How much of the server load comes from people just keeping the PopUp sticky list going on their computer?  Would it make a difference if jase disabled that until he finds the correct solution to the server/load issue?

Other thoughts (and no, these won't be popular either) -

1.  Forced log offs if no activity on screen for some period of time... perhaps 30-60 minutes. (i.e. get rid of greedy bandwidth hogs).

2.  Not permitting right clicks 'open new tab' or 'open new window' until the new server is running.  (ooh, I'd hate this, but I hate getting bumped off too).

3.  Disabling pictures until the new server is running. (and I'd hate this, too, since I use a lot of maps and pix).

4. and as mentioned above, disabling the sticky list pop-up.


If none of these would help.... then so be it.


***
pulls out poncho and goggles to protect himself from the rotten tomato barrage about to commence
***

How about I toss a rose for at least thinking about the problem and offering some solutions.  *Grins*  Just watch the thorns.


Anyway, my only comment is that the pop-up sticky list is actually less load on the server than the Main Menu is, which is why it was created -- so that people wouldn't be constantly hitting the Main Menu and causing an increased load when their Sticky List was much more efficient.  As far as I know, this is still the case.

***
catches rose and cleans up the resultant bleeding from the pricked fingers
***

In that case, I'll start using the pop-up.

WG

Personally I find it easier to NOT hit refresh on the main menu when my sticky list popup is automatically checking for me.
If anyone else has the same problem - try it.

Is there any way to get the message out that using the popup sticky list is actually less resource-intensive than refreshing? I always assumed it was the other way around, so I'd venture to guess that a lot of other users made the same erroneous assumption. Perhaps an announcement of some sort?

And I don't think disabling right clicking to open new tabs would do much. There's nothing to prevent somebody from opening a new blank tab and just navigating to the page they need, which would put more of a strain on the server, defeating the purpose.

What about the other solutions. If it helps then I say try em. I use pop-ups all the time as they help to get to the games I both run or want to browse. If there are suggestions on how to correct the prob I'd like to know. Right now I run four games and have another which will be my last I want to start. Needless to say as I'm sure most have experience I lose a lot of game time because I can't get on.

With the exception of the Game Map feature (which is quite small), and the graphics which show you which threads have new posts (which are rather useful), every picture on RPoL (including the portraits) is hosted elsewhere, so they have less effect on RPoL's bandwidth than you might think.

I don't think this would have any impact.  If you stop clicking, then no pages are being loaded and there is no data being transferred and the only load is the RAM on the server to keep you logged in, which should be a non-issue for internet bandwidth.  This assumes you do not have any automated checkers running like the pop-up sticky or the live feeds.  Those would eat up bandwidth even when left unattended.


This is not something that RPOL can control since it is a built in function of whatever browser is used.


As BBR said, the pictures do not use the same server, so I don't think there is much to gain from this.


As was stated above, the pop-up was created specifically because it is lighter load than the Main Menu.  As such, this would only be good for use with your Idea #1 where a user may have left their computer running the sticky even when they are not watching it.

EDIT:
In summary, it seems the only thing here that might help would be to disable the automated functions if they are left unattended for X amount of time (maybe 60 minutes or something).
This message was last edited by the user at 20:32, Tue 15 Apr 2008.

Unfortunately the main culprits are the game menu, along with the composing and displaying message pages.

Other words. Something that can't be taken down. Without shutting the site down till it's fixed.

At the risk of seeming like a hypocrite (at least I'm waiting for off-peak hours to say it), it would probably at least marginally decrease the server load if people would stop posting new notices to complain about it...

I mean, I realize everyone wants to do something about it, not everyone has the luxury I do of having their best times to post actually being outside the problem time frame.  I'm not singling anyone out...it's just that this is...what, the seventh or eighth thread I've seen in the last month about the connectivity issues with the server...this is actually one of the shorter ones, too.

The simple answer to the problem is, find different times to post.  At least until the server issue is handled.  It's inconvenient, yes...but really, is anybody's world going to cease to exist if they post at midnight, as opposed to 10 pm?

I think one problem is that there are some people who (rare I know) may have not encountered the problem before and do not search or look for any other article about it and so make their own.

Other than that there are new people as well who don't know what's going etc. etc. I think most of the threads that are recent have been by new members, that's just a guess though. :)

All we can do is wait.

Our new server has been ordered and the first payment made to Tranxact Global/NetDepot.

Our new server will consist of the following;

• Single QUAD Core 2.4GHz CPU
  (up from a single core CPU)
• 2GB of Memory
  (up from 1GB)
• Dual 250GB SATA drives, mirrored for redundancy
  (up from a single 80GB IDE)
• 2000GB of GNAX (Global Net Access) Gold Bandwidth
  (I have tested their network and it seems very quick)

We are now waiting on our server to be commissioned so we can configure it for RPoL and then go about migrating the site.  More information will be posted as it becomes available.

:)  Thank you jase for your careful selection and efforts.  RPOL is a place that I very much enjoy, an escape in a very stressful world.  I have sworn a thousand times that when bankruptcy is no longer looming on the horizon, I will be happy to donate to this forum to support the hardware/software/manpower it takes to keep it running.

Thank you, again.

I believe it was the great Hans Christian Anderson who once said:

"Woohoo!"

No, wait...that was Homer Simpson.


Either way, thanks for your hard work.

I think some cash donations should be given. Is there a place where we can send it?

Just curious as to whether rpol is likely to have some downtime during the migration?

Big Mac, this thread in the Friends of RPoL forum might be of use:

link to a message in "FoRPoL"


Edited to add this thread in the General Forum, too.

link to a message in "General RPoL"

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If you want to help decrease the server load, you can always avoid attempting to load the page to check its status by using downforeveryoneorjustme.com/rpol.net to check if the site is down...
This message was last edited by the user at 17:40, Sat 19 Apr 2008.

LadyAiken, "More information will be posted as it becomes available."  I'm sure as soon as jase knows, he'll inform us.

Considering the main sources of the major bandwidth hogs, consists of page refreshing, would it be beneficial to look into AJAX to soften that load? It may not lead to less requests, but it would lead to those requests being smaller. Considering how many hits, that may help lower total bandwidth costs of those pages.

*aplauds jase and gets him and all the mods their choice of free food so they can all have a good meal for once* jase, you and the mods here are all a godsend! thanks jase so much for rpol, and thanks to you mods that help keep it running in good order! Lets Eat!!

A toast: To RPoL! *raises a wineglass*