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Site host change

Posted: 2007-10-30 19:36
by Merri
The site will move to my own computer. This means slower connections and getting attachments may be a bit painfull at times, but I had to do something to cut my hobby site expenses.

The exact date at this time is unclear, it may take anything from within 24 hours to two weeks.

Some posts may be lost. I already have a copy of the forum running on my own computer.

Posted: 2007-11-03 12:10
by Imurann
domain name changes too?

Posted: 2007-11-03 15:53
by Merri
Nope, waiting for the domain to transfer. Once it transfers to the new service, the forum just starts working through my machine.

Once that happens, I'll try to restore the forum database so that minimal amount of posts will be lost.



I actually have a mirrored address, but I decided I won't share it as it'll just confuse people anyway.

Posted: 2007-11-04 21:19
by misssakura
Won't it cost you way more in electricity each month to leave your machine on all the time? :O

I pay a few dollars each year for my hosting...

Posted: 2007-11-05 06:33
by Merri
Well, practically... my computer is on all the time anyway.

I bought parts that save me some electricity, so it isn't as big of an energy hog. Low consuming display adapter, low consuming processor (Core 2 Duo), PSU that is 20% more energy efficient than regular ones etc.

And in the end, computers don't use that much energy anyway. If you really want to use your money to electricity, try going to electric sauna on a daily basis :D


Oh, and welcome to my computer.


(Whee, this is so nice and fast for myself now.)
(I just want to keep editing this message :roll :)

Posted: 2007-11-05 15:05
by Imurann
ara, do I hear a tech loving person :)

care to share more on what's under the rig? XD

Posted: 2007-11-05 17:12
by LennStar
[quote="Merri"]
And in the end, computers don't use that much energy anyway.
(I just want to keep editing this message :roll :) [/quote]
It depends on the computer. My Laptop needs ~50W so its cheaper to switch it on than to have a light on :D
But the play-Computer needs ~200W more when playing.

How much does yours need?
And how much costs you the KW/h if I may ask...

Posted: 2007-11-05 19:24
by Merri
I don't actually know the costs on my kW/h and I don't know the consumption, this far the bills I've got have been reasonable for my budget. I haven't been that interested on the issue, but I cared about it when I was choosing parts.

I think the old fridge here is the worst, if I set it to the max (to let milk actually stay good until the day that is marked on it), it just keeps being on all the time. It is darn noisy too.

I'm also using energy saving lightbulbs only.


Anyways, what I'm running:
  • Intel Core 2 Duo E4300
  • Abit AB9 Pro
  • 2 GB memory
  • GeForce 7600 GS (passive)
  • Antec Neo HE 430W
  • Samsung 80 GB + Western Digital 160 GB
  • Antec Sonata II Piano Black
Software:
Windows Vista Home Premium
IIS7 + fastcgi + PHP5 + MySQL5

Posted: 2007-11-06 09:15
by Merri
Vista also is a good power saver even for desktop computers. For example, it does use the processor less if you tell it to. I can see this effecting the loading time of the main page, instead of generating at 0.1 seconds when maximizing power consumption, it takes 0.14 seconds if I use my power saving mode (which I've set to about as minimum as possible, but with the difference to regular settings that the computer never turns off - max processor usage is set to 50%).

I can also turn display adapter, WLAN etc. to power saving mode. And I don't need to set these individually each time I want to switch the setting, just click from one (customized) power consumption program to another and I'm good to go :)

Posted: 2007-11-06 10:58
by Imurann
Nice specs there, sounds that it's like a low-power, low-noise cpu.

Mine's still using the Intel D 805, one hell of a power eating machina. I'm probably getting a new chip, if they released the ones with < 65nm chips. Heard that something new going to be released, but I dont know if I can even afford it. Usually new released are dead expensive, ends up me buying a new processor from a friend then.

btw, what's the connection speed to your pc? mine's still around 1mbps. Uploading on the other hand is still bad. So I declared myself as a leecher, of many many things :P Had to use ubuntu+deluge to get those torrent running. Hehe, really did pawned those ISP throttle plan good :P

Posted: 2007-11-06 16:11
by Merri
Not much better, only 2048/512 DSL, which means the site can serve only one user at good download speed if one wants to download something - and that when I don't have a torrent running.

I could switch to a faster service provider with fair pricing, but that would kind of lose the point I had on my mind when I was cutting down my hosting expenses (I saved about 160 euros by moving a few sites).

Posted: 2007-11-08 14:29
by Merri
I have now opened a blog for setting out information regarding the server: http://blog.maayas.net/

If you happen to see a longer downtime etc. you ought to find news on it from there (as well as news on planned downtimes, which are likely to happen in afternoon time of the US as majority of visitors on my server are Finnish, thus downtimes are aimed at Finnish nighttime and very early mornings).

Posted: 2007-11-08 18:57
by LennStar
[quote="Merri"]Not much better, only 2048/512 DSL, [/quote]
In Germany a 2 Mbit means (~) 2304/224 kBit/s (thats my speed now), so 10 times down than up. Quite bad for torrents. With around 2 hours/day I need a full month for the 4Gigs from the last Knoppix to even get 1:1.

btw: It costs only around 10€ to buy a machine that shows you the kWh etc. Or ask a friend if they have one. Its quite useful to make a walk through your house with it. :wink:

Posted: 2007-11-08 19:42
by Merri
A friend? What are you talking about? What is this "friend"?


(Well, ok, the ones I do have live mostly elsewhere... the power of the Internet.)

Posted: 2007-11-10 04:47
by Merri
There was some downtime while I was figuring out how to block someone who was all too dedicated to send a request to download a file every four seconds. Now checking to make sure downloads aren't available for guests...


Edit: yup, had given too much permissions for guests. Now fixed so that one must register to download files, which makes it easier for me to track who might be causing trouble.