Aaaaaaaand we're back. Here's what happened

[DrkSnpr14]

Welcome back to TimeSplitters4.net ladies and gents. I've got a lot to fill you in on, so here it goes. First off, let me explain what happened.

For a list of changes to features, go here --> [click]

TLDR - I broke everything

Remember a week or so ago those avatars I was working on for the forum? (Which are all edited , uploaded, expanded and looking sharp I might add) Well, that's what killed the forum belive it or not. Over the whole existance of this forum, I've personally made the mistake of installing some questionable and unstable code modifications to add features to the site. It's all well and good until you need to update the forum software, then it's a nightmare. Even though the board is telling me the mod is unisntalled, the files are still there, and ghost segments of code remained in the php templates. Eventually, the boards became so unstable, that if I deleted anything else, it just wouldn't run. That's how it died

My account with the host was at full capacity, and it wasn't letting me upload any more files. I got halfway through uploading the new avatars when I became aware of this. So, I went into the dirrectory and looked for any old files I could trim out to squeeze these in. Remember way back when when we had flash chat isntalled here? All the terrible thigns it did to the stability of the forum to? Well, it wasn't done yet. I thought I had removed every trace of it, and the old remaining files could go. As soon as I deleted that directory, BAM 500 server error, which is what you've all been staring at for a week or so now.

My first reaction was straight up panic, since being the responsible admin I am, I forgot to make a backup before I started tinkering. In fact, I deleted all backups on the server a month or so ago to free up space. Staring at a dead forum with no backup is a terrible feeling, especially knowing you're the one who broke it To make matters much worse, I'm very uneducated when it comes to the hardware of forums. I can use the program, tweak settings to make things as I want them, but server side was alway handled by Jolteon who just happens to be on an extended leave of absence right now (of course!)

After some research, experimentation, trial and error, and support from wayward posters who found their way to the motherboard I finally figured out how to fix it all. You see, the forum database was all still there, it was the forum software that had become unstable and catastrophically failed. I've been wanting to plug the data into a fresh install for a while now and start fresh with no weird code that threatens to blow everything up at any time. (seriously, HOW this place stayed functional is a miracle and a mystery to me) It was exceedingly simple once I knew where I was going. It was just a matter of backing up the database via phpmyadmin, deleting the old directory, installing SMF 1.1.9, and plugging it in. Had some minor issues and errors with the domain not playing nice, which had to all be reset as well, but as you can see I eventually wrestled everything into submission and got it running again.

So yes, to summarize everything, it was my fault

[SHARKGUN]

Good to see that everything is up and running again, keep it up!

[Lt. Surge]

Damnit, now I keep getting errors while trying to upload the database! It's a different one each time.

I tested this backup on other isntalls and it worked just fine, I don't understand what's screwing up now. I'll keep trying, and copy some fo the error sI'm getting

Nevermind, I was using the wrong backup. Database install is complete, it's a forum again!

Just a feeeew things I need to tweak, should be a couple more hours as of this post. Need to re upload a bunch of images and files, and make sure everything is working properly before I open the doors.

I've tested posting, it works, just need to configure everything now

when it's finally back up...

PARTY THREAD IN HONOUR OF SNPR [/quote]

What did I say!
Your ability to recover (from a problem that crazy) quickly and effectively only demonstrates your abilities, dedication and overall awsumness. You have won the internets.

Cheers, m8!

[SilverJ]

So yes, to summarize everything, it was my fault

I both hate and love you. (Okay, maybe love isn't the right thing to say, but still, I'm pretty glad you could bring this place back to life.. and I guess I also got to thank the ones that gave you the advice to do so.)  Ehh..  I'm not that mad or whatever.  It's just that this is one of the only three places I ever get on anymore (too little time for me anymore), so to have this down bugged the crap out of me, especially since it was shortly after KHI (a site that I visit every now and then) was down for a few days.  What's next?  iAMgaming (UT3-based PSN gaming site) going down as well?  Ahh.. well, TS4.net's back, so I'm happy.  Also, why is my name brown.. err.. I guess that's probably explained elsewhere, so I'll look now.. after posting this post..

[RobJ]

Is the current state of the site the way it's going to stay? or is it going to slowly revert back to the way it was?

Edit: 2nd half of this post moved to a more appropriate thread: V that one V

[DrkSnpr14]

Is the current state of the site the way it's going to stay? or is it going to slowly revert back to the way it was?

Either way, i miss the column on the left side of the screen listing recent posts Any chance of resurrecting it?

those things are covered in this thread http://timesplitters4.net/index.php/topic,2364.0.html

[god0fgod]

Great stuff. My username is red, I'm guessing that's because I've reached a certain post count?

Ah, right it's linked to rank.

[I Lion Heart I]

I lurk in the basement. :D

Names being a different colour based on posts isn't a good idea BTW. It encourages people to post more to attain the "best" colour.

[harrytipperrocks]

I'm afraid that some people Don't think that we're back,though.They Might think that TS4.Net was gone FOREVER  ever...ever...

[dontlookleft]

I'm afraid that some people Don't think that we're back,though.They Might think that TS4.Net was gone FOREVER  ever...ever...

If they've used the internet before, I'm really doubting they thought that.

The "404" or whatever error it was, wasn't the usual dead site one.

[god0fgod]

Names being a different colour based on posts isn't a good idea BTW. It encourages people to post more to attain the "best" colour.

Well, I hate this colour.

At first I thought the colours were all screwed up.

And it was a 500 error, meaning an internal server error, usually a misconfiguration or script error. PHP has it's own way of giving errors though, so the former most likely.

[Green J]

Dang... last one to post. Anyways, nice to see the TS4.net users posting, and not giving up hope. I bet some of the people who practically live here didn't survive. *Puts a flower on a grave*

[SilverJ]

Uhh.. hello.. email and in case of some, several emails.  I'm pretty sure that as long as people had a legit email address, they would of gotten the message, though I fear some will not, since they didn't or deleted it after they joined.  Also, I agree with God of God, I'd rather have the Reaper Splitter color than this, but that's also tying in with the fact that I like Reapers more than Beserkers. (who are lame Reaper Splitter want-a-be's, whose cloaks suck imo..)

[Rami]

I'm afraid that some people Don't think that we're back,though.They Might think that TS4.Net was gone FOREVER  ever...ever...

haha, I think I would try to see if it came back alive for a couple of months before I gave up on it 

I'm thinking those who love the TS series and would want the news on it would do the same thing.

[Amnoz]

I wasn't worried, not at all...

Glad the forum has come back in a vengeance of style!