Buy a new Server, I'm in for $50US -- Who Else?

[Mark_Everson]

I don't know if this is a practical approach but I would gladly contribute cold hard cash to take care of the server situation. I am good for $50US considering how much I use Apolyton.

Markos and Dan, please let me and others know if this is practical soon, but in the meantime I'll assume its a viable alternative.

I'm not asking anyone who can't easily afford it to chip in... Just if you have some cash handy, and annoyance at the way things have been, put your money where your mouth is! Its just gonna get worse unless we do something!

As I said in the title I'll kick in 50 bucks to get this idea rolling, but of course only if enough others will to make a difference.

See you on the forums! (when they #@%^$% work )

[Asher]

I'll put in $50.

Set up a paypal account, Mark.

[rev]

You can buy the server, but who's going to pay the monthly bills for bandwidth, maintenance, space, et cetera? That can be quite expensive, running into several hundred a month.

Sorry guys, but that plan is inherently flawed, as much as I wish it weren't so.

[Alexander's Horse]

I'm prepared to negotiate on a cash donation in return for say a 10,000 post increase in my post count

[Asher]

It's not a permanent thing, Rev.

The bandwidth is fine, according to them, we just need more powerful servers (CPU power is what's holding us back).

[TCO]

Originally posted by rev
You can buy the server, but who's going to pay the monthly bills for bandwidth, maintenance, space, et cetera? That can be quite expensive, running into several hundred a month.

Sorry guys, but that plan is inherently flawed, as much as I wish it weren't so.

A. How do you know? Have you done the numbers?

B. CPU is the bottleneck, not bandwidth.

C. How do you think existing bandwidth gets paid for!!!???

[TCO]

I'm in for five oh.

[Seneca]

Hell, I've paid more than $50 (30 quid) for boxed CD sets that I've barely listened to - as a retrograde payment for all the pleasure I've had from Apolyton, 30 quid is a bargain.

Not to mention some truly crap nights out that cost a hell of a lot more than 30 quid

[Urban Ranger]

If the bottleneck is not the Net connection, then they probably need a couple of servers to start a cluster farm.

Where's Lefty when we need him?

[David Floyd]

I'm good for $50

[rev]

No, I haven't run "the" numbers, but I used to run a gaming network and at this moment I help operate a Maxis-related network (hosted by GS, actually), so I do know a bit of ballparking when it comes to servers.

So let's say this works; we get a server, we get it hooked up, and we're ready to rock-n-roll. Now we have to transfer 'poly over to the new server, track down bugs, etc. Then when the traffic returns to normal (and it will), you've got two servers to be paying for.

If the guys at GS are willing to foot that bill and expand their network, then by all means, go for it. I'd offer money of my own, but I'm a college student and I'm already broke as it is.

[Mark_Everson]

Thanks everyone I Knew we could count on AH to come up with a novel approach . But we need a lot more people. We shouldn't push this until we hear its a viable alternative.

rev: What I've got in mind as a scenario if GS agrees would be: put in the new server in parallel with the old, get everything loaded, when the new server is tested out gang em together. Use both for Apolyton until/if the traffic goes way down again. GS can then do whatever they want with the old machine. I don't have any experience in this area, that's why I'm waiting for those in the know to respond before I get too excited about this.

Then again, with 10k logins, if its practical to buy a new server, and if only 1% of us have $50 they'd be willing to throw in, we're home free.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

Originally posted by Seneca
Hell, I've paid more than $50 (30 quid) for boxed CD sets that I've barely listened to - as a retrograde payment for all the pleasure I've had from Apolyton, 30 quid is a bargain.

Not to mention some truly crap nights out that cost a hell of a lot more than 30 quid

Very true

I could chip in 30 £ too

[OneFootInTheGrave]

well actually I'd send the money to mark or dan specifically for upgrade. If the server finishes with GS I don't care as long as we can all live here happily ever after (there should be a no complaints policy, this should be a donation after all)

btw, I don't think the traffic levels will go to the old ones since the old public was civ II and CTP communities which were a lot smaller. Plus many more people will want to stay here. Look at MOO that could expand here if handeled well. This already is, and could be THE place for civ maybe even TBS etc... maybe even profitable after 20 years . And at least 80% of the civ III buyers will have net access as opposed to maybe 20% for civ II and 50 % for ctp (just a guess, but definitley a big increase ), and Civ III will sell better than CTP. In the near future we have Civ III MP release. The future is bright, we just need hardware.

[Case]

I know that this won't raise much $, but I'm currently clicking on the ads like a monkey on speed