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ActiveRain site issues fixing stuff (official post thingy)

Individual commitment to a group effort -- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.

- Vince Lombardi -

At times over the past few weeks ActiveRain has been slow and even sometimes unresponsive. I want everyone to know that we know about the problems and take them very seriously. Our members invest themselves to create content with the hopes that it will eventually reach their customers or other industry professionals. It is our calling and responsibility to ensure that we maintain the platform so that when your customers and colleagues try to find you, they can.

We are very dedicated to fixing our site stability problems and have invested significant resources towards this goal. The root cause of the problem has been the significant consumer traffic increases that we have been experiencing on a month over month basis; we are now seeing over 1.5 million visits to ActiveRain each month! We initially built this community on a shoestring budget so at times during our initial growth we had to take shortcuts just to make things work. We are paying for those shortcuts now, but the good news is that we now have the funding to build the infrastructure correctly, and we have made significant progress on that front over the past 5 months.

I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Below is a list of our current initiatives. They make up what we believe to be the final tasks to bringing ActiveRain to the robust professional level where it needs to be:

1. We are in the process of upgrading the hardware on all of our
servers, which should substantially improve performance. At the same
time we are also doubling the number of web servers.

2. We've contracted with another firm to provide 24 hour a day
maintenance and support for our systems. They will be able to react
to any issues that come up much faster, and will also be working with
us to make sure the system as a whole is stable.

3. We've moved some of our development resources from new projects to
fixing a few issues that have been identified.

My heartfelt thanks go to all of you for engaging your peers and your clients through ActiveRain. The near future holds some great opportunities and with your involvement we will move the real estate world forward.

Posted by Jonathan Washburn on 04/16/2008 01:16 PM

Comments (71)

activerain

Originally posted at: jonwashburn: ActiveRain site issues fixing stuff (official post thingy)

71 Comments on ActiveRain site issues fixing stuff (official post thingy)

APR

2008

Jonathan, thanks for the update. I suspected growing pains were at the heart of this - I had no idea. However, now that we're approaching 85,000 I know that changes are inevitable to handle that kind of volume.

Thanks for all the updating and upgrading. Activerain is still the best community and am proud and glad that you are doing the right thing to keep it that way.

Jon- I always like transparency. People can accept almost anything as long as they know what it is...this tech stuff for a platform this large has got to be a nightmare when you thought it was just going to be a small back office operation... LOL :) thanks for everything.

***I love your VW Bus, it's a classic***

Thanks for letting us in on the official status of the technical thingies. Technical thingies are known to misbehave when confined to small spaces and become disgruntled when there is lack of room to roam about the realm. These improvements should please the technical thingies. Thank you.

thanks for letting us know. I was wondering what was going at night, HST, I am unable to connect with Active Rain at all ... the message states internal error.

Jonathan - Thanks for the update and it sounds like AR is getting BIGGER and BETTER....each day.

Jonathan...

I loved the part about the short cuts. Ever notice how those damn things either catch up to us or get us lost :)

I still think I should get extra points for the patience I have shown in relation to commenting in spite of the fact that AR keeps Burping on me :)

Okay...On a more serious note...Thanks for letting us all know.

Some of the member's were concerned that perhaps no on liked them :)

TLW...ROAR!

Here in Texas we don't mind an occasional 'Slow Rain'.

Thanks for keeping us in the loop about 'our' little place!!

Jonathan - thanks for the updates and all of your efforts to continue to ensure this is the BEST place to be on the Internet. It HAS been pretty frustrating, especially when there is little time to spend on writing, etc. Keep up the good work.

Jeff

Thanks for the update it has been somewhat frustrating over the past few weeks.

As a loyal member of this community, I think I can speak for most everyone when I say, it is all of us that are grateful to you for what you have provided for us. We do invest our time and effort, that is true and that time and effort has great value. But to be able to do that, we are first provided a framework for the site with rules and oversight and an administration of people who care a great deal to provide us the best that is possible at any point in time. We are grateful for the opportunity to grow and learn through this network of some rather remarkable and talented people that many of us call friends. What we receive in the way of benefits so far out ways our effort that it would be considered in most circles, a gift. Thank you for that. We remain enthusiastic about what we are all a part of and we are most appreciative of your efforts on all of our behalves.

Woohoo! Thanks to all of you! And that's all I have to say :)

No matter what, I am still appreciative for you guys (and gals!) to be able to provide this service to us really really cheap :)

Jonathan, I figured you guys knew we were running slow. I also figured someone, somewhere in Active Rain Admin was drumming up solutions. I appeciate the update. REgards

Thanks for the update.

I'm really glad some of this is being addressed; I've lost many a well thought out post to a SERVER 500 Error! UGGH!

Thanks for the update - it is a sign of your success!

Jonathan - It's no surprise that you folks are all over this. You continue to set the standard! Thanks.

I guess it's not enough just to say "ditto" William Johnson but we certainly do appreciate your efforts and especially keeping us informed...there were times when I really wanted to take it out on my computer but am glad I didn't!

Thanks for the update. You guys are doing a great job. Thank you!

Congrats on the growth and visits! - these are better growing pains to have than no traffic, and consumers visits will only increase over time. Appreciate the efforts to make the site even better for the future.

Jonathan - if there's any of that funding left over after the upgrades, what are you going to do with it? reward people with highest points?

appreciate the update

Thanks for the update on AR's current initiatives. And don't worry, when AR is slow, there's always Twitter!

I am most appreciative of all that you do. I can imagine there are a lot of challenges as the numbers continue to grow. Thanks for all your efforts and caring enough to address the "growing pains".

thanks for the update...I always wonder if I am having issues with the site...or my laptop...glad you let us know it is growing pains.

Jonathan, thanks for the update. This site has grown sooooo quickly, and I am so glad it is generating some (a lot) of consumer interest. Congrats! We appreciate all you guys do. ;-)

So does this mean we're moving the servers out of the VW van?

Thanks for keeping us informed! Acknowledging problems goes a long way toward keeping the trust and morale up!

Personally, I want to thank you again for Active Rain. Please thank all the other people I don't know about who keep this thing running!

Jonathan, thanks for keeping us in the light.

Jonathan,
You guys are great about keeping us informed and that means a lot to me. Yes, we all feel the growing pains but you guys know the cure!

Jonathan~ You know we love you man! Keep up the great work, we appreciate everything that you do! Except I miss the fruits for graphic words...love-in-a-mist...WT..?

You're getting rid of the squirrels?

Thanks for all your help and all the upgrades. And we get this FREE. Gee, what a blessing.

We understand your pain and truly appreciate being kept in the loop of what's going on. Thanks for the update.

Thank you for clearings things up. Did you read my post about this same issue?

Ahhh, we had all of that figured out.

Not a problem. It didn't slow me down.

You guys rock and thanks for taking such good care of us!

Jonathon... success starts with sucks... But seriously, I know that you guys are working hard for us... and yourselves. It's only been ugly a couple of time (if curious, just look at Twitter when you are down.

Jonathan,

Thank you for the update. It's good to know that you know there are issues. Thank you for addressing them and keeping us in the loop.

Jonathan,

Thanks for being upfront with us...we supply the content, you supply the intent...what a great winning combination!!! Thanks, Fran

Thanks Jonathan,

Greatly appreciate all you and the crew are doing to keep things running smoothly and to fix problems as they arise.

I love that you give updates. I am not so mad at Vista today now that I know what is going on.

JONATHAN, Does this mean you and I are OK now? RICH JACOBSON is DA MAN!!!!

Thanks so much Jonathon! I searched earlier today for anything about this and didn't see it then logged in this evening and saw your post on the front page. Such exciting news! You all have created such a wonderful community here!

Aloha Jonathon,

Thanks for keeping us informed. I was wondering what was happening and hoping it was't being caused by all of us updating our blog pages.

Peace,

Thanks for the Update Jon, we're right here supporting the AR crew!!! We know you guy's will help us all succeed!!! Thanks for your efforts!!! K

Communication is the key to a happy client. You guys must be reading some good advice!

Thanks for letting us know what has been going on. It is always important to know why.

Jonathan, thanks for the update...I was wondering what was going on..I am glad to see that you guys are already on top of things and moving forward. As for AR, i dont plan on going anywhare anytime soon!

Jonothan thanks for keeping us in the loop. I love this site and appreciate all that you do to keep it up and running.

It has been frustrating a few times when the site has been down or very slow. But changes have to happen and these things occur. You guys (and gals) do a great job.

APR

2008

Thanks for keeping us informed and updated. Sometimes I get so frustrated because I only have certain blocks of time to do my AR thing and that seems to be coinciding with the down times on AR!

Thanks for the update. We are so glad to hear that AR is on it and that it is growing so quickly.

Great job!

Patty & Scott Carroll - RE/MAX Equity Group Vancouver WA

I think your success has a small price, sounds like slight growing pains but overall worth it. Thanks for having this for us to share.

Thanks for the update. I love the site. We are all growing together.

Thanks for filling us in on what's going on...takes a lot of effort to keep the 'Rain shining!

Thanks and kudos for what you have done so far. While at times we are all impatient with things that do not run smoothly I am sure every member here on active|rain understands the trials and tribulations that come with growing pains.

We all apprciate what you have created for our use.

YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS

So much growth. It's amazing. I don't mind a little growing pains. It's something to be expected!

Ounds like growing pains...which are a GREAT problem to have!

Thanks for the update and all your hard work and putting up with us all.

Jonathan, always Johnny on the SPOT. Thanks for the update and all that goes into making this a great place.

I suspect the worst of the growing pains will be over very very soon, thank goodness.....

The wonderful adult years are ahead......

;-)

Jon... I agree with many comments.... the way you guys go out of your way, even back in the day before having a major investor, has been very responsive. The people behind AR have been tremendous and I am also very appreciative in all you all do.... THANKS

PS... I like what you did with your header...