USGENWEB-ALL-L Archives

Archiver > USGENWEB-ALL > 2008-09 > 1221392620


From: "Cyndie" <>
Subject: Re: [ABChat] Website maintenance / website host issues
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 07:43:40 -0400
References: <B70C9036F75B4CFFA76F041AC0AE18A3@TinaSVickeryPC><48C99D7C.8060409@saintclair.org>
In-Reply-To: <48C99D7C.8060409@saintclair.org>


I'm mostly in agreement with Mike.

I think developing a Standard Procedure related to the Webmaster's
responsibilities and evaluating our goals for the long term regarding
webhosting could be done by a few of the AB members while we move on to
other items. #1 could possibly be taken care of by monitoring the logs,
tracking any reports of trouble and performing routine maintenance (such as
link checks) as part of a Standard Procedure.

Cyndie
SP Rep.

-----Original Message-----
From:
[mailto:] On Behalf Of Mike St. Clair/ST
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 6:37 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [ABChat] Website maintenance / website host issues

I think there are really four discrete but closely related issues that we
should talk about, which I have listed below in the order I think they would
best be discussed. Then we should take action on any of these where the
majority of the board feel action is called for. I acknowledge that this is
just one way this subject could be divided; a division that makes sense to
me. I will certainly listen to any other suggested ways to divide this set
of issues.

I think that subissue #1 can be quickly decided by the entire board and that
subissue #2 should be discussed by the entire board. I suggest that a small
subset of volunteers from within the AB (perhaps 3) should discuss and
investigate subissues #3 and #4 (in that order), presenting the results to
the AB for discussion and confirmation. As part of the work on both, I
suggest that small surveys be done to gather information on what other
similar organizations are doing. In the case of #4, I suggest that we survey
the states and USGENWEB members about the web hosting providers they are
using and their satisfaction with those providers. This would provide a
starting point for the subset of the many such available providers that
would be examined in deciding whether we would be best served by moving, or
staying with our current provider.

My breakdown of these issues into four separate subissues follows:

1 -- Performance and Capabilities of the current web hosting provider, IX

I and some others, including our webmaster, encountered serious performance
problems at times with our current provider from the time our website moved
until sometime in August. As Cyndie mentioned, there has recently been a
noticeable improvement. Since I noticed the same sorts of problems during
the same period with the server used by ILGenWeb (also from IX) I was
concerned this was much broader than our server. I took the time to do a
little research and found many other complaints from IX account holders,
most of them appearing during the past year. It may be coincident, but IX
made a major data center move in 2007, and I noticed many of the complaints
were concurrent with that move and the following months.

Based on the significant improvements that started in late August, however,
I think we could probably take this part of the combined webhosting issues
and drop it's priority, unless the former problems return. As long as that
doesn't happen, I suggest we just let item #4 address comparing IX with
other potential web host providers, and helping us decide whether we should
stay or whether we would be better served by moving to another alternative
in the long run.

2 -- What portion of the web maintenance responsibility belongs to the NC
and what portion belongs to the Advisory Board.

The only mentions of website maintenance and webmaster appointment appearing
in the bylaws refer to the AB, not the NC. But it appears that this has
traditionally left to the NC, perhaps under their operational duties role.
I'd like us to discuss, decide and document, how this is really to operate
while remaining in line with what the bylaws call for.
Perhaps deciding this would help in deciding subissue #3. On the other hand,
discussing and deciding subissue #3 might help with this one. I tend to
think #2 should come before #3, but I will listen to what the rest of you
have to say about it.

3 -- Webmaster responsibilities: What should they be? Who should assist
(e.g. should there be an assistant webmaster)? Who should provide oversight,
support, and assistance from within the AB?

I understand that Phyllis Rippee started drafting something, but I haven't
seen that. Has anyone? If that exists, it might be a starting point for
discussion. In any event, I think discussion and documentation of a formal
list of responsibilities in the form of a position description would help us
resolve the obvious differences that appeared during earlier discussion;
differences between various conceptions held by board and project members of
what a webmaster should be doing. Our target should be a documented list
that the majority of the board can sign off on. Then we should give the
webmaster the capability and responsibility to so perform and ask for
regular reports back on problems, accomplishments, suggested improvements,
etc. I'm suggesting that the same subset of the AB to address subissue #4
be tasked to address this one also, with the final decision to be made by
the full board, of course.

4 -- Long Term, what should our arrangments be for: web hosting, domain
registration, and DNS.

After many years at Rootsweb, we made a quick move to another option for
webhosting. I think a more organized evaluation of the options available
would be useful before we decide to confirm that quick decision for the
longer term. The other two items I mention are perhaps less crucial, but
they are related and I think could be readily examined at the same time.
This examination should include comparisons of the best options, ideas of
how to pay the bills, etc.

Mike St. Clair



Tina S. Vickery wrote:
> This agenda item is carried over as Old business. As Chair, I re-open the
discussion of this item.
>
> Tina Vickery
> National Coordinator
> USGenWeb Project

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