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View Full Version : Phase l updates are in progress


Zendiver
12-23-07, 05:12 PM
I have been steadily doing some backend work upgrading all the server based software to the latest and greatest versions along with installing a LOT of updates and the newest releases of Red Hat. Along with this, I have also had to redo quite a bit of the templates to accommodate for all of this.

All of this has been in preparation for the newest board software which is a MAJOR updates - not only feature rich, but security features as well. If all goes well, I am hoping to do this within the next couple of weeks – stepping through the versions - and then onto the newest version as soon as the stable version is available 3.7. During this time, the site (the portal, board and gallery) will be taken down. The main site will remain but will also get a face lift. All new coding, new content, and more SEO organized

Once I have the site backup, it will be minimal as to get it back up quickly. As time permits, I will continue updating the site to get it back to full capacity. With this major update, there will be a lot of new features, some features that will take longer to get working, some that will be replaced, and some that will not be implemented back into the site. Themes/Styles will be reduced according to the voting (thank you all who participated). The reason being is that almost every time I make an edit/update, I have to do it for every theme/style (most of the time). This becomes very time consuming for me. The themes that may be brought back are: (but ONLY after I have the site working at 100%)

ZD Cobalt_X
Powder Blue
ZD Legacy
Sapphire
Emerald

The reason I say maybe is that I am having a custom theme/style designed for zendiving. It will be unique and geared for our site based on name, subject, and content. I am also having a custom logo designed that will flow with the site and future marketing plans.

The ONE big change at this time will be “Journals”. It will be replaced with a software add-on, ‘vbBlogs’. There is no easy way to import all of the information from the journals that are currently on the site, so if you have one posted, please make copies of it so you can put it in the new Blog integrated software. I will also make copies of it so I can help once the site is back and running at 100%. Most everything else will slowly be implemented back into the site, but I want to start with a clean slate first and work out any necessary bugs.

I know there will be things that I forget to put back in, little helpful things that I added for some of you, so please remind me if you see something that is missing. I am currently going through a ‘test run’ on one of my other testing sites. This helps me see what needs to be done and will minimize downtime. This upgrade is already in Phase l as of this weekend. Anytime you do a MAJOR upgrade as we are, there will be things overlooked and issue that do arise. I do however; feel very confident that we will be down only for a brief time and with minimal data loss. I have already turned off the Photo Gallery for being able to upload to…attachments are next so please refrain from posts that require uploading/attachments. This also means avatars and profile photos.

Thanks for everyone’s help and Happy Holidays.

Zendiver
01-03-08, 04:42 PM
Phase ll starts tomorrow night. The board will be shut down completely starting Friday, January 4, 2008 at 8pm CST. At this time we will be updating the different site software and moving the site to it's new home and with the following server information:

Dell PowerEdge 2970
Dual Dual Core 2212 2.8GHz Opteron Processors
8GB Memory, 4x2GB, 667MHz
Broadcom NetXtreme II5708 GigabitEthernet NIC
2 x 146G,10K,SAS3G,2.5,HP
Integrated SAS/SATA RAID 1, PERC 5/i Integrated
Redundant Power Supply with Dual Cords
UNLIMITED BANDWIDTH

The server is housed in it's own air cooled cabinet sitting right on the backbone with the big boys with a 1GB connection.

To limit the amount of downtime, I will bring the site back live with minimal updates and do the updates as time permits. I have already run through a trial run of this and we should be ok and with very minimal problematic issues. Within the next week or so, zendiving will get it's own custom design with a new logo. So far I love the way it is progressing and I am sure that you will too.

For those of you that hav journals, please make a backup of them so we can put them in the new software.

Discussion for this thread can be found here: PHASE ll DISCUSSION (http://www.zendiving.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6016)

-Robert