Grasschopper

Ok this is getting pretty dumb. So now the servers are faster....well for the most part...and usually my posts go through on the first try but I am getting this "Try back later the server is too busy" error. Then I look at the activity just now and there are 1200+ non members viewing and 600+ members most of which are not paying members. I don't know the logistics of the whole thing but it is pretty much BS that my money gets me nearly nothing on this forum.

Now I signed up because in the midst of all the major issues I didn't feel as a free member I had a right to complain and I even think that by saying that in a few threads I got a couple of others to also sign up...but the fact that as a paying member I don't have any priority to viewing here on Bikeforums.net is really getting under my skin.

Sorry just had enough of it and had to vent.

* jack *

I see your point.
I get annoyed with it also, but I know that 25 bucks here and there isn't going to change the fact that this isn't a professional enterprise, so I don't expect it to be run as such.

Granted, a site with this much traffic should have better support on the back end.
The server move was a hassle, and it didn't make things any better, but I'm still thankful the forums exist at all.

pigmode

I have the same fustrations but donated mostly to help fund what I see as a valuable and worthy resource, and if there are bandwidth issues, hope that more members will continue to do the same.

linux_author

- yup... i get frustrated once in a while... but then i realize that 'puters are nothing but fancy toasters...

- and membership here didn't cost a lot of 'bread'...

:-)

p.s. more ads would *really* tick me off!

ChAnMaN

Yeah it would make sense that paying members should never see the server to busy message since the people making it busy didnt pay.........but as far as i know thats would be impossible to do.

And i dont expect joe to do the impossible

Brian

Don't think that we aren't frustrated too. I'm a volunteer here, and I can't do my job when the server has issues. For your $25, at least you don't have to see the ads. It mosly swimsuit/bikini stuff anyway.

CyLowe97

Expatriate or Joe... does something happen with the server at 1:00 pm ET (US) time? This seems to be the regular point on weekdays when the 'server too busy' stuff starts kicking in.

Lunchtime rush crowding the board? Or something perhaps behind the scenes (auto-server backup, or something techy like that)?

JayC

Why dont you guys make it so administrators, moderators and people with red stars dont see the "Server Is Too Busy" message?

superdex

I think that's called "lunch." Now the 1am EST timeouts have to be backups and stuff.

Is it strictly a bandwidth issue? There are a number of computer dorks around here, and a little bit of tweaking I'm sure could be solicited without any effort at all....

JayC

It's a load issue. Without knowing exactly the kind of setup they are running here, it's hard to say what the problem is but considering our largest forum, which is comparable to this one, requires essentially 3 servers to run smoothly (2 to handle http requests and 1 for the database), I'd bet it's too much forum, not enough server.

KrisPistofferson

I get frustrated, too, but at computers in general, not Joe in particular. On the entire internet, I've not found another forum that didn't make me want to destroy the human race, except this one, because of it's quality. My guess is, Joe has a great deal to do with that quality, in his own low-key way. I just deal with the server issues and I'm thankful for what I can get.

superdex

Hells yeah. There isn't anything else on the internets that has me hooked like this place. For a(n online) community of this size, it really is pretty amazing it doesn't spiral into a black hole of flame wars. Kudos to everyone involved.

JayC

Well, I PM'd him a link to a mod which would allow donators, admins and moderators to bypass the "Server is too busy message." Hopefully he considers installing it.

phantomcow2

Well the server is too busy because, its too busy. The red star does not really mean you get better bikeforums server performance. Lack of ads might mean faster loading times though.
Its a good thing to consider though.

pigmode

I'm not sure I'm in favor of a red star getting such access priviledges as mentioned above. OTOH, 2 red stars might be a happening thing...

barba

Perhaps more red stars would allow for a server upgrade.

webist

One does not get extra stars for second and subsequent donations.

Segregation of access by class of membership is not difficult. It involves maintaining more than one password file for the most part.

JayC

Actually it's easier than that.

Another option would be to make it so that the only people who receive the message are people not logged in. Then the donators wouldn't be "upper crust."

JayC

Yea.. looking at the ratio of members vs visitors online right now, restructing the "Server is too busy" message to visitors only would probably work great.

cuda2k

Yeah, but if all the visitors get 'too busy' half the time, do you think they're going to take the time to sign up... or get a red-star?

/devils advocate

Sure the 'server is too busy' thing is annoying. But it's better than some of the alternatives. I threw my coin to Joe to help him keep BF's running period, not so I could get special treatment. It's summer, we just went through the TdF, we're in the middle of a TdF doping scandal, the loads are going to be extra high right now. My advise - ride the bike.

Stacey

Just my two cents.

I'm thinking that on the front page, at the bottom, where it shows the numper of people on the forum, we could break out the paid up member count from the unpaid members, ie: (176 Members, 389 Members and 1324 Guests)

Another thing thing would be to limit the length of time, to let's say three months someone had to lurk the forums (guests) without having to join and maybe a year or two to become a Member.

Is it really fair to those of who have made a comittment to at least join and participate in BF to recieve the same level of service as those who are just here to poke around for a snippet of information.

Yes, I realize that as one progresses up the participation ladder, new and more wonderful realms of the community are accessable, but is it really that big of an incentive to participate? And at the expense of denial of service for those of us who do.

As I said, just my two cents.

Rebutals welcome.

HostGeekZ

Hello,

My input on this is, to stop the server busy messages period. Nobody should be receiving them which we will be working on and fact is nobody will be receiving them once we are finished.

-Scott

EJ123

I think it would be cool if everytime you would donate $25 the Red star could turn another color like perhaps yellow or green.

Stacey

You da' man, man!