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Server notice

Tue, 30 August 2016 14:28

Ron

Commander
Forum Administrator
Stars! AutoHost Administrator

Messages: 1231
Registered: October 2002
Location: Collegedale, TN

I just received today an email from my friend who has been hosting Stars! AutoHost (and other servers) for many years. He has decided to stop hosting all sites on Sept. 30. I need to consider what options I have and how much they might cost.
Eek

[Updated on: Tue, 04 October 2016 15:17]

Ron Miller
Stars! AutoHost

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Re: Server notice

Wed, 31 August 2016 10:21

Ron

Commander
Forum Administrator
Stars! AutoHost Administrator

Messages: 1231
Registered: October 2002
Location: Collegedale, TN

bump

Ron Miller
Stars! AutoHost

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Re: Server notice

Thu, 01 September 2016 06:59

neilhoward

Commander

Messages: 1112
Registered: April 2008
Location: SW3 & 10023

Just saw this. Whatever it takes... lets make it happen.

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Re: Server notice

Thu, 01 September 2016 07:53

XAPBob

Lt. Commander

Messages: 957
Registered: August 2012

Just seen this - I can offer free hosting, but it's Linux based.

I also have a server which could do the game host functions - but again it would require a little dev work to ensure that the logic ported correctly...

[I can offer free hosting, but any community contributions towards the costs of the reseller account would obviously be appreciated - I'll not be charging Ron though)

[Updated on: Thu, 01 September 2016 09:35]

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Re: Server notice

Thu, 01 September 2016 10:25

Ron

Commander
Forum Administrator
Stars! AutoHost Administrator

Messages: 1231
Registered: October 2002
Location: Collegedale, TN

XAPBob wrote on Thu, 01 September 2016 07:53

Just seen this - I can offer free hosting, but it's Linux based.

I also have a server which could do the game host functions - but again it would require a little dev work to ensure that the logic ported correctly...

[I can offer free hosting, but any community contributions towards the costs of the reseller account would obviously be appreciated - I'll not be charging Ron though)

SAH currently runs on a Debian Linux VM. At the moment, I'm looking at a GoDaddy $3.99/month hosting plan.

The move will disable the wiki.starsautohost.org site though, as its database is actually running on a much older Debian VM since the version of the wiki software I'm using is so old, it won't run on current PHP versions. I'm not sure how much use the wiki's getting as I'm not sure how to get web stats for it. I'll find out.

Ron Miller
Stars! AutoHost

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Re: Server notice

Thu, 01 September 2016 12:55

XAPBob

Lt. Commander

Messages: 957
Registered: August 2012

I use it a lot - I'm sure someone here could put it back together.

If you can get me a machine backup then I can run that as a VM from here for limited access...

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Re: Server notice

Thu, 01 September 2016 14:17

ManicLurch

Lt. Junior Grade

Messages: 462
Registered: May 2009

Quote:

At the moment, I'm looking at a GoDaddy $3.99/month hosting plan

I have a go daddy linux hosting plan with unlimited sites. You can use that if you want, no charge. It is likely similar to the 3.99 but has more sites/storage.

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Re: Server notice

Mon, 05 September 2016 11:34

Altruist

Commander

Messages: 1068
Registered: August 2005
Location: Berlin

Quote:

SAH currently runs on a Debian Linux VM. At the moment, I'm looking at a GoDaddy $3.99/month hosting plan.

The one which costs $9.99 when you "renew" the contract?

I guess most of us have access to (linux based) webspace and bandwidth but I guess you'd prefer the provider, help and the interfaces to be in English rather than in German *grin

So, let's see wether one of the offers already made or still to be made suits you... if not, we can still collect some fees: every winner of a game, the successful conquereors of the universe, are allowed to pay $5.

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Re: Server notice

Tue, 06 September 2016 05:36

neilhoward

Commander

Messages: 1112
Registered: April 2008
Location: SW3 & 10023

If funds are required, a few options come to mind. I have access to designs (not my own) for Stars! enthusiast shirts, rings, pendants, etc. I also have a potential fabricator that may produce them for close to cost...

Also, was this merged from a thread in another channel?

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Re: Server notice

Tue, 06 September 2016 11:58

Ron

Commander
Forum Administrator
Stars! AutoHost Administrator

Messages: 1231
Registered: October 2002
Location: Collegedale, TN

ManicLurch wrote on Thu, 01 September 2016 14:17

Quote:
At the moment, I'm looking at a GoDaddy $3.99/month hosting plan

I have a go daddy linux hosting plan with unlimited sites. You can use that if you want, no charge. It is likely similar to the 3.99 but has more sites/storage.

I've sent you a PM about it.

Ron Miller
Stars! AutoHost

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Re: Server notice

Wed, 07 September 2016 13:51

Ron

Commander
Forum Administrator
Stars! AutoHost Administrator

Messages: 1231
Registered: October 2002
Location: Collegedale, TN

Ron wrote on Tue, 06 September 2016 11:58

ManicLurch wrote on Thu, 01 September 2016 14:17
Quote:
At the moment, I'm looking at a GoDaddy $3.99/month hosting plan

I have a go daddy linux hosting plan with unlimited sites. You can use that if you want, no charge. It is likely similar to the 3.99 but has more sites/storage.

I've sent you a PM about it.

Looks like I'll need a VPS account since I need shell access and need to install non-standard software, now looking into https://www.hostwinds.com/budget.php and https://www.ovh.com/us/vps/vps-ssd.xml

Ron Miller
Stars! AutoHost

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Re: Server notice

Wed, 07 September 2016 19:48

ManicLurch

Lt. Junior Grade

Messages: 462
Registered: May 2009

Do those VPS accounts have enough storage for autohost, the forum and the wiki? If they do, great. If not, it is autohost that you need the VPS for correct? If needed, the forum and wiki can be put on the go daddy hosting seperate from autohost? If that is needed, you can still use my go daddy account for that.

As far as the funds for the vps, I am sure we can raise that. I will certainly make a contribution.

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Re: Server notice

Thu, 08 September 2016 11:54

Ron

Commander
Forum Administrator
Stars! AutoHost Administrator

Messages: 1231
Registered: October 2002
Location: Collegedale, TN

ManicLurch wrote on Wed, 07 September 2016 19:48

Do those VPS accounts have enough storage for autohost, the forum and the wiki? If they do, great. If not, it is autohost that you need the VPS for correct? If needed, the forum and wiki can be put on the go daddy hosting seperate from autohost? If that is needed, you can still use my go daddy account for that.

As far as the funds for the vps, I am sure we can raise that. I will certainly make a contribution.

Total file usages (not counting the forum database which is probably around 700mb based on past backups), is under 5gb. That includes 1.2gb of archived Stars! games that finished. The only one I'm not sure of is the mediawiki db for Stars! Wiki.

Ron Miller
Stars! AutoHost

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Re: Server notice

Tue, 13 September 2016 17:35

LittleEddie

Lieutenant
Helped track down one or more Stars bugs

Messages: 517
Registered: February 2011
Location: Delaware

So, what's the update on this? just a little over two weeks so we have to have something going on.

Do we need money? Let me/us know.

Little Eddie

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Re: Server notice

Thu, 15 September 2016 12:11

Ron

Commander
Forum Administrator
Stars! AutoHost Administrator

Messages: 1231
Registered: October 2002
Location: Collegedale, TN

I've got one to try out for 3 months on ovh.com I'm working on cleaning up the web file structure of SAH (so I don't have to transfer unneeded files to the new site), and I've had to install lots of software manually on the new site. Today, I'm going to copy over all the web files and see how they look. I need to do a database dump and copy that over and restore it, then see how the forum looks. I may have other software to install.

Ron Miller
Stars! AutoHost

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Re: Server notice

Sun, 18 September 2016 20:50

neilhoward

Commander

Messages: 1112
Registered: April 2008
Location: SW3 & 10023

Thank you for all of your work.

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Re: Server notice

Tue, 20 September 2016 18:07

ManicLurch

Lt. Junior Grade

Messages: 462
Registered: May 2009

Do you need any help, or funds?

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Re: Server notice

Tue, 20 September 2016 21:55

Ron

Commander
Forum Administrator
Stars! AutoHost Administrator

Messages: 1231
Registered: October 2002
Location: Collegedale, TN

ManicLurch wrote on Tue, 20 September 2016 18:07

Do you need any help, or funds?

No, thank you, at least not at the moment. I got it for a 3 month trial, $6.99/month. The only person who can help is my friend who admins the current server.

Ron Miller
Stars! AutoHost

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Re: Server notice

Thu, 22 September 2016 03:39

nmid

Commander

Messages: 1608
Registered: January 2011
Location: GMT +5.5

ManicLurch wrote on Thu, 08 September 2016 05:18

Do those VPS accounts have enough storage for autohost, the forum and the wiki? If they do, great. If not, it is autohost that you need the VPS for correct? If needed, the forum and wiki can be put on the go daddy hosting seperate from autohost? If that is needed, you can still use my go daddy account for that.

As far as the funds for the vps, I am sure we can raise that. I will certainly make a contribution.

I can offer the same for the wiki and the forums + old games database.

Edit - I had offered earlier too, but on another thread.
I thought the forums ate up my post or I had dreamt of posting earlier Razz

[Updated on: Thu, 22 September 2016 03:59]

I know my minefields.. but I'm a chaff sweeper.
I used to curse when I got stuck in traffic... till I realised I AM traffic.

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Re: Server notice

Sun, 25 September 2016 17:30

Raindancer

Officer Cadet 3rd Year

Messages: 261
Registered: February 2003
Location: Finger Lakes NY, USA

So thoughts here...

1) I have a "pro hosting" plan for my business with Bluehost. It does not cost me anything to add a domain and I would be quite happy to do that.

2) What would I need to check to see if it has what SAH needs?

Eric

Edit: I do know that the work is already in progress, but I am willing to help if needed in the future... and I could bury any costs in with my business costs... Smile

[Updated on: Sun, 25 September 2016 18:53]

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Re: Server notice

Sun, 25 September 2016 17:51

ManicLurch

Lt. Junior Grade

Messages: 462
Registered: May 2009

Quote:

1) I have a "pro hosting" plan for my business with Bluehost. It does not cost me anything to add a domain and I would be quite happy to do that.

2) What would I need to check to see if it has what SAH needs?

Ideally you would need root access to install programs. Most hosting plans do not provide that, primarily for security reasons since hosting plans share servers with other users. That is why Ron ended up with a VPS account as a solution. Chances are your hosting account will not be adequate, but you can check.

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Re: Server notice

Sun, 25 September 2016 19:31

Raindancer

Officer Cadet 3rd Year

Messages: 261
Registered: February 2003
Location: Finger Lakes NY, USA

ManicLurch wrote on Sun, 25 September 2016 17:51

Ideally you would need root access to install programs. Most hosting plans do not provide that, primarily for security reasons since hosting plans share servers with other users. That is why Ron ended up with a VPS account as a solution. Chances are your hosting account will not be adequate, but you can check.

I can use the file manager to get to my own home (not system root). I have had people add things like Drupal (including code customizations)and MySQL, and PHP tools. I know FTP was used to load in the software. I do not know if I can get to an actual command prompt. I do not remember how to find out what version of Unix/Linux the host is running.

Sigh. 20 years ago I was a sys admin. Now I cannot remember anything....

Found something. Ah. CentOS. Ron needs Debian IIRC.

More: to upgrade to VPS would cost me about $10/month (which would give access to root, and 30 GB storage, etc.)

Oh well. Worth looking into. Smile

Raindancer

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Re: Server notice

Mon, 26 September 2016 09:59

Ron

Commander
Forum Administrator
Stars! AutoHost Administrator

Messages: 1231
Registered: October 2002
Location: Collegedale, TN

I'm shutting down Stars! AutoHost scripts today for the move. I'll leave the forum up for a little longer while I work on getting SAH scripts working on the new server as that will be the hardest job. After I get SAH working on the new server, I'll coordinate moving the forum and the DNS entry for starsautohost.org to the new server.

The Stars! Wiki is more problematic, as its version of mediawiki is so old that it cannot run on current php and/or mysql versions. Its been running on its own dedicated VM for years. Sad

nmid has offered to host it, but I don't know if he can handle it in its current old state.

[Updated on: Mon, 26 September 2016 10:01]

Ron Miller
Stars! AutoHost

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Re: Server notice

Mon, 26 September 2016 14:37

Raindancer

Officer Cadet 3rd Year

Messages: 261
Registered: February 2003
Location: Finger Lakes NY, USA

Please post if you need testers. We could start a fake game and test submitting turns and getting results... or whatever else you would like to test.. before you make the system live.

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Re: Server notice

Mon, 26 September 2016 17:21

Ron

Commander
Forum Administrator
Stars! AutoHost Administrator

Messages: 1231
Registered: October 2002
Location: Collegedale, TN

Done so far:

Moved all SAH games and their files to new server
Setup X11, Wine and vncserver and tested running stars.exe under Wine. I've ensured I can vncclient connect to the new server.
Transferred all SAH scripts to new server, and web files (except forum software)

Now fighting with Apache2 and user permissions for various cgi-bin programs etc. The new location website won't be fully up until this is working correctly.

Still to do:

Export forum db to sql files, stop forum software, move, and import.
Move forum files to new server.
Export wiki db to sql files for future fighting.
Point DNS name starsautohost.org to new server.
Ensure I can still send out email as coming from starsautohost.org

[Updated on: Mon, 26 September 2016 17:22]

Ron Miller
Stars! AutoHost

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