Latest Update Details If You Care to Read

[S Allen]

So for anyone interested here are the details of what happened over the last few days. Under normal circumstances the forum updates are pretty straight forward and only take a few hours at best. Update steps short form.

1. Download the update complete package, unzip and remove a few folders and files
2. Disable the board
3. Backup the database
4. Remove a couple of folders from the disabled forum
5. Upload the new package to the website
6. Use back-end tools to update to the database to match the new version

Did all of this and ended up with either a blank screen or an HTTP 500 error "cannot be found"

Holy crap--not good.

During this I was in my back-end control panel on the server. Some updates were available there so I decided to run them. Turned out to be a very bad idea as that update broke things on the back-end which made my problems even worse. The update broke a few tools I use to manage the forum on the back-end. Took me a good day to get that sorted out. The stress level was pretty elevated by then.

Back to the forum a day later. There are extensions that are installed that add things to the forum such as the Site Logo as an example. There are quite a few of these installed on the forum. I found several that were out of date and needed updated. I still need to finish sorting that out. Extensions that are broken or not compatible with the new version cause the blank white page.

I thought I had everything forum wise sorted day 2 so I ran the database update. I went back to the forum to enable and bring it back online. I then discovered that most of the topics were missing throwing the following error--"Information-- the requested topic cannot be found" Holy crap 20 years of discussion up in smoke. I reloaded the previous version thinking I could back out but still had the same problem. Needless to say I was pretty bummed by then and I admit a bit panicked.

Day 3 I took a few hours off to figure out a new plan of attack. Thank goodness I had a good backup of the database from before this all started. A fresh install would be my only hope out of this mess. Last night I wiped out all of the files on the forum website and uploaded the new package again. Did a restore of the database and still had a blank screen. I went into the extensions and disabled all of them except for two-one being Site Logo and
we were back in business. Like I said I still need to sort the extensions out but I can do that without taking the forum down.

I know a few folks complain about the forum being archaic and out dated but I disagree with that. That is why I try to keep the software updated. Some folks have problems uploading pictures to the site. If I had unlimited storage I could probably allow the mega-pixel photos from phones and cameras. I do not have unlimited storage. If I did not care I could have thrown in the towel and walked away yesterday. Someone is more than welcome to start another forum and I will bow out. 311s.org is not Facebook and never will be. FB is not my cup of tea.

I could do what Rising Sun Racing did and just stop supporting it and let it die. I did offer the owner to move his old forum to my host just to keep the data alive. I did get everything setup on my end but he quit responding to me. I realize things become more and more useless as time goes by but I still believe 311s.org provides a valuable resource for any one owning or thinking about buying a Datsun Roadster.

Sorry for the novel. And I thank those whom choose to participate. Glad to be back.

Steve

[Curtis]

Get rid of the forum and I might as well sell the damn cars. Let someone else go through the pain of blindly figuring the stuff out.

The web deity Stave Allen.

[Alvin]

Thank you Steve and Happy New Year!

I know a few folks complain about the forum being archaic and out dated but I disagree with that.

IMHO those folks that complain, especially without offering a solution, do not belong here.

If I did not care I could have thrown in the towel and walked away yesterday. Someone is more than welcome to start another forum and I will bow out. 311s.org is not Facebook and never will be. FB is not my cup of tea. I realize things become more and more useless as time goes by but I still believe 311s.org provides a valuable resource for any one owning or thinking about buying a Datsun Roadster.

Myself and others prefer 311s.org over FB. Please do not compare 311s to FB. So glad you did not walk away!

[iloveredmeat]

Steve, sorry to hear of the mess, what a huge bummer.

THANK YOU for sticking it out and spending the time and effort to keep it going.

I would be nowhere without this forum... I guess I actually still kinda am, so I guess I would be even more 'nowhere-er' without this forum.

I'm sure it seems thankless sometimes, but please know that I personally thank you for your effort... and I know many others who feel the same way.

Thanks again for your dedication to this forum. It's invaluable.
Peter

[Gregs672000]

Wow Steve, like most things on the net I just kinda expect it will be there, and over time I become generally unaware of the considerable effort, time and expertise it requires to keep this family alive. I'm sure I speak for everyone here in genuinely thanking you for your significant dedication and the mental fortitude expended on our behalf to keep this wonderful site alive. I too HATE Facebook, and while I'm sure there's a community there, the incredible wealth of knowledge and comradeship we have developed here at 311s.org is bar none, and that's only possible because of folks like you. THANK YOU STEVE. I cannot do what you do. You make a difference in my life and I GREATLY appreciate that. Its a New Year... time to donate again!

[Bwk2000]

Get rid of the forum and I might as well sell the damn cars. Let someone else go through the pain of blindly figuring the stuff out.

The web deity Steve Allen.

+1
Was thinking the same thing.
Thanks Steve!

[Mattk]

Steve,
I would just like to simply say,

Thank you.

Thank you for doing the mystical web magic you do, and giving a place to share our love of this little car!

Thank you again

[notoptoy]

Thanks for posting a behind the scenes example of what you have been facing for years! It really helps demonstrate the time effort and patience (along with a healthy tech acumen) that we tend to take for granted. Thank you!

[SPL311-25411]

I just found this site and this is my first post. Your site and forum is an invaluable resource for me as I get to know my new-to-me Datsun SPL311. Thanks for the years of updates to the software and keeping this resource alive.

[C.Costine]

I am overdue to make my annual donation but I can't find the place on the site to do it.