2021 fundraiser - new server

This is the main shmups forum. Chat about shmups in here - keep it on-topic please!
User avatar
system11
Posts: 6273
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:17 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by system11 »

It's that time again - the server needs rebuilding and the only way I can do so is build a new one, ship it out and then migrate the data between them. I did look at AWS etc but it becomes incredibly expensive very quickly once you factor in backup storage and having more CPU cores than a smartphone. I looked at some places offering dedicated servers which are slightly cheaper but then I saw the reviews and struck those off the list. The host we have now has been pretty good about support etc.

It's probably also going to force a software upgrade, something I'd been wanting to do for a while now, the theme will probably be a somewhat default one for a bit but I'd want to get back to something that looks this way eventually, it suits the place.

Some of you will know and some won't, but this place does cost some money to run, it takes about $1250 a year in hosting bills against donations of about $24 a year. It would be greatly appreciated if anyone who uses and values the forum who is in a position to do so, would consider donating towards the costs of the new server hardware. The more donated the better thing I can buy, the last one did pretty well as it's been going strong for 7 years but it's a bit over a decade old now and after the migration it will be donated to a local community network project or the computer museum. Any excess funds will simply be allocated against the hosting bills.

As with last time, I won't be setting up ranks, badges and so on but I will post a thank-you (no amounts) in this thread at the end unless directed otherwise. There's a reason for this, I personally feel that it's a form of peer pressure and actually this is why so many forums do it. There are a lot of reasons someone may not want to or be able to donate and I don't think it's fair to them. It also adds clutter.

So if you'd like to help, here's the link!
I'd like to help out with a donation

If you do want to be thanked when it closes please include your forum name in the donation note!
System11's random blog, with things - and stuff!
http://blog.system11.org
User avatar
Fudoh
Posts: 13015
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:29 am
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by Fudoh »

Done!

Please, everybody, chip in! We all love this board.
strygo
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 5:47 am
Location: Snohomish, WA

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by strygo »

Done!

Thank you for providing a high quality forum.

-Steve
Dochartaigh
Posts: 1519
Joined: Thu Mar 02, 2017 6:53 pm

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by Dochartaigh »

Donated! I thoroughly enjoy this forum - think it's one of the best ones out there.
User avatar
parodius
Posts: 720
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 5:54 am
Location: Singapore

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by parodius »

The more, the merrier.

Here's to many more years of shmups.system11.org
My sales thread : 2020/07/20..MASTER.VER.
User avatar
STGAlmond
Posts: 99
Joined: Mon Aug 31, 2015 1:57 pm
Location: Arkansas

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by STGAlmond »

This is one of the few forums I like to visit that isn't just dead or gone at this point.
japster
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:08 am

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by japster »

Donated! - and thanks for providing this incredible shmup resource / community hub! :D
User avatar
BareKnuckleRoo
Posts: 6162
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 4:01 am
Location: Southern Ontario

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by BareKnuckleRoo »

This forum is the reason I got into the local shmup community and got to meet so many great people. Thanks for all the good times. Threw some cash your way.
User avatar
CStarFlare
Posts: 2999
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:41 am

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by CStarFlare »

Done.

Have you ever looked into setting up to accept BAT? I've been using Brave, in part because it allows me to earn small amounts each month and just toss it towards sites I enjoy with almost no work. I'm sure it wouldn't provide nearly enough to cover hosting fees, but if you're getting $24/year in donations it might be able to double that. :lol:
Restart Syndrome::
Shmup leaderboards and Video Index! | My score history on RS
User avatar
BuckoA51
Posts: 3355
Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 10:08 am
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by BuckoA51 »

Donated! I speak from experience when I say people seriously have no clue how expensive it is running a reliable website when you get more than just a trickle of traffic.
OSSC Forums - http://www.videogameperfection.com/forums
Please check the Wiki before posting about Morph, OSSC, XRGB Mini or XRGB3 - http://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/Main_Page
User avatar
DirkSwizzler
Posts: 548
Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2017 8:23 pm
Location: Bellevue, Washington, USA
Contact:

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by DirkSwizzler »

Chipped in.
system11 wrote:it takes about $1250 a year in hosting bills against donations of about $24 a year.
I fully accept that donations don't come close to covering hosting costs. Is there actual accounting of how many donations come in? My records indicate your figure is low.
Last edited by DirkSwizzler on Sun Jan 24, 2021 6:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
Blinge
Posts: 5369
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2013 4:05 pm
Location: Villa Straylight

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by Blinge »

Stumped something up!
Image
1cc List - Youtube - You emptylock my heart
User avatar
Speedy
Posts: 95
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2019 4:31 pm
Location: Seattle

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by Speedy »

Chipped in! Thank you!
User avatar
kid aphex
Posts: 1058
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 8:24 am
Location: Moai Zone
Contact:

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by kid aphex »

After 20 years of use I guess I can donate a few bucks ;)
Himbeertoni
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue May 26, 2020 5:02 am

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by Himbeertoni »

considering to donate 1$ if that helps.
BONKERS
Posts: 417
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2014 10:41 am

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by BONKERS »

Donated
User avatar
Stevens
Posts: 3799
Joined: Thu May 01, 2014 11:44 pm
Location: Brooklyn NY

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by Stevens »

Donated sir. This is one place I would be most unhappy to see go.
My lord, I have come for you.
User avatar
MintyTheCat
Posts: 2023
Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:46 am
Location: Germany, Berlin

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by MintyTheCat »

Just donated some cash. This forum is still my favourite.
More Bromances = safer people
neorichieb1971
Posts: 7666
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:28 am
Location: Bedford, UK
Contact:

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by neorichieb1971 »

Put a token amount in. Thank you for the forum the past 20 years.
This industry has become 2 dimensional as it transcended into a 3D world.
Custardo
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 4:18 am

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by Custardo »

Mostly a lurker in the tech subforum.. donated a small amount, hate to see this disappear.
Dochartaigh
Posts: 1519
Joined: Thu Mar 02, 2017 6:53 pm

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by Dochartaigh »

System11, at some point can you let us know how close you are to being funded? ....because if you're not getting close I propose a peer-pressure campaign ;) we can all start doing to each of our buddies on this forum to get everybody to donate what they comfortably can.
User avatar
Shogun
Posts: 98
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 9:17 am

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by Shogun »

Done. I really miss how few forums there are these days. We have to preserve whats left.
Dochartaigh
Posts: 1519
Joined: Thu Mar 02, 2017 6:53 pm

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by Dochartaigh »

Shogun wrote:Done. I really miss how few forums there are these days. We have to preserve whats left.
Seriously man. Reddit, Facebook, Discord, are ALL garbage for the archival of knowledge. You'll have hundreds of the same topic, with information spread out all over the place, instead of how a forum does it where you'll ideally have only a few posts (with the help of the mods and members keeping things tidy) where ALL that knowledge and experience are archived on a given specific topic.
User avatar
MintyTheCat
Posts: 2023
Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:46 am
Location: Germany, Berlin

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by MintyTheCat »

Dochartaigh wrote:
Shogun wrote:Done. I really miss how few forums there are these days. We have to preserve whats left.
Seriously man. Reddit, Facebook, Discord, are ALL garbage for the archival of knowledge. You'll have hundreds of the same topic, with information spread out all over the place, instead of how a forum does it where you'll ideally have only a few posts (with the help of the mods and members keeping things tidy) where ALL that knowledge and experience are archived on a given specific topic.
I agree entirely with your comments.
More Bromances = safer people
User avatar
BareKnuckleRoo
Posts: 6162
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 4:01 am
Location: Southern Ontario

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by BareKnuckleRoo »

The fact that old, but still relevant threads can be bumped and updated as new info is available is also very helpful. There's forums such as GameFAQs that auto lock threads due to age, so what'll happen is an old game that's not terribly active or popular may get someone asking a question and not get a response for several months. The thread asking the question is locked, and the response comes later in the form of a brand new thread replying to an old, unanswered one. It's a huge mess.

The search function and setup of the Strategy subforum also makes this way more useful for information archival as well as discussion of said info.
User avatar
system11
Posts: 6273
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:17 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by system11 »

DirkSwizzler wrote:Chipped in.
system11 wrote:it takes about $1250 a year in hosting bills against donations of about $24 a year.
I fully accept that donations don't come close to covering hosting costs. Is there actual accounting of how many donations come in? My records indicate your figure is low.
It was an estimate - I just ran a full 2020 statement and it was $83. There were only 3 people donating (and thankyou!) but one of those started bouncing part way through the year.

However, I've been incredibly grateful and surprised seeing the donations that came in as a result of this fundraiser - and yes those people who tagged their name will be getting a thankyou when I close it down. It'll pay for a newer server than I was looking at previously, hopefully a used one with a month or two factory warranty on it. This is what I did last time, ran the thing for a few weeks in my house until things broke (both disks did and the RAID battery!) and had everything that needed to be replaced by HP for nothing.
System11's random blog, with things - and stuff!
http://blog.system11.org
User avatar
JigsawMan
Posts: 185
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 7:09 pm
Location: UK

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by JigsawMan »

system11 wrote:
DirkSwizzler wrote:Chipped in.
system11 wrote:it takes about $1250 a year in hosting bills against donations of about $24 a year.
I fully accept that donations don't come close to covering hosting costs. Is there actual accounting of how many donations come in? My records indicate your figure is low.
It was an estimate - I just ran a full 2020 statement and it was $83. There were only 3 people donating (and thankyou!) but one of those started bouncing part way through the year.

However, I've been incredibly grateful and surprised seeing the donations that came in as a result of this fundraiser - and yes those people who tagged their name will be getting a thankyou when I close it down. It'll pay for a newer server than I was looking at previously, hopefully a used one with a month or two factory warranty on it. This is what I did last time, ran the thing for a few weeks in my house until things broke (both disks did and the RAID battery!) and had everything that needed to be replaced by HP for nothing.
Not sure how much you are looking at spending, but the Euro Dell Outlet (https://outlet.euro.dell.com/) has some reasonable priced servers with 1 year warranty (and you can uplift the warrnaty too if needed). Click the "scratch and dent" option and then sort by price for the better deals.
User avatar
Stevens
Posts: 3799
Joined: Thu May 01, 2014 11:44 pm
Location: Brooklyn NY

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by Stevens »

system11 wrote:(and thankyou!) but one of those started bouncing part way through the year.
Wow I bet that guy feels stupid.

:oops:
My lord, I have come for you.
User avatar
DirkSwizzler
Posts: 548
Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2017 8:23 pm
Location: Bellevue, Washington, USA
Contact:

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by DirkSwizzler »

system11 wrote:
DirkSwizzler wrote:Chipped in.
system11 wrote:it takes about $1250 a year in hosting bills against donations of about $24 a year.
I fully accept that donations don't come close to covering hosting costs. Is there actual accounting of how many donations come in? My records indicate your figure is low.
It was an estimate - I just ran a full 2020 statement and it was $83. There were only 3 people donating (and thankyou!) but one of those started bouncing part way through the year.
Thanks for the update.
christianbelchior
Posts: 64
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2020 7:28 pm
Location: Campinas, Brazil

Re: 2021 fundraiser - new server

Post by christianbelchior »

Custardo wrote:Mostly a lurker in the tech subforum.. donated a small amount, hate to see this disappear.
'Spite the fact that I didn't donate as of posting this, I also hate to see this get shut down due to failing to pay the server hardware costs, or any other f██king reason.
If the fundraiser succeeds, then my shmup side will be the happiest it's ever been. If it fails, then it gets slightly depressed.
7V'WGوv–7†G–wvو–ِF”ض¶6WfV†GG†w
Post Reply