We need moore poowah cap'n. She's giving us all she's got!

[hubba]

As you all may have noticed, the OFPEC server is buckling pretty hard on the workload its getting now. During peak hours we're getting hit with roughly 400 simultaneous users trying to access pages. Today we are using not nearly enough of our bandwidth to be worried about connection. The problem lies with that we have outgrown our current server. In short, we need a bigger box =)

Since our personal pockets are very limited and we are already paying for the electrical & ISP bills we now need to turn to You, our beloved users.

In short, we need help with donations. We have estimated we will need at least a total of $400 to purchase a 2nd server which will replace the current one we have now. The old server will then act as database server, further releaving the main server of a large workload.

So if you can find it in your hearts (and wallets) to help improve your favourite place on the internet. Remember, no donation is to small. Together we will reach our goal and get a new, faster and more powerful OFP.

/The OFPEC management.

PS. The Donation button is at the bottom of the page =)
DS.

[macguba]

Hooray!    We're going to have a new server!      *jumps up and down with glee, clicks donate button*

[Sui]

Ah ha... time to register a paypal account methinks

[Ottie]

This is the second or third donation round and still you cant run youre site, the last time a lot of people donated so you could the addon depot up and running, after the donation round the addon depot was down for almost half a year, after this donation round ofpec will be down for a year

I like what you do .... and i like the site but i dont understand the idea behind the donations???

[onepremise]

If you guys dont mind me asking, what ISP are you using?  How much does your plan go for?  I hate that you guys are struggling with the cost of service.  I am familiar with many other good ISPs.  Its possible I might be able to find you guys a better plan.  Anyways, just wanta help in the best way I can.  

[macguba]

what ISP are you using?

Thanks for taking an interest Ottie and onepremise.    I'm afraid I don't know the answer myself, and I'm sure HuBBa appreciates the offer.     It's worth remembering that there is no "you" at OFPEC, there is only "we".     There is no godfather in the sky shovelling money our way.     OFPEC was created and is maintained by the community, for the community.    EVERYTHING has to be paid for by us, the OFPEC members.    Out of the goodness of their hearts, HuBBa and one or two others bear the brunt of the cost.     Basic running costs alone (ISP, electricity, etc.) are the equivalent of about $150/month.

It's also worth reiterating that OFPEC is not just a little fansite, it's a major operation.   We can have 400 users on the site at once ... that's not 400 a day, or an hour, that's 400 at a time.      There's many a commercial site that would be very pleased to have that kind of a attention.

[GrimMonkey]

Gladly. Knowing that it's going to a great cause. Sorry, can't keep...it...in...

NEW SERVER! YAHOO! ;D ;D ;D NEW SERVER!

Alright OFPEC!!

I've been saving my earnings for something like this to happen.

[hubba]

I like what you do .... and i like the site but i dont understand the idea behind the donations???

Hi Ottie. This is actually the first "run" we have really. We did recieve a few donations when we opened up for donations several months back. This got us a larger Harddrive (60 gigs). It was not intended to get the Addon page up and running. The development of the site is done for free and will always be done for free. The problem with the Addon depot being delayed so long was mostly because the people assigned to finish that section didn't have time in the end to do so. So we had to direct that work to other people. I hope you agree that it was worth the wait though.

The idea behind donations is 100% based on wanting to give something back to us who run the community. As it is now i personally pay all the electricity and ISP bills and i can manage that currently. What i cannot manage however is upgrading the hardware (except perhaps in emergencies) continously. This is why we wanted to make a "Donation run" to see if we can perhaps get new hardware a bit faster than we would if we had to upgrade it ourselves.  Remember though that donations are volountary and will always be that. We will NOT EVER put in any form of "membership fee" or anything else. At least not as long as i host the server =)

If you guys dont mind me asking, what ISP are you using?  How much does your plan go for?  I hate that you guys are struggling with the cost of service.  I am familiar with many other good ISPs.  Its possible I might be able to find you guys a better plan.  Anyways, just wanta help in the best way I can.  

As i mentioned above i can manage with the running costs (electricity and isp), but not with upgrading the server hardware (and especially not with buying a new server). The current setup we have now is me hosting the actual server (ie. i have full physical access to the machine) on a 10 mbit broadband connection (ethernet to a fiber backbone). This give us all the flexibility and growth we need currently when it comes to the ISP part. The problem with hosting OFPEC on an external site is that it requires a lot of juice in the machine. And few ISP's are willing to host a site that demands shell access, 40 gigs of space (and growing), multiple ftp accounts including public ones, SQL Database server (102 megs), 4000 unique visitors & 300 000 hits every day, 400 simultaneous users, montlhly bandwidth transfers of 100-150 GB. all without getting paid? Today we have total control of the server and its contents simply because we are running it ourselves.

A thank you both to Otti and Onepremise for the interest. And if you have any further questions regarding our hosting and OFPEC, i'll be happy to answer them.

/HuBBa

[Ottie]

If this is the first run then I made a mistake, I like the site and I like the results ... and I admire the time and money you spend to keep the site running ......

[onepremise]

It's also worth reiterating that OFPEC is not just a little fansite, it's a major operation.  We can have 400 users on the site at once ... that's not 400 a day, or an hour, that's 400 at a time.      There's many a commercial site that would be very pleased to have that kind of a attention.

I dont think anywhere in my post I refered to OFPEC as a "little fansite"?  Nor did I ever percieve it that way.  I have no idea how this place is setup.  Im only trying to understand the situation better.  Please understand I'm not trying to question your hard efforts in any way.  I do wanta see the editing center continue to grow.  

As i mentioned above i can manage with the running costs (electricity and isp), but not with upgrading the server hardware (and especially not with buying a new server). The current setup we have now is me hosting the actual server (ie. i have full physical access to the machine) on a 10 mbit broadband connection (ethernet to a fiber backbone). This give us all the flexibility and growth we need currently when it comes to the ISP part. The problem with hosting OFPEC on an external site is that it requires a lot of juice in the machine. And few ISP's are willing to host a site that demands shell access, 40 gigs of space (and growing), multiple ftp accounts including public ones, SQL Database server (102 megs), 4000 unique visitors & 300 000 hits every day, 400 simultaneous users, montlhly bandwidth transfers of 100-150 GB. all without getting paid? Today we have total control of the server and its contents simply because we are running it ourselves.

Those are some pretty impressive stats.  It definitely sounds like your backbone to the Internet is pretty secure.  There isnt really anything that can beat a custom job like that either.  Anyways, I look foward to seeing the improvements; keep up the good work. ;D

[Noon416]

Hi all,

As stated so well by HuBBa and Macguba, this "Donation Run" is once again needed to cope with the increases in size that OFPEC has experienced continually since the site began.


And since we refuse to subject our visitors and members to popup ads, popunder ads, banners, or any other form of highly annoying and frustrating advertising, the cost has been worn by the staff and donations.

In the past HuBBa, Wolfsbane, Tigershark, snYpir and many other staff + Patrons have paid (a lot) for the upgrades that have allowed us to continue to offer the vast resources OFPEC can share with the community.


Now we've hit the point where its unreasonable to ask HuBBa to pay for the new server, due to the prohibitive cost involved.

So today we're asking for assistance from the people who benefit the most from OFPEC's Resources, the Community.

It doesn't have to be a large amount. Even if you only want to donate a $1, we'll happily accept any total and offer you a place on out Patron list.

Any amount will do! (but obviously, the larger the better )


And for those that might ask the question: The server upgrade is not being done up as an "extravagant toy". The upgrade choices are very cost-effective and highly-practical ones that will be of major assistance to OFPEC and the Community on the future.


Put simply:

Its rare that we come asking for donations, so that illustrates how much we need it.

And all donations will go straight back into OFPEC's hardware, and hence straight back into the community that OFPEC serves.

So in donating to OFPEC, you're helping yourself and the community to take advantage of the vast resources OFPEC has on offer for you all.




PS: Yes, that's a very corny line .......... Mmmmm, buttery corn ...... *Homer Simpson drool noise*

[Kuro]

HI,

i made a small donation yesterday (this should solve halfe of the problem)  

Keep Up the good work
Kuro

[Noon416]

Many warm thanks, Kuro.

We very much appreciate the donation. :thumbsup:

[hubba]

i made a small donation yesterday (this should solve halfe of the problem)  

Hey Kuro,

"small" =) It was substantial enough that it let me order the server earlier than expected. So a big thank you from OFPEC and the rest of the community to help us get the server earlier than we would otherwise.

And a big thank you also goes to all of you who have donated. We are not all the way there yet but it looks like we will be getting a server after all =)

I ordered the parts yesterday and everything is on its way except for the CPU which will take a day or two more. As soon as i get everything i will install and set up the server and then we will make the switch so fast you won't even know it was done ;D

/HuBBa "and the gang"

[Messiah]

well if its any conselation for you youn'uns and any help, the old timers here have a few things to say...

since the launch of OFPEC... this has been a totally free site... free membership, free downloads, free from porn pop ups (damn it  ) and free from adverts.... why? because the admin all know this makes for a worse site, and also in my view, more tacky and annoying (adverts and pop ups)

ive seen 3 of these donation drives... all for different servers, different admin etc... but all for the same reason - these are normal folk, just ordinary joes (with the exception of the big swedish teddy bear truck driver - he knows who he is) shelling out their hard earned money to keep this place running. I've donated every time, and ive seen the good it does... ive seen the new servers, the new speed, then benefits... and i know from meeting these guys face to face that this money is used wisely, and for your best interests...

so honestly... what is the odd £1 here and there? if all of you who can donate... and even a small amount... you will be suprised how it adds up... Since my pay comes next week (and minus bank holiday drinking expenses) i'll be donating again... and again... and every time these guys need the money... and hey... come OFP 2 and OFPEC 2, you'll all be glad you did