Important Message Re DIS Boards From W/M Alex

[CarolAnnC]

Many of you have asked why the board performance has suffered lately. The reason is very simple, too much success! During the day we are seeing upwards of a 1000 people online. The database software that we are using simply can't handle that kind of load.
We have been trying various things to improve board performance untill a permanent, long term solution can be found. One thing we want to look at is email notification.
Starting at midnite tonite there will be NO email notification of replies to posts or private messages for 24 hours. We need to run some tests to assess the impact on performance and to try to localize problems. You will still get PM's you will just not recieve a notification via email. You can turn on "pop up" notification for PM's from the control panel.


__________________
Alex
webmasteralex@wdwinfo.com

 

[Parrotheader]

I've seen a lot of boards across the Web face this same problem. Most of the one's I've encountered have had to use the following measures to survive:

1a) Either eliminate the search function completely
-OR-
1b) Limit the search function to the subject field only. MUCH less processing/hard drive thrashing required and still offering decent functionality. You just have to educate users to make their subject field relevant, as most here are.

2) Limit the number of private messages.

3) Disable e-mail notification.

4) Create pop-up ad nightmare to fund additional forum servers.

5) Make forum paid-subscriber based only. I've actually signed on board for a few of these since there are some I use regularly enough to justify the cost. For a site such as this where your main intent seems to be helping a casual visitor plan a once or twice a year vacation that may be a hard sell. There are a lot of regulars here though. It's just a matter of priorities I guess.

Good luck getting things up to speed.

 

[Joe & Joanne]

Hi Alex
Perhaps these suggestions would help?

Cut out the additional info in the Signature block.

Cut out the links to counters, jpeg and Gif files in the body of the text except in message itself.

Email notification can be observed when checking onto board instead of sending a separate one. Same for PMs as in the block at the bottom the First Page.

I would think a $24.95 charge for a yearly subscription would not be out of the question. It could be tiered, full posting $24.95 for a year, Discounts for DU bookings or transfers, Read posts only $6.00 a year or $1.00 per month.

May be out of line here but this board has already saved me quite a bit of money on cruise planning.

 

[trishy]

A subscriber fee is very reasonable - just today I saved $20 on a hotel reservation because of the DIS. I agree that serious people who come to the boards will be willing to subscribe and it will "weed out" those casual lurkers. I'd rather pay a subscription fee than watch those nuisance pop-up ads. However, I love to see the gif and jpg pictures (and post them!!!) - they can be very entertaining. Email notification is a luxury not a necessity. I hate to see the DIS boards suffer from overpopulation. Hope the input helps. The DIS rocks!!!