Im looking to upgrade the servers that the site runs on (In the US).  The upgrade will result in a massive improvement in performance and stability of BM.  However, it will mean several planned server outages.   Also, as im on an SQL 2005 course at the moment, I'm realising the importance of weeding out old data.  The bigger the database is, the more records there are, the slower the site is to perform.   For this reason, I have decided that the following data will be 'weeded out' on the specified dates... Forum messages, displaying only 12 months data Private messages, deleted after 3 months (When was the last time you went through more than 5 pages of your PMs?).  PMs will have a 'Save' features which stops them being purged. Chatroom chat, logs now held in the database at great expense.  Will be just 2 weeks records from now on though Matchmaker alerts - deleted if you havent been to the site in 3 months Site log files, holding visitor information, deleted after 1 month.  Dont ask me to investigte issues that were over 1 month ago Plus whatever else I think of later. Let me know if this causes concern, its not yet set in stone.   Cheers                                                                                                                                                                             

its a good idea matt get rid of the old make room for the new                                                                                                                                                                                 

im putting into practice some of the things ive learnt over the past few days on the database course.   Therefore please accept my apologies in advance as the site speed will be going up and down a lot whilst indexes are rebuilt etc   ta                                                                                                                                                                             

Got a problem.   If I purge the forums... then everyone's post-count will get cocked up.   Eeek!                                                                                                                                                                             

  Does it matter? It doesn't matter to me if my post count goes down, it will look like I don't gas as much as I do ROFL ...besides...I like a good purge lol                                                                                                                                                                                

Ooooo, I can see where I live now! Or did it do that before?                                                                                                                                                                              

no must be a thingy matt has done di lol                                                                                                                                                                               

  I asked Matt if he could add the member's area to the avatars, it makes it easier when folk say 'it's raining HERE' (like er...where is 'here'? lol) also helps when folk are arranging meetings, they can see at a glance who lives in their area/surrounding areas.                                                                                                                                                                              

I'd rather not be reminded actually!                                                                                                                                                                              

Yea it was one of Kwak's better ideas, lol.   Thinking of something I can do about the forum posts thing, will make the site quicker too if i do it.                                                                                                                                                                             

  That's about as clear as mud Matt lol   'forum posts thing'??                                                                                                                                                                              

Quote Matt:   Got a problem.   If I purge the forums... then everyone's post-count will get cocked up.   Eeek!   Your memory is worse than mine ffs!                                                                                                                                                                             

  Nothing wrong with my memory, Deb                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                             

SORRY EVERYONE - I JUST TOOK THE SITE OUT BY ACCIDENT! LOL Was whilst addressing the forum post count issue.  :-)                                                                                                                                                                             

At least it wasn't me breaking it this time                                                                                                                                                                              

  or me! Di lol   Matt, I didn't know you had, til ya told us lol (I wasn't on line)                                                                                                                                                                               

yea it was down for about 5 minutes (ooops).   Just trying to "accessorise" the site a little (Sorry had to get that word in, challenge by a smelly friend sat next to me).                                                                                                                                                                             

Is he still eating marmite on toast?                                                                                                                                                                              

yukkkkkkkk marmite