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Afetbinttuzani
Senior Scribe
Canada
434 Posts |
 Posted - 21 May 2008 : 20:30:15
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Well met all,
Given that recent developments at the WotC site could significantly increase the importance the Candlekeep as a source of information and as forum for Realms discussion, and given the recent technical problems (time outs, etc.) we have all been experiencing, I thought it would be a good idea to open a discussion about technical and administrative issues. To be clear, this is most emphatically NOT a topic for making complaints. My goal here is to help make technical and site administration related issues as transparent as they can be, and, where there are challenges, to discuss solutions.
There are a number of issues that come to mind for me:
1. What are the technical challenges to making the site work smoothly as it is?
2. What are the technical challenges to enacting planned technical and content changes?
3. What are the administrative and people-power challenges to mantaining the site or enacting changes?
I'd like to start with the third issue as it will no doubt lead to discussion of the first two. Again, I begin with a series of questions. Who does the technical upkeep and improvement of the Candlekeep depend on? For that matter, what is the current administrative structure? Does the current regime represent a fair and sustainable distribution of the workload? Is it viable to delegate certain technical or administrative tasks? Should we consider requesting volunteer contributions from members to hire technical assistants and/or make technical upgrades? Lots of things to consider.
A big hug and a thank you to all of you wonderful people who currently labor thanklessly to administer this site. xox
Cheers,
Afet
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Afet bint Tuzaní
"As the good Archmage often admonishes me, I ought not to let my mind wander, as it's too small to go off by itself."
- Danilo Thann in Elfsong by Elaine Cunningham |
Edited by - Afetbinttuzani on 21 May 2008 20:40:46
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5696 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2008 : 23:22:55
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Well met, Afetbinttuzani
Thanks for the post and for your interest in the inner workings of Candlekeep. To start by answering your structured questions:
1) A number of years ago, Candlekeep was hosted on a dedicated server, which I personally maintained. However, as the forum took off, bandwidth increased considerably and caused the site to slow down. Although the server was dedicated, the line wasn't and the bandwidth was very small. It was then moved to a shared server at a webhost. The challenge at the moment is due to a poor web host and sharing of SQL servers.
2) Content updates are undertaken by myself when time permits and ample material is received. Historically, I have only uploaded material in batches, rather than individually as each item comes in. I find it easier to work that way and it gives a better structure to the updates and ensures that visitors don't miss anything, on the whole.
3) Arkhaedun, The Sage and Wooly Rupert join me in the moderation and running of the forums. I undertake the actual site updates myself. Tethtoril (Kimberley Moser) assisted in the tasks for a fair time and took a considerable load off during her time at Candlekeep. Over time, a number of ther scribes have also assisted in particular areas.
I hope that helps clear a few things up for you.
Alaundo |
Alaundo
Candlekeep Forums Head Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
An Introduction to Candlekeep - by Ed Greenwood
The Candlekeep Compendium - Tomes of Realmslore penned by Scribes of Candlekeep
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Afetbinttuzani
Senior Scribe
Canada
434 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2008 : 00:23:58
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Hi Aluando.
quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
The challenge at the moment is due to a poor web host and sharing of SQL servers.
Is there the prospect of improvement on this front? How is all this paid for? Do we rely on freebees
quote:
I undertake the actual site updates myself. Tethtoril (Kimberley Moser) assisted in the tasks for a fair time and took a considerable load off during her time at Candlekeep. Over time, a number of the scribes have also assisted in particular areas.
It sounds to me like you could use help with the updates and uploads. Forgive me if this is an ignorant question, but does a person have to be physically on site where you are, or could you send files and instructions to someone elsewhere and have them do the updates?
Cheers,
Afet |
Afet bint Tuzaní
"As the good Archmage often admonishes me, I ought not to let my mind wander, as it's too small to go off by itself."
- Danilo Thann in Elfsong by Elaine Cunningham |
Edited by - Afetbinttuzani on 22 May 2008 00:59:26 |
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5696 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2008 : 07:47:35
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Well met
Indeed, I am on the search for an alternative web host. The transition is taking longer this time, as I have to ensure that it will be sufficient to accomodate Candlekeep as it is, as well as the functionality of Candlekeep v2.0.
As to your second question; I have remote access to Candlekeep and thus work on the local site soley. Material is sent in and then converted into the required format. Due to the way web pages work, with links images etc (as i'm sure you're more than familiar with), it can be a little messy with distributing the work without having a central work area or repository. |
Alaundo
Candlekeep Forums Head Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
An Introduction to Candlekeep - by Ed Greenwood
The Candlekeep Compendium - Tomes of Realmslore penned by Scribes of Candlekeep
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Afetbinttuzani
Senior Scribe
Canada
434 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2008 : 19:12:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
Indeed, I am on the search for an alternative web host. The transition is taking longer this time, as I have to ensure that it will be sufficient to accomodate Candlekeep as it is, as well as the functionality of Candlekeep v2.0.
Do you pay for the server out of your own pocket or is it free? Would it be easier to find an adequate web host if we could pay for it?
quote:
As to your second question; I have remote access to Candlekeep and thus work on the local site soley. Material is sent in and then converted into the required format. Due to the way web pages work, with links images etc (as i'm sure you're more than familiar with), it can be a little messy with distributing the work without having a central work area or repository.
Fair enough, but it seems rather onerous to have it all resting on your shoulders. I don´t know what your day job situation is like, but would it improve your capacity to do Candlekeep related things if you were paid for some of your time or if we could pay someone else to help out. What do you other scribes think? Would we be willing to hold a donation drive to contribute to the sites maintenance?
Cheers,
Afet |
Afet bint Tuzaní
"As the good Archmage often admonishes me, I ought not to let my mind wander, as it's too small to go off by itself."
- Danilo Thann in Elfsong by Elaine Cunningham |
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5696 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2008 : 22:55:08
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quote:
Originally posted by Afetbinttuzani
quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
Indeed, I am on the search for an alternative web host. The transition is taking longer this time, as I have to ensure that it will be sufficient to accomodate Candlekeep as it is, as well as the functionality of Candlekeep v2.0.
Do you pay for the server out of your own pocket or is it free? Would it be easier to find an adequate web host if we could pay for it?
quote:
As to your second question; I have remote access to Candlekeep and thus work on the local site soley. Material is sent in and then converted into the required format. Due to the way web pages work, with links images etc (as i'm sure you're more than familiar with), it can be a little messy with distributing the work without having a central work area or repository.
Fair enough, but it seems rather onerous to have it all resting on your shoulders. I don´t know what your day job situation is like, but would it improve your capacity to do Candlekeep related things if you were paid for some of your time or if we could pay someone else to help out. What do you other scribes think? Would we be willing to hold a donation drive to contribute to the sites maintenance?
Cheers,
Afet
Well met
We do have a donation facility at Candlekeep and a number of scribes have generously donated in the past.
Dedicated servers are extremely high cost and would be unfeasible. I'm more than happy to provide the running costs of Candlekeep. My reward is seeing ye all here discussing Realmslore and enjoying this little ol' place 
Oh indeed, if only Candlekeep paid a salary and I could quit my day job 
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Alaundo
Candlekeep Forums Head Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
An Introduction to Candlekeep - by Ed Greenwood
The Candlekeep Compendium - Tomes of Realmslore penned by Scribes of Candlekeep
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36909 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2008 : 23:05:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
My reward is seeing ye all here discussing Realmslore and enjoying this little ol' place
Especially me, right?   |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Afetbinttuzani
Senior Scribe
Canada
434 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2008 : 06:26:35
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Thanks Sage and Aluando for clarifying how things work. You both appear to be happy with the status quo, or at least skeptical of the need or possibility of any major change. That´s good, I suppose. It certainly means less work for the rest of us. It strikes me, however, that the current system puts a lot of eggs in one administrative basket.
Thanks for all the hard work.
Cheers,
Afet |
Afet bint Tuzaní
"As the good Archmage often admonishes me, I ought not to let my mind wander, as it's too small to go off by itself."
- Danilo Thann in Elfsong by Elaine Cunningham |
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Administering the Candlekeep
