DNS changes...

David_R · April 22, 2005 10:21AM

Hey Forum-folks,

This weekend we're going to make some DNS changes (moving to a new provider) which should improve the reliability/accessibility of the site. You might see some intermittent downtime over the next 24 hours as the changes propagate.

For you folks addicted to the forums, you can always access them using the IP address: http://64.94.212.253

I'll be in the office tomorrow so please feel free to PM me if you have any questions...

thanks!

David_R

Russ · April 22, 2005 10:25AM

<< You might see some intermittent downtime >>

AARRGGHHHHH!!!!!!!

<< you can always access them using the IP address: http://64.94.212.253 >>

Praise be!!!!!

Russ, NCNE

LeeG · April 22, 2005 10:27AM

Thanks for the "Heads Up"!

K6AZ · April 22, 2005 10:32AM

I don't understand why there should be any issues in moving to a new provider. I just did it with absolutely no downtime. Have your techs edit the domain nameserver entries and let the site run on both providers for three days, at which time you can cancel the old account.

XpipedreamR · April 22, 2005 10:35AM

K6AZ...he's THE man with a plan!!!

t3rr0r1sm · April 22, 2005 10:42AM

I don't understand why there should be any issues in moving to a new provider.

BBoards are a special case.

Do you really want half the people posting on one site for 3 days?
Until their ISP decides to reload DNS, and all of a sudden, they are on
the "new" bboard.

Then the admins of this BBoard have to bring all those old messages over.
Which they probably do not feel like doing.

In some cases downtime is preferred.

Myqqy · April 22, 2005 10:42AM

K6AZ...he's THE man with a plan!!!

Tech geek guys always have my admiration.....

bgrice · April 22, 2005 10:42AM

<< I don't understand why there should be any issues in moving to a new provider. I just did it with absolutely no downtime. Have your techs edit the domain nameserver entries and let the site run on both providers for three days, at which time you can cancel the old account. >>

Running a live forum on two servers would probably be a mess. What am I thinking? Might be fun!

Russ · April 22, 2005 10:45AM

<< Then the admins of this BBoard have to bring all those old messages over. >>

Huh? A DNS server change has nothing to do with the server on which the board is run.

Russ, NCNE

K6AZ · April 22, 2005 10:46AM

<< I don't understand why there should be any issues in moving to a new provider.

BBoards are a special case.

Do you really want half the people posting on one site for 3 days?
Until their ISP decides to reload DNS, and all of a sudden, they are on
the "new" bboard.

Then the admins of this BBoard have to bring all those old messages over.
Which they probably do not feel like doing.

In some cases downtime is preferred. >>

Well, I would certainly hope with the price FuseTalk charges for this program that utilities are included for DNS transfers. I operate a board on my site and had absolutely no trouble combining the SQL database tables once the transfer was complete.

Russ · April 22, 2005 10:49AM

There is no transfer of the forums. They will be on the same server with the same IP address. Only the name servers will change.

Russ, NCNE

K6AZ · April 22, 2005 10:51AM

I was under the impression that they were changing servers. If this is a simple matter of transferring just the nameservers, then yes, there will be no issue with the board. Still, there are ways to do this with no down time.

t3rr0r1sm · April 22, 2005 10:52AM

Huh? A DNS server change has nothing to do with the server on which the board is run.

The owners of this site plan to move to a new provider. This means a new webserver.

It appears they are turning off the old site first.
Copy over the database.
Turn on the new forum on the new webserver.
Modify dns to point it to the new webserver.
allow us to suffer so they will not. (meaning, some people will simply have to wait until dns reloads or use
that ip address above, or pick a different dns server in their pc config).

So to summarize, what they are doing, is a multi step process involving two separate daemons (www and dns).
The reason for the downtime, imho, is so two bboards are not in use at once.

t3rr0r1sm · April 22, 2005 10:53AM

doh, maybe i read the original post wrong.
i would rather read about coins anyway :-)

PhillyJoe · April 22, 2005 10:53AM

I would think either the cylinders heads need to be retorqued, the oxygen sensor thingy needs replaced or if the check engine light keeps coming on just take out the damn bulb in the instrument panel. Problem solved.

Joe

Russ · April 22, 2005 10:54AM

<< The owners of this site plan to move to a new provider. This means a new webserver. >>

They are moving to a new DNS provider.

Russ, NCNE

David_R · April 22, 2005 10:56AM

Hey K6AZ,

You're right - normally when you're moving DNS you would just leave the old DNS servers up for a few days while propagation takes place. Unfortunately, when the DNS servers are out of your control (i.e. with an external provider) sometimes they don't provide you with that option (a way to "lock" you in from changing companies). Yes - I too was amazed when I found out that piece of information.

David_R

K6AZ · April 22, 2005 10:59AM

Well, that's a company I certainly wouldn't deal with again. I know some do this, as well as some domain registrars.

t3rr0r1sm · April 22, 2005 10:59AM

strange way to go. in my opinion. a separate dns company.

it seems this site would be worthy of its own colo box.
pick the right hardware, slap on fbsd.
pay for power, bandwidth, and space.

run your own daemons. allow users to do so much more. give them t3rr0r1sm.collectors.com
for personal use. other cool things.

looking at k6az's choice of beastie makes me think he knows what i am talking about.

Russ · April 22, 2005 11:01AM

<< Well, that's a company I certainly wouldn't deal with again. >>

Network Solutions. They think they are God.

Russ, NCNE

K6AZ · April 22, 2005 11:04AM

<< 

<< Well, that's a company I certainly wouldn't deal with again. >>

Network Solutions. They think they are God.

Russ, NCNE >>

Figures, I've heard horror stories. I'm going through a similar situation with Siteprotect and my domain. They won't release it to another registrar I chose, so now I have to do it the hard way.

David_R · April 22, 2005 11:05AM

We actually used to host our own DNS but we outgrew it. Having an outside DNS gives you the flexibility to move stuff around in the event that your network becomes inaccessible. Although admittedly our most recent DNS provider has done a pretty horrid job, in general we could not create a DNS infrastructure that was as robust as something a dedicated company could.

Besides, we don't want to spend our time managing our own DNS servers. Most of our time is spent between here and Petco - feeding and buying food for the hampsters that run all of the servers!

-david

p.s. Don't ask for too much technical detail. My boss gets upset with me when I post technical stuff on the forums! If he knew that I told you about the hampsters...

Catch22 · April 22, 2005 11:34AM

If I can't access the site I'm really gonna be pizzed! I'll demand a refund! Hey, wait a minute, this site is free...nevermind.

Russ · April 22, 2005 12:15PM

<< what in the hell are you guys talking about? >>

An esoteric technological phenomenon known in the vernacular as "gremlins".

Russ, NCNE

foodude · April 22, 2005 12:29PM

unning a live forum on two servers would probably be a mess. What am I thinking? Might be fun!

And that's all we need around here, more fun

markglicker · April 22, 2005 1:07PM

Thank you for the notice.

Melmcbee · April 22, 2005 1:59PM

<< I would think either the cylinders heads need to be retorqued, the oxygen sensor thingy needs replaced or if the check engine light keeps coming on just take out the damn bulb in the instrument panel. Problem solved. >>

Cameonut · April 22, 2005 9:48PM

Anybody have the IP address for the PCGS site (not the Forum)?

PCGS has me frustrated. They send me an email that my grades are available, and I can't access the site!!!

Grrrrrrrr

David_R · April 23, 2005 2:47AM

Hey Cameonut,

I apologize for the frustration. The DNS problems should resolve themselves by tonight, but in the meantime you can access the pcgs.com site using:

http://64.94.212.249

In the future if you have problems please feel free to PM me.

thanks!

David_R

stev32k · April 23, 2005 7:28AM

The site seems pretty fast now, and I have not had any problems accessing it since yesterday. Don't know when you made the switch, but so far it seems pretty painless.

DNS changes...

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