FQ Announce: PHP4 & RASMUS

[Deb]

Today FutureQuest has brought yet another new community server into production.[nbsp][nbsp]RASMUS, named after the creator of PHP, with an Intel Pentium-III 850Mhz Processor and 1Gb of RAM is now accepting new accounts.

RASMUS also brings PHP4 to the FutureQuest offerings.[nbsp][nbsp]All accounts on RASMUS will have PHP4 rather than PHP3 within their power tools. :D

FutureQuest, Inc.
Http://www.FutureQuest.net/

-
[nbsp]Yet another step in the right direction.

[jimbo]

Does RASMUS have the Zend Optimizing engine included within its power tools as well?

-jim

[PaulKroll]

The Zend Optimizing Engine is closed source, yes? That might keep FQ from using it, since who the heck knows what they're doing in there... and the zend.com site says the optimizer gets you 40%-100% faster than PHP4 w/out it, but PHP4 is (again, their claim) 2 to 10 times faster than PHP3, so that 40-100% isn't as stunning as the basic move to PHP4.

Hey, Deb: gonna change the "PHP3 and/or MySQL" forum name now? :)

[Terra]

Does RASMUS have the Zend Optimizing engine included within its power tools as well? Not yet, but I'm working on it...[nbsp][nbsp]Right now, I'm investigating the feasibility of making it a core offering...

I am also looking at the direction of the Zend compiler, but this will all depend on licensing issues and the subsequent costs associated...

PHP4 was definitely not written with Web Hosting companies in mind and quite a few FQ customizations had to be made...

I do not want to elaborate further, but merely to make the notation that other hosting companies have got their work cut out for them if they want any type of sane configuration...

All in all, PHP4 seems to be running smooth as silk (pre-production testing), but as we all know - the true test of production status will hammer out any last minute oversights...

Just to make it official policy:
1) We cannot shift any existing accounts to the new RASMUS server (too many incompatibilities)
2) After further investigation, I will not offer both PHP3 *and* PHP4 combined on a server...[nbsp][nbsp]It has to be one or the other...
3) I am not sure if I can backport it to the older servers as we have already seen the lividness of site owners dependent upon PHP3 and will fight to the very end to resist the change...
4) Expanding on #3, if it's not broke - then don't fix it.

Right now, most all servers have shown excellent stability and that is not something I want to endanger on the established servers...[nbsp][nbsp]I'm sure many are in agreement as to the importance of stability...[nbsp][nbsp]Making deep core fundamental changes right now is not in the best interest of protecting what has taken me countless wakeless hours to obtain...

Hopefully this will serve as a mini-PHP4 FAQ and explain our stance on issue sure to be requested...

--
Terra
--having to make difficult decisions for all the right reasons--
FutureQuest

[jimbo]

I run php4 on my development machine here; and all of my coding is done in php4; I usually have to make changes to my code to make it work with php3.[nbsp][nbsp]My experience with php4 is that it is much smoother, faster, and adds many more functions.[nbsp][nbsp]For these reasons I've already opened up a new account on RASMUS.[nbsp][nbsp]So when you say: "We cannot shift any existing accounts to the new RASMUS server (too many incompatibilities)" I hope you mean *physically* shift them, and not that accounts that are not on RASMUS are not allowed to be placed on RASMUS.[nbsp][nbsp]As I have no problems paying the various setup fees in order to take advantage of this.

I plan on running both accounts simultaneously for a few weeks to make sure that there are no problems (which I don't expect there to be).[nbsp][nbsp]Before going live with the new account.

-jim

PS:[nbsp][nbsp]Would I be able to use my exisiting databases with the new account?

[Terra]

mean *physically* shift them, and not that accounts that are not on RASMUS are not allowed to be placed on RASMUS. I'm a little confused here, but I'll try to Zen what your asking...

Every domain has many configurations that are dependent upon the core Generation setup...

3rd Gen: TAZ
(actually 3.5 as it's a hybrid with many retrofits)
4th Gen: SIX --> ASTRO
5th Gen: PHOENIX --> DEXTER
6th Gen: DEEDEE
7th Gen: RASMUS

Domains can be shifted within a Generation level, but crossing a Gen level is a tremendous amount of manual reconfigurations and remodulations into the new core...

On the surface, you rarely ever notice the difference as this is by design...[nbsp][nbsp]However, from my perspective - the servers are constantly evolving and improving which take different requirements for core level configurations...[nbsp][nbsp]The most difficult aspect is stabilizing a particular Generation level with the 4th Gen having the most aggressive performance optimizations...[nbsp][nbsp]Those on ASTRO and NINE push their respective servers to the envelope and I am constantly tuning to meet everyones expectations...

Right now, the servers are pretty much balanced and utilized correctly...[nbsp][nbsp]We have gone to great lengths to stabilize everything - for which I am confident tremendous strides have taken place in that arena...

In short, moving domains around would create stability problems and reconfiguration headaches...[nbsp][nbsp]We also do not want the new server to get hammered with heavy PHP users as it is still on it's maiden voyage and 'real-world' untested...[nbsp][nbsp]This could turn into an administrative nightmare for myself...[nbsp][nbsp]I am leaning heavily to slow natural growth with forward progression...

There will be a day that all servers will have PHP4 backported, and those that are dependent upon PHP3 will need to update their code (if needed) or make other arrangements...

For now, let's see how well PHP4 works in the real world and it's conduciveness in a hosted environment...

Concerning your database usage:
1) As long as your accounts are Gold or better that are accessing the MySQL engine...[nbsp][nbsp]You can mix/match as you see fit...
Gold-----|-|->Database
Platinum-|-|->Database
Gold ----|-|->Database
2) Gold + IRM's are still up in the air and more data is being accumulated to the adverse effects of people stuffing 5 Gold packages into the resource space of 1...[nbsp][nbsp]Right now, we allow it but this policy can change without possibility of grandfathering...[nbsp][nbsp]Most of the problem accounts are of this type which is why measures may be taken to eliminate this source of instability that encroaches upon everyone sharing that server...

3) What we do not allow is:
Basic--|
Gold --|-->Database
Silver-|

Due to the increasing abuse of #2, I am working on special MySQL code(ZenForce::MySQL) which will extend the grant tables which will stem the tide...[nbsp][nbsp]Right now, I monitor this manually - but due to time constraints an automated solution is being formulated...[nbsp][nbsp]When this happens, you will need to request authorization to allow #1 to work unimpeded...

--
Terra
--Some assembly required. Batteries not included--
FutureQuest