System Maintenance

[Michael]

I will probably take the forum offline sometime this weekend for some maintenance (moving the forum to a different server).

So if you come here and find the forum closed, don't panic, it will be back up soon enough.

[Americano]

Are avatars returning?

[Michael]

Originally Posted by Americano

Are avatars returning?

Not immediately, but as part of the process, yes.

[Americano]

Originally Posted by Michael

Not immediately, but as part of the process, yes.

You're going to update the software?

[Michael]

Originally Posted by Americano

You're going to update the software?

Yes, but at the moment, I'm in the process of migrating the forum to a new server service with the same host company.

I'm going through a dry run of that process right now. Things are taking longer than expected (which is expected), so I'll probably won't do the actual switchover yet.

When I do the switchover, I will have to shut down the forum for at least a day to do a full current backup and restore and then repoint the IP's. The change in IP routing usually takes 24 hours to take effect.

Once that's done, I'll upgrade the VB to 3.8.4. I don't want the version 4 series at all. That will restore the avatars.

[Americano]

4.2 seems to be the most popular version on forums I visit. Some very interesting image features on photographic forums.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by Americano

4.2 seems to be the most popular version on forums I visit. Some very interesting image features on photographic forums.

Well, interesting image features would certainly be popular on a photographic forum wouldn't they?

I don't want the bloated security issues with all the social plug-ins and the blog features that comes with version 4.

[Americano]

Originally Posted by Michael

Well, interesting image features would certainly be popular on a photographic forum wouldn't they?

I don't want the bloated security issues with all the social plug-ins and the blog features that comes with version 4.

I see quite a few political forums using v4. I was under the impression security had been enhanced. Just curious.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by Americano

I see quite a few political forums using v4. I was under the impression security had been enhanced. Just curious.

As a general rule with software, security is never enhanced when you add new features - it is in fact reduced.

When software adds any new features, that just creates a new cycle of security patches and fixes to plug all the new security holes.

[Michael]

Dry run didn't work so well, so a bit of a delay. Maybe later this week.