Server downtime and the need to archive some data!

John Cooper · Post by **John Cooper** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:20 pm

My ISP has informed me that they're migrating the server to new hardware, and there will be a bit of downtime in the process. I'm not sure exactly when or for how long, but it shouldn't be too bad, I think.

Also, they've informed me that our disk usage is getting excessive (specifically the music forum files are in excess of 6gb now). We need to either start deleting some of the oldest threads, or to migrate the older mp3 files to another server. Does anyone have some disk space to share?

It might be a good idea to start eliminating files shared by inactive users. Like maybe songs posted by users that haven't logged in in the last year or something?

Cheers,
-John

Post by **hubird** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:29 pm

Mp3's of inactive users (1 year) sounds very reasonable to me, John.
Also, I wouldn't feel bothered to see my (and therefor others) older mp3's deleted.
Everything older than 2 or 3 years is ok with me

Cheers

marcuspocus · Post by **marcuspocus** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:34 pm

same here...delete mines...there isn't many

Shayne White · Post by **Shayne White** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:10 pm

I think the only music I posted was links, not files.

What about devices, John? All my devices are on my own site, and I could switch them to links instead of files. That would save disc space too.

I've been wondering how much space PlanetZ was using...thank you so much for keeping this open to us.

Shayne

MaoMusique · Post by **MaoMusique** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:17 am

Hello,

A solution for Mp3:
I use http://www.wimpyplayer.com/
& just upload playlist/xml (small size).
6go of Mp3 = 6mo of xml ; )

Ex: (On my site)
http://www.maomusique.com/0myWimpy.html
(exist for asp & php, it's better for php,
vote, streaming, download, sale, etc...)

@+

fra77x · Post by **fra77x** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 2:37 am

Hi, if you re-arrange forum please make sub-directories for modular patches.

alfonso · Post by **alfonso** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 2:50 am

You could allow the users to delete their own posts in the music forums, I have a couple of things that could be removed without problems. The feature would be used for sure, for responsibility but also for the natural improvement of the single musicians.

There is another advantage: someone could wish to share with the fellow citizens of PlZ some music that is destined to be spread on CD, it could be possible to put, say, a download for a week, then remove it.

voidar · Post by **voidar** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 4:34 am

I don't think uploading music files to planet-z is very relevant these days when all you have to do to share is sign up to either soundclick.com or mp3.com.au, or any other such service.
I say, let people post links instead.

Devices however should stay, imo. They're only 10-50% the size anyway. And we definitely need those

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:05 am

I think it would be a shame to delete old devices due to file size - they don't really take much more space than the words written to describe them. However (and obviously not for space saving reasons). Maybe it would be an idea to dump devices, which have had no comments for, say, 3 years. I once downloaded all the devices! Sure, now I have most of, what have been released as freeware for the platform, but some of the things are made by people with good heart but less skill/experience (DP has got to take some time to get into - SDK does). Some devices are malfunctioning (like when some of the interface is invisible), and I have even had my scope installation go bad after I once tested out a whole bunch of old devices. I think I even remember, that it once was said, that a hacked DP was to make some of the devices ... and that those devices had a bad influence on the stability of Scope.

Anyway, if a clean up is comming, and you have the time for it, then I think it is pretty safe to delete most of the stuff, which has had no comments for 3 years. If you warn people about it first, then maybe if somebody have some recommendations of old devices, they will up them

And by the way - thanks again for keeping this forum going John

Aries · Post by **Aries** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:24 am

On 2006-02-22 06:05, Immanuel wrote:
I think it would be a shame to delete old devices due to file size - they don't really take much more space than the words written to describe them. However (and obviously not for space saving reasons). Maybe it would be an idea to dump devices, which have had no comments for, say, 3 years. I once downloaded all the devices! Sure, now I have most of, what have been released as freeware for the platform, but some of the things are made by people with good heart but less skill/experience (DP has got to take some time to get into - SDK does). Some devices are malfunctioning (like when some of the interface is invisible), and I have even had my scope installation go bad after I once tested out a whole bunch of old devices. I think I even remember, that it once was said, that a hacked DP was to make some of the devices ... and that those devices had a bad influence on the stability of Scope.

Anyway, if a clean up is comming, and you have the time for it, then I think it is pretty safe to delete most of the stuff, which has had no comments for 3 years. If you warn people about it first, then maybe if somebody have some recommendations of old devices, they will up them

And by the way - thanks again for keeping this forum going John

Having no comments for 3 years does not mean the devices are not still being downloaded by new PlanetZ people.

Devices which malfunction in the new scope versions 3, 4 and 4.5 probably should be removed.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Aries on 2006-02-22 06:26 ]</font>

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:44 am

Deleting older MP3's seems a sensible solution.

next to nothing · Post by **next to nothing** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:58 am

what if we made ourselves a sweet little Torrent archive of the music section? this way the files will be stored by the users and shared between them.

Aries · Post by **Aries** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:07 am

What information and discussion is possibly out of date after a year and so should be deleted?.

Announcements?, Off Topic? and Scope Purchasing?

Any mp3 demo files with devices deleted after a year?.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Aries on 2006-02-22 07:14 ]</font>

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:12 am

Aries

1) You are right - it does not mean they are not still being downloaded. It means, that noone spares a comment on them (ok some have a bunch of comments - others never had a single). Mostly good/usefull devices get a comment sooner or later.

2) I would never ask anyone to spend the time to install and check out all the devices - also some devices needs a carefull eye to see the fault. I remember some VU-meters (most of them in fact peak-meters) which had incorrect readings for instance. And you need to run it through controll room devices or such to test it out.

a) it is tedious/borring

b) it may put your installation at risk

c) many things have been remade later with (IMO) better results (probably DP/SDK has also matured quite a bit since 1999 and made the task easyer)

d) if people get a warning first, then they can actually "up" the devices they use - this could be good for other musicians too.

... I do kind of regret, that I did not make a bunch of comments, once when I ran through a whole lot of devices

John Cooper · Post by **John Cooper** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 8:35 am

Guys,

Thanks for all the replies.
I'm not proposing a big reorganization here, nor removing any topics/posts, or the devices, modular patches, or presets. Those all total up to < 1gb.

The mp3 music files are the issue. I'm still considering the best way to remove them. Allowing people to delete their own is also a good idea.

Making a big bittorrent isn't too practical- it'd be huge, and I doubt anyone would want to seed it, or to download it for that matter. (A bunch of unorganized mp3's with inconsistent/useless id3 tags, etc)

Changing the system to only allow linking to files would be ok, I guess. The internet world has changed since planetz was set up. Free on line file sharing sites didn't exist a few years back...

Thanks for the ideas. We'll work something out.

-John

John Cooper · Post by **John Cooper** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 12:57 pm

What do you guys think about soundclick.com (recommmended by voidar)?

Perhaps from now on, if you want to upload a song for comment on planetz, you first upload it somewhere like soundclick, then just post your link to it, with your comments, and for review.

When I created planetz there was no FREE online song sharing service like this! Soundclick looks pretty sweet. There appear to be no major restrictions (max file size is 10mb, no limit to number of songs), no limit to number of files to upload. Songs can either stream or be downloaded. Pretty sweet.

Perhaps we should delete all the old/inactive songs here. And we should only allow link-posting for new songs. What do you think?

-John

Post by **garyb** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:28 pm

sure.

ChrisWerner · Post by **ChrisWerner** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:31 pm

We only have aprox. 5 (to say a number) music tracks actual a week. How about to keep the upload function but restrict them to a total of lets say 20 tracks. When a new track is posted the last one falls out of the list and will be erased.
I hope it is possible to automate this function somehow.

I came to the idea, because somebody can be detained to upload his track to such a free service.

My old tracks can be erased, no problem here.

decimator · Post by **decimator** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:59 pm

Past one year, few songs are dug up ... warn then erase ?
Keep devices and patches though ...

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:43 am

Is that for the music you post or everyone elses Stardust ?

Up to you John. I don't mind deleting the 3 or 4 excuses for music I've posted, as they probably come to about 25-30meg & don't make pleasant listening anyway