This thread is a follow up to the below linked thread:
So we were forced to remove the shoutbox from the main page of the site due to increased activity and continual site slowdown related to the box. Since removing the box there has a drastic drop in server load averages and the site seems much faster and more responsive. Where as before Saturday I was waiting 3-5 seconds every time I clicked a link, now its rare that I see 3 seconds of load time after each click. The shoutbox was still available of course, but only by clicking the shoutbox tab. The reason the site is so much faster after the change, is because the shoutbox tab is actually linking you to somewhere else. The shoutbox is hosted on a different site, made to look identical to this site, for the sole purpose of providing the shoutbox without effecting this sites server load.
This has worked well, and the site speed increase is noticeable, but I know that some members miss having the shoutbox on the main page. I started brainstorming ideas, and I have found the solution.
The shoutbox will be returning to the main page, for now, just on the Nikola style, while I test the functionality of what I am going to do. Without going into to much technical computer talk, I am basically going to put a window on the main page, where the shoutbox used to be. The shoutbox on the duplicate site will stream into this window. To you, the members, it will look identical, it will just be like the shoutbox is on the main page. The major difference being that our sites speed will not be effected at all, because this site will not be loading the shoutbox, your computer's browser will.
There is one catch to the new method. Since the shoutbox is streaming from a second site, it will require a second login. Upon first loading the homepage after I make the change, you will see a login box in the new window. Log in with your same username and password that you use on this site. The shoutbox will then display.
Expect this some time today, and please remember, for the time being it will only be on the Nikola style, which is the 2nd most used style.
Please let me or any staff members know of any questions.
So we were forced to remove the shoutbox from the main page of the site due to increased activity and continual site slowdown related to the box. Since removing the box there has a drastic drop in server load averages and the site seems much faster and more responsive. Where as before Saturday I was waiting 3-5 seconds every time I clicked a link, now its rare that I see 3 seconds of load time after each click. The shoutbox was still available of course, but only by clicking the shoutbox tab. The reason the site is so much faster after the change, is because the shoutbox tab is actually linking you to somewhere else. The shoutbox is hosted on a different site, made to look identical to this site, for the sole purpose of providing the shoutbox without effecting this sites server load.
This has worked well, and the site speed increase is noticeable, but I know that some members miss having the shoutbox on the main page. I started brainstorming ideas, and I have found the solution.
The shoutbox will be returning to the main page, for now, just on the Nikola style, while I test the functionality of what I am going to do. Without going into to much technical computer talk, I am basically going to put a window on the main page, where the shoutbox used to be. The shoutbox on the duplicate site will stream into this window. To you, the members, it will look identical, it will just be like the shoutbox is on the main page. The major difference being that our sites speed will not be effected at all, because this site will not be loading the shoutbox, your computer's browser will.
There is one catch to the new method. Since the shoutbox is streaming from a second site, it will require a second login. Upon first loading the homepage after I make the change, you will see a login box in the new window. Log in with your same username and password that you use on this site. The shoutbox will then display.
Expect this some time today, and please remember, for the time being it will only be on the Nikola style, which is the 2nd most used style.
Please let me or any staff members know of any questions.
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