New Servers on the Way!

[Muhammad]

Hi Guys (and girls!),

In January, TractorByNet.com registered more than 74,000 unique users, shattering our old record from early 2003. We project another record-breaking month in February, and want to welcome all new users to a smooth-running TractorByNet.com.

So, help is on the way! We have made the decision to retire our trusty old server, which is more than three years old and has 600 million+ hits on the "clock."

We'll be replacing it with not one, but two servers that will "team up" to handle TBN's ever-increasing traffic load. One server will be dedicated to running our database, and the other will run everything else.

For those of you who are curious, our new setup will be...

Server 1:
1.3ghz
40gb HD
1gb RAM

Server 2 (Database):
1.3ghz
36gb SCSI HD
512mb RAM

At this point we're focused on restoring the site to optimum performance at all times, but it will probably be a little bit quicker with the new servers, too. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif More importantly, we'll be able to handle our projected growth through this spring and summer without slow-downs.

There will likely be some limited downtime when we make the switch. As always we'll do our best to make the transition smooth and problem-free. But, we ask for your patience in the process.

Thanks for your continued support that has made TractorByNet.com the #1 tractor website.

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Just keeps getting better /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Thanks Muhammad

 

[MossRoad]

First Ibrahim updates his bio, now this? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Thanks for making this such a great site. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[fivestring]

<font color="blue">"First Ibrahim updates his bio, now this?" </font>

Then Henro updates his.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Thanks for everything you do. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Hopefully our t-shirt orders will help pay for some of the upgrades.... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[DAP]

At the risk of being nosey, Muhammad, just curious as to why you chose the beefier machine for something other than the DB?

Guess it's the "everthing else" that has a greater requirement than a relational database?

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JASTN70D]

It looks as though Muhammad got it right with the SCSI drive in the DB server. Memory is useful only if the application that is running can use it all if the DB opens are smaller than the memory then he got that right also. I suspect the all other server is running more applications on it. In any case he has done a great job so far.!

 

[Muhammad]

Well, Ibrahim is the one who made the decisions... so I must deflect the credit. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Worst case would be if one of them needed more RAM, which would be an easy upgrade.

 

[Ibrahim]

Right. It may be that we have to very quickly add more Ram in the MySQL sever, which would be a hassle and a bit more money, but I'm confident that it'll be faster for some time. When we say just the MySQL, we mean just that. Right now, a single machine handles over 116GB of traffic a month. I wasn't going to drop that machine's Ram by too much. Especially with having to handle PHP and mail.

We'll see how quickly you guys rip it apart, but maybe it'll last through to the summer. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

-Ibrahim

 

[_RaT_]

Muhammad, I'm just curious, are your two computers located where you live which I would assume would mean you buy a static address? What kind of connection is needed to handle the traffic on TBN? I think it would be interesting if you took a picture of the two computers and posted them. It's strange to think all that goes on here is acutally in two small boxes located in some guys house. Keep up the stellar work. Rat...

 

[frank_f15]

thanks for the heads up, wonder tho will there be any chance of the profiles being delted? or the no. of post. and such.

 

[Ibrahim]

Definately not!

We only have lost posts once due to the harddrive dying.

-Ibrahim

 

[Muhammad]

Rat,

No, we don't have the servers here... they're located in a data center in San Antonio---we use a managed hosting provider. Their data pipe is one of the largest of any host and handles some of the highest trafficked websites online. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Junkman]

Today, while doing some research on the site, I found my old "handle" from when I joined in May of 2000..... I was known as "DustyOne" back then..... When I got back on line, I couldn't remember what I had used, so I re-registered using Junkman... Can the two be merged back together??? Then I could be called the OneDustyJunkman....... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I will have to fire up the old computer and see if I can find the old registration information.....

 

[_RaT_]

Interesting, so these new computers you have will be installed there? Is this a job the provider does if that is the case. A buddy of mine is a property manager in the SF Bay area. He mentioned that a building they lease in the Silicon Valley they have massive flywheels always running on the roof area that are kept running by a electric motor. The purpose of the flywheels is to instantly get a generator to speed should there be a power failure. This is done simply until moments later the backup diesel generators come on line. They guarantee 100% reliabilty at the site. I believe it powers eBay. He said they have never been down due to power reasons. This stuff is very interesting to me. Thanks for the information, I am sure others appreciate it as well. Mark

 

[AndyM]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It's strange to think all that goes on here is acutally in two small boxes located in some guys house. )</font>

I searched my archives, and I found a "behind the scenes" photo taken at TBN... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

That little dog pulled away the curtain and revealed everything! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[5030]

Andy:

I am glad that "ToTo" revealed the "Boss" hard at work at the "computer".

I wonder if we give Muhammad grey hair?? Actually, I wonder if he has any left from dealing with us??

 

[_RaT_]

That's it! Exactly how I pictured it would be. Is that Muhammad, Hakim or Ibrahim?

 

[AndyM]

"I AM THE GREAT AND MIGHTY OZ... uh... pay no attention to the man behind the curtain..."

Dealing with 7000 people just like us would be enough to give you a grey hair or two. Maybe one day we'll get to see what Muhammad REALLY looks like.

 

[Muhammad]

Yes, some day. I have no grey hair... let's just get that out of the way. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> I have no grey hair... </font>

I do... at least what's left of it /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif