We're back on the air!

[Randi]

Hi everyone,

So sorry it took so long to fix the forum. The server had no more space disk and it currupted the forums's tables. All fixed now. :)

[mtlguy]

Great Randi, thanks!

[TOM_T]

Good to see it back. Have a few updates to the BTV/BF vs Rogers forums to do when I get a chance?

[TOM_T]

Active? Not Active? Active? Not Active?Whats up with the forum? Maybe it time to change Web Hosts?

[InMontreal]

Not sure if it's related... When the website is unreacheable, you sometimes see a message from CloudFlare. Since january, Cogent is playing a cat and mouse game with Cloudflare in order to block Pirate Bay. Soooo, I assume this website's server is affected somehow as collateral damage of that game that doesn't concern any of us ? Otherwise, I see plain webhost incompetence...

[Randi]

Active? Not Active? Active? Not Active?Whats up with the forum? Maybe it time to change Web Hosts?

Hi TOM_T, so sorry for the down time. Over the past few years, I've seen a severe degradation of customer service of my host (a small orange). This is something I will look into when my contract ends in the fall.

Not sure if it's related... When the website is unreacheable, you sometimes see a message from CloudFlare. Since january, Cogent is playing a cat and mouse game with Cloudflare in order to block Pirate Bay. Soooo, I assume this website's server is affected somehow as collateral damage of that game that doesn't concern any of us ? Otherwise, I see plain webhost incompetence...

I have deactivated cloudflare, let's see how it does. However, I think the problelm is wordpress and channelcanada. I think it has too much posts (over 8 500) and it is becoming a ressource hog for the whole server. I have requesting an analysis of the problem by my web host, let's see how it goes but I think I will need to delete old posts. I kept them on for archival purposes but I probably won't be able to to continue doing this. Let's see the results of the web host's analysis.

I'll keep you posted! ;)

[lostjon]

Over the past few years, I've seen a severe degradation of customer service of my host (a small orange). This is something I will look into when my contract ends in the fall.

When you say that your contract ends in the fall, are you implying that there's a possibility of this forum shutting down? Hopefully, that's not the outcome. I'm assuming that this forum has been using the same host since it launched over a decade ago.

However, I think the problelm is wordpress and channelcanada. I think it has too much posts (over 8 500) and it is becoming a ressource hog for the whole server. I have requesting an analysis of the problem by my web host, let's see how it goes but I think I will need to delete old posts. I kept them on for archival purposes but I probably won't be able to to continue doing this.

It would be nice if all the posts could be saved - I'm curious as to how many of them would need to be deleted in order for this forum to be up and running normally again. Like you said, we'll have to wait for results of the analysis.

So it comes down to one the following three scenarios:
- Continue this forum with the current web host with older posts being deleted
- Continue this forum with a new web host and salvage all posts since launch
- Potential shutdown of the forum altogether (I'm crossing my fingers that we can rule this out) citing numerous factors (cost, etc.)

[Randi]

[FONT=arial]
When you say that your contract ends in the fall, are you implying that there's a possibility of this forum shutting down? Hopefully, that's not the outcome. I'm assuming that this forum has been using the same host since it launched over a decade ago.

When John was co-owner with me, the site was hosted on his servers (he has a hosting company in BC) but since he departed, I had to move everything out to a new host (my current host) and this host was absolutly perfect until they were bought by another hosting company, now, the service has downgraded quite a bit. Although to be fair, the customer service I had today (yup, crashed again so we can rule out CloudFlare's involvment in the problems to this site) was on par with my expectations.

I have no current plans to close the forums. I mentionned this before, last year was different because I could no longer afford the plan I had vs the revenues the site generated (a 1:4 ratio) and I had to make a decision to keep it or not. I downgraded the hosting plan and I am now confortable with the new pricing. The site's revenue are still not paying the hosting fees but I can live with that as I plan to use the server for another personnal projet I have in the works.

It would be nice if all the posts could be saved - I'm curious as to how many of them would need to be deleted in order for this forum to be up and running normally again. Like you said, we'll have to wait for results of the analysis.

So it comes down to one the following three scenarios:
- Continue this forum with the current web host with older posts being deleted
- Continue this forum with a new web host and salvage all posts since launch
- Potential shutdown of the forum altogether (I'm crossing my fingers that we can rule this out) citing numerous factors (cost, etc.)

Just to make myself clear, when I say delete old posts, I talk about deleting stuff on www.channelcanada.com, not these forums.

For example, potential post marked for deletion that were posted in 2002-2003:

• Alliance-Atlantis receives record number of Primetime Emmy Awards
• New satellite for Bell Expressvu in 2003
• Craig Broadcast Systems Inc. to Launch Television Station in Toronto
• Channel Introduction: EdgeTV
• Channel Introduction: MTV Canada
• Channel Introduction: Movieola
• Public/private collaboration central to making Canadian programming work
• CBC announces commitment to programming standards
• Saskatchewan station shuts down, but TV signal will remain
• Channel Introduction: The Documentary Channel

If deleting old posts does not help with the current server issue, then and only then will I need to look at deleting old posts on these forums.

[lostjon]

When John was co-owner with me, the site was hosted on his servers (he has a hosting company in BC) but since he departed, I had to move everything out to a new host (my current host) and this host was absolutly perfect until they were bought by another hosting company, now, the service has downgraded quite a bit. Although to be fair, the customer service I had today (yup, crashed again so we can rule out CloudFlare's involvment in the problems to this site) was on par with my expectations.

I have no current plans to close the forums. I mentionned this before, last year was different because I could no longer afford the plan I had vs the revenues the site generated (a 1:4 ratio) and I had to make a decision to keep it or not. I downgraded the hosting plan and I am now confortable with the new pricing. The site's revenue are still not paying the hosting fees but I can live with that as I plan to use the server for another personnal projet I have in the works.



Just to make myself clear, when I say delete old posts, I talk about deleting stuff on www.channelcanada.com, not these forums.

For example, potential post marked for deletion that were posted in 2002-2003:

• Alliance-Atlantis receives record number of Primetime Emmy Awards
• New satellite for Bell Expressvu in 2003
• Craig Broadcast Systems Inc. to Launch Television Station in Toronto
• Channel Introduction: EdgeTV
• Channel Introduction: MTV Canada
• Channel Introduction: Movieola
• Public/private collaboration central to making Canadian programming work
• CBC announces commitment to programming standards
• Saskatchewan station shuts down, but TV signal will remain
• Channel Introduction: The Documentary Channel

If deleting old posts does not help with the current server issue, then and only then will I need to look at deleting old posts on these forums.

Alright, thank you very much for clarifying this and I really appreciate it. Most of all, I thank you for all the time and effort you have put into maintaining this forum since its launch.

Judging from those posts that you just listed, those are pretty old although very reminiscent of a time where digital channels were watchable when they first came on the air. In this case, I would not see any problem in getting rid of some of the posts, perhaps starting with the channel introductions, especially for those that no longer exist.

[TOM_T]

I have no current plans to close the forums.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

[Randi]

Wow... just wow.... Unbelievable customer experience with my hosting provider (or lack thereof). We're back on the air for good now.
I will change hosting provider during the summer but until then, the forum and site should work fine now as I have added more disk space.

Basically, my hosting package had 50Gb of disk space but for some reason, then reduced it to 40Gb. Since I used 100%, everything crashed. It took a month, multiple chat session and ultimately a very nasty chat session today to put things back together.

I do really apologize for the downtime and I thank you for your understanding.

Best,
Randi

[Randi]

Wow... just wow.... Unbelievable customer experience with my hosting provider (or lack thereof). We're back on the air for good now.
I will change hosting provider during the summer but until then, the forum and site should work fine now as I have added more disk space.

Basically, my hosting package had 50Gb of disk space but for some reason, then reduced it to 40Gb. Since I used 100%, everything crashed. It took a month, multiple chat session and ultimately a very nasty chat session today to put things back together.

I do really apologize for the downtime and I thank you for your understanding.

Best,
Randi

[Randi]

Wow... just wow.... Unbelievable customer experience with my hosting provider (or lack thereof). We're back on the air for good now.
I will change hosting provider during the summer but until then, the forum and site should work fine now as I have added more disk space.

Basically, my hosting package had 50Gb of disk space but for some reason, then reduced it to 40Gb. Since I used 100%, everything crashed. It took a month, multiple chat session and ultimately a very nasty chat session today to put things back together.

I do really apologize for the downtime and I thank you for your understanding.

Best,
Randi

[TOM_T]

I'm glad the forum is back again. I like this forum. I just hope it doesn't keep on crashing as some members might just get fed up and not returm?

[CDN Viewer]

Great to see that the forum is working again, I was starting to get worried that it wouldn't come back as this time the outage was longer (over a week!).

I agree Tom, these constant outages may cause some damage (hopefully not) and result in some of the more casual visitors to the site to leave and not come back. In this day and age where many people have very short attention spans, they probably won't tolerate a site being down for so long. I am confident that the long time members will be back, I know I am not going anywhere and will be here to the end as IMO this is best Canadian TV forum on the web!

Now, its time to get back to work.

[LOSat]

Pleasantly surprised but glad this is back up and running.