Nov 3 2003

Here's an update for y'all on the server conversion I mentioned a few days ago. I've decided, now that DNS, the webserver, the SMTP server, and script execution all work reliably well (almost 30 days uptime without any significant crashes), I'm going to colocate the servers soon. First up will be a move of the smaller sites (Books of Dog, Fivespot Project, Apathy Industries, etc) to the server to test and fine-tune the site. As features are added and perfected, various other websites will be moved over, hopefully without any of you ever noticing. blacksunn.net will be the last domain to move, due to my current hosting structure, but once that goes all will be running on a Dell dual 350Mhz server and a frankenstein 475Mhz server.

You guys may ask, "why are you doing this?" Well, it comes down to efficiency. Hosting services cost money for services I don't use, they're don't always offer the services I want or need, they're ultimately more expensive given the quality of service, and colocation allows me to expand services as they're needed. Even the best of the hosting solution is still mucky if you want to set up email aliases across domains, SSL certificates, interlaced domains (domains point to the same directories in some cases but not others), and CGI execution. Plus, I know that if something crashes the server, it's something I did. If I'm running out of filespace (although with 36GB in each server, it's not gonna happen soon) I just add a hard drive. Things moving slow, upgrade processors and RAM. Should I be paying a hundred-something each month to various hosting services (not all the same, due to different features), or pay a hundred-something for my own servers that are infinitely expandable? There's new business on the way, things you readers know nothing about...the cost of implementing those sites will be nothing more than the domain name registration and our own time and sweat. Over the years, that's a nice chunk of financial savings, especially if I'm billing someone else to host their site on my servers.