Moving mpvclub.com onto a new server

[Alex]

Hi everyone,

I'm thinking on moving the web site onto a new host/server. And this time around, I'm thinking of hosting it at something a bit more serious... I'm sic k of shared hosting and (lack) of adequate support, so I got myself a VPS server and plan to move the web site there...

I did set up a clone of mpvclub.com there just to test performance/stability and it seems quite good so far. The next step I wanted to run a batch of public performance tests... Hence I invite all of you to visit the new test site and its performance.

Feel free to go to http://74.222.131.20/phpbb/ and browse around the forum. Pay attention to page load speeds and any errors that you might be getting. One thing to pay attention to is to make sure you stay on the test site (with address of http://74.222.131.20/...) and not get redirected to the current site mpvclub.com

For example, clicking the Gallery or mpvclub.com links will take you to the live site and not to the test site... In all, make sure your browser's address bar has http://74.222.131.20/ at all times.

You could load both the new and old sites in two browser windows and compare their speed side by side. (note that the database on the test site is a few days older, so newer posts and user accounts may be missing theer). I will be moving the actual data when all the tests are done, so don't be afraid to experiment (delete posts, etc)...

Feel free to post your findings/comments/questions here...

[subearu]

For test users at home, you might be able to use a HOSTS file and alias the new address to mpvclub.com and forum.mpvclub.com if you wanted to not have to worry about keeping track of the new address in your favorite internet browser. Then just comment those entries out when you want to go back to the "live" site.

-Brian

[subearu]

That doesn't appear to work as the new site is in a subdirectory phpbb. Oh well.

General browsing of the "new" site is functional and seems quick. I did have a 10 second delay waiting for the new homepage to come up.

-Brian

[Alex]

After some testing I decided that moving to that server didn't make much sense... It was a VPS (Virtual Private Server) which is still a shared host. Even though most of the time it was faster than the current host, there were times that it was significantly slower (I guess depending on the overall server load among all the users sharing it).

After much experimentation I decided to go with a dedicated server... At least I will know that nobody else affects the performance of the site and I will have full control over data backups, configuration, etc... I will have a few of my other web sites hosted at that server too but they are quite low-traffic ones, so they won't affect mpvclub's performance all that much...

So, I will be moving the site to the new server over the course of the upcoming weekend (Feb 28-Mar 1). I will lock the forum at the current site so nobody can post any additional content, then migrate all the software/data and unlock the forum at the new server. This time should be sufficient to complete the transition... I apologize in advance for the service interruption but I hope this will be for the greater good

[subearu]

Thanks in advance Alex, and good luck with the move! We'll have to host a MPVClub addicts meeting for the folks having withdrawals with not being able to get to the site.

-Brian

[Dan]

Short term pain, long term gain.

It will be well worth it!

[Alex]

I have already moved one of my other sites (www.vakcer.com) and that thing flies

I'm really liking this dedicated server thingy. I can configure everything the way I like it with the software I want/need without having to ask anybody or wait on hold for hours... A bit expensive but since I will move all my sites there and won't have to pay for them separately will cover part of the expenses...

[alschnertz]

Alex.

I appreciate all you do for this site.
But, sorry, I have no idea what you guys are talking about.
I do understand that you will move to another server, but the technical side is way beyond me. I think I've mentioned before that the DW is the IT manager in this house. Me, I'm just a dumbbell when it comes to anything computer oriented!

I hope whatever you're doing works out for whatever reason you're doing it.
Thanks

[Alex]

Ok, it's done. The site seems to function OK. However not everybody will be able to access it right away since it takes the new IP address to propagate through DNS servers on the Internet. It might take up to 24 hours.

If you find any problems using the site (unable to post, attach files, upload photos to the gallery, etc), please let me know as there might still be some configuration issues that I haven't addressed yet...

[subearu]

That was quick, seems to be working from SE Wisconsin. Thanks again Alex!

-Brian

[Orataro]

I can't seem to send any PM's? I'm trying to reply to a PM and getting a failed error notice?

[Alex]

[Giovatl]

I can't seem to get the pictures for the TSB's.

[vkc]

Haven't checked all the details yet but have posted a couple times and the new site's smokin' speed-wise.

Mucho Appreciado!

[Alex]