CodeWalrus

Development => Web => Topic started by: alberthrocks on March 18, 2016, 04:13:25 PM

Title: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: alberthrocks on March 18, 2016, 04:13:25 PM
First and foremost, I apologize for not posting this earlier! I completely forgot about this site when posting about this, so I really, really apologize for that! If you need more time to fill out the forms, just let me know!

If you are a former or current withgusto user (either with the shell services or ZNC), please read! We are moving and downsizing due to various circumstances.

If you happen to use ZNC, expect downtime starting at 9 PM EDT tonight! (RDNS downtime starting at 5 PM EDT as well - avoid reconnecting to IRC during that time.)

The details are really important - please read below for more info!

[spoiler=Main withgusto server downsizing + migration]
EDIT: Important Survey! (http://goo.gl/forms/Riq4ytEqx7)
We are moving very soon - please fill out this IMPORTANT USAGE SURVEY (http://goo.gl/forms/Riq4ytEqx7) by this Friday, 11:59 PM EDT!

Introduction
It has been a year since the last withgusto update.

About a year or so ago, a massive DDoS attack took withgusto down. This caused a "strike" to occur with the VPS hosting provider, and I temporarily closed withgusto's doors - specifically, hid it behind Cloudflare. This allowed Cloudflare to temporarily take the hit and reduce the load on the VPS. However, this had the effect of also blocking SSH, which was a lifeline into withgusto. Without a doubt, this is probably what drained significant use of withgusto.

Unfortunately, due to many commitments, I never got a chance to move withgusto. A year has passed, and withgusto is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, both in terms of time and money. As such, regretfully, I must make the decision to wind down withgusto.

Note that this is NOT a shutdown - but we are planning on significantly reducing resources.

withgusto Downsizing
The proposed plan:
Future of withgusto Services
Service plan (some already mentioned above):
withgusto Finances
Without a doubt, these are very tough cuts in service. The decision to cut these services was not taken lightly - however, in order for withgusto to continue (and not completely drop dead), we need to reduce these services and move to a lighter server.

Currently, I pay $15/mo for the main withgusto server, $15 for the backup service, $25/year for the backup.withg server, and around $16/year for the domain. Total yearly = ~$400/year!

With the new plan, I'm hoping to reduce this cost to something like this: $32/year for the main withgusto server, $15/year for the backup.withg/IRC/ZNC server, and around $16/year for the domain. Total yearly = ~$63/year... much more affordable!

Conclusion
All of this said, we still want your feedback! We don't want to move forward without hearing from you guys - if you don't like the things above, let us know and we'll try to accommodate! Since it has been a long time since we've had service, we want to hear from you in terms of how you will be using it.

Migration is NOT happening yet! Once we have some feedback, we'll announce dates for migration.
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=ZNC Migration]withgusto ZNC Migration (3/18/16, 9 PM - 12 AM EDT)
EDIT: Important ZNC Form! (http://goo.gl/forms/FehgMfKMp5)
As you may have heard (http://ourl.ca/22302/), withgusto is undergoing a major downsizing to ensure viability in the future. As part of this plan, we are moving ZNC to a different, separate server to allow ZNC to operate independently of withgusto's main server, hopefully increasing the stability of both for times to come.

What does this mean for you?
We apologize for this downtime, and as always, we thank you for flying withgusto! ✈

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to ask away in this thread!

Updates:
[/spoiler]
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: alberthrocks on March 18, 2016, 04:36:17 PM
Apologies for the double post! (A certain someone is permitting me to do it, just this once!)

@Juju @Streetwalrus @shmibs: I haven't gotten any response regarding ZNC usage - please fill that out as soon as possible! Thanks!
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: aetios on March 18, 2016, 04:43:47 PM
@Juju @Streetwalrus
Just re-posting this for the mention to work
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: Yuki on March 18, 2016, 05:07:40 PM
I have an account on your ZNC?
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: novenary on March 18, 2016, 05:22:57 PM
Quote from: Juju on March 18, 2016, 05:07:40 PM
I have an account on your ZNC?
Lol.
I don't really have a use for mine anymore. Do I need to fill out the form ?
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: alberthrocks on March 18, 2016, 05:26:34 PM
Quote from: Streetwalrus on March 18, 2016, 05:22:57 PM
Quote from: Juju on March 18, 2016, 05:07:40 PM
I have an account on your ZNC?
Lol.
I don't really have a use for mine anymore. Do I need to fill out the form ?

@Juju: yup you do! OmniNET only apparently...
@Streetwalrus: use the main server form and state that you don't want to use the services anymore!
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on March 18, 2016, 10:04:50 PM
Too bad you had to wind down some of the long-time Wihtgusto services albert, but I can totally understand why. On CW we tried to keep costs to a minimum because money doesn't grow in trees. To keep the site running we pay $12 a month (this includes a $2 backup feature that we could probably do away with if we had a second backup source besides @Streetwalrus (so if he's away for example we have an alternative or vice-versa), but in CW case it's made even harder by the fact that two of the staff are paid in Canadian dollars, but the site hosting is paid in US dollars. But basically the Minecraft server had to be hosted on a separate connection (currently running off Juju's internet at home).

I'm glad that Withgusto is staying alive in one form or another, though, but more importantly, I'm glad to see you around again in the community :walrii:


(Also yeah, @mentions only works if you have 20 posts, same for voting in forum polls and rating posts. Using the embedded shoutbox or sending PMs requires 5, though)
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: alberthrocks on March 19, 2016, 12:42:35 AM
Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on March 18, 2016, 10:04:50 PM
Too bad you had to wind down some of the long-time Wihtgusto services albert, but I can totally understand why. On CW we tried to keep costs to a minimum because money doesn't grow in trees. To keep the site running we pay $12 a month (this includes a $2 backup feature that we could probably do away with if we had a second backup source besides @Streetwalrus (so if he's away for example we have an alternative or vice-versa), but in CW case it's made even harder by the fact that two of the staff are paid in Canadian dollars, but the site hosting is paid in US dollars. But basically the Minecraft server had to be hosted on a separate connection (currently running off Juju's internet at home).
Yeah, $15/mo was pretty unsustainable for me... :( Interesting to hear $12/month though - which service are you guys using?

Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on March 18, 2016, 10:04:50 PMI'm glad that Withgusto is staying alive in one form or another, though, but more importantly, I'm glad to see you around again in the community :walrii:
Thanks! I'm probably going to be in and out, but I'll definitely be hanging out more on IRC!

Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on March 18, 2016, 10:04:50 PM(Also yeah, @mentions only works if you have 20 posts, same for voting in forum polls and rating posts. Using the embedded shoutbox or sending PMs requires 5, though)
Guess I should start posting more! ;)



Latest update:
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on March 19, 2016, 06:13:46 AM
In my case, it's not that $12/mo (which is more like $17/mo in Canadian dollars) is unsustainable for me, since I have a full time job, but in USA university and college tuition fees are 20-100 times higher than in Canada sometimes, which ruins many people, and I often hear that even in rural areas an appartment is very expensive compared to over here. >.<

In our cases, we used the basic services with a $10/mo plan (1 GB RAM, single-core, 30 GB SSD and 2 TB transfer, plus the weekly backup service that is $2 a month that once made things much easier to restore the site from a major incident. Back then, none of the staff could perform backups off-site to their computer at home or something, so we had to rely on DigitalOcean's. But now Streetwalrus performs daily backups on his server at home so if, for example, aeTIos decided to do the same, then we could probably do away with that paid service. Besides that we are not using any other special services I think. I also forgot if this is a managed or unmanaged VPS, since I don't run it myself.
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: Yuki on March 19, 2016, 04:04:36 PM
Yeah, the $10/month plan is enough for what we need, nginx/PHP, email and a few IRC bots. Unless we constantly withstand a Slashdot effect, I think we'll be okay.
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on March 19, 2016, 05:39:38 PM
I'm actually curious about how well the server would do against a Slashdot effect, such as if a notable calc game was posted on Reddit...
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: novenary on March 19, 2016, 09:33:49 PM
Quote from: alberthrocks on March 18, 2016, 05:26:34 PM
@Streetwalrus: use the main server form and state that you don't want to use the services anymore!
Alright, done.
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: alberthrocks on March 19, 2016, 10:16:21 PM
withgusto ZNC Migration Complete!
Thanks to everyone for their patience. We have now successfully migrated from our old server to this shiny new one!





Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on March 19, 2016, 06:13:46 AM
In my case, it's not that $12/mo (which is more like $17/mo in Canadian dollars) is unsustainable for me, since I have a full time job, but in USA university and college tuition fees are 20-100 times higher than in Canada sometimes, which ruins many people, and I often hear that even in rural areas an appartment is very expensive compared to over here. >.<

In our cases, we used the basic services with a $10/mo plan (1 GB RAM, single-core, 30 GB SSD and 2 TB transfer, plus the weekly backup service that is $2 a month that once made things much easier to restore the site from a major incident. Back then, none of the staff could perform backups off-site to their computer at home or something, so we had to rely on DigitalOcean's. But now Streetwalrus performs daily backups on his server at home so if, for example, aeTIos decided to do the same, then we could probably do away with that paid service. Besides that we are not using any other special services I think. I also forgot if this is a managed or unmanaged VPS, since I don't run it myself.
Ah, DigitalOcean - that's one of the options that I may switch to, or potentially a 512 MB server from them. I was thinking Linode, since the prices are similar and I know someone who owns one!

I'm not sure if the site has any sort of Cloudflare protection on it, but if a Slashdot thing ever occurred, you could potentially use their caching service to keep things sane. Maybe some server side caching too... but without a doubt, I think you guys will be fine!

@Streetwalrus: Just saw, thanks! :D
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on March 20, 2016, 06:47:45 AM
At least it wasn't postponed again like the other time :P

Also, interesting host names you got there. :P
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: alberthrocks on April 04, 2016, 01:28:14 AM
@Juju @DJ Omnimaga Do you have a DigitalOcean code that I can use? I want the $10 credit, and I'd prefer if the referral went to someone I know! :D
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: Yuki on April 04, 2016, 04:54:59 AM
Hey, sure, have our link!

https://m.do.co/c/4f20c7c9b8d4
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on April 04, 2016, 05:35:16 AM
Does DigitanOcean allow customers to give a few codes to friends or something?
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: Yuki on April 04, 2016, 01:10:15 PM
Well, you give that registration link to anyone who wants an account and bam they get $10 when they register and we get $25.
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: alberthrocks on April 04, 2016, 02:44:56 PM
Quote from: Juju on April 04, 2016, 01:10:15 PM
Well, you give that registration link to anyone who wants an account and bam they get $10 when they register and we get $25.
Soooo I talked to DigitalOcean, and they said that they wouldn't do retroactive referrals (for whatever reason). I asked again, and then they granted me the $10 credit, so.... not sure if they actually applied the referral or not. If you guys want to try to claim the referral, let me know and I'll send you guys the email I signed up with!
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: Yuki on April 04, 2016, 03:26:08 PM
They did not. Anyway, not as I see in my account. I think you really had to register using that link.
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: alberthrocks on April 04, 2016, 04:42:44 PM
Quote from: Juju on April 04, 2016, 03:26:08 PM
They did not. Anyway, not as I see in my account. I think you really had to register using that link.
Ahh... guess I jumped the gun on registering, sorry about that! I thought you could enter the promo code after signing up... oh well.

On the bright side, migration will definitely be happening very soon!
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on April 04, 2016, 06:21:05 PM
Yeah it might be confusing a bit there. But I guess that's how referrals work. Glad this was solved, though. And it's good to see the migration happening soon. Hopefully it doesn't get postponed indefinitively like last time :P
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: alberthrocks on April 14, 2016, 03:24:24 AM
Updates

With April 1st coming and going, I think it's time for an update!

Rather than make a bad (and pretty prophetical) April Fools Joke, I decided to initiate and start the migration process!

The migration process is still ongoing. However, the backups have been made, and the old server is now open for user backup - including SSH/SFTP/SCP! Log into old.withg.org with your withgusto username and password, and your files should be there if you want to make any of your own backups!

Note that since the backup has already been created, any new or modified data on the server will be deleted! If you would like to work on anything within your account, please wait until the migration completes to do so!

The old server will stay online until the end of April. After April 30th, the old server will be terminated. Hopefully by then the new server will be up!

Thanks for your patience - we're getting there soon!
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on April 14, 2016, 04:03:40 AM
Wasn't April 1st two weeks ago? :P

By the way, was withg.us.to sub-domain name terminated?
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: alberthrocks on April 15, 2016, 06:17:24 PM
Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on April 14, 2016, 04:03:40 AM
Wasn't April 1st two weeks ago? :P

By the way, was withg.us.to sub-domain name terminated?
Yeah, it was... but still :P

It looks like it was (due to account inactivity) - but I just restored it (and linked it to CloudFlare), so it's back up again! Maybe to save money we'll move 100% to withg.us.to... :P
Title: Re: withgusto downsizing + migration (main server + ZNC)
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on April 16, 2016, 05:17:18 AM
Ok cool, I was worried the domain name was lost forever when I tried accessing it last week or so and it didn't work.

That reminds me, can your server allow hosting IRC bots such as eggdrops? EFnet is banning our bots one after another so we're kinda seeking for alternate connections. :P