Month: July 2024

OK, after much reflection and looking at my work and travel schedule, I have yet another new plan. I will push the transition window to around late October. This will allow me to be available during the entire three week integration window, and it will also allow me to experiment with a dummy server running the target OS (Ubuntu Linux) and hopefully ensure that there are no scripting surprises when we set up the new server. So… changeover is likely to be early to mid November.

After contacting hosting company about our OS upgrade, we have a new plan. Hopefully it will be ‘invisible’ to users. They will set up a new server, I’ll move our chez and gladiators files over there, and then Angie and I will work through any issues until the site works properly.

Once our testing indicates that all is working, I will put up another notice here for a day or two, and then pull the plug on the old server (more literally, turn off it’s web interface). I’ll then copy over the up-to-date game and user files, then instruct our hosting company to turn off the old server and then move the DNS reference to the new server (meaning your browser can find it automagically after at least an hour has passed).

During the transition phase, the site will be unavailable for a few hours.

I’ll see if I can get them to set up a new server by this weekend, and within a couple weeks, hopefully we’ll be done and then finalize the transition. The last thing I’ll do is deactivate the web interface on the current server (to freeze everyone’s games), then move the current game and user files to the new server, and then ask them to take the final steps.

Hello all. First: BOOKMARK this blog!

The operating system on our hosting computer has expired, which means it will not get security updates any longer. I need to get the server migrated to a new version of Linux.

What this means to YOU:

— The site will have some downtime;

— There is a possibility that there will be migration issues, potentially difficult to resolve.

I’ll work to mitigate those, but some issues just come out of left field, like possible scripting issues. I’ll collect a full set of backups before the upgrade process.

So if I have trouble getting the site back online, then you can come directly here for news, as this is a separate (personal) domain.

I’ll make comments to this post to provide updates, but I anticipate either having our service assist with this (best case) or if they are unwilling, then I will perform the remote update, ideally within about 1 week (July 12th or 13th).

Also, please ensure that your e-mail address on the site is UP-TO-DATE. This may be necessary for sending out a message at some point, but also it can be used at any time for recovery of your password, even if I set up the site on another domain. To check and/or update your password, visit your Play Panel (press Panel at the bottom of your game page), then press “Settings” button along the left column of buttons. On the settings page, view your e-mail listed and update if necessary. After updating, press “SAVE New Settings” to get them to stick.

Update on 6 July: I think I’ll push this a week later, to the ~18th or so, if I can get our web hosting company to assist; otherwise, the weekend of 21-22 July.