Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search

Subject: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Max
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 12:51 PM

Hi folks.

Inspired by the generous response to our contributions request, I took a shot at implementing a trick I recently learned via my work with Penn State. mudcat.org is running on a Virtual Machine (still here in my home purring at my feet) with significantly more computational power and memory than BUKKA, our existing, or rather former, server.

It seems to be working out pretty well and appears quite peppy to me. Please let me know how she's doing from your end.

Also took the chance (and the new horsepower) to update the supersearch, which should be up to date as of last night's posts. Again, let me know if you spot any quirks or feelings of glee or other notable emotions.

Thanks again everyone for your support, yes financially, but also emotionally... personally. It is truly my honor to serve some of the finest folks in the literal world. Much love, much love.

more soon...

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: bobad
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 12:54 PM

Blazing away at this end - much glee ensuing.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: GUEST,art brooks
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 12:58 PM

Seems faster...from my Nook at Barnes and Noble in San Antonio.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 01:01 PM

Max, I just loaded MoaB in seven seconds. Did it twice to check. Gives greased lightning competition.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: jacqui.c
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 01:03 PM

New computer here and FAST Mudcat! Superb!

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Max
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 01:04 PM

My readings indicate we are serving up pages 10X faster now. The little icon on my monitoring system changed from an exclamation point next to a snail to a bird in flight. I like that a lot.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Beer
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 01:05 PM

Wow!!.... Hope it stays like this. Very fast indeed.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: John Routledge
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 01:05 PM

Huge increase here in UK also. :0)

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 01:06 PM

I hope that somehow all this stuff you're doing makes it easier at your end.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Max
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 01:10 PM

999, faster is always easier... that being said tho, I should figure the actual reality of that today. :)

Again, you can check out the click and hum / bubble and boil anytime. I gaze at this stuff more than is probably healthy, but it's like peering into a person's chest cavity... watching mudcat's heart beat and breath.

It's alive!

max

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 01:24 PM

I have had that thing bookmarked on my laptop.

It's fascinating seeing your excitement about this site. It has done wonders in terms of preserving scholarship and song lyrics in many areas. Kinda like when your kid receives plaudits for something.

I notice too that the reload works much faster than it has before now. I should note that when I tried to load the MoaB thread yesterday, it took about 30 seconds with the DEV thing. I tried it from curiosity weeks back with the regular and it timed out before coming up. Heck, it's faster now loading the whole thread than it was clicking the 'd' beside the number.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 01:26 PM

Just got to 'unanswered requests' in under two seconds. That's a first.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 01:29 PM

Max-

Seems to work fine. Will the upgrade also improve the quality of the posts?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Max
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 01:38 PM

Charlie, the mathematics indicates an inversely proportional effect on quality. Simply, crappy posts will maintain an equal crappiness coefficient while the speed in which rendered and consumed is increased. Sorry.

But perhaps like being clear of a traffic jam, our moods will improve...

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 02:19 PM

Search works great.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Jeri
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 02:32 PM

I found something up the rabbit's hole (or with "magic") that I couldn't find on Mudcat earlier. Of course, I don't have the capability to listen to the wax cylinders and don't feel like downloading Quicktime at the mo.

As for the rest of Mudcat, WE BE JAMMIN'!!!

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 03:56 PM

Lightning fast...

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 04:09 PM

That Chartbeat page is interesting. Has it kept track of Mudcat stats all along, or is it something you had to engage?

Every so often I check out our activity at Alexa.com.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Alice
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 04:18 PM

Max, you are a wizard.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 04:27 PM

You know, the trouble with Max's servers, is that we don't get to know them by name until they die.

I had to look up Bukka to catch its significance: Bukka (ಬುಕ್ಕ) (1356–1377 CE) (also known as Bukka Raya I) was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire (southern India) from the Sangama Dynasty.

Now you know.

So, Max, what's the name of the new server?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 04:29 PM

Max, is the virtual machine a cloud computing process, or is it software you've put on your server to isolate the Mudcat software stack?

http://suif.stanford.edu/papers/sosp03-terra.pdf

I've been doing some reading.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Max
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 04:42 PM

Nice try Joe, but how about:

Booker T. Washington White (November 12, 1909 – February 26, 1977),[1] better known as Bukka White, was an American Delta blues guitarist and singer. "Bukka" was not a nickname, but a phonetic misspelling of White's given name Booker, by his second (1937) record label (Vocalion).

SRS, I have a virtual machine running on my primary workstation here in the Cabin of Solitude. I've been building about a dozen different flavors for my work with Philip K Dick's journals and just offloaded our production server to PSU computers on Friday, so I thought...

Also, Chartbeat is a product/service that I've been using (paying for) for a couple years now. The admin console shows me even more than that public panel, and sends me alerts when certain preconceived criteria events occur. Great product.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 04:47 PM

I thought of Bukka White, Max - but I thought you always gave your servers names from the Far East.

And see, folks, he ain't tellin' the name of the new server, is he? And why is that, you ask. It's because he's Max Spiegel, International Man of Mystery....

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Max
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 05:01 PM

I've been keeping the secret for years Joe... only because I didn't know how to tell you...

Our server... for like 15 years now... is called...   

Joe Offer.

You're just a computer Joe. I'm sorry, I know you so badly want to be a real boy but...

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Max
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 05:03 PM

And I only name my children names from the far east. Servers, with one exception, are always blues names.

(You don't know how close Bodhi (my son) came to being named Lightning... or Taj.)

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: stallion
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 05:25 PM

wow this is quick, great!

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 08:32 PM

Well, gee, Max, if I can't be a real boy, can you at least stop my nose from growing?

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 08:53 PM

Max, I once named a firewall server "Uriel." I figured the name worked either way.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 09:00 PM

All Singing All dancing here in UK - AND mudChat - Thanks again Max

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Amos
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 11:43 PM

This is the fastest I have ever seen the Cat fly, Max. Awesome job.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: GUEST,Beachcomber
Date: 03 Dec 12 - 07:23 AM

Yes in deed, a fantastic improvement speed wise. I'm in Ireland BTW.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: fat B****rd
Date: 03 Dec 12 - 07:30 AM

Speeeeeeedeeeeee or what!
Thank you.

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: Mysha
Date: 03 Dec 12 - 09:09 AM

Hi,

Had problems connecting sometime during the weekend. Once Mudcat was found, everything loaded quickly.

Bye
                                                                Mysha

Subject: RE: Tech: New Mudcat Server, Updated Search
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 03 Dec 12 - 11:23 PM

I'm going to be spilling liquids all over my keyboard. I am used to clicking, picking up my mug, and taking a sip while Mudcat does its thing. Now I can't raise the mug very high before the new page appears and my hand changes direction to put the mug down without my having sipped! This may sound like a complaint, but it really isn't! Thanks, Max, for a zippy 'Cat.