[Nfb-web] Non X Catalyst Hosting on NFB Server

[Berggren, John]

In response to Pete's initial question, consideration was never given to
non-xCatalyst hosting on the NFB web server.  The xCatalyst hosting
solution is a fairly self-contained, well-supported environment, not to
mention one with which we're intimately familiar.  Providing
non-xCatalyst hosting to individual affiliates and divisions would
require a level of support we're not prepared to offer.  It would also
duplicate the efforts of David Andrews and the work he does on
nfbnet.org.

I very much understand the frustration of those suffering the
consequences of service outages.  We've entered an era where people
expect a great deal from their technology.  If you're a webmaster, it
doesn't take long before your phone rings when a web page isn't
available.  If you're a system administrator, it doesn't take long
before your phone rings when a server connection isn't available.  And,
of course, if you're an ISP, it doesn't take long before customers start
calling about uptime.  Given their profit margins, I have much less
sympathy for the Qwests of the world in this chain of frustration.

At any rate, I think Dave has been able to supply a very stable
environment dating back into the nineties.  There have most assuredly
been a series of irksome growing pains as of late.  I think these are
largely behind us.

Before undertaking the latest round of hardware upgrades, Dave and I did
discuss the possibility of moving to a commercially hosted server, as
Everett suggested.  This solution has a price tag, and as Gary
indicated, the current economic environment does limit our options.
Third-party hosting is perhaps an idea we should revisit periodically,
considering the pros and cons along with funding scenarios.  Dave
correctly points out that there are some hurdles to migrating to an
external server, but it makes good sense for him and me to maintain an
ongoing dialogue over the concept.

There are inherent limitations to free solutions, but, on the other
hand, there's always plenty of room in affiliate coffers for free
solutions.  We're certainly fortunate to have Dave and his small band of
collaborators to keep things running.  (Ruth Anne put it far more
eloquently than I could.)  Looking forward, we'll make sure Dave has
what he needs to keep things running smoothly, now and into the future.

Questions, rants, ponderings, and suggestions are all part of the
dialogue that keeps us moving towards the best solutions.  Let's keep it
all flowing.

Regards,
John

John Berggren
IT Director
National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
 
P : 410-659-9314 x2329
F : 410-685-5653
E : jberggren at nfb.org
 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-web-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-web-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of David Andrews
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 6:42 AM
To: NFB Webmaster's List
Subject: Re: [Nfb-web] Non X Catalyst Hosting on NFB Server

The problems lately have been with the line connecting to the 
internet.  We replaced the server about 6 months ago with one with 
dual swappable power supplies and drives.  One problem with moving 
the server (or changing it to a commercial site,) would be that a 
bunch of sites share an IP address, and if everyone had to change, it 
would cause lots of problems.

Dave

At 09:46 PM 3/23/2009, you wrote:
>Good evening,
>
>Not being a member of NFB or knowing anything about the current server
>specifications / traffic load I wonder what the cost of moving this
>over to a commercially hosted server would be if shared across all
>parties who make use of the resource?  I would expect that leasing a
>reliable server from a commercial provider would only have a nominal
>cost to each affiliate who wishes to share the cost.
>
>Just a thought,
>Everett
>
>
>On 23-Mar-09, at 4:52 PM, Peter Donahue wrote:
>
>>Hello Michael and listers,
>>
>>         It's more a question of reliability than features. There has
>>been a rash of NFB Net outages since the beginning of the year and my
>>frustration and desire to do the best job I can for the affiliates
>>whose
>>sites I manage continues to heighten. My patience with this
>>situation is
>>beginning to wear thin; particularly when you consider that I manage
>>about 12 affiliate sites hosted on NFB Net and have multiple requests
>>from these affiliates to make changes to pages on their Web sites. I
>>edit their pages and attempt to post them only to discover that NFB
>>Net
>>is down.
>>
>>         One affiliate has a state convention coming up this weekend
and
>>I need to post information related to their convention including the
>>streaming links. I'm preparing the pages, but God only knows when I'll
>>be able to upload them due to these outages. Our Writers' Division has
>>asked me to post content to their site. I have it ready to go, but
>>can't
>>upload it because NFB Net is down.
>>
>>                 We all appreciate what NFB Net offers in the way of
Web
>>space and other resources. However as NFB Net grows the need to
>>address
>>matters like these outages must be delt with. If this organization can
>>find $20,000,000 to build the Jernigan Institute we ought to be able
>>to
>>find the funding to address this issue. No more crying poverty please.
>>If these outages continue to occur perhaps this topic should be one
>>for
>>discussion at this summer's Webmasters meeting. I know Dave is doing
>>all
>>he can on his end. Perhaps we all need to put our heads together to
>>find
>>a solution to address this matter, one that is effective and that
>>won't
>>be costly to implement. Yes it's important to be grateful for what we
>>have, but there comes a point where simply being grateful isn't
>>enough.
>>
>>I've told some individuals privately that to me our Web sites are
>>those
>>of Fortune 500 Companies; not just those of a non-profit
>>organization. I
>>approach each project I've done for the NFb and others as if it were
>>for
>>a Fortune 500 Company. As such companies do all they can to prevent
>>their Web sites from being down and unavailable to the public. One
>>need
>>not have the big bucks of a Fortune 500 company to insure that their
>>organization's Web site will have 99.9999999%up-time. Perhaps this
>>topic
>>needs more discussion, myths debunked, and potential solutions
>>explored.
>>As a member of our Webmasters Committee I'm willing to do whatever
>>research is needed to find a remedy for these outages.
>>
>>         And what about the philosophical end of things? I would be
>>extremely embarrassed as an affiliate president to refer members and
>>potential members and supporters to visit a Web site not knowing if
>>it's
>>going to be available or not. That doesn't bode well for us and our
>>belief that the blind can succeed as computer and Web professionals.
>>
>>         I noticed that  the NFB server in Baltimore is hardly down. I
>>only recall one instance when the NFB National sites were down and
>>that
>>was for a few days last year. It was this that got me to wonder if
>>non X
>>Catalyst hosting could be made available on the NFB server for
>>affiliates that prefer not to use X Catalyst allowing them to use
>>whatever design methodologies they chose for building their Web sites.
>>
>>         Sorry for the rant. I'm trying to fulfill the requests turned
in
>>to me by affiliates for their Web sites that need servicing. Here's
>>hoping we'll see the light at the end of the tunnel soon. All the best
>>for a great week.
>>
>>A very frustrated Peter Donahue
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: nfb-web-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-web-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>On
>>Behalf Of Michael Hansen
>>Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 10:50 PM
>>To: NFB Webmaster's List
>>Subject: Re: [Nfb-web] Non X Catalyst Hosting on NFB Server
>>
>>
>>Peter,
>>
>>The only reason why a site would have been hosted on the nfb.org
>>server
>>instead of the nfbnet.org server was because that is were the x
>>Catalyst
>>software was installed. What features or functionality are you looking
>>for that is not available on the nfbnet.org server?
>>
>>Mike
>>---
>>Mike Hansen
>>NFB of Nebraska
>>
>>
>>On Sun, Mar 22, 2009 at 1:32 PM, Peter Donahue
<pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net >
>>wrote:
>>>Hello everyone,
>>>
>>>    During last year's webmasters workshop the plan offered by our
>>>national office for affiliates wishing to host their Web sites via X
>>>Catalyst was explained. Has a non X Catalyst hosting plan for
>>>affiliates wanting to host their sites on the NFB Server been
>>>considered, and what would be the cost? I'm envisioning something
>>>similar to what is now offered on NFB Net, but the affiliate sites
>>>would be hosted on the NFB Server instead of NFB Net. Just thought I
>>>would ask.
>>>
>>>Peter Donahue
>>>