Wanted: replacement TFC devel server

[Tynian]

The hard drive on the TFC development server is failing. I have purchased a replacement, and will soon attempt to copy the files to the new drive. This will allow me to get the server back up and running as soon as possible.

The development server serves 3 primary purposes. First, it provides a system to develop and test code and areas. Second, it provides a storage area for the live TFC server. And finally, it is our backup system, should the primary/live system suffer a failure.

I would like to replace the development server. It is a Pentium III - 733 Mhz system, and has been flaky since it was purchased. It has CMOS problems, and often requires user intervention when it boots. Further, it is not powerful enough to serve as a replacement for the live server.

Unfortunately, there are not enough TFC Contingency Funds available to purchase a new server. There are several options that I can think of off the top of my head. First, if you feel the server should be replaced, and you can financially contribute to its replacement, this would be my first choice. Or perhaps someone has a more modern system they could donate. Schwartz assisted TFC in this way back in 2004 when he donated a replacement for our live server.

But then, perhaps we don't replace the server. Perhaps you no longer get enough out of the game to contribute to it, or maybe you question whether a replacement is necessary. And indeed, part of what fuels my desire is annoyance at the current server (as well as its age). Nonetheless, it would be nice to replace it, if possible.

It looks like I could purchase a Dell system for approximately $400. This system would be more powerful/modern than the current live TFC server, and it may be possible to make the new system the live system, and move the current live system to development.

Or, we could just go with a replacement hard drive in the current development server, and see what happens.

What are your thoughts?

[Tynian]

Thanks to those that have offered to help.

One person has generously donated, and two others have offered. In order to proceed, I am hoping others will be able to donate a little something to the cause.

If you can help, the link to donate is here (http://forums.finalchallenge.net/billspaypal.php).

Thanks again!

[Tynian]

[ 42] Tynian: A big thanks!
Wed Oct 17 18:58:43 2007
To: all
A big thanks for those that donated towards a replacement for the TFC
development server! I have ordered the server, and am planning on using the
new server for the live site.

Thanks to Hiro, DarkClaw, and for 2 anonymous donations!

For more information about the TFC Contingency Fund, see:
http://finalchallenge.net/tfc/help/contingency.shtml

[Tynian]

Warning: The following is geeky computer stuff.

The new TFC server arrived on Thursday, and I started setup on Thursday evening.

I purchased the Vostro 200 Mini Tower (http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/vostrodt_200mt?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&~tab=bundlestab). It is a relatively inexpensive system, but powerful enough for our needs. Setting up this system has been something of a challenge, however.

In order to prepare the system for the game and other required software, I first needed to configure the operating system. I chose Debian Linux Version 4.0 ("Etch").

PLAN A: Install Etch from CD. This is just a matter of putting the CD in the drive, booting the system up, and following the steps in the installation. Unfortunately, when it came time for the installation process to find and mount the CD, it could not find an appropriate driver. After some research, I found the problem. In addition to SATA hard drives, the system also uses a SATA CD drive. The installation system didn't have SATA CD drivers.

I also noticed another problem. For whatever reason, the USB keyboard was sending double characters when a key was pressed. Annoying. I moved the keyboard connection from the back of the computer to the front. No change. I tried a different USB keyboard. Same result. I eventually moved the connection to the 1st USB port on the front, and the keyboard started acting correctly.

PLAN B: Download and use an updated version of Debian Etch. I downloaded it, burned it to a CD, tried it; it made no difference. The installation could not continue because it could not mount the CD drive.

PLAN C: Use an IDE/ATAPI CD drive, which would certainly be recognized by the installer. Unfortunately, when I opened the system up, I found that the system had no IDE ports at all.

PLAN D: I had a left over Promise UltraATA card, which has a pair of IDE ports on it. Perhaps if I installed that card, I could connect the CD drive to it. I installed the card, connected the IDE CD drive to it. And then went searching for power. But, all of the power connections in the case except one were SATA power connectors. The remaining power connection was a "mini" power plug. I needed a full sized plug. I thought I had a converter that would turn a mini plug into a full sized plug. Unfortunately, I only had a converter that turned full-sized plugs into mini-plugs.

PLAN E: ... What if I used a power connection from another system to power the CD drive? To make a long story short, the CD drive powered up, but the UltraATA card is intended for hard drives, and refused to boot from CD.

PLAN F: I gave up on booting from CD. Instead, I focused on installing from a USB thumb drive. The installation proceeded until it came time to partition the hard drives. The hard drives were not visible to the installation process. I did some research, and found reference to this problem. Changing the drive mode in BIOS to RAID mode makes them visible. But then, the integrated network card was not recognized.

PLAN G: Install another network card that I knows Linux recognizes. And I did. But it was showing errors, and would not work.

PLAN H: Purchase a new network card, and use it. It worked, and now the operating system is installed.

Now I can start installing software.

[Razzaq]

It's not fun if it's easy.

[DarkClaw]

A big thanks to Tynian for everything he does. He sure goes through a lot of trouble and stress for us. HAIL TYNIAN!!!

[Hiro]

See title.

Hiro
Procurator of the Nashite Magi

[Tynian]

It's not fun if it's easy.

It used to be kind of fun to figure out this sort of thing. I guess I'm getting old, because now it kind of annoys me. ::brood::

[Tynian]

Thanks for the support. :)

I wasn't ready for an all-SATA system. But it worked out.

Now, if I can get a kernel upgrade to work without a panic, we'll be in business.

[hork]

weeeee Good Job ::up::

[Tynian]

Kernel upgrade is complete.

Developing on this server would be nice. Compiles are very fast. But, I suppose the game would be better served if it were made the main game server. A pity. ;)

Next up is software installation.

[boromir]

::up:: I dont think you're getting old.

I think the incompatablities between hardware and drivers and OS's is getting old. ::down::

[Tynian]

The distribution lags behind the kernel for newer technologies. The workarounds I would use in the past don't exactly work now that the hardware is changing. Oh, well.

Software and TFC setup is complete on the new system. Provided RL doesn't get in my way, I will shut services down on the current TFC server, copy files over, complete the configuration on the new server, drive over to the hosting site, and swap the servers.

The current TFC system will become the development server.

This again assumes RL doesn't get in the way.

[Tynian]

Looks like today was just a rehersal. By the time I got there, they were closed.

I will have to try again later.

[Tynian]

I was unable to replace the server yesterday -- too many family obligations.

I hope to replace the server this coming Saturday, November 10th.

[eldric]

Are you doing an apt-get install linux-image-2.6.18.blah or compiling the kernel from source?

[Tynian]

It was a kernel install from source.

[Tynian]

The new server has been deployed at FastQ.

I am getting ready to start work on the development server.