I REALLY have to thank everyone here immensely. Your timing couldn't be better.
I rarely discuss openly the back office dealings of our forum. But your timing here is paramount. For the past 12 years, I've shared 3 large servers with a friend/partner and we had 4 websites running on them. 2 servers were running the webservers and Databases for the sites, and 1 was a hot swap backup in case of failure.
Well 2 of the 4 websites have pretty much gone under as of last month. This means that we had to restructure our server configurations, but we did NOT want to do anything that would reduce performance. It was a 25/75 split(partner had 3 sites and I had this one).. The choice was we either stay together and keep our existing configuration, but I financially make up the loss of the other websites revenue, or we both split up and run independently each website on a single server and we loose the backup safetynet. The single server configuration not only would eliminate our backup systems, but would reduce performance for both of us. We agreed that if we each cover 1.5 servers, our performance would actually improve, so we went that way, BUT
the costs increase for us equates to an additional $2400+ a year($200+/month). In order to cover the increased costs, I planned on actively pursuing selling our unused ad space. Before anyone complains, this does NOT mean you will see more ads popping up on our pages, it just means you will see different ads in the existing spots. Thats IF i can sell some spots.
But this thread has caused a small pop in subscription updates which covered the cost increases for last month and this coming month. This will give me time to figure out a way to get some ads into our rotation and keep us in the black. This thread and its results, is really and truly appreciated.
Ive always appreciated the subscription purchases as it absolutely helps keep this place running. The server/hardware, the additional software, firewall services, antispam services, support costs, etc.. runs into the thousands.. it all adds up and your support makes sure that we will be up and running for all our membership. I will do everything possible to make sure we never become a fully paid site, and those that purchase subscriptions ensure we will be here for everyone..
Thank you all!!! again again.
(For those that are wondering, subscriptions increase your feature sets and quotas.. they do NOT effect posting or reading ability. EVERYONE can read and post without a subscription.)
