Recovery Status

from WinCustomize Forums

Okay, here's the deal...

As some know, last month WinCustomize transitioned from Atlanta to California. The crappy Fujitusi drives are failing. One is already dead and it went out in just a way so that we can't access the RAID easliy making restoring locally easy.

Unfortunately, our next backup version is in Michigan and restoring it remotely is going to take a great deal of time (think how many gigabytes the skin libraries here are and imaging trying to restore over a T1). 

So what we're doing to do is ship a drive there to restore the older skins. But, in the meantime, we will put up the libraries so that new submissions can be made. We will also put in a system so that authors who want their works to be restored faster can restore their work on their own.  This is mainly useful on newer submissions.

The Thanksgiving holiday is what is causing part of our delays as staffing is reduced and one day everything is shut down. So it may be over a week before the full library is restored.

But most people are interested in getting the "Latest" stuff and that will be our focus: Get the libraries back up and restore the files as soon as we can.

Those of you who have recently downloaded files, please keep those handy. It will make the recovery effort smoother for everyone if we can work together and users resubmit recently uploaded files (uploading the .WBA or .ZIP or whatever is only part, the screenshot is necessary too). But if we can work together, we can be up and running at full power again sooner.

13,821 views 26 replies
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
California??? Earthquake country? I forgot why you guys moved but I remember that it was a good idea.

I'm guessing it still is actually, just that the timing of the server crash thingy on a holiday week.



I have a plan, get your own servers and name them! Great idea huh? Silvia server went down but Alex and Trent is still doing the job.


You can thank me later for the idea.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
California?, cool, closer to me.

you guys will probably never forget this holiday..(Oh! It was a nightmare..)

anyway, give yourself time to gather with family, don't rush.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My quetstion is, will downloads be reset, especially if we resubmit over the old files, and are there going to be files permanently lost unless the authors still have them? I have all the neccesary items to completely rebuild my library, but if things can get back to normal in a given amount of time then I'd rather let the pieces fall back into their place. It's aggrivating that there isn't really anything that the majority of us can do to help here, but you know we will if we can. I hope everyone has a great holiday this week, but on a bright note WinCustomize should have all the money it needs to get that baddest freaking servers on earth soon because I heard Tim Burton wants to do a new movie entitled "The Nightmare Before Thanksgiving."
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sorry to hear about the troubles, I hope everyone can pull together, but remember that it is the Holidays, so put family first.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

No. The database is fine. Just the actual physical files and screenshots for those files are missing.


So as long as skin authors "update" the missing skin with theirs, it'll be up. In a week or so, the backup will be in place. But I suspect most skin authors, like myself, would rather have their newer stuff back.  It isn't totally clear yet how easy to recover the newer backup will be (the one stuck on the software RAID drive).

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Good luck getting everything back going y'all. As a system technician who heads up the repair dept. of our store I can attest to the fact that Fijitsu drives are trouble. I have a small stack of failed drives that we've replaced over time at the store as well as one of my own. Just know you have the support of the community behind you and don't forget to grab some turkey on Thursday.
--Syrrus.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oh man. Do I need to update all my skins, or after a certain date, etc?
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Let me know what I can do to help - I have some skins I can send (no screen shots however although I can make if you want ) – drop me an email if you want me to send what I have.

padfoot
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sounds nice!!California!~~~a place i wanna go for holidays~~~~I hope you guys enjoy the time at there~~
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
good luck all! the thoughts of the community are with you.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I remember it is a Dell server? If there has no hot spare harddisk then I suggest you can consider to add one, also install ArrayManager so that it can monitor the RAID and capture the error earlier.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How did losing 1 drive kill the entire RAID array? It wasn't a RAID5 setup? If it was a RAID5 your hardware vendor should be getting an earful about now.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Going through withdrawal here needing something new.

If I prayed, I'd pray for you. But I don't so.... I won't
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
heheh like so many others here, i'm in withdrawl.. i need my object dock and wallpaper fix

crazy stuff guys.. but i've never seen such dedication before in keeping the community up to speed with the progress and the work you've done to keep the system up. good show!

everybody give the fella's at stardock a round of applause.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
No. The database is fine. Just the actual physical files and screenshots for those files are missing.
?????????????????????????????????????????????

The REAL NIGHTMERE........On WC Street
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I totally luv this site, and the sooner it gets back up, the better... but i totally understand whats going on, and i understand that u ppls are tryin ure hardest...
W/e...i download tons of stuff from here, so if u need any of the older stuff, i'm your girl!

PS: I'm from Cali, and Cali ROX MY SOX!!
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Even though I'm in horrible withdrawal (shakes, sweats, etc.) I apprciate your efforts in getting the site back up and running!
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You mean some poor, unfortunate person has to drive all the way to warm, sunny California?! Poor them.

Good luck guys, and enjoy the holidays! Remember, crisis brings us closer together.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Don't you just LOOOOOVE computers?

Enjoy the holidays, take an extra day off and come back ready to problem solve. As bad as the current issues have proven to be they are only the beginning as the resolution will present its own set of issues.

Thanks for the great free service and I look forward to the triumphant return.
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
awww.. keep up the good work guys....i think we big WC fans can wait....were in no rush at least i am not....considering i love the site,....T1 eh? my cable connection is at T1 Speed....no T3?
...w/e hope things work out great...

-Alex .
Big WC, Stardock fan