Frequent Outages at UA

[Fuzz_Ball]

So, is the problem fixed?
Is this site short staffed?

Many times, This site has answered my UT questions without my having to ask.
A large amount of players & admins would like to see this site stay alive.
There are many of us who are capable and willing to help in any way possible.

UA is a valuable resource and I, for one, am offering my assistance.

If the UA team is overworked, overwhelmed or seriously doesn't care about this forum, PLEASE ASK.

[gopostal]

Word.

If you need equipment, money, whatever just say so. Don't let UA pass away because of apathy. There are those of us left that will pick up the torch.

[Sp0ngeb0b]

Just to inform the guy who's keeping care of the site atm (many thanks from me!), you get a database error on the privatemessage page.

[qwerty]

yeh what does it take to keep this place 100% operational? I know myself and a few others have webhosting solutions and other resources to help keep this place running

[iloveut99]

Agree with all, just don't let this die.

[back4more]

perhaps move the file downloads to somewhere else.

would keep it running for a few more years at least.

>_>

[Azura]

In the meantime maybe we could start an unreal site for free at Stackexchange. If interested please let me know and I'll create a proposal.

[gopostal]

Sent you a PM. I'll help any way I can.

[SoNY_scarface]

I can host the file downloads if I am given access/permission to transfer them to any of my boxes. They are all on 100mb port switches. I'm also willing to host this site on my dedi and I'd take no ownership of any of the website, adds can stay etc.

[Azura]

http://forums.beyondunreal.com/showpost.php?p=2514881&postcount=8

Here's an idea: The UnrealWiki already is aimed at technical questions regarding the Unreal Engine, so extending it to server administration shouldn't be that much of a problem. In fact, I think there are already some rudimentary instructions for running dedicated servers as part of testing mods.
Additionally a special server admin section could be added to the Unreal Engine Games (http://forums.beyondunreal.com/forumdisplay.php?f=12) section of BUF to collect all relevant forum threads.

[back4more]

hmm lets start with this;

Email:azazel@<hidden>
Domain ID:D88084945-LROR
Domain Name:UNREALADMIN.ORG
Created On:03-Jul-2002 08:50:36 UTC
Last Updated On:14-Apr-2009 12:17:28 UTC
Expiration Date:03-Jul-2014 08:56:04 UTC
Sponsoring Registrar:Tucows Inc. (R11-LROR)
Status:OK
Registrant ID:tupW3s4BKDrbucCr
Registrant Name:Unreal Admin
Registrant Organization:UnrealAdmin
Registrant Street1:The Road
Registrant Street2:The Town
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City:The City
Registrant State/Province:County
Registrant Postal Code:POSTCODE
Registrant Country:GB
Registrant Phone:+44.123456789
Registrant Phone Ext.:
Registrant FAX:+44.123456789
Registrant FAX Ext.:
Registrant Email:
Admin ID:tupW3s4BKDrbucCr
Admin Name:Unreal Admin
Admin Organization:UnrealAdmin
Admin Street1:The Road
Admin Street2:The Town
Admin Street3:
Admin City:The City
Admin State/Province:County
Admin Postal Code:POSTCODE
Admin Country:GB
Admin Phone:+44.123456789
Admin Phone Ext.:
Admin FAX:+44.123456789
Admin FAX Ext.:
Admin Email:
Tech ID:tupW3s4BKDrbucCr
Tech Name:Unreal Admin
Tech Organization:UnrealAdmin
Tech Street1:The Road
Tech Street2:The Town
Tech Street3:
Tech City:The City
Tech State/Province:County
Tech Postal Code:POSTCODE
Tech Country:GB
Tech Phone:+44.123456789
Tech Phone Ext.:
Tech FAX:+44.123456789
Tech FAX Ext.:
Tech Email:
Name Server:NS3.MULTIPLAY.CO.UK
Name Server:NS0.MULTIPLAY.CO.UK
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
DNSSEC:Unsigned


where can we find azazel (http://whois.domaintools.com/unrealadmin.org)?

also noting the Name Servers from Multiplay maybe someone there has info ?

[back4more]

made a post @<hidden> www.forums.multiplay.co.uk titled 'looking for AZAZEL' which I hope will bring him/her back over to do some tidying up of the place..

hoping of course he/she is not yet Deceased...

http://forums.multiplay.co.uk/1030008-post1.html

^_^
:thumbup:

[Letylove49]

we are hosted by Multiplay ??'

i hope they want answere more quicky than 2 years ago with the UT99 server.

[back4more]

Name Server:NS3.MULTIPLAY.CO.UK
Name Server:NS0.MULTIPLAY.CO.UK

Just looking at the NS (NameServers) Letty , assuming that the website is most likely to be hosted by Multiplay.

will see next few days , if we get any bites.

;)

azazel was very clever when setting this place up ,in making sure that his personal details were not on the registrant details as you can see above.

however I reckon I could find him (assume he's a guy for the time being) with a little bit of digging.

:)

MSULL you got Azazel's details mate?

http://www.ut-slv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=88520#p88520

also may still hang out :

#.pa on quakenet
azazel-at-unrealadmin-dot-org
http://www.unrealadmin.org

^_^

*Shrugs*

I know he made this clip and yes he's a guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpknpab-Ms8

[gopostal]

I'm already on it. I'll let you know what's up as soon as I know.

[back4more]

I'm already on it. I'll let you know what's up as soon as I know.

chur bro :)

^_^


<_< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdX79pwyBII&feature=related

[SoNY_scarface]

This site is hosted by multiplay. It's why there are multiplay ads here.

Anyway from what I have been told, UA would
be far too much for a shared hosting service. Apparty the bandwidth pulled and the website itself is hosted on 3-4 dedicated boxes alone.....

Again, if I am granted permission I'd host the downloads / take a backup to make sure the don't all disappear. In fact I'm sure skills would too.

[back4more]

personally i think , AZAZEL should have the Ultimate say :)

if/when we find him ;)

but I would also like to help to keep this place alive for another 10 years.. there are a lot of good people here and shit-loads of content.

<_< don't IRC much .. but guessing he still does and or someone has his other email address hehe.

[gopostal]

If we don't back up UA it's going to not come back after one of these episodes and that would be a terrible loss.

What's going on now isn't working and those "in charge" of the background management would do those of us remaining in UT a huge favor by allowing us to assume control in some way. Who better to do it than those left?

There has been discussion of moving posts and ideas to other sites like wiki but ultimately I think that will fail due to lack of time. Most all the people left developing and admining I know directly or indirectly. To a player they have outside jobs, commitments, kids, lives. Asking more of them will only drive them away or create more apathy.

The only solution I could possibly see working is for MP to allow someone else to assume ownership that would keep things going. I've contacted them about what sort of financial obligation this site has and if I can make that problem go away. If they would just allow someone else to run things on a temporary basis to prove they are up for the job, then I think the problem would be solved. Moving the forum/files/news/sub-sites would be a terrible idea and is a last-ditch solution. Every effort should be made to keep UA where it is but people are going to have to seriously step up and work this out, otherwise it's going to go away.

If you think it won't, look at the many 'solid' UT sites that have dropped away already.

[AnthraX]

None of the active admins have full access to the database. If we did, then naturally we would've made a backup already. Azazel is responsible for ua.org but he's extremely busy. Several people, including myself, have undoubtedly mailed him already to discuss the situation. For our community, the best option would be to donate money/hardware to mpuk so they can keep the website online. That is of course assuming that there is indeed a hardware problem. Relocating ua.org to another host does not seem like a good option. As far as I know, keeping ua.org running costs a small fortune. Not only is it a very bandwidth-hungry domain, it also runs vbulletin/vbportal. I'm not sure about the current prices but a couple of years ago, vbportal+vbbulletin cost a couple of hundred euros in licensing and maintenance costs per year.

[SoNY_scarface]

VB still costs a fortune. I run it on my site. Fingers crossed we resolve this. Anyone from multiplay here? Madrixis?

[2399Skillz]

I'd like to know just how much bandwidth this site does use, I don't think it would be as much as all the bandwidth ut-files.com and all of it's sub domains consumes on a monthly basis.

Transferring the domain and site to someone else probably wouldn't ever happen, but allowing someone else to host it could still be a very possible solution, just highly unlikely.

[Azazel]

Someone call my name?
Let me catch up on posts and I'll respond :-)

[SoNY_scarface]

:o!!

[Azazel]

Right, space had ran out all over the show. Should never really do that but it did. Also when they moved the server a while back they didn't re-enable all my access.

So, I've cleared up as much space as I can how I can and once I get all my access back I'll make sure everythings good.

Sorry I'm not around much, life just dictates that.
Best thing to do though to get hold of me is to make a new thread and then report your own post, that way I'll get an email about it, or, if the forums are a bit fubar'd, email me on azazel@<hidden> ..

With regards to site stats/figures ... all I can say is we've had the best deal you could ever imagine from Multiplay, they ask for very little in return, never bother us and give us the community a dedicated server with "unlimited" bandwidth (unlimited aka don't take the piss).

[gopostal]

I'm extremely thankful for what you do, and glad you popped in to explain things.

Respectfully though, is there no active person you would trust to help do this for you? The rolling outages will end up hurting badly and it sounds like they aren't fixed, just delayed again. What's to keep Multiplay from deciding this is too bothersome, especially if hardware upgrades are called for? Skillz has run a solid service for years now, how about letting him have more access to back up things? Sony has offered to share some hosting load, perhaps it's time to consider dividing responsibility lest UA go the way of NaliCity, L4U, Team Vortex, UTPG, even Planet Unreal (of all places).

No one cared for things until they broke. That should show that the current paradigm isn't working.

[back4more]

Someone call my name?
Let me catch up on posts and I'll respond :-)

Great to see you mate :D

Thanks for sorting DB issues etc :thumbup:

I had a 1/2 descent proposal which would allow for a very economical solution which would even provide Europe
with several high-speed server's for not only UT99 but 2k4/UT3 even if warranted.. See below;

https://revolution-gaming.info/forum/images/misc/ovh-plans-full.png (http://www.ovh.com/fr/produits/offres_dedies.xml)

^ Click image for more info ^

OVH (http://www.ovh.com/fr/produits/offres_dedies.xml)
10Gb(connection)
16-48GB Ram
Unlimited BW
2x120GB-HDD's
^ upgradable to 1-2TB?
(Europe/France)

https://revolution-gaming.info/forum/images/misc/vbulletin-indefinate-licence.png (https://www.vbulletin.com/order/)

^ Click image for more info ^

VBulletin 4.0 one time licence Fee

That's a 10GB connection with unlimited Bandwidth and 24GB Ram BTW. for only $100 - $200 € per annum.
VBulletin is now Single Licence Fee for whatever version you wish to run on an indefinite basis..
as of opposed to per annum, so what's that? $200USD? (one off) for VB4 + security fixes/updates for whichever Version you choose.

http://www.hilltopartists.org/client/assets/images/paypal-donate-button.png (https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?cmd=_donate-intro-outside)
Adding ^_^ linking back to
azazel@<hidden>
would ensure that us active community members could help to foot the bill
and make it worth while for you to continue to provide this excellent service.

I was also thinking ... as one does heh..
That because there is alot of sensitive data in these forums ..
things that should not be privy to the general public per-se.
Like certain Code snippets and mod's / posts that should be imo moved to a 2nd/3rd tier (level) as such..

what Iam trying to say is ...
setup some groups like level 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 for Registered users...

level one (ground zero) resides the guests & rogues..& Banned users...
^ They have access to the basic stuff...

levels 2-3 get access to some m0re meaty stuff

levels 4-5 could be Mid level Admins/Moderators...

levels 6-7 could be where all you Elite folk could hang out and talk about us low-life's hehe.. jk's.

This would ensure a tight-knit community and allow for the Moderation load to be Dispersed across the board
eliminating the need to be worried about Hax0rz snooping in on sensitive projects as well as keeping the more
troublesome folk under-control.

also , added and appended to this extensive list I was wondering..

<_< See the Forums -> New posts link (over there)..
could we add like some other links , like posts last 24hours/7days/30days to that please?..

would make things a little bit easier to navigate and keep up with what's been happening ^_^ .

also a new Skin/Logo would be a nice refreshing addition for the next 10 years :D
I can help with alot of stuff graphics/forums/moderating etc.. as I have setup more forums across the board then
probably the guys who made them lmao..

Any-way's that's my .50 cents worth :)

Again thanks for coming over and sorting the problem(s) out..
I am sure that I can speak for all of us remaining members in saying

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THESE FORUMS

B4M.

Revolution-Gaming.Info (https://revolution-gaming.info)

[2399Skillz]

Right, space had ran out all over the show. Should never really do that but it did. Also when they moved the server a while back they didn't re-enable all my access.

So, I've cleared up as much space as I can how I can and once I get all my access back I'll make sure everythings good.

Sorry I'm not around much, life just dictates that.
Best thing to do though to get hold of me is to make a new thread and then report your own post, that way I'll get an email about it, or, if the forums are a bit fubar'd, email me on azazel@<hidden> ..

With regards to site stats/figures ... all I can say is we've had the best deal you could ever imagine from Multiplay, they ask for very little in return, never bother us and give us the community a dedicated server with "unlimited" bandwidth (unlimited aka don't take the piss).

That is an excellent deal then, something I wouldn't pass up either.

What can be done to get more space, aside from the obvious deleting stuff. Can hardware be donated? If so, who and where? I am sure we can get the community as a whole to donate enough money for a hard drive.

If their is anything else you need, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

[Protos]

What can be done to get more space, aside from the obvious deleting stuff. Can hardware be donated? If so, who and where? I am sure we can get the community as a whole to donate enough money for a hard drive.

If their is anything else you need, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

+1
Happy to donate for hardware.

[Azazel]

To be honest there should be no need for new hardware. What has happened is that the server has not been touched or looked at it in ... well probably 2 years. What we will have are backups galore of anything and everything going back to god knows when so first stop will be to remove them, then clear out any dead wood eg. mulitple site testing from 3/4/5 years ago.

Once I've managed to sort all that out I can then work out if we actually do need anything.

After that it will probably be time to look at bringing another one or two people in to keep the side moving onwards and upwards :-)

[SoNY_scarface]

After that it will probably be time to look at bringing another one or two people in to keep the side moving onwards and upwards :-)

All due respect to what you have posted...It's refreshing to see this. Nice :thumbup:

[gopostal]

Word.

Your work will benefit many people and I thank you for taking the time to do it.

[Sp0ngeb0b]

Word.

Your work will benefit many people and I thank you for taking the time to do it.

Same from me!

[2399Skillz]

To be honest there should be no need for new hardware. What has happened is that the server has not been touched or looked at it in ... well probably 2 years. What we will have are backups galore of anything and everything going back to god knows when so first stop will be to remove them, then clear out any dead wood eg. mulitple site testing from 3/4/5 years ago.

Once I've managed to sort all that out I can then work out if we actually do need anything.

After that it will probably be time to look at bringing another one or two people in to keep the side moving onwards and upwards :-)

Ten four.

Sounds like what I do to my server, I have to "spring clean" it every once in a while because the primary hard drive gets a little too full. :redface:

[Fuzz_Ball]

Holy Crappity-Smack!
Look at all this activity in one day!

I'm glad to see the captain has righted this listing ship!
Thanks, Azazel for your much needed attention.
Drink up me hearties, Yo Ho!

http://wegotthiscovered.com/wp-content/uploads/Pirates-of-the-Caribbean-4-480x360.jpg

[{LSN}]

I would be quite happy to donate some form of hosting if needed, I have a new node coming with

32GB Ram
Quad Core Xeon
1GB/s Line

Only doing this because I know my mate loves this site and would most proberly cry if it went (Meindratheal)

Anyway

[Azazel]

Apologies for the outage again, SSH is getting restored now.

If the site does down again email unrealadmin@<hidden> as an alternate address as mail seemed to have gone with it this time.

[Killing]

or me with killing [at] multiplay.co.uk

[Killing]

Installs have had a large amount of updates, so if you spot any issues please let me know.