Some of you may have noticed that Teraz Films output has fallen off these last couple of months. This not because we don't have many films in the pipeline but because of other annoying and very mundane problems. So I thought it would be best to explain what has been happening.
This is a bit long winded but at least you know that we haven't been sitting on our hands the last few months.
Throughout the time www.TerazFilms.com has been on-line we have been hit with hosting problems. Though they would never admit it, our hosts keep tinkering and changing things which effected the way our site worked and so we had to constantly fix sudden problems, just when we thought everything was running smoothly and we could get back to editing films.
In the first quarter of this year, the site was running fine, though some people reported slow download speeds, even though all our tests showed everything was OK (no one said the internet was simple).
Then in March we were told that we had exceeded our "unlimited" disc space (yeah!) and would have to delete at least 5Gb of files. Which we looked into. The first few test - re-rendering the films at a lower bit rate were disappointing. This would make the files smaller but if there is much movement the image is compromised. The problem is that we use a lot of smoke when filming, to add atmosphere and helps with the lighting (example).
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Our hosts suggested that we should move to their a Grid Server as there was no file limit (ironic) and the site would work much faster because a Grid System uses a bunch of servers to help spread out the load. So we agreed - this was around the end of March. Things were OK for the first week or two but then we started to have intermittent problems with the speed of the store, Sometimes it would be OK and then it would suddenly take 15 secs, 45 secs, or never, to open a page, then suddenly go back to normal. Some of you may have noticed this when trying to log in and order. Some of the worst speeds were in April. Our hosts would not admit there were any problems replying 48 hours later
"We cannot recreate the problems you are experiencing"
Then in late April a new problem was born, suddenly large files could not be downloaded (eg: over 500Mb). They download but don't play properly or they only download about 10% of the file and then the download stops.
We said - maybe we could go back to the old server and increase the "unlimited" file size to say " really unlimited" and they said "No, once you have gone to the grid you can never go back!". You can go to the moon and comeback but not to a Grid server, it seems.
So we started looking into the nightmare option of moving the store to a new host. Now as you know the stuff we sell is the kind of stuff that many hosts would not touch so we thought, maybe better the Devil you know. We tried a few hosts but they were a stitch up... We joined Host-Gator then found their maximum file size was 500Mb!!! Then we joined Network Solutions - most of their FTP modules crashed and their pricing was a total con. So we decided to stay put an upgrade to a dedicated server.
However moving stores is a tricky business and although we almost managed to do all the coding the store still was not showing on the web. We had asked our usually techie to help but he said he was moving out of the business. So then we started looking around for help. Once again, the type of stuff we sell is going to be a no-no for many web designers, many who are female. So we were paying for the dedicated server but had no store. We still had the old store running on the old Grid Server with all its faults. Suddenly our old techie came back and said he had someone who could do our site and it would be up in the morning. We thought "Great!" but the next day, no site and then an email saying the guy had given up.
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So then we started talking thru CHAT with our host provider to try and get this sorted, you can wait an hour for a support person to be free and then you can get a complete know nothing who just says "Our support does not cover this area".
So after ahout 10 chats I asked if someone would set it up for money. After a lot of negotiating the guy came back and said, "yes we can do it and it will cost $79" !!!! I was amazed and said go ahead. Everything seem sorted until he said. "Oh, I notice you are with DWH, we dont have a contract with them to offer this service, can I help you with anything elsle today?"
So I rang DWH and asked if they could fix the problem - they said, yes, all we had to do wast take out a maintenance contract and they will guide us through any problems (a bit like going to a garage and they give you the spanner and then charge you). So how much was this contract? $3000 a year. The guy was desperate for us to sign there and then, we said we would think about it. Lucky we did as then the old techie emailed to say he would fix the new store after all.
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So now, after over 2 months of exasperating effort we have our store on an expensive dedicated server with a fixed I.P.
The store pages open pretty fast 2-4 secs as they don't rely on a database situated somewhere on another overloaded server and you should find that the films will download much faster too.
You can never say never but hopefully we have eradicated all the previous problems and we can get back to doing want we want to do, which is make and edit films.
Well, if you got this far - well done- and just for reading all of this here is a $10 voucher to test on our new site "NEWSITE10" Voucher ends on 15th July 2014.
Roman Nowicki
see you at www.terazfilms.com
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Ok so let's hope you are OK now and continue to make great movies
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