dMw Community Funds / Donations

TeaLeaf · January 10, 2004, 06:19:36 PM

Planned Server Upgrade
We advised you in this thread that there was some planned server maintenance that is likely to occur on either Saturday 24th or 31st January. We would now like to outline some of the work that we will be carrying out.

Switch from Linux to Windows
As some of you may know, the Linux code written by Valve for Steam is at best ghastly and at worst crashes the server - in short it sucks like a big sucky thing from the hoover factory. Linux boxes that comfortably ran 4-6 CS servers under 1.5 are now struggling to run a single 16 person server on the same box under the Steam code. This is a Steam-wide issue and there has been no response or comment from Valve since Steam came out. It is highly likely that the lousy Valve binaries for Linux account for some if not most of the ping issues that we have been experiencing during gameplay. Windows servers do not appear to be having these problems. In addition we have an expensive 3com server nic which we are currently unable to get to work alongside the onboard nic due to some 2.4 kernel issues.

The community's Debian (2.4 kernel) Linux box has a Pentium IV 2.0GHz with 1.0GB PC2100 RAM and currently runs 3 x 16 person servers and the forums. In order to help the lag issues and solve the dual nic problem we intend to install Windows 2003 Server and sadly, say goodbye to Linux for the timebeing.

Hardware Specification Upgrade
We rarely visit the server farm so it makes good sense to carry out any upgrades to hardware whilst we undertake the change from Linux to Windows. Our current motherboard will support up to PC2700 RAM and a PIV 2.8GHz (533Mhz)processor. The Admins have debated at some length what if anything to upgrade during this maintenance visit. We have concluded that it is not worth upgrading the motherboard to move to 64-bit CPUs just yet as the 64 bit binaries are not yet available and the technology is still overpriced. However as a cost-effective interim upgrade we have decided to install a new CPU and some new RAM as follows:

CPU Upgrade: Intel Pentium 4 2.8GHz (533FSB) - Â£156.28
RAM Upgrade: TwinMOS 1GB (2x512MB) DDR PC3200 Dual Channel Kit - Â£110.16
plus a small amount for postage.

We could save Â£2 by buying PC2700, but buying PC3200 will mean we can (hopefully) use it again on a future hardware upgrade. In the mean time the memory will quite happily auto-underclock to PC2700 speeds when we fit it.

The effect of the change to Windows and the upgraded hardware should, we are hoping, make a significant difference to the quality of the gameplay the community enjoys.

Important
We are hoping to raise the funds for the upgrade via community donations. If you wish to donate money please visit the Dead Men Walking home page and click on the Donate button located at the lower right corner. Alternatively, click here to donate NOW.

All donations are gratefully accepted. The funds will be audited and controlled by TeaLeaf, Oldbloke and Stryker. Any surplus will be declared to the community and retained for community use. Any surplus hardware will be offered to the community for sale or re-use.

Thank you.

The Admins.

Note: The donation service is provided via Paypal who deduct a 3.4% plus 20p fee from each donation. Alternatively you may make an electronic funds transfer from your bank (send a PM to TeaLeaf for details). As a last resort then you can send a cheque c/o TeaLeaf (PM TL for info).

TeaLeaf · January 10, 2004, 07:07:57 PM

Donations received since the post at 6.19pm this evening:

Â£135.00

Way to go peeps - keep it coming!

TL.

TeaLeaf · January 10, 2004, 09:43:55 PM

Donations received since the post at 6.19pm this evening:

Â£155.00

:thumbsup:

TL.

TeaLeaf · January 10, 2004, 11:00:02 PM

Donations received since the post at 6.19pm this evening:

Â£165.00

:thumbsup:

Another ton and we are there

TL.

Anonymous · January 10, 2004, 11:12:04 PM

C'mon guys

Â£10 each from Charlie company should raise Â£300

Woohoo!

Please send aforementioned Â£350 quid to me and you can owe me the other Â£50

Dr Sadako · January 10, 2004, 11:29:03 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by TeaLeaf@Jan 10 2004, 07:19 PM
Note: The donation service is provided via Paypal who deduct a 3.4% plus 20p fee from each donation.

This isn't as bad as it sounds. I donated Â£50 through paypal and the dMw Community Fund gets:

Â£50 x 0.966-0.20 = Â£48.10

Any size of donation is welcome! :worship: :thumbsup: Keep it coming!

TeaLeaf · January 11, 2004, 01:04:16 AM

Donations received since the post at 6.19pm this evening:

Â£180.00

:thumbsup:

Just another Â£90 or so and we are there

TL.

TeaLeaf · January 11, 2004, 01:26:49 AM

Donations received in the last 6 hours:

Â£230.00

:thumbsup:

You're doing us proud - just another Â£40 or so and we are there

TL.

TeaLeaf · January 11, 2004, 02:03:17 AM

Donations received in the last 7 hours:

Â£270.00

The total raised should buy us the hardware

Well done peeps :worship: Yet again, the benefits of the dMw community are clearly demonstrated. w2g :thumbsup:

If you still feel generous then please do continue to donate. We will eventually move to a 64 bit platform so as to maintain the quality of the game play that members here enjoy and that will, I am sure, cost no small sum. Any and all surplus donations will be clearly ring-fenced and TeaLeaf, Stryker and Olbloke will have full details so that a clear audit trail can be followed.

On behalf of the Admins may I thank you for your generosity.

TL.

smilodon · January 11, 2004, 02:56:56 AM

Sterling work there TeaLeaf and hurrah to us all. If I didn't know better I'd say you were some sort of Accountant Type.................. :huh:

I can see my coat from here

TeaLeaf · January 11, 2004, 04:29:54 PM

Donations received in the last 24 hours:

Â£290.00

And the truck keeps rolling

You're doing a fine job peeps, the extra money will go towards the next upgrade to 64 bit computing, when prices come down that is!

TL.

TeaLeaf · January 11, 2004, 09:48:57 PM

Donations received in the last 24 hours:

Â£360.00

We are now starting to build up a good sized fund for the next server upgrade, so I will look into opening an account for the community. That will mean better accountability for the funds as they will be in an official dMw account.

As I have said many time before in this thread - w2g peeps! BTW, Paypal is excellent for small donations, so if you only want to chuck in a couple of quid, then please do

TL.

DuVeL · January 11, 2004, 10:11:11 PM

Can I also do it by bankaccount? Lots easier 4 me.

TeaLeaf · January 11, 2004, 10:43:23 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by DuVeL@Jan 11 2004, 10:11 PM
Can I also do it by bankaccount? Lots easier 4 me.

You can, if your Dutch bank will allow you to transfer money to a UK-based Sterling account, but it is likely to cost a fair bit more to you than letting Paypal do it and it will be a damn sight more difficult. If you want to send it to me by bank transfer then PM me and I'll give you the details, otherwise just click on the Paypal link.

TL.

albert · January 11, 2004, 10:58:02 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by TeaLeaf@Jan 11 2004, 10:48 PM
Donations received in the last 24 hours:

Â£360.00

We are now starting to build up a good sized fund for the next server upgrade, so I will look into opening an account for the community. That will mean better accountability for the funds as they will be in an official dMw account.

As I have said many time before in this thread - w2g peeps! BTW, Paypal is excellent for small donations, so if you only want to chuck in a couple of quid, then please do

TL.

We need to appoint internal audit

. Or trustees. Or whatever to make sure you old gits don't go off on a bender with the cash. LOL. I can see it now, "Report from TeaLeaf, Oldie and Strykers Ibiza fortnight." :lol: