Saddletramp
GOLD Star
It can be done cheaper, probably half or less. Same reasoning behind purchasing OEM parts
I spend a couple hours daily on other sites related to the forum software, the various addons, forums geared towards forum admins, etc....ensuring the setup here is updated and secure, plus researching additional features that might be useful. THEN researching those developers to ensure they aren't flakes (there are a bunch, and I've screwed that up more than once).
7TB+ of monthly data transfer
The server spec as of Sept 2018 (our last major move)
Code:32 Cores @ 2.6 Ghz (2 x E5-2640 V3) 128 GB of DDR4 ECC RAM 120 GB of Redundant SSD (2 x 120 GB in RAID 1) 1.6 TB of NVMe Flash 20Gbps Bonded Network
I think we've upgraded the server since then....FYI, that server "move" was from Dallas to SLC and not one user noticed that it even happened We DID have one user report a split-second of downtime 10ish years ago when we moved from NV to TX, but considering I was on the lakebed for KOH, I guess that was understandable I know major software updates/changes have caused down time, but always scheduled as best it can.
I have a sysadmin in Kansas City that does the hard labor for this stuff, and he's been good for the 10ish years I've had him under contract.
I DO appreciate the concern for site security, longevity, etc....but MUD ain't goin' nowheres
Thank you Woody for chiming in and adding your official MUD perspective. I for one can appreciate the challenges you and your team go through to keep this fun going.
Cheers to you. Keep up the terrific work