Jay

User Group: Administrators
Join date: 22-Feb-2003
Last activity: 26-Jun-2025
Posts: 2,437

Post History

Post: #5346
Topic: Video Store Magazine article: "Fans Petition Lucas to Release Original Wars"
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/5346/action/topic#5346
Time: 4-Jun-2003 9:42 AM

I suggest we wait until after the weekend. I'd like to watch the site for a few days and see if anything pops up. I'll know when I get home tonight and check my e-mail whether or not things are running smoothly (people are quick to complain when things are messed up

).

I also plan on sending out a reminder e-mail this weekend to those who haven't confirmed their signatures yet. Since this will involve over 5000 messages being sent out at the same time, it'll be a good test of the mail server's stability. So far, I've been receiving e-mails almost immediately after they're sent, so I'm confident things will go well.

As a matter of fact, overall performance of the site seems to be noticeably better for me than the old server, especially on pages that require database interaction (like the forum). The limiting factor on the previous server was definitely the speed of the SQL server, so I'm guessing this hosting service is running SQL on a beefier machine. Support has also been top-notch. I e-mailed a tech question the other day and got a response in about 10 minutes. These guys are much more on the ball than my old service. Bodes well for the future.

Post: #5344
Topic: Naive question #1
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/5344/action/topic#5344
Time: 4-Jun-2003 9:35 AM

Some are personal sites, some are entertainment- or DVD-related, some are completely off-topic. Many are smaller, but some have a decent readership.

I just think that if I'm going to link to someone's site, the least they could do is link back here and drum up some support. I understand that some large sites might have trouble with giving up a significant chunk of screen real estate for a link to us that would otherwise go toward advertising space (and therefore dollars). However, that's what support sometimes involves. And it's not like our banners are huge. I even offer custom sizes to people who request them (another task I've fallen way behind on).

HTF has a huge animated Flash banner right on their home page pointing to the petition. The Digital Bits has one of our animated banners right on their home page. They've been ardent supporters of the petition since the very beginning, along with many smaller sites.

It's all about getting the word out there.

Post: #5331
Topic: Naive question #1
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/5331/action/topic#5331
Time: 4-Jun-2003 9:14 AM

I gave up on theforce.net a while ago. Originally they were very gung-ho about the petition, even going so far as to offer to host it on their server. They were concerned about some of the performance issues we were having. I had some concerns of my own regarding site maintenance, so I decided to continue hosting it on my own. After I politely declined their offer, I stopped hearing from them. They posted that one article, and later on made a news post when we hit 20,000 signatures. I don't think they've posted anything since.

One thing I definitely need to do now that the move is complete is to update the supporting sites list. I've received tons of e-mails from many sites that are now linking to OT.com, but I haven't added them yet.

I think the new requirement for appearing on that list will be the actual presence of a permanent link somewhere on the supporter's web site. As I say in my FAQ section, there's a difference between pledging your support and actually lending your support.

Post: #5280
Topic: Back online!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/5280/action/topic#5280
Time: 3-Jun-2003 6:17 PM

The transition to the new server is complete. It took a bit longer than originally planned, so I apologize for the delay. Things seem to be working properly, but in case anyone runs into any problems, please send an e-mail to forum@originaltrilogy.com with any error message text you receive.

Post: #5199
Topic: originaltrilogy.com will be offline over the weekend
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/5199/action/topic#5199
Time: 23-May-2003 7:23 AM

At some point over the weekend, the site will be unavailable due to the server move. It's also likely that some of you won't be able to access the site at its new location for several days until the new DNS address works its way across the net.

Moving the signatures to the new server is fairly simple. However, the forum move might be more complex. It's possible the forum will be unavailable for a longer period of time than the rest of the site. Please be patient during this transition period.

Thanks,
Jay

Post: #4906
Topic: New hosting service ordered, downtime expected
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/4906/action/topic#4906
Time: 20-May-2003 11:35 AM

Quote
Originally posted by: Bossk
If you don't mind me asking, who are you using as your new service?

Enterhost.

Post: #4844
Topic: New hosting service ordered, downtime expected
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/4844/action/topic#4844
Time: 19-May-2003 12:11 PM

For some time now we've had intermittent server problems affecting the functionality of the site. Lots of bounced e-mails and database problems that annoy visitors and make my life more difficult. I've worked with my current hosting service since the site launched to fix the problems we're having, but so far no explanation has been offered.

Certainly, if we're going to push this site further into the public eye, its performance needs to be more reliable.

Today I set up an account with a new hosting service. During the next week or so I'll be transferring the site to the new server. Things will continue to operate as usual until I copy the signature and forum databases, at which point I'll be shutting the site down temporarily. This is to keep new signatures and forum posts from being lost during the transfer.

My hope is that this new hosting service will provide better overall performance and eliminate the database problems we've experienced several times in the past. Of course, there's no way to know until things are up and running at the new host. We'll see soon enough I suppose.

Post: #4843
Topic: Roger Ebert
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/4843/action/topic#4843
Time: 19-May-2003 11:51 AM

Quote
Originally posted by: GundarkHunter
I appreciate that you are trying to resolve the server problems Jay. I had written a very eloquent post and submitted when the server crashed and the post was lost. Very frustrating to have to retype the whole thing from memory. I agree that this should be resolved before we get any major media outlets involved.

A little trick I picked up being a frequent forum user myself: keep a Notepad window open (or whatever text editor you use) and type any long posts in there. Then copy and paste it when you're done. No more lost posts due to server problems.

I just ordered the new hosting service. It'll take a few days to get the domain transferred and have everything copied over to the new server. Expect some downtime.

Post: #4784
Topic: Roger Ebert
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/4784/action/topic#4784
Time: 19-May-2003 7:34 AM

I think we should hold off on any major media campaigns until I've made a final decision regarding the server issues. I don't trust my hosting service to remain at its current level of performance, especially if we get slammed because Roger Ebert posts a link to our petition. I foresee a repeat of our first week online (which didn't go exactly as I'd hoped).

I genuinely appreciate the members here taking the initiative. It's cool that you guys want to do so much to spread the word.

I'll let you know by the end of this week what the story is. It's very likely that the site will be moving to a new host, and I'd hate to lose a bunch of signatures because the site is shut down during the transition period and we happen to get exposure at the wrong time.

Post: #4686
Topic: Recent site outages
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/4686/action/topic#4686
Time: 16-May-2003 8:49 PM

Quote
Originally posted by: Jedi Master DJR
No problem, it seems like your host can't handle the bandwidth or something like that. Still, it doesn't seem to happen that often, but I would check to see if maybe this site has a certain bandwidth or hit limit.

Actually it's a database problem. The database and associated log files are of a specific size, and once that limit is hit the site freezes because no more data transactions are permitted. We have more than enough space to avoid hitting the limit during normal operation, but for some as-yet-undiscovered reason the database and log file size occasionally revert back to the SQL default size (which is much smaller than what it's normally set at). This immediately puts the site beyond the size limit and locks everything up, with any page requiring a database transaction becoming inaccessible. There are no transactions on the site itself that would cause such a reset, so that leaves the problem on the server side.

Things have been working fine for a while, but if it happens again it's time for a new hosting service.

As for overall performance, speed will vary depending on network traffic at different times of the day. As much as I enjoy running this site, it's not a money maker, so getting a dedicated server hosting package is too expensive.

Post: #4684
Topic: Changes to the confirmation process
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/4684/action/topic#4684
Time: 16-May-2003 8:42 PM

Yup, that's it. No confirmation, no list.

Post: #3048
Topic: GREAT NEWS ALL!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/3048/action/topic#3048
Time: 1-May-2003 8:00 PM

Great article Luke. With your permission, I might grab that and post it on the site somewhere. Maybe a new section dedicated to what the fans are doing to support the petition.

Post: #2645
Topic: GREAT NEWS ALL!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/2645/action/topic#2645
Time: 28-Apr-2003 7:53 AM

Quote
Originally posted by: Luke Skywalker
Oh yeah and Jay I was wondering what you would want the article to be called if they let me pick a title... I was thinking "Greedo shoots first" mainly due to the fact that it's almost the slogan of the site... but if you have a better idea please let me know...

I don't have a problem with that title, but will the audience reading the article even know who Greedo is?

Post: #2610
Topic: Recent site outages
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/2610/action/topic#2610
Time: 27-Apr-2003 9:17 AM

I've been having a few problems with the database lately. These problems are related to the hosting service, and they're the cause of all the outages recently. I've requested the site be moved to a different server to see if that helps. If not, I'll be changing hosting services.

I apologize for the site problems, and I'm doing everything I can to make sure the site stays up and running. Thanks for your patience.

Post: #2557
Topic: GREAT NEWS ALL!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/2557/action/topic#2557
Time: 24-Apr-2003 1:15 PM

Dude, this is awesome. Let me know if there's anything you need. I'm more than happy to help.

Post: #1357
Topic: How many signatures?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1357/action/topic#1357
Time: 26-Mar-2003 10:34 AM

Somebody signed up with a Lucasfilm e-mail address, but the confirmation e-mail bounced back so I think it was just a goof.

Other than searching for profanity and obvious fake signatures, I don't review the names submitted.

Post: #1312
Topic: 20,000 signatures as of March 25, and still climbing
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1312/action/topic#1312
Time: 25-Mar-2003 4:07 PM

Quote
Originally posted by: Rebel Scumb
Congrats to Richard Godspell of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, lucky signer number 20,000!!

Actually, he's not 20,000. The ID number is just for identification purposes.

I'm sure Richard is a very, very nice guy though.

Post: #1310
Topic: Video Store Magazine article: "Fans Petition Lucas to Release Original Wars"
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1310/action/topic#1310
Time: 25-Mar-2003 2:23 PM

http://www.hive4media.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?sec_id=2&article_ID=4608

My thanks go out to Bill Hunt of The Digital Bits for helping to make this happen.

Post: #1295
Topic: Boycott Episode III!
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1295/action/topic#1295
Time: 25-Mar-2003 10:49 AM

I'll see if I can hack the forum script and insert a spoiler tag so you can do the highlight thing.

Until that happens, please precede all spoilers with appropriate notices. If you post a new topic with spoilers, please make note of the spoilers in the topic title.

Post: #1235
Topic: how about 'Petitioners Worldwide' map?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1235/action/topic#1235
Time: 24-Mar-2003 9:16 PM

If you remember from the petition signup form, Canadian territories are actually listed along with US states. I figured that the majority of signatures would come from the US and Canada, so that's why I did it that way. Showing signature percentages based on North American states and territories will be easy because of this, but doing text searches on the database for specific country names for the rest of the world will be a huge pain in the ass, not to mention bring the server to its knees.

Post: #1221
Topic: 20,000 signatures as of March 25, and still climbing
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1221/action/topic#1221
Time: 24-Mar-2003 3:55 PM

The traffic came on fast but it's tapered off now. As we get support from more sites, it should go up. We're working on getting several sites on board that should provide a nice boost to the petition.

Post: #1174
Topic: How many signatures?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1174/action/topic#1174
Time: 24-Mar-2003 12:12 PM

Others are in direct contact with people at Lucasfilm. I haven't spoken to any of them myself.

Post: #1171
Topic: how about 'Petitioners Worldwide' map?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1171/action/topic#1171
Time: 24-Mar-2003 12:10 PM

I could see maybe doing it for the U.S., but not worldwide. Too many countries with too few signatures from each to justify the amount of work involved.

I am planning on signature statistics at some point. As the site grows and we get more signatures it'll become worthwhile.

Post: #621
Topic: How many signatures?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/621/action/topic#621
Time: 22-Mar-2003 6:47 PM

We're working on it. I have a list of sites to contact including AICN and comingsoon.net.

Post: #588
Topic: How many signatures?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/588/action/topic#588
Time: 22-Mar-2003 8:29 AM

Actually, the biggest bump came from The Digital Bits, who posted multiple times over several days about the petition. Bill Hunt is the one who initially contacted me about it when it was nothing but a page with Han's face on it and a "coming soon" tagline. That was the impetus for me to finish it. The Digital Bits definitely pushed most of the traffic here in the first few days.

Many sites are now linking to us directly, so that's driving continual traffic our way. We're working on getting support from other large sites and hope to have them pushing traffic in our direction soon.