Forum Upgrade Pending

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Yes, it's that time again, after four years of continuous operations.

Details have been provided in a new announcement posted on every forum, but I will quote it below for ease-of-access.

You may use this thread to discuss software-related operational concerns and suggestions, or to simply post questions as they occur to you. Try not to whinge too much, this new package is costing me enough time & money as it is!

Ladies & Gentlemen,

This is just to advise you that a major Forum upgrade is planned for sometime in the very near future.

The base software package will be upgraded from v2.3.5 to v3.6.8; this is to (1), rectify certain errors such as the auto-mailer function (lost passwords etc); (2), give us better control over potential spammers and spambots trying to register; (3), streamline Forum speed & efficiency, and (4), generally increase Forum security on all levels.

You will all be given at least 24 hours' notice prior to this upgrade, and the anticipated down-time will be anywhere from four hours to one day.

This is because the complexity of the newer software; while all IDs, passwords, PMs and posts etc WILL be saved, anything not embedded in the database will have to be reconfigured, with any specialised graphics and all files governing look & layout reloaded and tested until we're satisfied we have replicated what we have now as much as is possible.

Most of these should be transparent to you after the fact, but there WILL be new features you will be urged to investigate before you get stuck in to your usual traffic.

Immediately I post this announcement I shall also start a specific thread in the Sergeants' Mess governing the upgrade, so that you have an outlet through which you can voice your comments, concerns and suggestions. I will address what issues I can, when I can.

Because our membership is scattered across the four corners of the earth, some here are inevitably going to be impacted more than others. All I can promise is that before I take this down to back-up and upgrade, I'll conduct a study to determine the time of least impact.

That is all.

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

This thread is also posted in the Sergeants' Mess. Please confine your answers to that thread in order to keep all together, thanks.

Jif