Rekhons Idea : Our next step ?!?

[Wilm]

Hi friends,

Bryan has passed away and will be never forgotten. He has put together an excellent group of photogs. Everybody was able to extend his kills and now we are at a stage, where we have to decide what to do in the future ( in Swampys way ).

This forum is half dead, but I see, that all the old known folks are starting to post again ! Thanks friends !

But, what will happen, if the server got an outage again ? A harddisk-crash would mean, that nobody of us would be able to meet again !

So we have to decide to setup a new forum, hopefully with all the old content, on a new server, controlled by us.

Rekhon promised to contribute a new webspace, and a photo of Bryan at the entry-page would be most appreciated by me.

So friends, how we do proceed ? We've got one massive lost, but I'm not looking forward to loose you all !!


:cheers:
Wilm

[Tom V]

1) The guts of the system are in Colorado - in the swamp? ie, Bryan and Connie's home. I am not sure Connie would want to be bothered with any of this now. Everything that was Bryan's is now Connie's. Connie is queen of our castle now.

1a) Any decision regarding the future of the forum has to be approved by Connie.

2) I think the only person with expert access to the system is Blackjack. Blackjack probably knows the system better than Bryan did. They both worked on the system a few months ago, so any maintenance should be up to date. (But what do I know?)

2a) Thank you Blackjack.

3) I think the forum resides in, on, or with a substantial database, which is not something that just can be emailed to someone. I would guess the best way to move it is on a hard drive or DVDs? I have no idea how big it is.

4) The vBulletin forum software cost money to buy and upgrade. There might even be a subscription to keep using it year after year. I have no idea how much it costs. I assume Bryan footed the bill to keep it running and up to date.

4a) Thank you Bryan.

5) I don't know if the vBulletin software is transferrable or what kind of monkey business is required to move it to another site or country. Someone would have to find out. I would guess that Blackjack could get access to the license number, etc.

6) I think Blackjack is 1300 miles away from the forum's physical location. I don't know how much Blackjack can do remotely. I assume much of the work that needs to be done to transfer the forum elsewhere probably requires being in the same room with the hard drive and access to the paperwork.

7) I don't think Blackjack goes between California and Colorado all that much, and when he does, there's expense involved. If there is going to be expense involved in moving the site, where will the funds come from?

8) The site was started by Shawn Sonnentag in the summer of 2002. Bryan joined several months later, and took over the site in 2004. Perhaps Shawn would have some insight or comment about what's involved in moving the forum.

9) It is possible that Connie wants to keep the forum going. I am sure she is not going to just pull the plug.

10) Maybe Bryan has a plan already worked out for this circumstance.

11) Until we figure out what to do, if we indeed have to do anything, let's not crash the system!

[JPS]

I think Wilm had a good idea, but I absolutely agree with Tom... and will be more than happy to follow what will be done, as well as to help if I can...

:)
J-P.

BTW, Happy New Year everybody... :cheers:

[chris72]

I agree with Tom and I think Will idea and Rakhones are a good ideas but ONLY is approved by Connie.
I like this forum and I was helped with the forum members so my opinion is: if the forum need money to update let's donate some dollars. Don't let the forum go away !
Maybe is good idea to support Connie and everybody who need help !
Thank you.

[Auminer]

Thank you Tom for putting this into perspective! Indeed there are rights that can not be infringed on, even though I know the thought and offer is/was honorable and well meant....with a substantial database, which is not something that just can be emailed to someone. I would guess the best way to move it is on a hard drive or DVDs? I have no idea how big it isThis will be massive. The only forum I know of that you post your photo's directly (without paying a fee) instead of linking them to a "free" photo site. Think Tera's...at least.
I'm not the only one that has experience in running a hosting server for businesses here on the forum, so I speak from a bit of experience. It is not as simple as it seems, but this is NOT the point...this site belongs to Connie!!

Bless You!

[Wilm]

Friends,

I've never said, that the forum should be simply switched off at the existing server. If it can stay there, that would be fine.

But,
as mentioned in my first posting, we have to develop a plan "B" if the forum fails again.

VBulletin is a quit common and stable software, but needs also a lot of maintenance. After that is done, most times you have to hard-reset the server.
If BJ can't get access, nobody will be there to press any button at the mashine itself.

So, where to meet then ? When Bryan took over the forum from Shawn, we were able to use his Swamp-Forum in the meantime, some of you might remeber. So even an parallel forum as a backup-alternative would be fine in the meantime, until a complete solution has been found.

Again, it was not my intention to upset anybody, but if we don't do anything, the future of this community is quite dark.


:cheers:
Wilm

[fujifilmnut]

I am with Dave on the idea that Connie owns the system and must determine its future. However, we need to think about a "meeting place" or contingency contact plan should she decide not to maintain the current system be should it be unattended for a period of time or goes down. Does anyone have a web site where we could "meet" in such an event?

[blackjack]

Behind the scenes I have been working out a plan to move the site off of the server in Colorado to something hosted publicly. I will be discussing with Connie my plans in the weeks ahead.

As for crashes etc, with my last visit with Swampy we set up better backup procedures. If the power button needs to be pushed I have phone numbers I can call. :) I am also on the license for vBulletin.

My goal is to keep this site running in "Swampy's Way". What I would like to do is have a dedication page created which will be linked to from the main forum page. Please PM me with ideas.

Thank you all.. Lets keep this community together.

bj

[Ol'coot]

BJ,
Sounds like a grand idea, please let e know if there is anything I can do to help.

[photoworks]

I don't want to loose my friends here too!

[Serge]

but this is NOT the point...this site belongs to Connie!!

Bless You!

With due respect, to say that the Forum is Connies, is a total misnomer, Bryan always maintained that the Forum was NOT HIS, but belonged to US, that is everyone, the Forum members.

The hardware belonged to Bryan and now naturally Connie, but not the content. All intellectual property remainging the copyright of the creators.
I am sure that Connie will honor that spirit which Bryan always clarified.

I think that if Rekhon has stepped up to the plate to offer hosting, then we should look at the practicalities unless something more suitable comes up.

I think we should remain sensitive to Connies's and the family's feelings at this time and jsut stay calm and above all supportive.


Thanks to everyone for their good will, BJ for all the work.

[Wilm]

Thank you all.. Lets keep this community together.

bj

BJ,
we have to thank you to work something out behind the scenes. It was/is my intention as well to keep this community together :clap:

:cheers:
Wilm

[jesd]

Just wan't to say that I think it would be great if we could keep this community together!!

Jes

[Ross]

I'd love to keep this community going - I would really miss it. Thanks to BJ for working to keep it going - I'm sure Connie has other things on her mind at the moment!

Ross

[rekhon]

Folks, italked to my internet provider told them what our needs were and agreed that unlimited means unlimited.

I will pay the fee for hosting and also for the bryanmaine.org web domain.

I do not want anything from this, is my way of giving back to the community.
You all helped more or less, you always helped one or another without knowing those persons.

I don't want all this things to go away. As massive as things are we will make it.

PS: Why is Melody so quiet?

[jhawk1000]

Whoa---let's just slow down a bit! We are making plans for a takeover without input from Connie or some of the others, particularly BJ, who has worked hard to keep this forum up and running. BJ has replied about his plans to keep the site running and I think that should settle all talk about new hosting, new websites at least until we find out what others want. It has been my experience that changes in hosting, changes in "ownership" often leads to conflict and loss of members. Why can't we just wait until BJ tells us what his plans are.

Mel

[Sleeping Bear]

I'm with Mel. Slow down, folks.

The celebration of Bryan's life is the 10th of this month. I would wait until after that then contact Connie and see what she would like to do.

[sandman]

I tend to agree , moving what has always been an American based forum to Europe would be a massive step .
Lets leave any decissions untill we hear how both Connie and B.J want to procede after Bryans funeral .
I've made many friends on this forum and would hate to see it disapear , but lets not be hasty .

Brian

[chris72]

I think is better to wait Connie for an answer about this.

[Brabara]

Altho i haven't been posting much this year. (((I need a good kick up the backside AS 2008 was not a good year for us as a family.....I seem to have lost some of my passion for photography,, i am sure it will pass soon.......))))
" I always pop in to see what is going on" I would like things to stay as they are with this site I am sure Connie would like to keep things going, Bryan put a lot of hard work and commitment and altho i am a newish member i would like to stay with Bryans site.....I wish you all a very health and happy 2009.....XXXX
Barbara:cheers:

[rekhon]

It will still be Bryan's site. I'm not planing on taking over or something like this. It's about keeping the forum going and also adding the foundation to it. I had never implied that i will take this forum and make it mine or something like this. We are still waiting for news.

I tried to make a good thing and now I feel some sort of bad taste in my mouth.

[jhawk1000]

I think that all of us members appreciate your offer to host the site. It may indeed come to that but what I am asking is to give a little time for the widow and BJ to decide what they want to do. I think it shows respect for Bryan and his hard work to have his survivors and his cohort decide. You should not feel bad about your offer just as you should not think that those of us urging restraint are not appreciative.

Mel

[Serge]

I tried to make a good thing and now I feel some sort of bad taste in my mouth.

I agree with Mel, you should not feel any bad taste, your intentions were and remain noble, time will tell the best course.

Notice today would have been Swampy's birthday, a double celebration of his Life is justified, his legacy already lives on by the fact that this Forum is still here.

[Camarochas]

I have no knowledge of what's required to keep the forum going, only that Ive enjoyed it and would hate to see it end.

Charlie