TOCH Down :(

[FalkeEins]

..just logged in..and its working. Yay! Feel like posting something, anything...

[oquaig]

I live in California. I haven't been able to log on between 11 pm and 6 am GMT. Didn't always seem to be that way until the last few months. I keep getting an error message saying the server is down. I just assumed the server was shut down in the wee hours of the morning (European time). From what everyone else is posting, there is a larger problem. I would hate to see TOCH disappear. So much for the internet replacing the libraries...

[edwest2]

Replace libraries? What a joke. A reminder. The Luftwaffe Archives and Records Group and its research is gone. The Luftwaffe Experten Message Board is an archive now. For how long? Who knows? I can still log in. Others cannot. Unlike physical books which most of us own, when something online goes, it's gone. And the wonderful thing about discussion forums is a lack of an index. Sure, you can search but there's no standard combination of words. You could see: ? JG 7 or Does anybody know 3./JG 7 and other combinations that will make searching difficult.

Libraries with real books and magazines are much, much better. It would be a real shame to see years of research disappear forever.

[TigerTimon]

Honestly: is this forum dying? Currently, I am the only member online. Is this real? It should be said that it is summer and it is good to be outside with this weather.

[FalkeEins]

I tried a few hours ago. Couldn't get in. Now - obviously - I am. Just two of us here. Might as well go and watch Michael Mittelmeier on youtube

[musec04]

Hello Ruy,


You wrote back in May that the problems with TOCH left you with the following options.



1. Continue doing nothing until it breaks
2. Update vBulletin to latest version
3. Migrate to another forum application


It would be nice to have an update if you have time. Currently with the forum falling over regularly, de facto option 1 appears to be in force. As you see from posts earlier today users are concerned that TOCH is dying. I hope this is not the case,but surely you would agree that the users of the board in general,particularly those who have posted regularly from the start (so not myself), need to know what progress if any has occured.



I am not an IT specialist nor have I played one on TV, but I'd like to ask a question and make a suggestion. Given that the amount of data on the forums does not seem to increase greatly between the times that TOCH 'falls over',is it possible that failures are not related to the amount of data,but rather to the amount of users on the forums instead? both members and non-members viewing the site.If this is the case,would having members only access to TOCH help? As I say I'm not an IT person so may well be talking rubbish.


This is not an option I'd choose voluntarily,but may be better than the current situation.If members are deciding to no longer visit, the site is dead in any case. Personally I'd like to see the site follow your option number 2 and as I've said before would be prepared to aff a little to the financing the upgrade.



Regards,


Clint

[Chris Goss]

I would be very sad to see TOCH sink slowly. As you know, I use it and help on it frequently as the breath of knowledge of the members is massive. It is a vital tool for experienced and inexperienced members

[Teresa Maria]

I also hope the forum can be saved. I have been having trouble logging in for the last few weeks. I wondered whether it was a problem with my browser or with the forum. On the one hand, I am relieved that my browser is working properly, but on the other hand, the problems with the forum are disquieting. By the way, can the archived files be downloaded, saved on disks and uploaded later? It would be a pity if they were lost.