Forum software (somewhat) updated

Lennart Sorth · October 17, 2025, 03:17:15 PM

As I now finally have time, I have started the process of getting the forum software updated.

This is a long path, involving also having to move to a different server running a newer Operating System, but for now I have upgraded the forum here to the newest possible on this Operating System / server.

I have done the upgrade many times in my virtual environment, but as always - virtual is never *really* the same as the real world, so a few issues did crop up. Currently it looks reasonably usable - at least until I get to move to the new server.

I have noticed a weird artefact at login where it sometimes issues errors about database updates, but if you reload the page, you get in (which you must have done to read this). Anyway, I am aware of that one.

Also, the post edit screen seems to have lost a lot of its editing features - this is somewhat worse, but I'd prefer to just get on getting the whole thing up to the latest available version, before diving into understanding and fixing this.

Once I feel my virtual environment can perform a good update to the new server and OS, I will get on and get that done too.

/Lennart

Anders Dinsen · October 18, 2025, 05:09:09 AM

I'm seeing some strange glitches, e.g. after posting, all posts show as 'new', but overall everything works! Great work!

Lennart Sorth · October 22, 2025, 04:38:56 PM

Quote from: Anders Dinsen on October 18, 2025, 05:09:09 AM
I'm seeing some strange glitches, e.g. after posting, all posts show as 'new', but overall everything works! Great work!

Do you still see that problem ?

At some point through this upgrade I changed the static part of the name for the cookies - I guess if you posted over that time the 'missing' cookie may have caused that.

I have in the meantime found the missing labels for the Post/Save buttons

/L

Anders Dinsen · October 22, 2025, 07:26:17 PM

Great, we have a "post" button again!!

Edit: Yes, I still see that issue...

Lennart Sorth · October 30, 2025, 03:46:01 PM

ah! - I just managed to reproduce that - after a post, all posts are labelled "new" - but if I do a SHIFT-Reload, they are all read again ... weird. Surely come cookiemonster.

Lets see how it changes when I take the plunge to the new server and SMF version 2.1.6 ...

/L

roy4matra · November 02, 2025, 12:37:08 PM

Quote from: Anders Dinsen on October 18, 2025, 05:09:09 AM
I'm seeing some strange glitches, e.g. after posting, all posts show as 'new', but overall everything works! Great work!

I am also seeing these glitches like Anders, and I also note the section on the first page, which used to list the latest posting, is missing. I always found that useful as a quick check to see if there were any new listings in any of the categories, since I last visited. It is possible you just dropped it, but is it possible to have that facility back?

I realise the amount of work involved especially after all this time since the original was set up and perfected, but great job Lennart, and thank you.

Roy

Lennart Sorth · November 28, 2025, 09:52:59 AM

Progress still happening. I now have my virtual environment running the same version as this active one, and I am making this reply simply to see if my automated update procedure picks it up.

Next step is to verify I can update to 2.1.6 (done multiple times before so surely ... )

THEN we are nearing the time where I can do the big server replacement.

/L

Lennart Sorth · December 16, 2025, 05:06:07 PM

More progress - I now have the new OS/Forum software running, and a fairly automated system to be able to do the last database upgrade and switch over between the current (old) Dell server, to the new(-er) HP server. :-)

This post also serves to verify it gets picked up by my semiautomatic update script in my virtual environment...

/Lennart

Dokkedal · December 21, 2025, 07:14:29 PM

Quote from: Lennart Sorth on December 16, 2025, 05:06:07 PM
More progress - I now have the new OS/Forum software running, and a fairly automated system to be able to do the last database upgrade and switch over between the current (old) Dell server, to the new(-er) HP server. :-)

This post also serves to verify it gets picked up by my semiautomatic update script in my virtual environment...

/Lennart

Thank you, good job.

Lennart Sorth · February 02, 2026, 06:11:05 PM

I skipped my own deadline of getting this server swap done in January, as I am going to be in Copenhagen most of February, which is a good feeling when having to change IP addresses. I have management (console) access to the new server, but not to the old one. :-)

Once I get the swap done, your browsers probably find to their delight that they can use HTTPS ... which is fine, but at least for now, I am using a "self signed" certificate - which means the communication *IS* secure, but obviously as I signed my own certificate, there is no more guarantee matrasport is matrasport.

Modern browsers have a nasty tendency to scream and yell "Plague! Cholera!" at such certificates, but thats corrupt, and caused by expensive signing companies like Verisign who wants to push us all to BUY a signed certificate from them. I refuse to pay those suckers money for that, so until I get a better solution implemented, we have to live with the popups and just say "YES, I trust Matrasport is Matrasport"

(Let'sEncrypt or similar is the plan, but requires the new server is swapped in first)

/Lennart

Lennart Sorth · February 04, 2026, 04:36:43 PM

The process of sync'ing the current databases down to my VM, tidying certain database entries, and upgrading that, and uploading a backup of the converted database to the new server can seemingly be done in about half an hour.

Then I need the IP change, which probably is safest done by reconfigure and reboot - which for these enterprise servers takes a fair bit of time - but I still think the entire task can be held within an hour.

I am in Denmark right now, and only a couple of hours away from the datacentre where the server is located, so if I do this during the daytime, and possibly have some of my old colleagues available as first resort, then a train and a bus as last resort, should something go wrong.

I guess this all reveals my 20 year experience running large datacentres with absolute demands that any "system session" is planned, announced, executed and able to be rolled back within the specified time :-)

Lennart Sorth · February 05, 2026, 12:05:55 PM

YAY! - servers are swapped and new server/forum is in place and hopefully working for the foreseeable future !

The only niggle was that the old server refused to go down for a reboot, but that was sorted.

I will let you all get used to ne new look and features - and if you spot things please just let me know.

/Lennart

Lennart Sorth · February 05, 2026, 02:30:09 PM

there are however other issues with this server now it is running with the active IP address.
Haven't found the cause yet, but I am working on it. Things may appear somewhat unstable ...

/Lennart

Lennart Sorth · February 05, 2026, 06:37:17 PM

Quote from: Lennart Sorth on February 05, 2026, 02:30:09 PMthere are however other issues with this server now it is running with the active IP address.
Haven't found the cause yet, but I am working on it. Things may appear somewhat unstable ...

That problem was found, and caused by an old syslog config that no longer works. It meant syslog didn't run on the server (in fact it segfaulted), which makes it rather hard to find, as there is no logging to tell you :-)

/L

roy4matra · February 05, 2026, 08:18:15 PM

Just logged in Lennart and first impression is this looks really good, well done. I haven't done much yet but it seems to be working OK so far.

Roy