Attachments Suspension

[La Reine Margot]

We're experiencing an overload of images which is causing for the system to crack.

The problem is with the overload of the system, which affects the mysql, the driver, that makes things move.

The following messages appear across the top when people log in.

[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/phpbb/db/driver/mysqli.php on line 257: mysqli_fetch_assoc(): Couldn't fetch mysqli_result
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/phpbb/db/driver/mysqli.php on line 319: mysqli_free_result(): Couldn't fetch mysqli_result

We're at 100% capacity for files and because of this situation, we're suspending the attachment option for the time being while we work on the problem.

We hope the Forum will run without interruptions, but if there are any it is because of the system problem or because we're working on it.

You can still link to images in other servers.

The Forum has gotten huge and it's not slowing down.

As The Forum grows, we need to make space, that means we need to jump to the next level in the hosting service we have.

We'll be upgrading the hosting service in March, we just have to figure out how to pay for it.

We'll be working on this for a few days.

I'll be updating on the situation in the next few days.

[La Reine Margot]

We deleted a bunch of files, after backing them up, of course, and got from 100% down to 98% of our capacity. Some of the issues will be solved with that. We expect that the forum will load properly from now on.

You can still post, but the attachment option will be suspended still. You can link pictures from other sites still.

We'll be upgrading to a higher hosting plan, but we need to set some controls as to the number of images that can be posted and their size.

The upgrade will probably double our capacity, but, as we can see, in a year or so we will be having the same problem. Thus the need to set some limits and have a plan.

[Edukator]

Now the forum works as before (no more error messages at the top, etc...) but ALL the previously attached pictures (before the crash) are gone. All what remains is text only, which is mostly meaningless without the related pics.
When you say "deleted a bunch of files" does it mean all the pictures have been removed ?
Do you intend to put these pics (or some of them) back once your new upgrade plan will be effective ?
Thank you for all your efforts trying to solve these issues and keeping the forum alive and online.

[localroger]

Definitely some glitchy behavior. When I loaded the main forum page I got a header asking if I wanted to sign up, even though it appears I am logged in. That sort of thing is generally not good.

[La Reine Margot]

Now the forum works as before (no more error messages at the top, etc...) but ALL the previously attached pictures (before the crash) are gone. All what remains is text only, which is mostly meaningless without the related pics.
When you say "deleted a bunch of files" does it mean all the pictures have been removed ?
Do you intend to put these pics (or some of them) back once your new upgrade plan will be effective ?
Thank you for all your efforts trying to solve these issues and keeping the forum alive and online.

None of the pictures were removed. We deleted files that are not in use and we will continue searching for more. The pictures attached are not loading because we suspended the Attach image option. They will load when we put back the option.

We need to make more room for the system to work normally.

We will bring back the option with limitations for the time being, until we upgrade, but even then we will have some rules.

[La Reine Margot]

We just enabled attachments again, with a limit of 1 per post for now, and the pictures attached before are showing normally.

We ask that you all limit the picture posting to a reasonable number.

We will be checking for multiple post with multiple pictures in one day. That's not good.

We will have to suspend attachments when we reach 100% capacity.

Thank you for your understanding.

[BobDarkroom]

Dear Reine Margot,

The storage issue already happened a few times in the past.
At those occasions several members, including me, asked why you wanted to keep all images that were ever sent in the past as well as the archives?

As I mentioned at one occasion, trying to find an old post is far from being obvious and I guess that such searches happen only occasionally if ever.

So, why spend money on storage capacity to keep a vast amount of images that will never be looked up again.
As said before, there is no such thing as "Unlimited storage".
Hosting companies use that misleading term but they do have a storage limit.

Unless you delete a vast amount of old stuff, you'll run into storage issues again and again...

Just my 2 cents,

Bob

[SilentHunter]

I agree with Bob

[hornythumb]

I agree with Bob

Me too but thanks for maintaining the site.

[wulf]

I agree with Bob

Me too but thanks for maintaining the site.

I have to agree with Bob. I think there should be a limit on how long images should be kept.
Adding my thanks as well for all the work you do to keep this place running.