Working to speed up the forum (1 Viewer)

[Peter Reuss]

In an effort to make the forum run more smoothly (and quickly)...we're trying a few things.

Either tonight or tomorrow night the forum may be down while they update some backend stuff.

We've changed how the forum deals with read/unread posts...we used to be #3 on the below list (now we're seeing if #1 works):

1.Inactivity/Cookie Based - once a user has been inactive for a certain amount of time (the value of the session timeout option) all threads and forums are considered read. Individual threads are marked as read within a session via cookies.

This option is how all versions of vBulletin before 3.5 functioned.


2.Database (no automatic forum marking) - this option uses the database to store thread and forum read times. This allows accurate read markers to be kept indefinitely. However, in order for a forum to be marked read when all threads are read, the user must view the list of threads for that forum.

This option is more space and processor intensive than inactivity-based marking.


3.Database (automatic forum marking) - this option is the same as a previous option, but forums are automatically marked as read when the last new thread is read.

This is the most usable option for end users, but most processor intensive.

We'll continue to monitor things to get a balance between speed and usability. Your feedback would be appreciated.

 

[maddadicus]

First off, I am very grateful that for all these years, you have taken on the expense of maintaining this forum. I am sure that at times, we seem like an whinny and spoiled lot, who thinks this costs you minor chump change. I have always felt that had you limited photos from the beginning,you might have saved a lot of bandwith and a bit of money. After all, I always thought that we were a conversational forum and not an unlimited and forever photo album for members....Michael

 

[lancer]

In an effort to make the forum run more smoothly (and quickly)...we're trying a few things.

Either tonight or tomorrow night the forum may be down while they update some backend stuff.

We've changed how the forum deals with read/unread posts...we used to be #3 on the below list (now we're seeing if #1 works):

1.Inactivity/Cookie Based - once a user has been inactive for a certain amount of time (the value of the session timeout option) all threads and forums are considered read. Individual threads are marked as read within a session via cookies.

This option is how all versions of vBulletin before 3.5 functioned.


2.Database (no automatic forum marking) - this option uses the database to store thread and forum read times. This allows accurate read markers to be kept indefinitely. However, in order for a forum to be marked read when all threads are read, the user must view the list of threads for that forum.

This option is more space and processor intensive than inactivity-based marking.


3.Database (automatic forum marking) - this option is the same as a previous option, but forums are automatically marked as read when the last new thread is read.

This is the most usable option for end users, but most processor intensive.

We'll continue to monitor things to get a balance between speed and usability. Your feedback would be appreciated.

Have you all done this already? Everything on the site is much faster this AM as compared to yesterday. Changing fields, download, refresh, all much faster now. Thank you for all your work. -- Al

 

[lancer]

Have you all done this already? Everything on the site is much faster this AM as compared to yesterday. Changing fields, download, refresh, all much faster now. Thank you for all your work. -- Al

Not so sure about this now.:redface2: Speed is being inconsistent. Fast...slow...fast... -- Al

 

[Peter Reuss]

I don't think the backend update has happened yet (its being done by the guys who host our server). I'll keep you posted.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Hi Peter,

I am not sure option#1 is such a good idea (well at least not for Mods) I was looking at the forum this morning (there was 3 pages of post when I woke). I started going through them and then had to get ready, when I came back after half an hour they were all marked read and gone, even though I had not read them. There was at least 20 posts that I hadn't read. So if there was anything that needed modifying I do not know.


If you have plenty of free time to read them all it is fine but once you leave for a bit to do something else not so much.

 

[Peter Reuss]

After trying option #1 for a couple days...I just switched to give option #2 a try. We'll see how it goes.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Option 2 is a marked improvement Peter.