Image hosting for FSTDTers!

[Keiro]

So... I said in IRC that I could set up a domain and an image hosting gallery for everyone on FSTDT.

I've been noticing and hearing people complain on here and in IRC even though I've been here a short time.

As for why, it's my way of thanking L for showing me this place. >>;

So yeah, thoughts? Comments? Yay, nay? Or what? I need further input on whether this is a good idea and if I should go ahead with it.

Also, for those who may ask, yes, 18+ images can be uploaded and shared.

My thinking is to ensure that the 18+ images are locked so that only FSTDTers can see said images. The problem with that is implementing it, but I think I'll figure it out eventually. e.e

[The_L]

The problem is that Proboards doesn't care for 18+ images at all. And we don't want to lose our forums.

If you were to do this, it'd have to be completely unconnected to the forums in any way.

[Keiro]

I could do forums too. >_>;

I should see if I can't get Proboards installed... I'll be back with that.

The point I'm making is that there's too many instances of images disappearing because websites whap them. (Photobucket, I'm looking at you!)

Edit: Looks like you can't use Proboards.

This looks suspiciously like SMF, though.

I'm referring to simplemachines.org

But I could be wrong. Not sure what this forum software is, though. I'll look into it further if needed.

Edit 2: Also, yay for autoinstallers of Forum software. >_>

[SimSim]

Proboards does use SMF.

[Keiro]

... In that case, SMF's not that hard to get up and running. It's just irritating to not be able to see the version numbers.

My guess is that it's 1.11.2... or something similar. I KNOW it's one of the older 1.xx versions.

Either way, still very easy to transfer over to a forum under FSTDT's own control with no need to worry about whether or not you'd be whapped for having 18+ content.

... At least, s'long as you have access to the database hosting this particular forums. -shrug-

But yeah, I'm still somewhat unsure as to how to do the photo gallery thing, a la Photobucket.

[SimSim]

The forum won't be self for quite a while. Distind has made it clear that RL stuff keeps him very busy and that when he works on the site that the main site is his main priority.

As for the photo gallery, there are several software programs for it. But I've never managed to find one that I like. If it isn't against your hosts ToS, why not let people (S)FTP stuff? But that maybe too much of an issue. There's probably some better options.

[Keiro]

Nov 14, 2010 21:03:47 GMT -5 SimSim said:

The forum won't be self for quite a while. Distind has made it clear that RL stuff keeps him very busy and that when he works on the site that the main site is his main priority.

Understood.

Nov 14, 2010 21:03:47 GMT -5 SimSim said:

As for the photo gallery, there are several software programs for it. But I've never managed to find one that I like. If it isn't against your hosts ToS, why not let people (S)FTP stuff? But that maybe too much of an issue. There's probably some better options.

Indeed, there's quite a few in WHM that I can install via Softaculous.

As for the host ToS... I'm not worried. I own the company, and therefore... the servers hosting stuff. I can let people SFTP stuff, but I think that's more hassle than it's worth.

I will, however, be testing the photo galleries, and shortly will be needing people to test out the galleries and give me feedback, so I can A. settle on a gallery people like, B. Set it up properly so people of FSTDT can upload to it whenever they like.

I'm thinking of locking it to FSTDTers only, but it'd be just a bit difficult to do, what with verifying that FSTDTers have access to here, and enabling such access.

I suppose I COULD limit it to where people sign up = limited access, after verification, full access.

Lots of stuff to think about. xD But I'll be back here with further details on how I'm proceeding on this one.

[Distind]

Nov 15, 2010 6:10:21 GMT -5 Keiro said:

I'm thinking of locking it to FSTDTers only, but it'd be just a bit difficult to do, what with verifying that FSTDTers have access to here, and enabling such access.

I suppose I COULD limit it to where people sign up = limited access, after verification, full access.

Well, I'll offer up two things, if you find an asp.net solution that isn't all to database heavy I can host it and probably tie it into my existing authentication. Otherwise, I could setup a special redirect or some other form of authentication transfer if you can dig something up.

I'm actually sitting on some user based updates because I don't think it's enough to be worth releasing, that said, I'm pretty damn quick with simple changes, only nothing I'm working on now is anywhere near simple. So, if you had something fairly simple to either share existing accounts, or setup a sign up referral system through the user interface that I have together I'll hop on it.

As for forum replacement, I've back burnered it for a few reasons, my own time being probably the foremost, the lack of restrictions on what can be said, and the simple fact the damn things stay up without me having to wrestle with them. Should I actually get these updates I've been working on finished I'll start looking back into it, but as things stand I'm not expecting it to be any time soon, and having to deal with the typical server issues with just a few individuals behind it would lead to longer outages when they do happen, and more time being stuffed into it rather than the work I'd like to get done.

[Keiro]

Nov 15, 2010 20:43:02 GMT -5 Distind said:

Nov 15, 2010 6:10:21 GMT -5 Keiro said:

I'm thinking of locking it to FSTDTers only, but it'd be just a bit difficult to do, what with verifying that FSTDTers have access to here, and enabling such access.

I suppose I COULD limit it to where people sign up = limited access, after verification, full access.

Well, I'll offer up two things, if you find an asp.net solution that isn't all to database heavy I can host it and probably tie it into my existing authentication. Otherwise, I could setup a special redirect or some other form of authentication transfer if you can dig something up.

Sure can! There's the Mono Project for Linux that allows you to run ASP.net applications on Linux. I've actually successfully set up several ASP.net applications to run off Mono on this. Of course, this is for servers running Linux, which is what I am running on all servers.

Edit: Wait, I just realized that you're running Windows, which requires ASP.net. Eff me for realizing this nearly too late. The solution above would work, but not quite for Windows. It's meant for Windows. Though if you're using dedicated servers, it'd allow you to get rid of Windows and therefore, of the Windows tax for using it on the servers. >_>;

I suspect there's something we can work with here, for methods of authentication. I'd need a bit more info though, to be able to continue further with development.

I'll come back to you on those once I look at what I can do to help in this regard.

Nov 15, 2010 20:43:02 GMT -5 Distind said:

I'm actually sitting on some user based updates because I don't think it's enough to be worth releasing, that said, I'm pretty damn quick with simple changes, only nothing I'm working on now is anywhere near simple. So, if you had something fairly simple to either share existing accounts, or setup a sign up referral system through the user interface that I have together I'll hop on it.

No updates are too small, in my opinion. Release them, I'd say, but I'm guessing you'd rather wait til you can release updates all at once, rather than as each updates are made?

You mean through Proboards at the moment? There are SMF-to-someotherapp bridges, but I'm not entirely too sure how these work well, and for image galleries. Only thing I can do is test and see what breaks. Obviously, not on FSTDT. >_>

Though I somehow suspect that's not all what you meant.

Nov 15, 2010 20:43:02 GMT -5 Distind said:

As for forum replacement, I've back burnered it for a few reasons, my own time being probably the foremost, the lack of restrictions on what can be said, and the simple fact the damn things stay up without me having to wrestle with them. Should I actually get these updates I've been working on finished I'll start looking back into it, but as things stand I'm not expecting it to be any time soon, and having to deal with the typical server issues with just a few individuals behind it would lead to longer outages when they do happen, and more time being stuffed into it rather than the work I'd like to get done.

I admit, you've got my curiousity piqued about updates, and what they entail.

My support teams Level I to III and I, tend to monitor issues with the servers hosting and usually are onto the issue even before customers are aware of it!

The only real outages we've dealt with so far are network outages outside of our datacenters, and those are pretty normal, considering the Internet's nature. That's pretty much it. Failed hardware tends to be replaced within one hour but usually much less.

I'm curious as to what you mean by "the lack of what can be said"? It sounds like you want to ensure there're stuff in place to prevent things from slipping out, but I could be wrong on this one.

As for forum replacements, we've actually developed methods for ensuring transfers go smoothly, as well as setting things up exactly or nearly exactly the same way it was set up before.

If there's one thing that's been drummed into me, it's always double-check the transfers and test to make sure they actually work! The same for backups.

Not sure what else I can say, though. I'll come back here once I've actually set stuff up on a domain.

[Distind]

Sorry about the lack of reply, been stuck at work longer than I'd like lately.

I will say I must have missed something earlier, because I hadn't expected someone with their own hosting already together, let along what you're describing. I may just change my opinion on some of this.

But one thing I can explain, lately there's been a bit of an issue with people not being able to post porn, or anything particularly close. Which I have a really hard time giving a shit about, as porn is more or less the most abundant resource on the internet aside from stupid. Other than that ProBoards doesn't have any limitations on what we actually say, just no porn.

The rest can probably be chalked up to me being half out of it lately.