of all those prepared to donate to the cause, divide it by the total who have expressed interest & then we can all put some moolah into your account on a yearly basis. Elementary, my dear Watson :D

I am sure there are enough of us to make it a pittance when spread across the masses. I don't have kids to feed so it's not going to be a train smash & no, I don't expect preferential treatment, or to be able to behave like a pig just because I contributed towards something I enjoy.

NO, please don't give Wee wee her own blog & no advertising please & come on guys, what are you waiting for? Glory hounds with their own blogs & stuff, and advertising, tsk, tsk, tsk :p What next?

/sign

[Sabre]

Probably a really noob question, but wouldn't it be better to host it locally, then accessing the site would come out of our local bandwidth?

For this one time only I'm going to agree with Flattie's proposal :)

[Flatty]

...and as soon as someone actually says let's help pay, and how much & give me your banking details....there was silence :p Faders.

---------- Post added at 12:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:24 PM ----------

Local bandwidth is astronomical - not for us, for the host.

[rainy]

We discussed the local hosting from one end to another, but there are simply no viable alternatives to the existing (and new) solution. They are either way more costly or otherwise restricted.

[Noodle]

Well I'm still keen to donate.

As flatty says, let's see who all want's divide it amongst us, then if all donaters are happy with the amount problem solved. If someone can donate less then they put what they comfy with and take it from there.

[TG]

Probably a really noob question, but wouldn't it be better to host it locally, then accessing the site would come out of our local bandwidth?


I looked at this already. Hosting locally, for a slightly worse server, and 10 times LESS bandwidth ended up costing literally more than 10 times MORE than what I'm paying now.

---------- Post added at 01:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:25 PM ----------


Why don't you work out the exact cost, including domain renewal post it here & we can make a list of all those prepared to donate to the cause, divide it by the total who have expressed interest & then we can all put some moolah into your account on a yearly basis. Elementary, my dear Watson :D



Well I'm still keen to donate.

As flatty says, let's see who all want's divide it amongst us, then if all donaters are happy with the amount problem solved. If someone can donate less then they put what they comfy with and take it from there.

The problem is that not everyone wants other people to know that they've donated, necessarily.

Also, as I said in a previous post, I don't want to make a big thing of it, because I do not want anybody to feel obliged to donate. It's not a membership fee. Being a member of the War Geeks should be a priviledge, and not a right, just because you paid something.

You guys are awesome. I've had lots of PMs, and even phone calls about this.

[Noodle]

Cool cool then.

[Flatty]

TG - you could just post a final figure & if people aren't too squeamish about "/sign" so that we can make a rough estimate of how many people the total will be divided among, and then just donate what we feel comfortable with from there?

[Voicy]

Or people could just donate anyway ... surplus can be used for clan event a-la pizza evenings...or the lesser spotted ice cream socks :D

[stokeza]

:hyper: !ICE CREAM SOCKS! :hyper:

Actually, I was going to suggest that we ... TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

[Flatty]

TG - pls, pls, pls - start a thread with just "/sign" accepted so I can do the math & submit my "donation"

[stokeza]

Suddenly Flatties post and that post in the funny thread about the pudding kept in safes seems inappropriate.

[doobiwan]

Oooooo, how many viagra spa.... uuuuh, informative marketing emails can you pump through there in an hour? ;)

[TG]

TG - pls, pls, pls - start a thread with just "/sign" accepted so I can do the math & submit my "donation"

You're just going to need to get over the fact that some people don't want to admit that they will or won't donate.

I'm not phased at all if the costs are covered or not, it's not going to kill me either way. If even just 10 bucks is donated, it will be a help. There's definitely no need to attempt to cover all the costs for an entire year.

Donate what makes you feel comfortable... though can I say, please don't go crazy. The aim is not to make YOU broke. :p May I suggest no more than R50?

I really don't like asking for donations, but you have to face facts... it makes sense to do so.

[Nitty]

/sign

[Noodle]

/sign

I wonder who signed? :confused:

On the donations, are you looking at a monthly effort to help cover monthly costs.
Or more of a once off lump sum for monthly yearly costs?

Just curious as to how best I can help :D

[Badapple]

I'll be happy to donate! :banana:

[WondaWoman]

I don't mind donating...but if there is a slush fund of surplus cash, may I suggest it be used for something more purposeful than funding a booze-up? Like it can be used to help a geek in need? (having a hard month/time) Or to buy a wedding gift for one of the geeks...something along those lines. A special occasion. Like when we sent flowers to Fallen. We can use any surplus for that kind of thing? Something more purposeful and less..erm... consumable.

[Flatty]

TG, can you put your banking details somewhere that we can find them so we can make these anonymous donations. I'm happy with green.

Noodle, you're a fruitcake :p

[Nitty]

I wonder who signed? :confused:

??

[Arbythep00nage]

poor me, no shell and all. I dont know much about servery stuff, im sure I wouldnt break anything :p

[Voicy]

poor me, no shell and all. I dont know much about servery stuff, im sure I wouldnt break anything :p

If you get stuck, I know this girl you can call. :)

[TG]

TG, can you put your banking details somewhere that we can find them so we can make these anonymous donations. I'm happy with green.


Ummm yeah. I'll PM my bank details to those that have PMd me. I don't want my bank details in general view :p

So if you haven't PMd me yet, please do so.

[Nitty]

Are you scared people will put money in there? :p

[Darnit696]

I think the donations should be private dont forget the flipside... there may be some who are not in a position to donate. I dont want to see a "I paid and you didn't " conversation ever happening.

[TG]

Thanks to all who have offered to donate.

I have sent a PM to those of you that have PM'd me directly or have contacted me via some other means.

If you were expecting me to send you a PM and I didn't, please send me a PM, and I will revert.

Thanks.

[Vortex]

I will revert.

To what? :sc2deth

[JAWS_Firefox]

From a serious "Server and things funny"-noob:

Will the URL or anything change?

[Voicy]

</pebkac>
Well, you managed to find your way here now - after migration was completed - so you'll be just fine. :)

URL remains the same, the IP address that the DNS servers point to is the only thing that changed.

And that's about the sumtotal of my IT knowledge.
<pebkac>