Saving Bandwidth

[Mave]

I have a question:

What can CAA members do to save bandwidth here? I'm not really an expert in this topic so please correct me if I'm wrong. At the moment, I'm assuming that I should....

1) Use smaller signatures/less graphic-intensive signatures *looks at her current signature and sweatdrops*
2) Use Volt's sidebar
3) Don't lurk so much? ^_^;; I tend to check out CAA even if I'm not logged on

Let me know if the assumptions I made above are correct. Here's a question: Let's say I have an image I wanna share with everyone. Which benefits CAA as a whole best, from a bandwidth point of view: uploading it as an attachment or hosting the image in my own server? If it makes a difference, I'll upload stuff like avatars or misc pictures to my own hosting. If it doesn't make a difference, erm.....anyone else got ideas of how to save bandwidth on CAA?

Thanks for your eh..attention. ^_^;; Just wanted to know what I can do to help CAA with their problems.

[Mithrandir]

Posting stuff on your own site will deffinately help us on the bandwidth issue. As for volt's sidebar, I don't know. I've never played with it. Does it hit the site to get any data?

The sigs issue is a big one, but maybe not the biggest one. The attachments DB is monsterous. Let me put it this way: If we were to ship it out to everyone, we would have to use DVDs to burn it. The best compression known to man will not get the attachment DB small enough to fit on a CD-ROM.

We're hoping to do some stuff in the not-too distant future that will give us breathing room. In the mean time, I think the key words are "Everyone do something small." If everyone here just stopped for a moment before uploading a graphic and asked themselves if they could do without this one...

For those of you who upload graphics to show one or two friends, please email them instead.

As for Lurk mode, if you aren't planning on responding (or don't have time) maybe wait until you have time to post. Not every time, just once in a while.


If everyone did a tiny bit of refraining, it would add up to a lot.

Thanks for the idea, Mave!

[TheMelodyMaker]

I guess we could not do a "post your voice" thread like I'd proposed to Ashley some months ago; that would save an incredible amount of bandwidth.

(Edit: I see OldPhil already mentioned attachments in his post.)

[Ashley]

Just one thing...I really appriciate the sweet attitude and considerate nature of your idea, but I do want to say this: I do NOT want you members running around worrying about how much bandwidth you're taking up. It's pretty obvious we're doing a good thing here....and I know that above all, the Lord will provide for us. So yes, that does mean we could afford to cut back on things. But it does also mean that we need to continue to enjoy the fellowship God has blessed us with here. We shall walk by faith and know that Jehovah Jireh will provide for us.

[Fsiphskilm]

[quote="oldphilos

[Mithrandir]

Cool. That's not too shabby.

But yeah, I guess I should have emphasized the "TINY BIT" in my post.

[Kaligraphic]

I can suggest some free hosting sites if people want to host their images off-site - links take less direct bandwidth than attachments.

[uc pseudonym]

That's considerate of you. As Ashley said, however, don't worry too much about it. Using the CAA Lite skin will help some as well (it can be selected under User CP, Edit Options; it is the last one).

[Mr_Anderson]

i'm on the light side now

[Aka-chan]

!! I didn't even know about the lite skin. It's pretty nice. ^__^

Sorry, I know next to nothing about running web sites and all, but why is lurking less than preferable? I didn't realize it made a difference.

[Mave]

OK, I'll try not to worry too much. ^_^ I'm afraid CAA has become my No. 1 fav. online haven and I naturally feel inclined to do my best to help it run smoothly. I am already using the lite version and Volt's sidebar. I also avoid uploading huge pic files since my dialup takes forever to load them <-- I suppose there -are- some good advantages to use my university's free dialup service after all. Hehe

Aka-chan, I believe the amount of bandwidth used is the same whether you're lurking or logged in. The only reason I mentioned it is because I have this bad habit of checking out CAA 20+ times a day, in which 60% I'm not logged in. ^__^;;;

Next question:

I'm assuming that, that annoying "There has been a slight error bla bla" sign has nothing to do with bandwidth. Is there anything I can do to help that particular situation?

[uc pseudonym]

I'll leave the question of the error message to oldphilosopher (because I am sure that he desperately wants to talk about it more), though in essence the problems are caused because there is more than merely CAA taxing the servers that we use.

But yes, whenever you view a page, logged in or not, it puts the same drain on our overall bandwidth.

[Mithrandir]

There is nothing you as a user can do for that one. Since we are on a shared server, any time the database load is high on the other sites hosted on our box, we'll get those errors. We're looking at a solution for that, but it's a fairly complex one. It involves a lot of testing, and a multiple data routes.

If you want to pray that I get a house, that would help. I plan on tying a new system into a powerful server, but I need a good high speed line for that one. I can't really do that in my appartment, so... The wolf and I are looking for a place, but it may be a few months yet. In the mean time, the other thing you can all do is be patient.

[Fsiphskilm]

well there is SO

[Mave]

*nods* OK, I see.

I'll be patient. Oldphil, I'm glad you're here to deal with this. I was surprised to see your message in that error notice. Heh I didn't know you could do that. Cool! XD

Meanwhile, I shall be praying for a new nice & warm home for you and the Wolf.

[Kaligraphic]

Okay, don't try to "hack" into the other sites here. We're trying to be the "good guys", remember? Plus, we're on the same server, don't forget. Shutting down the server will give us 404s, too (actually "can't find server" errors, but that's no better), and having the server sent to the FBI's labs will do bad things for our own access.

That said, with Mr_Anderson's posting right after uc pseudonym, and Andy's use of a 180-rotated copy of uc pseudonym's avatar, it makes a weird mirror-reflection kind of effect.

[uc pseudonym]

Okay, don't try to "hack" into the other sites here. We're trying to be the "good guys", remember? Plus, we're on the same server, don't forget. Shutting down the server will give us 404s, too (actually "can't find server" errors, but that's no better), and having the server sent to the FBI's labs will do bad things for our own access.

I believe he was entirely not serious. I, for one, found it humorous.

That said, with Mr_Anderson's posting right after uc pseudonym, and Andy's use of a 180-rotated copy of uc pseudonym's avatar, it makes a weird mirror-reflection kind of effect.

Hmm... would that also imply that his post is a reflection of my own? [Note: that question is not being asked.]

[Kaligraphic]

Indeed, one may view his post as a reflection of yours, much as water will respond to your image with a reflection.

(And I know he wasn't be serious. I was being silly by treating it seriously.)

[Jasdero]

[quote="Mave"]1) Use smaller signatures/less graphic-intensive signatures *looks at her current signature and sweatdrops*
2) Use Volt's sidebar
3) Don't lurk so much? ^_^]
I'm doing all three of those things, and I just switched to the "Lite" skin version of CAA... I wish it wasn't so bright, though.. @_@ I miss the dark version... T^T *likes darkness*

[Fsiphskilm]

Use Image shack

[Jasdero]

Use Image shack
http://www.imageshack.us/

Free Image hoster wthout ads, registration, watermarking, etc...

Very nice, simple, fast, and easy.

Or.. http://www.photobucket.com. X33

[Fsiphskilm]

ooo thanks..

[Mithrandir]

Considering how many local companies here didn't make it past two-three years worth of funding a few years back, I've seen "some" go down, too.

[agasfas]

I just upload everything to a server that offers me free webspace. Some of what I use are: tripod and geocities. They have been around for awhile and I doubt they will come crashing down w/in the next couple years. I just upload the image and make a direct link from the image.