Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Site News and Information => Announcements => Topic started by: Susan on June 30, 2017, 08:05:46 AM

Title: New Server
Post by: Susan on June 30, 2017, 08:05:46 AM
For those who did not yet know, our new server is on the way.

We have a Dell PowerEdge R710 server with 2 Xenon X5680 CPU's running at 3.33GHZ (6 cores each cpu, so 12 cores total). 128GB of Ram, 12 Terabytes of Storage running a redundant Raid 6 using H700 raid controller with 512mb cache, 2 870W Power Supplies so that if one dies the other takes over, DVD-Rom Drive, and 3 year full warranty; includes replacement part shipping both ways up to the full server, and tech support.

It's a huge upgrade from the current server! Total cost was $2,195. New, a similar server would have cost over $10,000 so going refurbished was the right choice. The three year warranty which wasn't cheap ensures that we are covered if anything dies during that time.

I want to thank Kendra, Beverly, and Sarah1972 for donating for the expense. A total of $2,850 was donated, with the full price coming from Kendra.  I then transferred the other donations for the sever into the monthly goal; and notified the other donors.  While Kendra paid for the server, all three of them stepped up when we needed them most!

Thank you!

There will likely be a little downtime when the server arrives as I migrate from the old server to the new one. I will give plenty of notice when this is scheduled to occur, I am hoping just a few hours.

Everyone please be sure to thank the people who stepped up to ensure that this site has what it needs to be successful going forward!

-- Full spec list --

R710 6 bay 3.5
   1@$423.60   Total: $423.60

3.33GHz X5680 6Core
   2@$126.00   Total: 252.00

8GB Pc3-10600R
   16@$25.90   Total: $414.40

2TB 7.2K SATA 3G
   6@$46.90   Total: $281.40

870W psu
   2@$29.49   Total: $58.98

H700 512mb cache
   1@$99.00   Total: $99.00

DVD-ROM
   1@$10.00   Total: $10.00

iDRAC enterprise
   1@$30.62   Total: $30.62

Linux distro pre-installed(Debian 9 OS)
   1@$25.00   Total: $25.00

3 Year Warranty
   1@$600.00   Total: $600.00
------------------------------------------
      Subtotal   $2,195.00
      Shipping   $0.00
            Total   $2,195.00
------------------------------------------
      Amount paid   -$2,195.00
       Amount due   $0.00 USD
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: AnneK on June 30, 2017, 08:10:34 AM
Does the server run Linux or Windows?  You can save a bit of money with Linux and get a better server as well.
Most of the internet is run on Linux, with some other *nix in distant second.

Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Susan on June 30, 2017, 08:12:33 AM
I have been running Linux on the site since 1996. I have used RedHat, and Debian over the years. Currently we use the Debian Operating System, and the server will have Debian 9 installed on it.
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: AnneK on June 30, 2017, 08:17:59 AM
Glad to hear it!   :)
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: SophieD on June 30, 2017, 08:28:46 AM
Thank you Susan, and thank you Kendra, Beverly, and Sarah1972 for your generosity!
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Kendra on June 30, 2017, 09:12:08 AM
I want to thank Susan and all the volunteers and members who have dedicated time and effort to build an incredible resource for this community.  I am so glad to be able to help. 
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: sammie-em on July 02, 2017, 06:20:06 AM
Nice!! Love that the site is hosted "internally". Provides an additional layer of privacy in a way. Thanks Susan for all your hard work!
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Devlyn on July 02, 2017, 07:15:28 AM
"I want to thank Kendra, Beverly, and Sarah1972 for donating for the expense."

Well done, ladies!   :)

Hugs, Devlyn
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: LizK on July 02, 2017, 08:57:34 AM
Quote from: Susan on June 30, 2017, 08:05:46 AM

I want to thank Kendra, Beverly, and Sarah1972 for donating for the expense. A total of $2,850 was donated, with the full price coming from Kendra.  I then transferred the other donations for the sever into the monthly goal; and notified the other donors.  While Kendra paid for the server, all three of them stepped up when we needed them most!


Thank you ladies for helping make Susans's that much better for all of us
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Dena on July 02, 2017, 09:48:25 AM
Quote from: sammie-em on July 02, 2017, 06:20:06 AM
Nice!! Love that the site is hosted "internally". Provides an additional layer of privacy in a way. Thanks Susan for all your hard work!
The size of the data base and the volume of traffic is sufficient that the site almost requires it's own server to contain it. With Susan controlling the server, it's cheaper and more secure.

People may not have noticed but we run about 10 guest for every member on the site. This totals as much as 7,000 users on the system over the period of a day and peak loads of near 1000 users on for short periods of time. Susan has been working with the company that provides the internet connection to obtain far more connection speed at a low cost however the server has been around for a while and was nearing the point of a upgrade just for performance reasons alone.

Susan's may appear to be a small, friendly site but it reaches out to many people who have never joined the site. Of those who have joined the site, as I type this, say hello to user number 54763.
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Susan on July 03, 2017, 12:21:27 AM
It's well past that Dena, it requires the dedicated server already.  The rest was right on the mark :)
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: KathyLauren on July 03, 2017, 10:21:53 AM
A big thank you to Susan,  Kendra, Beverly, and Sarah1972 for keeping this wonderful and necessary resource available! 
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Laurie on July 03, 2017, 10:33:09 AM
Let me also add my thank you to those that donated to keep this site going. A big thanks to Kendra for the big contribution she made to the new server cost.

  I also feel a big thank you to Susan for all she does with providing this site and all that entails so we have a place to shere with each other. Thank you Susan.

  Hugs,
     Laurie
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Kendra on July 03, 2017, 11:03:32 AM
Beverly and Sarah1972 stepped up before I did.  Technically I was third place but we all won  ;) 

Imagine when this online world Susan created was just a twinkle in Susan's eyes before 1995.  How much we have all changed on our own, and together.
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: sarah1972 on July 05, 2017, 08:05:54 AM
Thanks Kendra for stepping up! Greatly appreciated you helping out so much.
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Susan on July 08, 2017, 12:39:55 AM
The new server came in on Thursday, and everything was as advertised; but the server disk partitions and the operating system was not setup to my liking, so I did a reinstall of it today. I will spend tomorrow configuring all of it. When I finish that then I will set the forum to read only for the time it takes to transition to the new server, hopefully early Sunday Morning. I will post an announcement here as soon as I know for sure! ETA for the read only mode should be less than 6 hours.
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Michelle_P on July 08, 2017, 11:34:14 PM
Wheeee!  Good luck with the 'transition', may it all go smoothly and painlessly.

Thanks, Michelle_P
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Susan on July 09, 2017, 12:59:53 PM
Still working on it. Decided to change a few things for the better, so slowed things down a bit.
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Kendra on July 09, 2017, 04:53:45 PM
New server is running now - YAY!
Title: New Server
Post by: sarah1972 on July 09, 2017, 04:54:06 PM
Woo hoo! Way to go...
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: fifitheneko on July 09, 2017, 04:57:47 PM
Looks like the forums are working now. n_n
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: KathyLauren on July 09, 2017, 05:05:04 PM
Quote from: Kendra on July 09, 2017, 04:53:45 PM
New server is running now - YAY!
Woot!
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Alex81 on July 09, 2017, 05:36:56 PM
Nice!!!

What did you all do with the old server? Selling it to help with some extra cash?
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Michelle_P on July 09, 2017, 05:49:36 PM
All right!

Thank you, Kendra!

And nicely done transition, Susan.  Oh, and the new server works good, too.  >:-)
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Susan on July 09, 2017, 08:37:00 PM
The old server once fully refurbished will become my new desktop system moving me from a old Core i5 to a Core i7.
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Dan on July 10, 2017, 01:47:31 AM
Thanks to everyone who helps keep Susan's running. It is a life saver for many.
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Susan on July 10, 2017, 02:12:14 AM
Going by your badges Dan, you are one of those people you just thanked!
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Cindy on July 10, 2017, 03:39:03 AM
Well done Hon. I'm glad the transfer went well.

Title: Re: New Server
Post by: sarah1972 on July 10, 2017, 05:41:46 AM
And the new server is way faster. Thanks Susan for all the work!
Title: Re: New Server
Post by: Jacqueline on August 14, 2017, 12:54:26 AM
Quote from: fifitheneko on July 09, 2017, 04:57:47 PM
Looks like the forums are working now. n_n

fifitheneko,

Welcome to the site.

I am sorry this is so late getting back to you. Thanks for the note of the servers working. if you have a chance, maybe you could go to the Introductions category and posted a little something. Then we can get to know you better.

A Cautionary Note:
This is a public forum so please [remember when posting that The Internet Never Forgets, and the various web crawlers and archival sites out may retain information that you post.

We cannot ensure that any information you share on the site will be protected from public view and/or copying or reproduction. This warning is also listed in the Terms of Service listed below.

If you give out personal information on Susan's you are responsible for any consequence.

I also want to share some links with you. They include helpful information and the rules that govern the site. It is important for your enjoyment of the site to take a moment to go through them


Things that you should read




Site Terms of Service & Rules to Live By (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2.0.html)
Standard Terms & Definitions (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,54369.0.html)
Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar) (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,114.0.html.)
Reputation rules (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,18960.0.html)
News posting & quoting guidelines (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,174951.0.html)
Photo, avatars, & signature images policy (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,59974.msg383866.html#msg383866)

Once again, welcome to Susan's. Look around, ask questions and join in.

With warmth,

Jacqui