From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty

Subject: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Max
Date: 01 Jul 03 - 10:45 PM

Lost another one folks. Tao is dead. I now have Betty running the show. I built Betty a bit ago from parts I collected over the course of the year. Just got her up and kicking after the move. She was going to be my audio and video machine and general workstation, but looks like she's got another job to do. She's not designed as a Web server, but we'll see how she does. May have fried Tao's RAID card with the bad juice. Might take me a few days or even a week or two to get Tao rebuilt. Not that it takes that long, but I just don't have the time.

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From:
Date: 01 Jul 03 - 10:48 PM

Thanks for the update, Max. Much appreciate all the work.

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Max
Date: 01 Jul 03 - 10:49 PM

... and I don't want to worry you, but of all the years I've been doing this, and all the shit that has happened, I've never thought more about giving up. Betty better do a good job for at least a couple of weeks, because I'm at my wits end right now.

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jul 03 - 10:55 PM

What can we do to help: parts, money...?

Thanks, Max!

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Jul 03 - 10:58 PM

Max,
Hug the baby. Remember what is important.
SINS

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Max
Date: 01 Jul 03 - 11:11 PM

Not sure now kat. Gotta cool out and think about it for a while. I guess it was the fire thing that is freaking me out. I'll feel better when I get an electrician in here, and even better when I can move the Mudcat out of the laundry room in a dingy basement and into a new, nice finished basement, but that'll be some time.

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Jul 03 - 11:19 PM

Max...what would it take (in both $$$ and labor)to get Mudcat installed on a commercial (or ANY) server and allow you to administer it remotely? You should not have to do this in a house/apartment that is not designed for it, as clever as you may be in tweaking hardware. When you had an office wired for it, backup machines, and elves to kick it, it was fine. And though Mudcat is pretty important in a lot of folks lives, and you have more to do than patch it up with bailing wire and chewing gum.

It 'may' be a LOT more hassle to do it that way, but I truly don't know the answer, and it don't hurt to ask the question.

(My poor little brain says **IF** it can be run with extension cords and machines not really designed as servers, maybe there is a way?)

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jul 03 - 11:33 PM

When I built on a new office I had a special four-outlet (versus the usual two-outlet) wallplate put in the spot where I thought I'd plug my computer. I moved away from that part of the room, so my music stuff is plugged in there now, and I have computer things spread between two other sets of outlets. If it is possible to put in what (at the time) feels like more outlets than you could need, then you'll be about right.

Max, you're truly amazing in how you manage to build and rebuild these machines. Here's hoping that the circumstances where man and machine reside stay safe, and the fix is a reasonable one.

Skoal!

SRS

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 12:05 AM

Max, having had a fire that made computers toast, I understand. When it happened to me I had to relearn about my priorities... to discover what I missed most, and how to work around the problems so at least the newly-perceived essentials could be covered. I discovered that some things in my life were more important than the things I had been devoting so much time to. I discovered I had grown as a person and that only a very narrow part of my life had to occur on a computer-- a part narrow enough to take place on borrowed computer time and on the "obsolete" semi-functioning home unit that had seemed too old, too slow, too ramshackle, too poorly configured to do what I had thought I needed to do on the new one I had just bought. I was surprised when this new approach left me time and energy badly needed to do the other things I actually needed to do at that time.

Something to think about-- it's wonderful that you try so hard to let Mudcat be all it can be-- all you envision, on top of all it presently is... but although I (like others) deeply appreciate live thread capabilities, what really hurts is when the archived information in the threads is out of reach. If Betty can't do it all, can she at least provide access to archived threads?

And... at the end of the day, what's the most important thing in your life right now? Go hug it, and stay snuggled close to it. Mudcat will keep.

~Susan

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Max
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 12:18 AM

Yeah Bill, I've been doing the research for some time now to offload it. It is a bear though. The database alone is almost 2GB. Most people charge for space and bandwidth, and we have a whole lot of both. And we use a lot of unique technology (software) that is not common with most of the hosting services. I shall renew my efforts though.

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 08:31 AM

Don't know if this is any good to you or not. But here is an email I had from my ISP towards the end of last year. The offer the servers now but you have to contact them for prices:

We are shorlty going to be introducing Dedicated Windows 2000 servers to our list of services.

These servers will be based at our new facility in Derby, UK Midlands.

Connection to the backbone will be provided by 2X Global Crossing 155MB lines, on different routes and a redundent 155MB BT line.

Full specs of the servers have yet to be finalised but as a rough guide will contain the following.

AMD 1.8Mhz Processor
80GB IDE 100 Hard Drives
512MB memory
Unlimited IP's
30GB bandwidth (Burstable)
Windows 2000 Server

We will be offering this service at an amazing price of £150 per month +VAT. (Please email support for pricing in other currencies)

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 08:57 AM

Max,

If you can use parts, I can very possibly get them. RAM, HDD, other stuff. I've got about a dozen (literally!) old PCs, mostly P133s or slightly newer literally sitting around waiting to be recycled. There is one with a 1.8 GB tape drive (close, I know, but no cigar). Let me know what you might need and where to send it.

(These PCs were working up until very recently.)

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 09:01 AM

hey - selective manual backups onto tape would be better then no backup.

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Snuffy
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 09:05 AM

Betty doesn't seem to like the search - I'm getting "Collection name not found" and "Remote Address: 194.73.150.130"

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Max
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 09:18 AM

Thanks repaire, but at this point I'm tryin to eliminate computers. I just have to think about what I need. Just not sure what I'm gonna do yet.

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Gareth
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 02:03 PM

Max - (See Mudcat Money Thread) circa US$175.00 en route as reverse Marshall Aid - Hmm ! Should that be Dia Llahsram ?? Seing as it's administered in Wales.

Gareth

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: MudGuard
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 02:07 PM

Gareth, what does that Welsh stuff ("Dia Llahsram") mean in English?

I only remember the most important Welsh word from my holiday in Wales - it is so important it is written on many or most roads: araf ;-)

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Gareth
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 02:11 PM

Sorry - Pun - try typing "Marshall Aid" in reverse.

Gareth

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: MudGuard
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 02:56 PM

I understood that you just reversed the letters, Gareth, i just thought it might have some meaning...

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 03:42 PM

I'm honoured to have a server named after me.... I hope she's up to the job.

Max, we can't say in words or deeds just how much we love you and this site, but if it is kismet.......

All you need do is ask and you will have 90+ people across the globe bending over sideways and backwards to help you.

LTS - sometimes known as Betty.

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: kendall
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 07:33 PM

House fires are not acceptable. Too much to lose that is of greater value than the Mudcat.

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: GUEST,vectis
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 08:56 PM

I have a spare 10 gig on my computer. Is there any way you can use it for a backup? I'm on broadband which would speed up an information transfer.

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: rangeroger
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 09:06 PM

As an electrician, I will just say, get a qualified licensed electrician to come and take a look at your wiring. It usually doesn't cost anything for them to look at,evaluate and give a cost quote.

A good one should be able to tell you what needs to done in the way of emergency repairs to keep things from burning up,what may be able to be done to add circuits from existing panels,up to ripping it all out and upgrading everything.

There will be some scam artists out there and some real primadonas.The really good ones cost money.But there are bound to be some honest ones who won't charge an arm and a leg and will do a good job.

I just wish I could get back there to Pennsylvania so I could do the work for you.

rr

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: momnopp
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 09:21 PM

Hmmm, the SETI at home methodology; use other people's computers remotely to process your stuff...verrrry inter-est-ing. Vectis, that's an interesting concept. I have at least 10 gig to spare and cable modem...

Peace,
JudyO

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Mudlark
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 09:44 PM

Dear Max...I don't know anything about computer technology, but I know something about commitment and loyalty and making do, over and over, and how wearing that can be. There must be times when Mudcat seems like a stone on your back. Set it aside if you have to...you've already given so much.

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: NicoleC
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 10:42 PM

Max, I think you are spot on about trying to move this stuff out of your house. This is driving you crazy.

It has it's own issues, but colocation or VPS may be the solution if you need gobs of server time. I don't use their colocation services, but so far I've had good experiences (100% uptime) with these guys.

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: hesperis
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 11:38 PM

Colocation, vps, or getting a reseller account might work. Sometimes a reseller and having someone else to get the server up while you're away can really make a difference to your peace of mind.

What is the exact space and bandwidth we need here?

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 03 Jul 03 - 04:28 AM

Max - What would it cost you to get some new hardware with a backup machine ? - I thinks that if you quoted a specific sum, mudcatters would probably manage to raise it. Perhaps a few folk benefit events could raise quite a chunk of it - after all most of us enjoy performing.

Subject: RE: From Max: Goodbye Tao, Hello Betty
From: Bearheart
Date: 03 Jul 03 - 11:46 AM

Been on the road for a bit so this was all new to me when I got back. Sorry to hear about it-- not much to contribute except perhaps a few dollars and lots o prayers that it works out. Mudcat is a VERY SIGNIFICANT part of my life... And I really appreciate the service that it and you are to the musical community...

HUGS!!!
Bekki