Hi everyone.

This topic is mostly intended to keep everyone informed on what is being done while boot-land.net is offline.

You're welcome to post questions or feedback regarding what will be implemented over the next few days, some major changes are planned to take place which should result in faster and cleaner work space for our community.

Some new features will be also be integrated and will be made available as time advances.

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For the moment the order of operations is as follow:

[done] - Place the forum in offline mode to prevent changes
[done] - Copy boot-land.net to new location
[done] - propagate DNS with new server location information
[delayed]- clean up the clutter from work folders
[not possible] - attempt to use a fresh version of the forum software
[nearly completed] - install addons (left column, users viewed topic today, thanks mod, visual customization, etc)
[not needed] - install external scripts (portal, newsletter, download system, external registration page)
- install SVN service
- clean up database from inactive members (winter operation)
[on progress]- add back boot-land.net subdomains and email respective owners (password details sent to private email box)
[on progress..] - final checking and clean up
- Presentation to the public.

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All is going well at the moment, a lot of care is being taken with backups to ensure nothing gets lost in the process.

The proposed order of operations might change as needed, if something was left out of the list please mention it so that it won't be forgotten!

Thank you for reading!

As always, take my advice (even if apparently exposed in an aggressive way ) as an attempt to do things the better possible way, and anyway just my two cents:

What you plan to do is BASICALLY prone to errors, too many things and all together.

This is a safer approach:

1. [done] - Place the forum in offline mode to prevent changes
2. [on progress..] - Copy boot-land.net to new location
3. - propagate DNS with new server location information
4. - add back boot-land.net subdomains and email respective owners (password details sent to private email box)
5. - CHECK THAT EVERYTHING WORKS EXACTLY AS BEFORE!
6. - Presentation to the public.
7. - WAIT some time to make sure everything works

IF everything works as expected do, ONE AT THE TIME, each of the following:

1. - clean up the clutter from work folders
2. - attempt to use a fresh version of the forum software
3. - install addons (left column, users viewed topic today, thanks mod, visual customization, etc)
4. - install external scripts (portal, newsletter, download system, external registration page)
5. - install SVN service
6. - clean up database from inactive members (winter operation)
7. - final checking and clean up

jaclaz

Shouldn't that be:

1. [done] - Place the forum in offline mode to prevent changes
2. [on progress..] - Copy boot-land.net to new location
3. - propagate DNS with new server location information
4. - add back boot-land.net subdomains and email respective owners (password details sent to private email box)
5. - CHECK THAT EVERYTHING WORKS EXACTLY AS BEFORE!
6. - Presentation to the public.
7. - WAIT some time to make sure everything works

IF everything works as expected do, ONE AT THE TIME, each of the following:

1. - clean up the clutter from work folders
2. - Place the forum in offline mode (again) to prevent changes
3. - attempt to use a fresh version of the forum software
4. - CHECK THAT EVERYTHING WORKS!
5. - Presentation to the public.
6. - WAIT some time to make sure everything works
7. - Place the forum in offline mode (again) to prevent changes
8. - install addons (left column, users viewed topic today, thanks mod, visual customization, etc)
9. - CHECK THAT EVERYTHING WORKS!
10. - Presentation to the public.
11. - WAIT some time to make sure everything works
12. - Place the forum in offline mode (again) to prevent changes
13. - install external scripts (portal, newsletter, download system, external registration page)
14. - CHECK THAT EVERYTHING WORKS!
15. - Presentation to the public.
16. - WAIT some time to make sure everything works
17. - Place the forum in offline mode (again) to prevent changes
18. - install SVN service
19. - CHECK THAT EVERYTHING WORKS!
20. - Presentation to the public.
21. - WAIT some time to make sure everything works
22. - clean up database from inactive members (winter operation)
23. - final checking and clean up

Ok, I've understood the idea and will check everything at least 5 times before going to the next step..

But I'm already getting a bit stuck on the part of installing a brand new version of forum that keeps track of the available attachments, I'll google the needed answers and "CHECK THAT EVERYTHING WORKS!" before using as final board.

Thanks for the tips, they'll be taken into consideration without doubt.

NO.

That would be how you would instruct a 3 years old baby.

The ONE AT THE TIME should already mean doing each of the listed actions while cycling through the implied procedure:

• offline mode BEFORE
• each action in list
• check AFTER
• user test and report

We are talking to a board Admin, not to your or mine toddler nephew.

jaclaz

Maybe it should, but it wasn't clearly stated.

And trust me, Admins make mistakes, sometimes more that others because they are over confident.

Yes! we do have alot of confident team members. And spelling something out like you did is not a bad thing for such a task that is being undertaken. That way things wont be missed.

Congratulations, Nuno. Looks like the tranfer of the old forum content was successful. I can read the posts again.

Many Greetings and keep up your good work
MichaelZ

Thanks Michael!

And before I forget, happy birthday!


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Regarding boot-land.net - I've updated the status board of the current operations on the first topic.

I'm currently doing some tests with skins to see how it works. Some time ago Ed mentioned how the left column wouldn't look very well with smaller sized windows so I'm browsing and testing new visual styles.

It was not possible to install a fresh version of IPB, it would mean lose all the current forum attachments.

A couple more days and we'll be ready!

Will try to create Something.

To contextualize TheHive's previous post, I should explain that I've asked him to help with the design of new boot land logo to match the new visual style.

Thanks! I thought at first sight (due also to the capital in "Something") that TheHive got caught by a superiority complex , like in:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superiority_complex



jaclaz

Links missed for "WinBuilder section on the 911cd forum" and "PC Help World forums" in current bootland page

Thanks for noticing, it's now corrected.

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Almost finished all the proper changes and clean up last night, the forum should be ready by tomorrow with some luck.

Forums are open to the public!

Still a lot of working going on during the next weeks.

I'll also open a support topic on the site feedback section so that changes can be further discussed.

Hope you like the new look!

Good news.




Bad news: NO. ( @TheHive, please sit down and take a big breath before going to the new site, I refuse to believe you were involved in using PAINT to write the title! )


jaclaz

No, it was me who did the logo to give more time to TheHive work without time worries.

I don't have paint installed, only gimp..

Nuno,

i cant connect to livexp server

also, JonF wrote some of my feelings about new design here

everything will be nicer in time

You have a future as network administrator , but please don't, don't, DON'T try making a living out of drawing/painting/designing....

...I wouldn't let you down , but Miguel deserves better than growing on the charity/assistance friends can provide...



jaclaz

eheh..

Bootland unavailable or is it just me Reported January 5 @11:35 EST

Failed to connect to web server

11:50 back on line no problems,

Was adding SVN support and the Apache server was not wanting to restart. Eventually figured out that this could be solved by performing a reboot.

Thanks for the report.