I think we found our limit ..
 

Until I can re-optimize the apache & mysql configurations, or we have the money to get another CPU and/or some more memory, we will have to deny access to the site when we reach 300 simultaneous users.

So, if you come to the site and it says "There are too many users online." or something to that effect, go make some coffee .. have some pizza .. and then come back. Hitting refresh constantly won't do you any good.

Thanks for your patience.

edit: I added some server optimizations, removed the 300 user limit, etc. Detailed responses from earlier are below.

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

What exactly was the problem? Why would a new CPU or memory fix it? Thanks.

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

would it be a possibility for people to donate a few dollars to a fund? Or have some kind of CD shirts for sale like "CD Web Forums.... <insert catchy phrase>" or seomthing like that, maybe something for sale at the webhug or a webhug t-shirt, to help raise money for server upgrades, it seems right for us all to give back some how since we all gain so much from this site.

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

That must explain the outage of the server at around 2200 EST...The whole site was down (after I started getting database errors). As previously stated, is there a donation fund?

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

I would give a few bucks if my parents let me.... I bet I could convince them. But hey! I can wait! I actually have nothing better to do (usually anyway) than browse the forums here, especially now that build season is over.

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

AGREED! This site is an incredible resource for all of us. How much $$ are we talking about? Brandon, I think you should definitely set up a PayPal account to accept donations. You do so much work for us already ... you shouldn't have to also deal with this type of resource limitation. Let us know how we can help!! :)

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

Why not make people register to view the forums?

If they can't take the 30 seconds to register then they don't need to browse the site.

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

I agree, by these guests coming in here and just viewing they take away registered users ability to come in and ask a question or provide positive insight to these forums, I think that everyone should have to register to view the site.

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

There have been some good suggestions in here about donations and such. I do not agree that everyone should have to register to view the site, unless it is a very simple thing. It would reduce the number of people visiting, but that won't just help us. Would it help if people closed any browsers with Chief Delphi when they left there computers? Because I know I have left my computer MANY times with chief delphi up in one or more browser windows. Also, would it help if I didn't try to open 10 pages at once in tabbed browser windows? Those are some simple things that I do (as well as many others I am sure) for ease of use that I thought of that might help.

They may not help at all, but they are thoughts.

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

I totally agree with ya on this one. Registration should be mandatory, at this time in the season, to view most of the forums (maybe except chit-chat and others of the like). Of the times I've looked today there have been more guests logged on then registered members.

Maybe this really won't solve any problem because then those guest might just log in if they have a username or go through and quickly fill out a registration using some "dumb" username and false information.

I'm not sure, it just seems that if you have to be logged in to view the forums then it could alleviate some of the stress on the servers.

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

Instead of denying guests all together, we just allow registered members to use the forums before guests do? i.e., a guest would get an error message before a registered member.

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

what about some system that based your priority of access to the server off of reputation? Like it would be guests with the lowest priority, and then registered users, and then go up as your rep went up...

Just an idea....

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

I agree with Amanda totally on this one. Just because a guest doesnt register doesnt mean they arent part of a FIRST team or another interested party. To deny access to forums denies them a chance to learn about FIRST and the greater community. At the same time, internet privacy is an issue now, and although everyone on CD knows that their information is safe, the average visitor may not be aware of that fact. Many 188 members have no account on these forums but still check them every day and are clued into what is going on. Besides, just how often does CD hit it's limit? I'd venture a guess of no more than 6-8 times per year, usually at this time right after build, in the middle of competition and after nationals. If its a matter of finance, it might be easier to do what Amanda suggested than to organize anything major.

I know this isnt what anyone had in mind, but theres no reason to keep the community of FIRST a gated one the Internet.

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

I know that a lot of other people on my team search ChiefDelphi for information (especially the picture galleries), but I'm the only member with an active account. Although I would kind of like them to register, it's nice to be able to just quickly check ChiefDelphi from a school or otherwise shared computer without having to log in.

That being said, I wouldn't object to temporary restrictions on guest browsing, or something similar to Amanda Morrison's idea. I'd rather have the site only available to registered users than to no users at all.

Re: I think we found our limit ..
 

This website was deisgned for the purpose of sharing of knowledge and ideas...i dont see how a guest is possibly benefitting or is fair to the other people who took the time to register.

I dont know anything about PHP, but i dont really think you could do this. For people that dont save their login information, they come onto the site as a guest before they'd log in....if the website would block out guests in favor of the registered user, they never would be able to get in until it has cleared out enough for them to get on and log in.

Then again, I could be wrong. Maybe Brandon knows some kind of trick that could make that happen.