The main database server will be down for a very short period of time (possibly 10 minutes, but likely a lot less). We're performing some security and system updates to the machine.

Thanks!

Update: We completed maintenance and fixed an issue with cluster 2. All services and servers are back up and running.

Thanks for your patience and understanding :)

We're currently in the process of ading private messaging and internal messaging (for when someone comments on your journal, a friend adds you, etc...). It looks like we're going to add it for everyone (all account types...) but Paid, Permanent, EA and the special early donators will be able to send & recieve more messages then the basic free accounts.

If you've noticed that your email inbox or your Scribbld Inbox (http://www.scribbld.net/inbox/) is getting full we do apologize, these sorts of messages have been sitting in the database, queing up since the beginning of Scribbld. We actually have 1.5 million messages going out, so bear with us.

I'll post more about this when it's finazlied!

We're having some lovely winter weather up here, it's mostly windy which is knocking out power lines and stuff. Hopefully it will stop for the rest of the day, although you never know. If you cannot reach the site, that's why. All servers but percheron (database server) are setup to reboot once power is restored. So if you can access the site but not login it's probably because Percheron cannot automatically reboot. You can view which cluster you're on by visiting the 'Where Am I' page.

You can also watch the Tumblr site (located offsite) for server/network status messages.

Thanks and sorry about the downtime folks!

We'll be installing the new Cisco switch tonight around 6:30PM and could last until 8PM although unlikely. It should only take 5-10 minutes.

Thanks!

Update: Mission complete, thanks everyone!

We bought a CISCO CATALYST WS-C2924-XL-EN 24 PORT switch. This will replace the Intel 510T switch that we're currently using. This should mean better and faster communications between our multiple web servers and the database servers.

It should be arriving within the next 7-10 days. When we get it we'll be taking Scribbld offline for about 5-10 minutes to install the switch.

Thanks.

Hiya kids,

I've worked with hitsuzen and we've come up with a new logo. I had to implement some Javascript so that it works properly with Internet Explorer 6. It should all work fine now though. Screenshot and let me know in the support section!

Thanks everyone!

As suggested (scribbldsuggest we've implemented the ability to preview your userpics before posting a comment. This feature is available to ALL permanent, paid and early adopter accounts right now!

Update: I just noticed you can preview userpics when you're updating your journal or editing and entry too!! Wicked awesome!!

Recently a user asked about how to embed videos (YouTube, Photbucket, Google, etc...) into journal entries. unfortunately most of that code to get that done is kept hidden and in a secret vault by the guys over at LiveJournal. Fortunately, I got something working and it should work normally now. I also added the option for showing or not showing placeholders also which should work as intended.

The only remaining issue which I have not tested if putting those videos in comments. I will try to work on that sometime this week.

Feedback on embedding videos is welcomed...I, (jimmy) embedded some Budwiser horses for testing! Seemed to work pretty good too!

Cluster 2 is currently offline. Anyone on this cluster might not be able to login properly during this time. We're working to resolve this issue as fast as we can.

You can use the 'Where Am I' page to discover which cluster you're on.

Thanks.

Update: Cluster issues have been resolved, I do apologoize about that, all servers and services are back up and running as they should be.

Thanks!

I've been working on Scribbld some today. I did attempt to get real email alaising working, but it was a no go. I defintely do not have the knowledge or time to get it up and running, same with rename tokens. So I've removed email aliasing & personal domains from Paid Account for the time being. I've also removed rename tokens as something to purchase. People who have paid accounts or who used rename tokens, don't worry it's all still there, nothing changed, it's just not going to be an option for paid accounts in the future.

That said, it will return, I just have to talk squeaky into lending us some code, unfortunately he's got a lot on his plate at the moment, so it might be some time until we get those features working.

So our todo list looks something like this:

- Get email aliasing working for Paid Accounts
- Get a more automated payment system working
- Get an automated "normal" rename token system
- Allow paid account users to use their own domain names
- Setup personal/private messaging for users

Those are the major issues we're working on right now, of course they're all features which means everything else works, we just want to give you the users more functionality. If you know any Perl programmers or people who are very familiar with the LiveJournal code, please send them our way. We think we can provide them with monatary compensation too, at least we're going to try too!

Thanks.

For Paid Account users -

I've setup email aliasing and it should be working, for anyone that has or is getting a paid account in the future, I will be using the email address in your profile to alias too, if you change your email address let me know so I can re-alias it!

Thanks!

I've re-added the ever so popular search bar.

Alright, I think I've figured out the renaming tokens deal. I looked through the code enough to understand how it (should) work and I am doing it manually. I'l definitely be looking into automating the process, but anyone who bought a rename token should have their new name up and running now :)

For those who purchased paid accounts, I'll be attempting to get email alias' up and running this week sometime, it doesn't look to be too difficult, but who knows...

I'm having some issues with the code/scripts that can rename usernames. I've contacted multiple people who should know how it all works and I am just waiting to hear back from. I do apologize but it's just not working 100% correctly at the moment. You can change from a username to a username but not from a username to another username. I am definitely working as fast as I can to fix the issue, I've not given up on it yet, just bear with me!

Thanks.

I've just turned on rename tokens, so you can get em' now. Visit the Paid Accounts page to purchase a token or the rename token page to get more information.

Basically you purchase a token, I'll email you a code (which you should keep safe). You should leave me your current username and the username you wish to change to in the notes/comments field on PayPal and I'll do it up for you!

Thanks.

Hey all,

I've been working on adding a new theme for Scirbbld. As much as I love the bland one that comes with the source code I thought it would be cooler to have something a bit different. I tried to stick with a minimalistic theme, something simple and not to drastically crazy insanely different. Anyways, you're more then welcome to continue using the older theme, but I won't be supporting (not that there's much to support about it).

So you can visit http://www.scribbld.net/manage/settings/ and change to the 'Scribbld' theme. There are others too, but I don't use them.

Ok, I'm going to work on getting some Paid Account/Extra Userpics information up for you all!

Hello wonderful users,

I've made some changes to the account type system. Anyone who donated to use to get the new server now has the Account Type of 'Special Early Donator'. You've got all the same stuff as before (userpics, styles, etc...).

So this is all in effort to get paid accounts up and running and accounts that include extra userpics.

Also in an effort to keep all the systems up and running we won't be offering Paid Accounts with 1000 icons (only permanent & Special Donators have those). This is because I don't not want to overload the systems (as happened with GJ) and then have to remove icons or lower the amount you can use. That seems pretty stupid to me. We should start with a low number see how the systems handle it and go from there. So here's the account types as follows (also posted in this FAQ):

Early Adopters:
150 Userpics
30 styles
Search the directory
Create syndicated feeds
View full RSS of entries
Make polls
Use text messaging

Permanent Accounts:
Upload 1500 userpics
Get their own @Scribbld.net email address
100 styles
Makes polls
Search the directory
Create syndicated feeds
Use a personal domain
Access to user domains - http://exampleusername.scribbld.net
Use text messaging
Access to full RSS feeds

Paid Accounts:
50 Userpics
40 Styles
Can make polls
Get their own @Scribbld.net email address
Use text messaging
Search the directory
Can create syndicated feeds
Use personal domains
Access to user domains - http://exampleusername.scribbld.net
Access to full RSS feeds

Free Accounts:
6 Userpics
5 styles

I am hoping that over the weekend we'll be adding an additional 2 new account types, the first includes all the abilities of the Early Adopter Account PLUS EITHER 100 extra userpics or 200 extra userpics. I will not be doing anything crazy like 1000 or more at the moment because I do not want the servers crashing and I am sure you all don't want that either. If we can handle more, we'll definitely do it, but better to give you a real amount and not have to remove them later on. That would be even more disappointing in my mind.

Anyways, we'll update later on when we add those account types. Also the normal Paid Account will hopefully be coming this weekend too!

Thanks.

I've turned off invite codes for the moment because we got the new server and it should be able handle some more people. If it gets to be really crazy again, I will be turning them back on.

Thanks.

Here it is in all it's quad-core glory. It's the top black box. I love these little Shuttles, they're perfect! Definitely look into them if you're in the market for a new computer.

Ok, I posted the pics in my personal journal, but you all should still be able to see the entry.

Hi all,

I cannot tell you how swell NewEgg.com is. If you're looking for a new PC (just don't install Windows :) ) I highly recommend them. If you need help putting together a really nice, and REALLY cheap PC I'd be more then happy to help you with NewEgg. They're really are a wonderful company. Alright, so I ordered al the parts for the new server yestrday and I got them all today (mind you everything was shipped from central Jersey). UPS & NewEgg, best team ever.

Ok, so...haha enough plugs, I got the new server up and running this afternoon. I did have a bit of trouble getting the OS onto the new machine, mostly because it's got some REALLY new hardware in it. Eventually, and thanks to the guys in #debian on irc.freenode.net I got it working just fine.

So between that and the 2 other dual-core machines I think we're going to be in a very stable server situation for the time being.

Thanks everyone! I still have some work to do for monitoring and analytics, but that shouldn't be too hard.