# finished refactoring of query cache engine and implemented it
# applied new baked templates to game and cat lists
# fixed missing category list in game lists
# fixed thread adding
# fixed assessing
# fixed ripe activiation (SORRY FOR THE EXTREME DELAY!!!)

I've been working tirelessly on our server infrastructure this week. We have completely switched DNS servers, which was a fiddly job. I've also been fixing problems with the new image mirror system. Images are now served from 3 identical mirrors which query the master every few minutes and download images off it. They are fully automated, load balanced and have extensive logging facilities. In addition, I created a shell script that can completely set up new image mirrors in a single click - apache, php, lighttpd, firewall, cronjobs, etc etc are all automatically downloaded, configured and installed via the script. Since my foray into the linux shell and bash scripts I feel confident enough to do away with cPanel/WHM completely to save a bit of money each month and get more out of each server. The next big change will be the reloading of the operating system on our database server and removal of WHM/cPanel from it. This will involve at least 5 hours of downtime as I reinstall the database and other services.

The other thing I've been working on is our dedicated backup server. Believe it or not up until now FPSB never had a satisfactory backup solution. This new server is an investment in FPSB's longevity.

Now while I've been bashing away at a terminal for the past weeks I've also been having some major thoughts about FPSB and the way it makes money. I'm very tired of advertising and working with advertisers and receiving diminishing incomes, late payments, empty promises and virus ads. I hate polluting our great site with shitty ads with no relevance, or ads at all for that matter.

I've been noticing the rising trend of adblockers and I think the Internet is becoming a place incompatible with traditional ways of making money through publishing. Our website in particular is viewed by more computer literate people than average so we cop it worse. I'm not going to fight this, I'm not going to say it's wrong or unfair any more, heck I don't blame you with the amount of virus ads around now.

What I am planning is this:

- removal of all standard ad formats and removal of all network ads.
- concentration on custom ad formats like the sponsorship stack, negotiated individually with businesses.
- introduction of user-driven ads, purchasable through points.
- an explosion of new REPs - $1, $2 and $3 REPs that do all kinds of things.
- removal of Ripe renewals - Ripe becomes another REP and doesn't need renewal (why should it need renewal? Makes no sense) Those who purchased 2 or 3 year or lifetime ripe will get credit to purchase new REPs.

A bit radical, but I think we can do it.

I'm sorry I can't respond to your messages lately as I'm up to my ass in work.

Well, I seem to be digging myself a hole lately. Here is a summary of the last couple of weeks:

- I started working on a state-of-the-art query caching system which would revolutionize the site
- We experienced an SQL inje'ction attack
- I spent a week ewriting literally thousands of queries that run the site
- I began work on a new image mirroring system, which would be cheaper and more reliable to run
- We experienced the same SQL injection attack again
- I made further security updates
- I finished the image mirroring system and deployed it to 3 new dedicated servers
- I've since disabled 2 of the dedicated services due to reliability issues and gotten new ones
- I disabled the old image mirror without retrieving some of the icons on it, which we lost
- We temporarily had DNS troubles due to the image server, which was also a DNS server, going down
- The DNS issues were resolved
- I purchased a dedicated backup server
- I moved 2 unused disks from one of the main servers to the backups servers
- One of the relocated disks died and was replaced
- Access to the files disk was lost for 20 hours preventing file uploads

Whats next?
- I need to write and deploy our new backup system
- I need to reload the operating system on one of our main servers - this will involve significant and unavoidable downtime
- I need to iron our issues with our new image mirroring system
- I need to fix about a billion bugs on FPSB
- I need to take a holiday!