Attachments

How do large boards handle attachments? Right now I have about 7GB of attachments in my file system. I was just curious how others deal with this issue. Especially if you have more than one web server...

[Klopek]

Originally Posted by scotty

you must have a look at your attachment (absolute) path: this must match the path on your attachment server and NOT on your webservers.

example:

your webservers directory structure is:
/home/users/forum/htdocs/www for the php files
/home/users/forum/htdocs/attachments for the attachments

but your attachment server has the following structure:
/home/sites/attachments/htdocs/www for the php files
/home/sites/attachments/htdocs/attachments for the attachments

than is the last path the correct one for the CP.

That doesn't work. The CP doesn't allow to set a path that doesn't exist on the server (but it exists on the attachment server). How can I set it otherwise ?

[dave6901_2000]

Has anyone ever got this to work with 2 different IPS ??
I have one server in HK and the other in the USA I wish to have my USA Server handle all my attachments and images

[Jafo232]

Curious, but why not mount a network drive as the Vb attachment directory?

I have a server on my network that I just use for backups. Basically all the other servers have it mounted in a directory named /backup. All I have to do is perform tapes on the backup server instead of all of them.

I don't see why the same couldn't be done for attachments/avatars..

[amcd]

Jafo232, there can be many reasons. Your suggestion about network storage is good if the issue is disk space shortage, but there can be many other issues/objectives.

It may be desirable to run the forums on a multi-carrier, BGP network which costs much more (touted by hosts as premium bandwidth) and the attachments on a lower cost network (value or volume bandwidth).

A big board may want to reduce load on its main webserver by offloading some functions.

A board using shared hosting does not have the option of network mounts, but it can use multiple hosting accounts quite easily if vbulletin is capable of distributed functioning.

Just a few. Hope you get the idea.

[dave6901_2000]

My main goal is to reduce server load and also save on B/W my board holds 1000's of Attachments
My US server I have Tons of room and B/W to spare

[Zi55]

Originally Posted by scotty

i've just implemented it and here is my way:

AdminCP => Options => Cookies => Cookie-Domain
set it to .yourdomain.com - with the two dots!!!

setup a subdomain called attachment.yourdomain.com
(in my case this is located on the same server as my master-webserver, so I don't have to deal with the attachment path)

copy the following files in the root:

attachment.php
global.php
newattachment.php

copy the following files in root\includes:

class_core.php
class_dm.php
class_dm_attachment.php
class_hook.php
class_image.php
class_upload.php
config.php
functions.php
functions_editor.php
functions_file.php
functions_forumlist.php
functions_log_error.php
functions_misc.php
functions_newpost.php
init.php

go to the templates section of your board:
replace all occurrences of

attachment.php

with

http://attachment.yourdomain.com/attachment.php

and

replace all occurrences of

newattachment.php

with

http://attachment.yourdomain.com/newattachment.php

last step:
add a replacement variable to all your styles:

http://www.yourdomain.com/
with
http://attachment.yourdomain.com/

this last step is for the "attach" tag

delete all your cookies (maybe via filesystem) and test the installation.

have fun

First thanks too much scotty for the way
Did anyone try this way in seperate attachment server ?
and are it have any bugs etc .. ?
Thanks ,
Zi55

[Leo Renard]

I always have attachments disabled. If anyone really needs to upload anything, they can at my uploading site (Not on the same server)

[Nitro212]

but that method only works for storing attachments on the db? what if i want to store them on file system in another server.. will that still work?

[ferreo]

What you can do is to move your attachments to a separate server in a file system and point the vB install to a NFS mount directory that is local to the web server(s). I have it done that way and it works like a charm.

[Mickie D]

Originally Posted by Nitro212

but that method only works for storing attachments on the db? what if i want to store them on file system in another server.. will that still work?

yes it does work with file system in fact its only for file system attachment storage

i have this working and its doing really well but as i have posted on vbulletin.com there is a few cookie issues i am experiencing but i will find the reason sooner or later.

but it works 100%