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Wednesday & Thursday: Server Upgrade (Cerb Schedules Maintenance - Offline)

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Wednesday: Server Upgrade

Problem: Cerb may go offline for some people due to IP and DNS changes.

 

We will be switching out the current main CERB.CA server with a new (Much larger) server as it is due for a upgrade. The new server is a 64 bit platform as opposed to the current 32 bit OS so the site should be MUCH faster when searching the database and loading pages. At this time the site is slowing down around peek times when we have 500+ people logged in at the same time.

 

To make sure the transition goes smoothly we will be suspending access to the site before we start the switch on Monday. (This will stop any posts from going missing - we hope). It could take several hours to complete the update so we are going to start the update around 12:00 AM and hopefully have the site migrated to the new server by 5:00AM to avoid any inturuption to the site during peek hours.

 

If you visit the site and get the "Closed - Maintenance window" notification then just try back later as some of the DNS will need to be changed and the server will have a NEW ip address.

 

NOTE: Some people may have problems logging in for the first day or two because of this DNS and IP change. If you log in and are shown a notice that the server is down for maintenance after 5:00AM just keep trying as this means your ISP or your COMPUTER have stored the DNS and IP of the old server. This will eventually reload for you and allow you back in (Some people it could take a few hours and some people a few days. AOL for instance use to cache the DNS for many days at a time and I am not sure if they do this still or if any other ISPs do this still. Usually it's 48 hours at most)

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Mod

Would clearing the cookies form our machines allow us to log into the new server quicker?

 

Loki

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Mod

Would clearing the cookies form our machines allow us to log into the new server quicker?

 

Loki

 

Unfortunately it won't as cookies do not hold the DNS entry.

 

There are usually 3 places which this entry is located: on your local computer, your home router (if you have one) and your ISP. You could reboot your router and local computer to clean those out however until your local ISP has the new information it won't do much good.

 

Once the local ISP is updated any router or local computer tends to follow suit without intervention.

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Unfortunately it won't as cookies do not hold the DNS entry.

 

There are usually 3 places which this entry is located: on your local computer, your home router (if you have one) and your ISP. You could reboot your router and local computer to clean those out however until your local ISP has the new information it won't do much good.

 

Once the local ISP is updated any router or local computer tends to follow suit without intervention.

 

Quit the geek speek!

 

Apex:grin:

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Thanks for answering that one etasman2000! It's nice to have fellow geeks on board! (APEX!)

 

etasman2000 is 100% correct, usually the problem is with your ISP (Like rogers, bell, etc.. - whoever you pay for internet). They are support to update the DNS at least once every 24 hours so if you get locked out keep trying. Most of us set our DNS servers to update about 4pm in whatever timezone they are located in.

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Quit the geek speek!

 

Apex:grin:

 

Just for you Apex :)

 

 

d- s-:- C++ LB U++ P+ L++ E+ W+ w O++ M+ PS+ Y++ PGP++ 5+ R+++ b++ e++

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Man, all this talk about bits, routers, DNS, propagation, updates, ISP is giving me an erection. Stop it. It does not feel right when you guys do it. Only when the ladies do it. :mrgreen:

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Thursday

Part II of the Server Upgrade

We were not able to do it all in one night (Just too many files and a few unexpected problems).

 

We started the migration at 12am Wednesday and it has taken much longer than we anticipated so we have decided to split the migration into two nights to ensure cerb stays online for the peek hours.

Thursday: Part II of the Server Upgrade

Problem: Cerb may go offline for some people due to IP and DNS changes.

 

Same notice as yesterday:

We will be switching out the current main CERB.CA server with a new (Much larger) server as it is due for a upgrade. The new server is a 64 bit platform as opposed to the current 32 bit OS so the site should be MUCH faster when searching the database and loading pages. At this time the site is slowing down around peek times when we have 500+ people logged in at the same time.

 

To make sure the transition goes smoothly we will be suspending access to the site before we start the switch. (This will stop any posts from going missing - we hope). It could take several hours to complete the update so we are going to start the update around 12:00 AM and hopefully have the site migrated to the new server by 5:00AM to avoid any inturuption to the site during peek hours.

 

If you visit the site and get the "Closed - Maintenance window" notification then just try back later as some of the DNS will need to be changed and the server will have a NEW ip address.

 

NOTE: Some people may have problems logging in for the first day or two because of this DNS and IP change. If you log in and are shown a notice that the server is down for maintenance after 5:00AM just keep trying as this means your ISP or your COMPUTER have stored the DNS and IP of the old server. This will eventually reload for you and allow you back in (Some people it could take a few hours and some people a few days. AOL for instance use to cache the DNS for many days at a time and I am not sure if they do this still or if any other ISPs do this still. Usually it's 48 hours at most)

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If you visit the site and get the "Closed - Maintenance window" notification then just try back later as some of the DNS will need to be changed and the server will have a NEW ip address.

 

 

 

 

Think I will just have to go WINDOW SHOPPING:boobies:

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Well, the site is finally back up and running (14 hours later) but the chat room seams to be down still. No idea why but we are working on it still...

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glad to have it back....I actually had CERB withdrawl....was not fun.....:sad:

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Network maintenance window this Friday, March 6th between 11:59pm and Saturday 1:00am, PST.

 

REASON - Routing adjustments to add more redundancy to the network. Customers with active sessions may experience latency (SLOW) or loss of connection for brief periods during this window.

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Network maintenance window this Friday, March 6th between 11:59pm and Saturday 1:00am, PST.

 

REASON - Routing adjustments to add more redundancy to the network. Customers with active sessions may experience latency (SLOW) or loss of connection for brief periods during this window.

 

Careful with all that redundancy - accountants prefer the word resilience :smile:

Great job mod and team.

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