Server software upgrades forthcoming

[Lanji]

I know I've posted the like before, but sometime either this weekend, or next weekend the boards will be taken down and placed in maintenance mode in preparation of an upgrade to phpBB3.

As some of you might have noticed the server that the MRC, my other sites and other customers and non-profits I work with have been up and down quite a bit over the last few weeks.

After finally getting a chance to dig into it further tonight, its all of the calls made to the MRC website are slowing down the mySQL database.

In order to fix this I'll be doing two things:

1. Cleaning up all old users who have 0 posts
2. Finally upgrading to phpBB3, regardless of customization I've wanted to do.

As several folks pointed out to me over the last few years, it makes no sense to delay an upgrade over a plugin that has been on the drawing board for years that I can't seem to get done.

So for today, I'm posting an update that this change will be coming down the pipeline, and that I hope to at least give everyone several hours notice before I take down the site for the upgrade.

Also, for my convenience, but also in order to take advantage of changes in web software over the last few years here's a list of longer range plans that I'm thinking of:

1. Move the main webpages to WordPress. I know some people hate it, and it can get slow, but the Installatron software on the server can back it up automatically and upgrade without me doing anything!
2. Save off the Wiki pages, identify what we want to keep, and move the rest to the WordPress Installation
3. Finally get the Twitter Account in place and automated with posting info

One of the secondary reasons I'm looking at a WordPress install for the main site is because I've been playing with it at work for a few years now, and I've finally figured out the key to making plugins. This way, if I ever do get a custom character sheet system fully integrated, I can use WordPress Plugins instead of trying to figure out how Mods work on phpBB.

So folks, here's your chance to attach more ideas, and let me know what you think is needed for upgrade purposes. Please keep in mind, going forward, we're going to try and keep everything much more automated!

[Lanji]

As I'm sure some of you have noticed by now, we are running phpBB3, latest version as of this evening.

To be honest, I'm not sure what bugs we're going to find, or what permissions problems may pop up due to this change. So post here if you notice anything strange.

Also, the minute I got the board up and running again, I immediatly started noticing spam registrations. So, sometime this weekend I'll be installing the following:

https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/mod/ ... /faq/f_399
https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/mod/ ... block_mod/
https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/mod/ ... tion_pack/

If I get really anoyed it will be going in tomorrow night.

On the list of future updates:

• WordPress installation replacing the current CMSish structure
• WordPress / phpBB Bridge
• Removal of MediaWiki, replacing the pages stored in the MediaWiki and moving them to the WordPress Installation
• Setting up WordPress so Moderators, GM's and above can edit the WordPress pages simply and easily

For now though, please enjoy the simple, clean Generation16 Theme!

[Cobalt]

Thanks, Chris. You are the best.

FYI - I have gotten over 200+ spam registration notifications in just over an hour. I have had to block the origin address to keep it from flooding my box. Let me know when you get the mods installed, please, so I can remove the block.

~W

[Kosh Profile]

This looks great bud, thanks very much!

[MustangGT02 Profile YIM]

Hey Chris, nice job and I am loving the new look.

~Chris M.

[Frange1 Profile]

Upgrades are inevitable, but this looks pretty clean. Thank you or maintaining this or us.

[tralnon Profile]

yes, it looks wonderful. smooth. classy.

I want to buy it a drink.

[Lanji]

Today's little downtime was brought to you by mySQL going down, basically taking down every site on the server that uses it.

The Log Detection software and DirectAdmin detected a Brute Force attack at roughly 9:30 am as well, so I'm looking into things to see what happened. Normally the two events are not tied together.

[Cobalt]

Thanks, Chris.

[Lanji]

This evening I installed a small change suggested on the phpBB forums to combat registration spam bots.

If you start having problems with this, or hear of others having problems registering now, please let me know.

-Lanji

[Cobalt]

Thanks, Chris.

[Lanji]

New update as of this evening. I've increased the size available to avatars and for the first time in the history of the boards, enabled the uploading of avatars and storage on the site.

Avatars can now be as small as 20 x 20 px, and as large as 120 x 120 px.

[Cobalt]

Where is the upload tool?

[Lanji]

Its a part of the User Control Panel

User Control Panel (UPC) {Gear Icon up top}
-> Profile {Button}
---> Edit avatar {Button}

Or direct link:
ucp.php?i=profile&mode=avatar

[Cobalt]

Thanks.

[IronQueen Profile]

This is lurvvly!! THank you Chris x

[Strider Profile]

Looks sharp. I enjoy the new look.

[Max_Booker Profile WebsiteICQYIM]

At first I was thinking I was at the wrong place...lol...looking good

[Flare™ Profile Website]

The pad is looking sharp Lanji!