Anti-Server-Load Measures

[MarkG]

A list of actions we have taken and are taking beyond any adjustments in the server configuration

- In threads: Avatars, CivGroups icons and forum jump menu will be automatically be turned off and on depending on current load
- Avatars will not show up for guests at all times
- Other features(latest chat message, visitors online, etc) will not show up for guests at all times and for registered members on high load occasions
- Above a load level, pageviews counts of threads will not be increased
- Cache system implemented: guests will see cached versions of the forum index, forum display and thread display pages. Cache is updated every 5 minutes for the first two page types, and every 10 minutes for the last. Obviously, these pages may not show the latest data and feature like new posts and readed thread indications will not work
- Ads will not be loaded for all users across the entire site after a certain load level
- Registered members have priority: "Too much server load" forum message will show up on guests at half the load of the limit for registered members
- Colorization according to user group in chat messages have been turned off as it was found that it was done in a non-efficient way. It will be re-added again shortly. Meanwhile, the chat is now less server intensive

[H Tower]

so no ads when too many people are on? Quick, everybody get your friends to start viewing as guests!

I guess you really know that you have a popular site when the server gets overloaded and you need to take these measures. Keep it up.

[Dauphin]

Re: Anti-Server-Load Measures

Originally posted by MarkG
- Ads will not be loaded for all users across the entire site after a certain load level

Why not append the "too many guests limits" with "Why not visit these site (insert links) while you wait for the traffic to clear".

I know you have links at the bottom but the invitation may give better results.

[Ming]

I'm sure that we all appreciate that you are trying to do everything you can to help solve the problem.

Do what you can, and thanks...

[Alex]

Yes, thanks for your efforts, Markos...

[Frozzy]

Mingster and Alex are right on the money

[ixnay]

Thanks for your efforts. We'll pull through this in no time (hopefully).

[MarkG]

added
- Colorization according to user group in chat messages have been turned off as it was found that it was done in a non-efficient way. It will be re-added again shortly. Meanwhile, the chat is now less server intensive

[ixnay]

I believe the Forum Jump dropdown box at the lower right of pages is rather server intensive; at least that's what I've heard from another forum that was having server-load issues. Perhaps getting rid of it for guests at times would help?

[Rasbelin]

Thanks very much Markos and Dan for trying to ease the server load!

[Skanky Burns]

Originally posted by ixnay37
I believe the Forum Jump dropdown box at the lower right of pages is rather server intensive; at least that's what I've heard from another forum that was having server-load issues. Perhaps getting rid of it for guests at times would help?

If its a choice between the site being unreachable or having to navigate by going to the main-page, I would prefer to still be able to reach Apolyton. But all things being equal, I would much prefer the forum jump box to remain.

Getting rid of it for guests only.

[DeepO]

Well, I posted this before, but those sigs sure take up a lot of bandwith (= server load?) as well. Why not taking them down in high load configuration? That can easily mean a few Ks on each page. And I won't miss them

DeepO

[Wraith]

You know, some of us prefer to surf without cookies. I don't care about the avatars and whatnot, but actually having a reply option (with the log-in page redirect as before) for the guest-view pages would be nice.
Keep in mind that this would further reduce your load, since I'd get the reduced pages except when I went to respond to someone.

I'm also curious why you seem to need to use three different cookies for one login.

Wraith
"If I wasn't blind, paralyzed and almost dead I'd be wearing your sphincter as a shoe."
-- Cornfed ("Duckman")

[spartak]

We should thank Markos and Dan for their efforts to keep the site up - not criticise.

[Chris 62]

It seems better today, yesterday was horrible, kept getting the server message.

Mark, what is causing this extra load?

Are you getting more hits?

I also noticed that pop-ups helped increase the load time, and they are a BAD idea.

Anyway, thanks for trying to improve things.