Introduction
On Monday, August 17th at 10 am EDT (US), YWS will shut down for one week (I've copied a smattering of international times at the end of this post). When it reopens on August 24th, the site will be sporting a brand new look. For a preview, go to:
new
What's Going On
YWS is getting an upgrade. The part you'll notice is the stylish new look. The part you may notice (or may not) is that it'll be faster as well. That's because we're moving onto a very fast server. Right now, your desktop computer is probably faster than the server YWS is running on.
The part you won't notice is that the underlying code is changing completely. YWS is based on a forum software program called phpBB2. About two years ago, the phpBB2 group released phpBB3, which is what YWS is upgrading to. This also means the site is moving from php4 to php5 (a web programming language) and from MySQL 4 to MySQL 5 (a type of database; think of it like a very complex Excel spreadsheet for Web Sites).
What You Need To Know
1. All data is saved
As I've said countless times, the above site is there for testing purposes only. The database on it is an old database. When YWS returns on August 24th, everything you have done will still be here. There are only two exceptions:
- - Avatars: For some reason, whenever YWS switches servers, about 1 in a 100 (sometimes 1 in 30) avatars goes missing. You only have a 1% to 3% chance of being affected, but take a precaution and save your avatar if you really like it.
- Custom Blog Settings: If you have customized your blog, you should save those settings in a document or on a piece of paper. However, if you don't do this, no worries. See point number 4 below.
2. Register on the Backup Site
Even a couple mods haven't registered yet, so you aren't alone if you haven't done this! Go to:
http://yws.nathancaldwell.com
The backup site will continue to operate as YWS switches servers. So even though YWS Main may be down, YWS Backup will still be here.
3. The Chat Will Continue To Run, But...
The YWS chat room will continue to operate. However, to log in, you will need to register on the backup site. This means that you will need to use your login data (username & password) from the backup site to log into the YWS Chat beginning August 17th.
4. The old YWS will be saved
This YWS that you are currently using will still be around. When we return, you'll be able to access it at:
old
However, you'll only be able to view it (that is, you can see but can't post). So if you lose your custom blog settings, no worries. Just go to your blog on the Old YWS, and copy your settings. Yet, this may be unnecessary. I'm working on a program that automatically converts your blog settings to the New YWS.
Please note, the above link doesn't work! There is no old YWS yet.
FAQ
Will YWS really be down for a week?
Maybe. In no event will it be shorter than five days, and in no event will it be longer than a week. A mass e-mail will be sent out as soon as we return.
The New YWS doesn't have any of my posts since July 15
I keep getting this question, and I don't know why. As has been explained countless times, the New YWS as it exists right now is for testing purposes only. It is not the final version. When YWS returns on August 24th, everything you have done will still be here.
And do you really think I'd erase a month's worth of data just like that?
It's August 17th and I can't Log Into the Chat
Register at http://yws.nathancaldwell.com to log into the chat beginning August 17th. And remember, you have to use your login data from the YWS Backup.
Why will YWS be down for so long?
The first reason is because it takes a while to transfer and convert YWS' two gigabyte database, which is all text. The converting alone will take almost a day.
The second reason is because YWS is moving onto a brand new server. It takes a while for your network to recognize YWS is on a new server, and that takes anywhere from 12 hours to 72 hours (it depends on where you live... the more developed your nation, the less time it'll take usually).
The third reason is that once the above two are done, I still have to make sure that everything works. This will take some time obviously.
I'm So Confused!
Here's the run-down:
- 1. YWS is getting an upgrade.
2. You should save your avatar.
3. Register at http://yws.nathancaldwell.com
4. Sit back, relax, and drink some tea.
A Smattering of International Times
YWS will close (approximately) on August 17th at:
UK & Ireland: 3 pm
Europe
Portugal: 3 pm
Western & Central Europe: 4 pm
Eastern Europe: 5 pm
South Africa: 4 pm
United States & Canada
Atlantic: 11 am
Eastern: 10 am
Central: 9 am
Mountain: 8 am
Pacific: 7 am
Alaska: 6 am
Hawaii: 4 am
Australia & New Zealand*
New Zealand: 2 am, August 18
Eastern: Midnight
Central: 11:30 pm, August 17
Western: 10 pm, August 17
Asia*
India: 7 pm, August 17
Jakarta: 9 pm, August 17
Hong Kong / Philippines / Singapore: 10 pm, August 17
Japan: 11 pm, August 17
* If you live in the Eastern Hemisphere, YWS may not be available until August 25.
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