Dal_1978 Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Let's be clear, there appears to be two issues here. Most fundamentally, the site itself has gone 'pop', somehow the files that comprise the Atari-Forum have vanished from the webserver hosting it. I cannot explain how this has possibly happened but then I'm not familiar with how "250 host" (or whoever they are) manages slices. Secondly (assuming the first is resolved), there appears to be a filter in place at BT that affects all sites hosted by the same hosting company used by Atari Forum. Some users have reported success with the approach of using OpenDNS in order to circumvent this, however this is clearly far from ideal. There are other factors to consider here, the most important of which is cost. I'm not sure how much space the AF consumes (database and attachments must consume a lot) but I'd imagine hosting such a site on shall we say. A more 'reputible' host provider will cost serious money to maintain. This puts us in the realms of a subscription model - a scenario that immediately alienates all but the true Atari enthusiasts. We aren't a large community to start with so this is a bad idea. If anyone here can come forward and categorically state that they can provide hosting for a potentially huge site (must be gigabytes to support all the attachments over the years) and this can be provided for as close to £0 as possible, then please come forward with your offer and I will present it with a strong argument to those who can make it happen. http://www.free-webhosts.com/free-unlimited-webspace.php Cheers - it's an option however we may have someone in the community who can host it. I'm also a little sceptical of those hosts who offer "too good to be true" unlimited hosting packages - it either becomes a limited offer (as they haemorrhage money and need to start charging) or they simply go bankrupt and disappear... Have you had sites hosted by them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svenski Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 I'd be wary of free hosts - as an example the first site on the list promises unlimited bandwidth - but for the first 2000 visitors a month ! I might be able to help but I don't want to step on anyone's toes as atari-forum.com is not my baby. If you do get stuck then drop me a pm - but I'm sure there are a lot of people already eager to step in and assist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dal_1978 Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 I'd be wary of free hosts - as an example the first site on the list promises unlimited bandwidth - but for the first 2000 visitors a month ! I might be able to help but I don't want to step on anyone's toes as atari-forum.com is not my baby. If you do get stuck then drop me a pm - but I'm sure there are a lot of people already eager to step in and assist. I think we're on the same page mate. Thanks for the offer - if current rumblings don't come to fruition, we'll chat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dal_1978 Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Update! I have provisionally organised some hosting (massive thanks to Graeme who is hosting Atari Legend). This will solve the issue with 250 host filters in place with BT and Virgin Media. Silver Surfer has got back to me with the following: Hi darren, This sounds really good! I have desperatly been trying to get in touch with the current host but I am not having luck with that. Now I really just want to get our stuff from their servers, this doesn't feel good at all... And you are entirely correct with the fact that my time these days to manage the forum i very limited. Since moving house I only have a computer workstation at work and some limited access with the family media center. So for the time being it would be alot better if I had more of backseat role with the forum. I'll keep trying to get in touch with host get our stuff away from there. One would really think that support would be better considering I am paying $24 each month! Thanks! So, once we get the site back from 250 Host then we can move forward with the restore and re-hosting. Fingers crossed people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wongck Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Cool Looks like it's getting somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ijor Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Most fundamentally, the site itself has gone 'pop', somehow the files that comprise the Atari-Forum have vanished from the webserver hosting it. I cannot explain how this has possibly happened but then I'm not familiar with how "250 host" (or whoever they are) manages slices. Ouch Does that mean that the whole database might be lost? Hope that Silver keeps one of his backups safely, so that in the worst case only the last activity is lost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dal_1978 Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Most fundamentally, the site itself has gone 'pop', somehow the files that comprise the Atari-Forum have vanished from the webserver hosting it. I cannot explain how this has possibly happened but then I'm not familiar with how "250 host" (or whoever they are) manages slices. Ouch Does that mean that the whole database might be lost? Hope that Silver keeps one of his backups safely, so that in the worst case only the last activity is lost. Well let's not speculate - Silver is on the case with the host provider, as soon as I have any news ('good' or 'not quite so good'), I will post back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dal_1978 Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 It's UP! Turns out it was nothing more serious than an issue with the automatic billing.... Silver Surfer has paid the outstanding bill using Paypal and now it is up again. We will still explore the re-hosting but at least we have life again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simbo Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 (edited) if you cant see the atari forum go to the main page use CTRL F5 to refresh your local server with a fresh copy Edited December 4, 2010 by simbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shredder11 Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Woohoo it is BACK!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carmel_andrews Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 no, still on de blink... It says, it is re-indexing the database (whatever that is) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dal_1978 Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 no, still on de blink... It says, it is re-indexing the database (whatever that is) Yes - Silver Surfer has taken the database offline for some maintenance. However the site as a whole is up (where it most certainly wasn't before). It will take about 3 hours or so before the database is back online and the Forum can be used again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carmel_andrews Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 yep, everything works....looks like someone put 50p in the meter let's hope for no more drama's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majere Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 It's online at last!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAtarian Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 yep, everything works....looks like someone put 50p in the meter let's hope for no more drama's The webhost uses the old shilling electric meters. Forget to put your coin in and your server goes down. O.o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wongck Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Yeap it's back online now.... still.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wongck Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 and then today I am getting an "Error 101 (net::ERR_CONNECTION_RESET): Unknown error." from it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wongck Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 And it's responding again... I am able to logon to it now. man.... talk about stability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majere Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 And it's responding again... I am able to logon to it now. man.... talk about stability. Yes, sometimes it's down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wongck Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 It's up most of this weekend... well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dal_1978 Posted December 27, 2010 Share Posted December 27, 2010 It's down again :-( The host provider is down (currently no response from http://www.250host.com)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majere Posted December 27, 2010 Share Posted December 27, 2010 (edited) It's down again :-( The host provider is down (currently no response from http://www.250host.com)... Yes, it's down, but not ever, this morning it was on, and now it's down (sorry, spanish time) Edited December 27, 2010 by majere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blues76 Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 atari-forum still down... any news? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dal_1978 Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 No news I'm afraid. Trying to get in touch with the MD of the hosting company to confirm what has happened. I'm also trying to enjoy the remainder of my Christmas holiday... :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dal_1978 Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 I have tracked down the MD via facebook and sent him a message asking whether this is a temporary glitch and if so, an indication of how long we will be out of service for. Will update as soon as I have any news. Cheers, Dal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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