For the most part, correct..
under normal conditions the server has no problems handling all the users PC throws at it.. but lately when vB does its session re-authorizations its locking up the tables, causing too many connections for the configuration of the db server and we're getting a domino effect.. which in turn cause apache (the web server) to also lock up with too many connections.. (some of this can be eliminated with even more ram, but that is a just a stop-gap.. a bandaid fix) and BOOM we go down till i can clear the flood.. and of course, once the server's come back up it IMMEDIATELY starts all over again and that adds to how long it takes to fully recover (you all can help here by doing something else while we recover the server) and I have to babysit it killing apache processes and long-running mysql threads..
I see... well I'm sure if another vBulletin Database Error occurs... I'll do something else for ten minutes... then I'll refresh the page to see if the database is fixed.
And I see... that the problem most of the time is the too many connections when vBulletin does it's session re-authorizations is locking up the tables, so which means the connections of the configuration for it's MySQL database, which then causes it to crash, eh? I see, and I do understand the cause now.
Bottom line, we do need a MUCH bigger server or a pair (or perhaps 3 + a load balancer) to handle the increased usage we're getting, but the prices jump up pretty drastically for these kinds of server's (or even for multiple mid-range ones).. as much as from our $360-450 current range to well over $800-900 /mo. and that is just something we can not sustain at all right now.
Hm... yes, that would indeed be a good idea. I'm sure if there's alot of supporters... then I'm sure they would help you with the costs of renting the new extra dedicated servers, however I do think... there might not be enough supporters to pay for the costs of extra dedicated servers, and I do understand that... I guess that explains why you haven't got more dedicated servers yet. Yeah... what I noticed yesterday was indeed the costs of the dedicated servers.
We've been investigation these updates and other possible solutions as well, so everyone, know we do know about it and are actively working to fix it.
Alrighty! Even if a good feature is removed... I will still be on PC... no matter what happens, because this is where I met my first ever friends on the internet. ;)
If we could find a beefier Dedicated Server to host our junk on, for a reasonable price we'd be all good. I think it's just a matter of finding hosting that offers everything that PC needs to operate properly as well as having more modern and cutting edge servers for a reasonable price.
Well... the problem is... the better the dedicated server is... the more expensive it gonna be. And I'm pretty sure there is a reason why Steve hasn't rented another dedicated server yet. And well, I'm sure
this might help out Steve... hopefully, although... again... Steve might not be able to afford the costs.
[FONT="Comic Sans M.S"]Of course...the main concern is data loss when moving, and no host change should be done with a light heart. The last thing PC needs is to move into a better host only to find out that it's unreliable or unsuited to our needs as an ever expanding Pokemon fansite. Note that even places like Serebii are suffering the same bloat.[/FONT]
Hm... I can see your point of view. However... I have noticed Serebii's Pokémon Place forums really doesn't have any Database Errors... just lagging, that's about all from my point of view. Maybe it's because they have the forum styles kept to a minimum maybe? Also on SPPf, no one is able to use custom avatars except for the staff.
I'm doubting that vB4 will ever solve our DBE problem, mainly because I think feature creep is sinking into vB. XD
Hm... little do I know about vBulletin 4, however I do know that vBulletin 4.0.8 is the latest stable version for vBulletin 4. Tbh, I
didn't really say that vBulletin 4.0.8 would fix the problems... all I said was that
if the server problem is fixed... then Steve might be able to upgrade, and I thought it was way much better... probably by looks it is... but I guess it still has stabability issues. I've never really experienced it, tbh.
Unless they magically create some sort of administrative interface that can help control how hard the database gets hit. Now that would be a feature I think vB could use...even if it's done by an addon.
Hm... we're not sure if Steve has got that implemented or not, the database does seem to get fixed pretty quickly, it doesn't really take very long, so I assume he knows whenever it happens somehow.
Perhaps we could just stop vB from performing all those re-authorizations? Do the tokens HAVE to expire after a short period of time? Could we not extend the life of these tokens and perhaps add in ways to rate-limit the number of these re-authorizations so they don't happen all at once?
Hm... when I read this part of your post... I immediately realized how great it would if Steve could stop the forum from performing the re-authorizations, maybe Jelsoft hasn't implemented this feature yet or something? I'm not sure. But if Steve is unable to do so... then I guess I understand the case.
I thought you guys owned the server.. I didn't realize you rented one... yeah it's going to cost a lot of money either way... :(
Well, unfortunately... there is no possible way of buying a dedicated server. You can only rent it, mainly because dedicated servers are made for buisness use, that's why the buisnesses have to make money by encouraging people to buy stuff... and not to also mention... they have to buy their goods as well to have them on the shelves for the people to buy. I have realized that it's basically about hosting, and it's more like a subscription service. Like I said, there is no possible way of buying one and owning it, you have to pay out each month for the cost... alot like when you have an internet connection using a wireless router or something
