It is once again time to make a change at GBO.

[Matt]

First let me say that the last 10 years have been great, we have seen GBO grow from a small site with only a handful of members to its current status of over 21k members. We thank each and every member who has contributed over the years and who has stuck with us through the good times and the bad. We have seen GBO grow beyond all of our expectations and it continues to grow still.

When we started out we were running the site on a shared server and in time outgrew that one and moved on to a dedicated server. Even more time pasted and we had to add another server just to balance the load from the forums. Well it is time for our renewal on one of the servers and folks the servers are over worked once more. The traffic load from the GBO Network is increasing more and more.  We are once again forced to choose a new direction for GBO. Last time we choose to add a new dedicated server to the network to balance the database load and it seemed to help but has never amounted to what we had hoped for. The servers offered for the money we have to spend each year are very limited and are not as fast as we would like to see GBO on. So GB and I have decided that we are going to move in a direction that will allow us to offer more than ever before. We have decided to move away from “purchased dedicated hosting” to “a collocated server hosting” were by we own the servers and they are to our specs. I placed an order for 2 brand new HP ProLiant DL365 Servers, here are the specs:

Dual AMD Opteron™ Processor 2220 (2.8 GHz, 95 Watts)
HP 2GB REG PC2-5300 4x512MB 1Rank Memory
HP Smart Array E200i/64 Controller
HP 160GB Hot Plug SFF 2.5 SATA 5,400 rpm Hard Drive
HP 80GB Hot Plug SFF 2.5 SATA 5,400 rpm Hard Drive
2 Embedded NC373i Multifunction Gigabit Network Adapters
HP 1u Server 700w Hot Plug Power Supply
HP iLO Power Management Pack

We will be installing all the latest versions of software for the servers and they will mirror one another and also load balance as needed.

If purchased direct from HP this is $10k worth of servers. Though we did not pay that much we still paid out the nose for them and though this years hosting expenses will be far higher than ever before next years will be cut in half due to the fact that we own the servers. So in the end it really is the best thing we can do for GBO. This will also allow finally for us to bring back several things such as Chat & the built in Search as well as offer up new services such as VoIP, low cost shared hosting, online storage for backups of critical info and more.

For you our members you should only have to deal with withdrawals for a few hours once we make this change sometime in the next 2 weeks. It will depend on how fast they can get the servers to us; we configure them, and then ship them to our hosting company.

This is by far the biggest jump we have undertaken at GBO as far as our hosting is concerned. It has also drained the GBO budget and GB and I have to cover the difference to make this happen. But we feel in the long run it will more than pay for itself in savings. We are also going to do something that we rarely if have ever done and that is offer members the option to donate money to GBO to help cover some of the cost of the change over.

Over the years hundreds of members have offered donations to help cover expenses and GB & I have declined because that is what we have the advertising for. Well due to all the happenings as of late and the huge loss of Google revenue if ever there was a time GBO could use some member donations this is it. Now please those of you who get offended when asked to pay don’t, that is not what we are doing. We have already paid for the servers and are going to make the change no matter what because in the long run it is best. If you do not feel like you have gotten anything of value from GBO or feel that this type of information should be free, that’s fine. If you feel that GBO has helped you enough to donate then by all means do so. No one is expected to donate but anyone who does is very much appreciated.  GB and I are still talking over how to best do this and will post more soon.

Thanks
Matt

[Brett]

Matt, Please post how/where members can send contributions.   Secondly, what do you think about offering some type of perks for contributors such as a free GBO ball cap or T-shirt with a contribution of X dollars?

[quickdtoo]

Sounds great Matt, I'm there with you and Bill when you figure out how to accept the donations.

Tim

[Graybeard]

Matt, Please post how/where members can send contributions.   Secondly, what do you think about offering some type of perks for contributors such as a free GBO ball cap or T-shirt with a contribution of X dollars?

That might work OK but would require a fairly high donation level to be do able. I think we have those shirts and other items priced so we make $1 or $2 per item for the most part so whatever the marked price is really is real close to our actual cost on them. So we'd have to get the donation level to make it do able up to a level that we could live with it but at some donation level the idea would be good for sure. A special logo to indicate that would also be do able I'm sure.

[cheatermk3]

I would be happy to send a donation just post the address.

[Graybeard]

Until Matt gets the details worked out on other methods of donation you can send check or MO to:

Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises, LLC.
3015 Alabama Hwy. 204
Jacksonville, AL 36265-5506

Please note it is for the Server Fund and have your GBO user name on the envelope or a note inside so we can keep track of who donated. We will be setting up a special user ranking to show you contributed. It will be something like Friend of GBO or some such that we've not finalized yet and we want to be sure to not mess up and leave anyone out that donates to this fund.

I've always been opposed to accepting donations but the cost of this is such that it's really putting a pinch on me financially even tho it's really something we just have to do if we're to survive and keep the site moving forward so I've bitten the bullet and spend the money from funds that were supposed to have gone elsewhere.

[Matt]

ok now at the bottom of ever page you will find a donate button. This is a pay pal link and is the best I can do right now. I am trying to set it up so we can use our normal cc processor but it may not be possible due to their TOS.

Again no one is expected or required to donate but we say Thanks to those of you who do.

Matt

[Graybeard]

ok now at the bottom of ever page you will find a donate button. This is a pay pal link and is the best I can do right now. I am trying to set it up so we can use our normal cc processor but it may not be possible due to their TOS.

Again no one is expected or required to donate but we say Thanks to those of you who do.

Matt

Strike me the button should say "Donate to GBO Server Fund" or something more than just donate or most folks will never associate it with this and just assume it another ad button.

[kennisondan]

I am in.
dk

[kennisondan]

just a suggestion.. it would be beneficial if the members who are looked up to and who are seen here all the time and moderators and regulars of status would note that they are in favor of the donations, or gave or would if they could or something of that nature... I truly think this would help the cause.
I for one think of the buying selling connection and the information and comeraderie offered for free and it usefulness and beneifts and I will send something... if everyone sent just one dollar and there are twenty thousand users... that would make a ten thousand dollar expenditure twice over...
I will not decide what to give based on what others are giving or decide on to give, but no one looks up to me here.. i will do my part though and hope it helps a bit.
dk

[kyelkhunter3006]

I've just sent my donation via paypal.  This is a good reason to clean out what I had left in it.  I never use it anymore unless I have to.  Best money I've spent in a long while.