So in 2 weeks… I get to attempt my first large-scale migration while working a standard 9-5 job - now for my own clients migrations have gone over smoothly, most are aware of the issues that could happen, most manage their own websites and update application configurations, upgrade the software itself, they download their mail, backup their OWN copy just in case, it’s a rather impressive thing, I have some amazing clients - but in this case, some outdated software, lack of user involvement (most are created by the host + managed by the host) - not saying this is a bad thing, but in a migration in the past we had some issues.
This time it will be different. By Thursday there will be a drafted email blast to all customers on the affected servers, it will go out no later than Friday evening letting folks know 1 full week in advance that changes to servers are coming, that of DNS, location, configuration, etc. give a few risks involved, possible downtime windows, and going from there thru the weekend - aka “fun” it also means some money in my pocket as well which leads to the next thing. The Magic Number
The number is my cost of my ticket. I think it’s actually LESS than what I paid last time, so all I need to do is call in tomorrow, pay it over the phone, and do online traffic school, and ta-da, no pesky court date, no delays, paid, cleared, back to normal, and hopefully not another ticket for another 5 years, but it’s all in all just one last thing that has been hanging on my mind lately, so tomorrow I give a ring, make a payment, sign-up for traffic school, get it done, and then the budget can return to it’s previous state of increasing… which is now part of my flip-flop going back to the top one
I am picking up additional work with servers, granted I do need to iron out some details in regards to payment - aka need to get things on a monthly payment plan via card vs. check - I don’t mind check’s for small things paid up in a year, so 1 big check, but to do that would be a big big big big big check - but it’s something I plan to discuss on another day, other possible work is more of a fun thing I think I am going to do is 2 church related things, and I don’t get paid a penny! I may be helping Dan-o with the new Church Website, which is uber cool, and maybe, be singing for The Hub on Sunday…. sooooo work but a blessing!
Anywhoo - there it is, busy busy at work, and I could go into details, but honestly I get tired of talking about the 8-5 grind, it makes me tired, thus I am going to flip off the lights, sigh a sigh of relief on the ticket, and fall asleep watching some crazy movie (The Comebacks?) so I wish you all a very happy Wednesday! Keep it real, Rock on for Jesus, and Keep on Truckin (I think that’s all I’ve got) - night folks!
ps. Dan, Jake, Scott, Val, Gavin, Cameron, Blaine, Cory, Jeff, Matt, etc. etc. etc. Who’s up for 830p showing of Iron Man Thursday? Anyone?
So the week is done, twas a long one, with little sleep, but I am alive, and probably going to pass out here in a minute, but just figured I’d post a note.
A good week overall I’d say, the iPhone is doing well, with all the talk of 3G I have considered taking it back, but at the same time, it works, it does what I need, WiFi will always be faster, and granted 3G speeds will beat that of EDGE, at the end of the day Edge is more widespread, and like last time AT&T’s big data release, unless they REALLY learned from last time, we’ll probably see more outages, and for those who get it for T-Mobile’s 3G being rolled out, outages there too I’d imagine… if it’s not locked into AT&T’s 3G network!
Anywhoo - busy day tomorrow, meeting about servers in the afternoon, probably a service call in the morning across the street to look at a DVD Burner Issue, and Dinner later that evening with friends, so busy busy - so I am going to crawl over to my bed, start up the movie where I left off, and dream happy dreams. Night.
So tomorrow is the dreaded bi-weekly meeting… 830am I go into a meeting that I don’t honestly know why I must attend - but I do, I of course try to stay awake, but I make no promises - but I have a lot to do, I have about 5-6 more slides for the bosses presentation to get (got them just before the end of the day), last bits of taxes, figure out my ticket, launch 2 sites, fix up some billing, tweak some configurations on the server, and something else I am sure
I will note I am trying a second outsourced email provider, so far I like the webmail, I like the speed, performance, etc. the only thing I am not too keen on is the price. Granted for the price I get quite a bit, 10GB of storage per account, IMAP/POP/SMTP access via SSL/Secured so even nicer, compatible with Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Windows Mail (Vista), Outlook, Outlook Express, etc. etc. so far it’s more compatible than the last, but not as affordable on their reseller plan, with the other it was basically something I could really just absorb at some level into the cost of hosting, here were looking at the $1-$2 per account, but again 10GB of MAIL STORAGE.
Needless to say my brain is going about 30 different directions, allergies are killing me off of course I think the meds I took earlier for them are working quite well, except it’s removing the discomfort I was having, thus sleep is rapidly approaching! So little time anymore, seems like I get home, catnap -> eat -> work -> sleep -> shower -> work -> etc. and I forgot to gas up my car, grrr.
Anywhoo - probably a good time to call it a day, maybe run get gas… really only need about a half a tank, over 300 miles on this last tank, round abouts 342 miles on a single tank, quite lovely - so for now I will say “Good Night” I hope you all have a great Tuesday.
Well it never fails, Friday night, I crash early, and alarms galore go off. Tonight the backbone I am one was forced to do some emergency maintenance - it was handled quickly, but sadly not quick enough to avoid some downtime - but its fairly late, and no tickets, calls, or emails came in - so rather smooth, good guys at the new DC, human - no “scripted” responses, they have taken care of me, and are truly prepared to be my hands when I can’t get in there myself.
Things are leveled out now though, servers are responding, email is flowing again - so far so good, few more checks, then its back to my pillow for some quiet time Night folks!
The end of a big part of my life, that’s what it feels like! Tonight I shut down the core servers of TN/FH (the old ones) - I had been with this DC since the early days of TN, migrating from a oversold T1, to a “SDSL” line that boasted LARGER speeds (yet never delivered), faster connections, that was down for nearly a week - but TN made it’s way back, rose from the ashes, a little hurt for cash, but pushing forward.
The move to this DC was mainly because a side project I picked up, started using the company, back then a startup, a simple, but bold company ready to provide great service, insanely competitive pricing, and for me, the second big dive into server management, as a guy who always had a physical rack of servers in front of me, it was quite a change indeed, but you learn, friendly server monkeys from the DC would give pointers, it was a great company, but in the end they changed names, and got a little “bigger” but still the CEO kept things going, and as some past posts note like in the hurricane they bought extra fuel, staff stayed on-hand, network things were figured out ahead of time if line XYZ died, hot cut to ABC - it was awesome, amazing, and comforting.
Then about a year ago, they merged with another company - and if your a server admin and know some of the key players out there, you’ll know the two companies - the merger was rough, and I stuck with it, I re-vamped servers, got newer hardware, invested in some VPS tech, got tons of IP’s, found new contacts - but it was nothing like the first company, it was a money maker, and who can blame them, money has to be made somehow, and they started working towards it, and in some cases loosing that “personal” touch and going more towards the cold corporate penny picking, every little thing was a extra $2, or $10, or suddenly they’d determine they weren’t billing you for XYZ (which was originally free!) and without warning a $25-$50 monthly increase, things got sloppy.
I stayed for a year, exactly what I said I’d give them to straighten up a little, I know what it is like to re-organize, didn’t want to declare them dead just yet, but with horrible pricing, pushy sales folk, and bad communication and billing system, when the recent option came up, I took it, and I’d take it again - I have no true ill feelings for the company, they have to find their footing, and I am sure there are some out there with zero problems, but the move for me was also related to the upcoming position I may get come Friday, so reasons there as well.
But none the less, I feel a big chapter in my life is indeed closing, sort of makes me a little sad - granted I have 1 server there still, it’s a client server and it’ll probably move in the next month, getting my budget even more happy - but it’s been quite a ride, and I hope, that even with a new job, I can continue to manage and operate TN/FH for many years to come until the bargain hosts run me out of business, but I hope that day is a long long ways away.
Anywhoo - that was my trip down memory lane, a fun ride, more fun to come I hope. Thanks for reading, and again, mega thanks for everyone for their prayers over the past few weeks with the migrations, with only 6 tickets in the end across all the moves, I could not be happier, and now with a big chunk of money saved a month, and bigger hardware for the better price, I move forward, as I am trying to do with a lot of things, so here’s to a great 2008!
So far so good - I crashed out and woke up at 1pm, so fair sleep, got some minor issues out the way, and on a whim installed Installatron on Trogdor, hit a snag, but the guys at Installatron were awesome and quickly got me a work-around, and now all friends on Trogdor will enjoy the benefits of this great auto-instaler, frequently updated, some nice scripts to choose from - a major enjoyment indeed. If the budget levels out, and once I get all these assorted cPanel lic. cleared, as well as various tid-bit bills I have officially phased out cleared off the books, I plan to install it across all servers.
Tonight will be a night to relax, possibly going and hanging out with Dan and the nephews, I hope my scrabble skills have not gone down-hill, as I am indeed out of practice. But this will be one of the last nights I imagine for relaxing as I head into things moving forward this week with a spot job, a coding discussion, and a job interview - but none the less I am hoping things all work out and move forward, for now though, I am going to hit the shower - and get dressed for a relaxing evening, one way or another.
Thanks to everyone for their prayers over these migrations! Much appreciated - always glad to know I have folks watching out for me even on something that to some may seem trivial like a server move, but every little bit of prayer helps! So again thanks a million, and now I will go forth, and become clean! More later.
So far so good! Even the move for some to MySQL5 as well - smooth! No burps I can detect. Monday I have some clean-up to do with things, I am aiming for Tuesday to shut things down, then that leaves me with some minor tweaks and changes, but nothing massive, then the move is 100% complete!
Looking forward to this next week - but for now, one last glance over of things, then sleep, might meet my 2am prediction at this rate! Night again!
it also means some money in my pocket as well which leads to the next thing. The Magic Number
