Server Crash: 08 January 2010

Post by **Paul-R** » 25 Jan 2010, 11:05

Did you mean Spinrite from Gibson Research?

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 25 Jan 2010, 19:29

Good news everybody!
Todays outage was caused by a powercut.
This means that the server and website were not at fault.
It also means that the next thing on my shopping list is a UPS, basically a battery backup which tells the server that the power's been cut, so best shut down nice and safely, then powers it back up once the mains comes back online.

Post by **CitroJim** » 25 Jan 2010, 19:35

Xac wrote:

Good news everybody!
Todays outage was caused by a powercut.

That's good news Xac!

Had me worried for a few moments but I knew it was in safe hands

Check the event logs for any crashed MySQL tables but I reckon it is all OK as both forums are back working fine..

UPS essential I reckon....

Love the cartoon of Farnsworth

Quality

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 25 Jan 2010, 19:35

So it wasn't the missus logging on to go browsing on ebay then Xac!?

Those battery back up jobbies tend to only last 5 minutes - just enough
to power down properly! Unless you have a spare Xantia battery or even
a generator!?

Andrew

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 25 Jan 2010, 19:43

A couple of minutes is really all you need.
If you want something to last during a power outage, it's generator time.
Hmm, I do have one, but it's string start....

Danielle actually got it back online as she was home before me

It's great having IT support that also feeds and looks after you!

Andrew, I take it now you're OK viewing the site from all your devices?

I'll be talking to the sales guys at work tomorrow about getting a UPS or two.

Post by **CitroJim** » 25 Jan 2010, 19:51

Xac,

I have a UPS here that will keep a server running for about 30 minutes..

I've just re-batteried it. It had a duff battery but then I remembered I had a spare battery pack squirreled away.

It's currently on charge...

Yours if it proves OK after a charge and a stress test.

It's an APC750XL (the biggie with the massive battery)...

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 25 Jan 2010, 19:59

That would be fantastic Jim!

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 25 Jan 2010, 20:13

Xac wrote:Andrew, I take it now you're OK viewing the site from all your devices?

I DO tend to keep experiencing cache problems
though it may be the number of Activae bleeding me dry?

So, it's iSlate Wednesday then when the Messiah rises again
and turns the whole World upside down (again?)?

Andrew

Old-Guy · Post by **Old-Guy** » 26 Jan 2010, 10:53

Xac

At the risk of teaching grandad....

I have in the past encountered a good many UPSs that have failed to do their stuff when needed. Leaving aside those where users expect the UPS to keep a PC running for hours or it's under-rated:

- The batteries in UPSs tend to need to be replacing every couple of years - test off-line with a spare 'load' every 6 months. Constant trickle charge with the occasional deep discharge isn't the best way to prolong the life of a lead-acid battery.

- A UPS really needs to be able to hold up the server (and screen) for at least two automatic shut-downs in succession without being exhausted.

- The server BIOS needs to be set to NOT start automatically on power restore.

Otherwise, in the common circumstances when the mains goes Off & On several times, the UPS gets exhausted and the server O/S (unless it's Linux) loses the plot.

Guy