For the past few weeks, we have been grappling with performance issues on ClubSNAP's Forums especially during the peak hours of 9pm - 1am, and we have tried all manners of tweaks and performance workarounds but the sad fact remains that our current database server is woefully inadequate for the current demands that our forums are placing on it. The server has been in use since the day ClubSNAP was launched, and for those that want to know its technical specs, its a Dual Pentium-III 850Mhz server with 2GB of memory.
The forum software technical support advises us that the minimum server configuration that they would recommend for our forums (based on current usage and to cater for future growth) is a Dual Xeon (or equivalent) server, and its actually amazing that we have been able to support the forums on such an underpowered database server for this long (albeit with some performance issues which are unfortunately increasing in frequency in the recent weeks). At this point, we should all thank Edmund for his tireless efforts in babysitting the server during the last few weeks, and in applying his knowledge and expertise in keeping the database server humming along as best possible given its technical limitations.
As much as we would like to install a new server as soon as possible, ClubSNAP has been run all this while as a non-profit concern (our costs are adequately covered by the occasional advertising and the webspace subscriptions, but we still have to occasionally top-up from our own pockets), and we are - to be perfectly honest and blunt - unable to purchase the server immediately due to financial constraints.
We are thus appealing to our members to sign-up for one of our Gallery plans (http://gallery.clubsnap.com) to raise the funds needed to purchase a new database server. Our estimate is that the database server (based on the configuration suggested by the forum software tech support) will cost in the region of S$5,000.00 (Dual Xeon 3.2Ghz with 4GB of memory). If just 100 of our members sign up for the Bronze plan, we will have covered the cost of the server.
Details of Gallery Plans
Gallery Bronze Plan
100MB of storage space
Ability to create albums/folders in Gallery to categorise images
File Size Upload Limit increased to 200KB
Daily upload limit increased to 50 files
150 Private Messages Limit in Forums
$50 per year, payable upon sign-up
Gallery Silver Plan
200MB of storage space
Ability to create albums/folders in Gallery to categorise images
File Size Upload Limit increased to 300KB
Daily upload limit increased to 75 files
200 Private Messages Limit in Forums
$75 per year, payable upon sign-up
Gallery Gold Plan
300MB of storage space
Ability to create albums/folders in Gallery to categorise images
File Size Upload Limit increased to 500KB
Daily upload limit increased to 100 files
300 Private Messages Limit in Forums
$100 per year, payable upon sign-up
Summary of Gallery Plans
Please sign up if you are keen to support ClubSNAP and at the same time, want to have a convenient, fast and reliable location to display your photos. Proceeds from this Gallery subscription drive will also be used to support the maintenance and upkeep of ClubSNAP so this is a perfect chance for members who are benefitting from ClubSNAP to support us.
We accept the following methods of payment for Gallery signups:-
a) Bank transfer to DBS Bank CURRENT Account
Bank Code : 7171
Branch Code : 033
Account Number : 033-900667-0
b) Cheque made payable to Photo Toolkit Pte Ltd and sent to
Photo Toolkit Pte Ltd
c/o 35 Selegie Road
#02-14 Parklane
Singapore 188307
Additional information when using bank transfer method
- If transferring using online (Internet) banking from DBS/POSB account, please indicate your ClubSNAP ID in the Comments or Remarks field.
- If transferring using online (Internet) banking from other banks, please PM me with the date/time of the transfer.
- If using ATM to do the bank transfer, please PM me with the date/time, ATM location of the transfer.
In order to remain transparent and open, we will list down the members who signup for the Gallery plans in this thread AND Gallery subscribers will have a unique member designation - eg. Gallery Subscriber.
And to prove our commitment to our members, once we have 75% of the funds needed, we will go ahead to order and install the new server (and hopefully, the balance of the funds will continue to come in).
We thank all our members for their continued support, and we seek your understanding and patience in the interim period while we gather enough funds for the replacement server.
Sincerely,
The Administrators and Moderators of ClubSNAP.
The forum software technical support advises us that the minimum server configuration that they would recommend for our forums (based on current usage and to cater for future growth) is a Dual Xeon (or equivalent) server, and its actually amazing that we have been able to support the forums on such an underpowered database server for this long (albeit with some performance issues which are unfortunately increasing in frequency in the recent weeks). At this point, we should all thank Edmund for his tireless efforts in babysitting the server during the last few weeks, and in applying his knowledge and expertise in keeping the database server humming along as best possible given its technical limitations.
As much as we would like to install a new server as soon as possible, ClubSNAP has been run all this while as a non-profit concern (our costs are adequately covered by the occasional advertising and the webspace subscriptions, but we still have to occasionally top-up from our own pockets), and we are - to be perfectly honest and blunt - unable to purchase the server immediately due to financial constraints.
We are thus appealing to our members to sign-up for one of our Gallery plans (http://gallery.clubsnap.com) to raise the funds needed to purchase a new database server. Our estimate is that the database server (based on the configuration suggested by the forum software tech support) will cost in the region of S$5,000.00 (Dual Xeon 3.2Ghz with 4GB of memory). If just 100 of our members sign up for the Bronze plan, we will have covered the cost of the server.
Details of Gallery Plans
Gallery Bronze Plan
100MB of storage space
Ability to create albums/folders in Gallery to categorise images
File Size Upload Limit increased to 200KB
Daily upload limit increased to 50 files
150 Private Messages Limit in Forums
$50 per year, payable upon sign-up
Gallery Silver Plan
200MB of storage space
Ability to create albums/folders in Gallery to categorise images
File Size Upload Limit increased to 300KB
Daily upload limit increased to 75 files
200 Private Messages Limit in Forums
$75 per year, payable upon sign-up
Gallery Gold Plan
300MB of storage space
Ability to create albums/folders in Gallery to categorise images
File Size Upload Limit increased to 500KB
Daily upload limit increased to 100 files
300 Private Messages Limit in Forums
$100 per year, payable upon sign-up
Summary of Gallery Plans
Please sign up if you are keen to support ClubSNAP and at the same time, want to have a convenient, fast and reliable location to display your photos. Proceeds from this Gallery subscription drive will also be used to support the maintenance and upkeep of ClubSNAP so this is a perfect chance for members who are benefitting from ClubSNAP to support us.
We accept the following methods of payment for Gallery signups:-
a) Bank transfer to DBS Bank CURRENT Account
Bank Code : 7171
Branch Code : 033
Account Number : 033-900667-0
b) Cheque made payable to Photo Toolkit Pte Ltd and sent to
Photo Toolkit Pte Ltd
c/o 35 Selegie Road
#02-14 Parklane
Singapore 188307
Additional information when using bank transfer method
- If transferring using online (Internet) banking from DBS/POSB account, please indicate your ClubSNAP ID in the Comments or Remarks field.
- If transferring using online (Internet) banking from other banks, please PM me with the date/time of the transfer.
- If using ATM to do the bank transfer, please PM me with the date/time, ATM location of the transfer.
In order to remain transparent and open, we will list down the members who signup for the Gallery plans in this thread AND Gallery subscribers will have a unique member designation - eg. Gallery Subscriber.
And to prove our commitment to our members, once we have 75% of the funds needed, we will go ahead to order and install the new server (and hopefully, the balance of the funds will continue to come in).
We thank all our members for their continued support, and we seek your understanding and patience in the interim period while we gather enough funds for the replacement server.
Sincerely,
The Administrators and Moderators of ClubSNAP.