There is no technical reason why we cannot have thinkPotter. It isnt a registered trade mark. If we simply dont use any of the graphics from Scott's site, then there is no reason not to have thinkPotter.net or .org

I'd be willing to set an invisionboard up on a new server if it's needed. I've done it before, and it's not a huge job. From there it's much the same as invisionfree, and Accio would be more than capable of handling it. She's proved she can be Admin Numero Uno.

Disk space isnt neccessarily the problem with regard to a new server. Personally i'd be worried about throughput and bandwidth. I wonder exactly how much throughput the old thinkPotter churned out. I expect Evreka could tell us. But since she turned heel, we'd have to ask Scott.

Or are any of the other guys in the know?

Hosting is pretty cheap, and alot allow you to register a free .com or .org name along with it.

We're talking Dollars per month here, not Tens or Hundreds.

Actually, I don't have an answer to this. But I am almost positive that thinkPotter.com ran on a dedicated server, and those don't come cheap. Definitely nowhere around a few dollars a month.

Then there are more things to consider. Generally speaking, the cheapest webbhotells are those with the lousiest services. It's a very risky thing with lots of people posting to not have regular backups of the database where everything gets stored. Anyone who was a member Nov -03 ought to know what can happen: a corrupt database leading to all posts lost (or at least all after backup time). In Nov -03, tp's latest backup was 2 weeks old - we lost hundreds of inputs... So a backup every second week is a really old backup if something happens... Provided the posting frequency is high, of course. Who is dealing with backups here? Are there anyone here who has the competence for this, or is it something the webbhotel must provide? It could increase the cost...

Also, what database are the site using? MySQL? If so, the need for backup is great, since the risk for a corrupted database is relatively high as soon as the database doesn't have transaction handling. (Unless the board fixes that of course.) Does it?

This board is written in PHP, so you likely need knowledge of at least some PHP to get it to work (ie a certain server-side script). Granted, PHP is used to generate HTML, still I do believe you got to know something about PHP to make it work from scratch. Especially if there are solutions to bugs or such things which you have to insert by yourself...

(Sorry haven't learned how to quote two posts at once here yet.)

Well, it's very nice to get that input, Evreka. The way the discussions have been going, it is not clear that an expensive dedicated server is needed or what is being contemplated at this point and at our present size. The backup issue is also well worth considering very seriously.

I do want to point out, though, that this thread is really more for discussion about the site name. ^_^

Well, this board has considerably fewer members, and given the amounts of posts since November, the posting rate is currently much lower than tp's was up till all troubles began this fall/autumn. Maybe this board has much less demand of bandwith than tp had? :huh: I don't know...

The backup problem is another thing altogether, though.

Oh, really. I'm answering J's and accio's concerns posted above, though.

Certainly! :) It's not a bad thing for us all to keep in mind, though, since the name issue and the coming technical challenges are both hot topics these days, and do tend to overlap a bit.

could split the topic off in two?

Anywhoo...I'm surprised to see Scott went to the expense of getting dedicated server.

Seems like Overkill.

I think it might keep issues clearer. These valuable technical suggestions and contributions of experience need a home of their own. Thanks!

Wait now I am confused, the name of this topic is "Technical Needs For New Board, Servers, Board Software, yadda yadda.." So the technical issues should be discussed here...we do have a name discussion going on here....http://s4.invisionfree.com/thinkpotter/index.php?showtopic=100

Right. ^_^
There were a few detailed new posts concerning technical recommendations in the thread for suggestions about the merits of a new name, so J split them off and made this new discussion for technical stuff. Which makes me very happy! because I am trying to learn a little about the tech stuff involved, and I hope I can ask my dumb little questions here too. :P

Ask away.

ok thanks for the clerification...I caught that post after the split...bahhhh, my brain is fried!!

Good thing to split. This thread will be very useful in building the new site...ANY input would be greatly appreciated.

I guess not, here's a link for you. ISP Hosting
The best thing about this is we don't lose content, they transfer the database.

SupaNames.co.uk provide hosting services for my two domains. They do .uk domains but also .com, .net, .org etc at competitive prices.

I have an existing account with them and so offered to be the registrand when in conversation with accio.

We're really aiming to keep the database at this stage, Provided we can secure the rights to it from Invisionfree.com who own it.

I'm personally hoping we go with IPShosting.com, it takes alot of the problem out of setting up the board. They do it automagically.

I've sent up an invision board before, and it was easy as pie, and i dont know a word of PHP scripting. \o/ but this will be much easier.

If we werent going with IPShosting, we'd need to pay 60 quid to use the Invision Power Board software, which is just extra cost at the end of the day.

We're still small enough where we could transfer the material the hard way, by backup and reposting. But we won't be for long. Is that a deciding issue, then?