Attachments...server load....HELP!

[voclain]

First let me say thanks for a place like this where we can ask questions!!!

I have a board that is used by profesional photographers.

They are requesting that I UP the limit on "Attachments"...you see....images, stuff from Photoshop, etc...all take mega space.

Currently, I have my attachements stored in the "FILE SYSTEM"....not in the Database.

So...here is my question.......

Can the attachments be stored OFF SITE....meaning....now they are in and on the same server as the files.....IF I were to purchase another SERVER.....and had ONE server JUST for attachements (I have probably 50 gigs...and now they want me to increase the size limits...so...I'm going to need 200 gigs).....that way....as they are used and downloaded....it would not put a strain on the server running the file system.

So...there you have my delema......CAN I DO THAT SOME HOW?????

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Just thought of something.....didn't I read some where that the DATABASE can be on another server????? and the FILES SYSTEM on another????

OK....so....if I did that....and kept the attachments IN the DATABASE....would that work????

AGAIN...thank you for your support.

Yours,

Kirk

[Videx]

First, let me point out I'm no IT expert.

I think you're trying to add a lot of complexity you don't need. Only the largest boards need to split stuff among different servers. It can cause a LOT of headaches.

More likely, if your board is getting successful, you just need a better hosting package. Presumably you started on shared, now you have to consider VPS and then a dedicated server.

What you may be thinking is that you can get a cheap shared account nowadays that offers like 200 gigs of storage. But in fact they really don't. Read the TOS and you'll see that if you try to store pics there it's a violation. Reason being, they don't want you clogging a shared server with your traffic.

[voclain]

Videx:

Thanks for your post...but I have well over 2000 members....and I average well over 1000 of them checking in every day....

I have over 1000 new posts....EVERYDAY!!!!

So...just imagine all 1000 post a 1 gig file...then all 1000 want to download everyone elses 1 gig file........do you see my problem????

I do currently...and from the beginning have had a dedicated server.....only thing on it is my board.....and it's GLOGGING UP LIKE CRAZY.....I have server overloads on a regular basis....almost weekly......so yes.... I NEED HELP!

Kirk

[Marco van Herwaarden]

You could split off your files to a different disk then the database. You might be able to store the attachments on another server if you can mount that remote directory on your webserver. You could store the database on a seperate machine (easier then split off the attachments).