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Wikipedia Needs $20K

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the define-needs dept.

TaranRampersad writes "Wikipedia's server is crashing off and on, and Jimmy Wales has posted a letter requesting some assistance from anyone out there with a dollar burning a hole in their pocket. Let's face it, you really don't need that candybar anyway ..."

3 of 815 comments (clear)

  1. Get ready by mrpuffypants · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Problem: Your server hardware is failing due to a greater and greater amount of traffic, coupled with hardware defects.

    Solution: Post your problem to /., effectively destroying anything that was left of the server iron. Claim it all on insurance.

    And of course: ....Profit!

  2. He asked for help and will we ./ him? :-) by Via_Patrino · · Score: -1, Redundant

    He asked for help and will we ./ him? :-)
    Here follows the letter (PS: the link on the letter is already down):

    "As you have all seen the past few days, we have been having technical difficulties. The essential problem is that we do not currently have enough hardware to cope with routine failures of any kind. When any one of our machines goes down, we experience cascading problems due in part to the excess load on the entire system.

    The solution to this problem is to purchase now sufficient hardware to give us enough excess capacity so that we can be reliable. I estimate that $20,000 in hardware would get us to a point where we have reserves to handle the failure of any one machine. Additionally, we would be well-poised to continue our track record of astounding growth.

    We currently have total funds of about $4,200. Additionally, I am donating (via Bomis) 1 new webserver. I am putting together, in consultation with our technical team, an order for new hardware totalling $20,000. For details of what we are purchasing, or if you have expertise and would like to help guide us, join the wikitech-l mailing list. [Note that when Wikipedia is down, the mailing list subscription is affected, too.]

    I will post daily or twice-daily updates on this web page as well as keeping the mailing lists informed at the same time.

    Your help is much appreciated.

    Sincerely,

    Jimbo Wales"

  3. Re:you know something... by NineNine · · Score: 0, Redundant

    But you're not running a webserver with dynamic content and top ranks on Google for... probably thousands of semi-common queries.

    1. I already do that.

    2. I've never seen a "wikipedia" link in any of *my * Google searches. I don't know what you're searching for.

    3. My server is paid for every month like clockwork.

    4. $20K?? That's insane. With $20K, I could handle... hmm... at least 1.2m hits a day for a year.