Server issues V2.0

[WakeGirl]

I'm too tired to try to bring out of my brain what I wrote earlier today, but I'll do my best. Short summary: yesterday the server that the site's VPS was on had a catastrophic failure that we thought (& turned out to be true) was unrecoverable. Due to a series of unfortunate events, none of our automated backups were usable, and so I was forced to use one that I had taken right before the big upgrade about a month ago. So we have about a month of data loss.

Today, apparently the host was able to bring up the old server for a short time and they took it upon themselves to try to do a direct restore. Which failed. Then they tried a backup of the site files off of that machine with a manual attempt at restoration, which also failed. My guess is that when the hardware failure occurred, it corrupted the database, and I don't have the skills to fix that in a timely way. And so we're right back where we were when we started this morning. I'm explicitly instructing them not to do that again. We're going to deal with the data loss, and move on.

What this means:

• All posts made after Feb 5 are gone.
• Anyone that registered after Feb 5, you'll need to re-register because that account doesn't exist now.
• Anyone that bought a subscription after Feb 5 - we have access to those records in Paypal and Ronnie's excellent record keeping to help us fill that in. We'll be working through that to make everyone whole, please be patient. If you have questions, please contact @Ronnie or myself.
• The upgrade is gone, I'll get that done probably in the next week or 2 after I've assessed the damage and can ensure that we don't have a bunch of errors from the restore.

I'm very sorry, yet again, for this. Processes are being looked at and I'm seriously thinking about a different host. It's a lot of work to move a site, but it may be time to move on.

[Baggerlance]

Brutal.

Congrats on getting the ship through the storm and best wishes for the clean up. Having run a large golf forum in the past I can sympathize. Rest up when you get a chance and thanks for keeping this great resource going.

[hethj7]

Thanks for your efforts!  Many of us really appreciate this place and know many work in the background to make it happen.  

[german88]

Huge appreciation for all your efforts!!

[Michigan boarder]

Well at least I'm off the hook for those beers....

[Rednucleus]

Could have been much much worse!  Live & learn; time for a new more fail safe back up. Thanks for all you do.

[WakeGirl]

7 minutes ago, Michigan boarder said:

Well at least I'm off the hook for those beers....

I may develop a drinking problem because of this, whether you're buying or not.

[asnowman]

All you admins, thanks so much for your efforts. Unfortunate the lost content, but at least back on line. 

Definitely missed the site while it was down. I'll buy a round for y'all. Just keep doing what you can. So many of us appreciate it, and don't thank you enough

[ahopkins22LSV]

42 minutes ago, WakeGirl said:

I may develop a drinking problem because of this, whether you're buying or not.

It’s only a problem if you try to solve it

Just testing the quote and smiley functions... nothing to see here

[Michigan boarder]

Gifs work.  We're gonna be OK guys, we're gonna be OK.

 

[Eagleboy99]

1 hour ago, Michigan boarder said:

Well at least I'm off the hook for those beers....

Some (literally) lose a beer bet?  Not me... LOL

[justgary]

The rules of beer are quite clear:  You owe beer if you try to weasel out of paying a beer debt....

[justgary]

1 hour ago, WakeGirl said:

I may develop a drinking problem because of this, whether you're buying or not.

Swing by here.  I'll give you a pull and then assist your drinking problem.

[dlb]

Thanks to all for their efforts to get the site back up and running.

[philnizz]

Thanks for your effort and your great work. I am pretty new to the forum but it became a daily routine reading the posts and i comment from time to time. For that reason i upgraded to a paid subscription in the last few weeks. For me this forum is the best source to learn everything about my boat. Thanks! Keep up the good work.

[REHinH20]

I'm pretty sure you guys are taking this lots harder than most of us are (understandably)! Just do what you can when you can! We recognize your efforts for the many years of work you have already put into this site...yes we miss it when it's down, but it's no longer down and people are already using humor to show you how "ok" we are! 

Technology for me is like my golf game...I recognize it occassionally STINKS, but I just enjoy the good parts and move on!

Edited March 11, 2021 by REHinH20

[pauley71]

So the Texas resin shortage didn’t happen and everyone’s boat will be delivered on time?  #coverup

ha. Just kidding and thanks for all your efforts!  The wealth of information saved far outweighs the loss. Thank you!

Edited March 12, 2021 by pauley71

[Eagleboy99]

10 hours ago, justgary said:

The rules of beer are quite clear:  You owe beer if you try to weasel out of paying a beer debt....

Posts or it didn't happen bro!  LMAO

[dtb]

Sorry to hear about this.  We went through a similar situation at my company a few years back.  I know it is a nightmare.  Glad you were able to recover most of the data, and as others have stated THANK YOU to the admins for all the time and effort that goes in to managing and maintaining this wonderful resource/community!  

[The Hulk]

sorry to hear about this: i thought i posted below but didnt show up

for what its wroth we use Acronis True Image at work for making back-up images of entire PCs/Servers each night and then also run a file-back up as well. one strategy that has helped is as follows

* Nightly full computer image back up storing up to 7 recent copies

* Weekly full computer image back up storing 7-recent copies

these backups are stored to another server and also we do them to an external HD's that are then swapped every so often so they are NOT connected to any computer or internet/network etc. 

we got hit with Ransomware which encrypted all files and the virus spreads through the network to each machine working its wonders... terrible, i always thought about backups but never ransomware and its HORRIBLE! regardless we were able to re-load about 5-servers & 7 desktop stations within 1-day via our boot disks. i've made more now incase it happens we can be faster.  i will tell you however that the external HD's that are fully disconnected were the key element in this case as the ransomware triggers an IP search on your network and spreads to each computer quickly. having the HD's not connected and a second HD off-site that it hadnt spread to saved our rears. i was always worried  about hardware crash rather than ransomware but it was eye-opening on the damage it can do within a few hours. 

another great thing is yesterday one of our desktops HD crashed so we just swapped a new one in and loaded the backup from that evening and the computer (all software & files) was up and running in about 1hr. We also use it for when we want to add another office computer, rather than spending 2-days loading 30 + programs we just use a backup from another desktop and load it onto a fresh computer (doesnt matter if different hardware) then after its up we just change the computer name and good to go apart from maybe 1-2 drivers if the computer is totally different but it saves 2-days of loading software.

 

Essentially if the place burns down and we have to get all new hardware as soon as the hardware is ready we can have a server or PC loaded fully in about 1-1.5hrs max as if nothing happened. its a life saver! 

Anyhow check out Acronis True image it may help not sure.

good luck and thanks for all the hard work!

 

 

Edited March 11, 2021 by The Hulk