I'll look into it guys...

I have noticed this and have tried to improve things as best I can - it always seems the initial load is timely but from then on the pages load quite well.

Any of you guys spotted patterns of when its slow etc...

theMusicMan - The db is about 30MB, the uplload area is not big at the moment although I would like to see us use the upload/download functionality more (thats why I bought all the disk space) and the traffic is not large - just need more dedicated server space and bandwidth... Any suggestions?

Mate. SUBS.
Alex will pay at least $100 now he's a mod.
Ask for voluntary subs. I'm sure we'll all sub-up.

Well, with a db size of just 30MB and if the traffic is not so large, then you don't really need a dedicated server just yet. I would politely suggest though, that you do need a 'better' shared hosting provider i.e. one that doesn't oversell the space on the server.

The maximum MySQL database size you are permitted with oneandone hosting is 100MB - you should NOT stay with oneandone if you foresee your database getting towards that size - they will not allow you to go over it. They also make it 'not easy' to move to an alternate host if you have domains registered with them. They obviously cannot stop you moving, nor can they stop you pointing your domain to another host, but they definitely frown on it.

Not sure what you are paying now, but you could take a look at ASmallOrange.com webhosting. I started on their shared plan (with a 100MB db) and the performance was superb. As my forum database grew (now 400MB) I obviously needed a dedicated server. I decided that I wanted to own my own server rather than rent one and have indeed done this with ASO. They simply host a server I purchased through them and I pay them for the Admin of it.

I would suggest having a look at www.asmallorange.com and see if any of their plans meet your needs. I can assure you they are superb and as long as they exist - I will never be moving hosts.

I offer shared hosting on my dedicated server, but I am (1) not a web host and (2) my prices are not the cheapest. I do it as a means of allowing my members to support the site. They know they could get cheaper shared hosting elsewhere, but they are happy and still decide to host their sites on my server paying a little over the odds as a means of supporting a site they get phenomenal useage out of. They also know I do it in this manner and so the expectations on me for knowledge of webhosting are not as great.

I'd love to host infekted.org - but I have to be honest with you - you can get a similar shared hosting service slightly cheaper by going directly with ASO - and you also have no reason to want to pay a little over the odds for your hosting just to support my site when you don't use it!

if you decide to move to ASO, Tim Dorr is the owner, and a thoroughly good chap he is too. I am sure he'd love to have you though I do remember them temporarily not accepting new clients until they had purchased several more servers - now that's the sign of a good webhost if ever I saw one.

PS: I'd also suggest moving to vBulletin. phpBB is superb for Open Source, but soon starts to flag when presented with a growing forum - besides, the support is crap. Don't believe anyone who tells you that gia online (in the #1 position on big-boards) is a phpBB implementation. It has been modded so much that it is now essentially its own application. phpBB could not run a system that size.

There you go sir... just my thoughts for ya!

J

Nice one mate. Thanks for that.

I, me like, have no clue about any of that, have to say: In Drammy we trust.

Nice one mate.

... and I have to say my TI arrives on Sat.. wohoooooooo

Wow - thanks for the advice J. I do appreciate any tips with regards to web hosting.

My experience/expertise is in development, databases and scripting etc. I understandweb hosting but am a novice when it comes to having sites hosted somewhere.

I'll look into ASmallOrange - I'm paying ?15 a month atm (i had 2 other sites on the same account). They're rates certainly seem preferable!

I appreciate your honesty, am thankful for your recommendations and will certainly keep you guys informed...

As for the vBulletin - I have thought about it - its just time. I've just been promoted at work (working 6.30 -> 8.30) and the only time I get chance to do anything with this board is late on a night, early on a morning or on a weekend (and with a very time-consuming girlfriend - bless 'er) and I'm trying to fit in studio time. Anyway - I am sure most here are familiar with this rant...

Do you (or anyone else) know of any good conversion tools? - I simply haven't got the time to write my own, although with all the mods there will be a large element of customisation anyway. Either way this is likely to be a long way off and will only happen if everyone likes it - as usual everyone could check out the potential new site on the test environment...

Some interesting points for consumption...


Drammy

I'm waiting for me Ibanez wah wah pedal to arrive.

Drammy. Subs, mate.

If you choose to purchase vBulletin you also get full access to an application they call ImpEx (Import / Export) which converts forums to vB from a range of other applications - and the good news is that phpBB is one of them.

tMP (pet name for my site) was phpBB once, and I used the tool to convert the whole database to vB and the process took a few hours. When members went to sleep here in the UK they saw phpBB, when they woke up, they saw vB!! I have been using vB for 3 years now and I'd never go back.

My members were very accepting of their new application, and it took no time at all to be totally forgotten of phpBB :)

MM. The only question I have:

Are you another fucking united supporter?