Just so everyone knows what's going on, I got some bad news not too long ago, telling me that the IP address that Atlas Quest uses is going to be changed whether I like it or not. I don't really understand what's wrong with this one I've been using for the last two years--I'm rather fond of it, actually--but the IP address has to change. If I don't update the server to use these new IP addresses, Atlas Quest will stop working on December 1st. Actually, the site will still work--it's just that nobody will be able to connect to it anymore, so the result is the same. *shrug*

I've downloaded a little form about how to do so, which I'm about to start following through with now. But I've never had to update the IP address for AQ before, and it's entirely possible I could screw something up along the way. Or maybe the IP address for AQ will need time to propagate throughout the Internet, so the site might be inaccessible for a day or two. Or maybe any number of problems. I've never done this before, though, so I'm not all sure what might happen.

So.... You might want to keep track of a couple of IP addresses for the next couple of days to make sure you can keep accessing this site. The old IP address is 38.119.120.169--if you find yourself unable to connect to AQ, try typing the IP address directly into the web browser. If that does work, give the new IP address a try. It's 74.200.76.117. I tried typing them both into my web browser, and they both seemed to work just fine. Eventually the old number will stop working completely. I hope the new number continues to work throughout the whole migration process. =)

Wish me luck! Sorry if this causes any downtime, but I figure better a little downtime now than a LOT of downtime come December 1st. I don't expect AQ to be down any longer than it takes to restart the server, but when it comes to domain names and IP addresses, it could take a couple of days for everything to get straightened out completely.

-- Ryan

Bookmarked - Thanks for all your hard work, Ryan. :o)

~ 3BG

Bookmarked

You may actually want to write it down and now bookmark it because if the site does go down you will not be able to look at the bookmark =o)

Cheers!
Rhea

Well, I've done step one of the IP address migration process. If I did everything correctly, the new IP address should be working its way through the Internet for the next two or three days. =)

I'll probably wait a week or so before removing support the old IP address completely, so I'll probably be making another announcement then that something might go horribly wrong. ;o)

In the meantime, everything seems to be working just fine for the moment. *nodding* I'll feel better since the IP address has propagated, though, and everything continues to work fine.

-- Ryan

do we need to worry about backing up our finds, plants,,,,,,,,,,,,,,any other info stored here?

condo

do we need to worry about backing up our finds, plants,,any other info stored here?

Not any more than usual--the change of IP addresses won't cause any loss of data. It just might cause you to not be able to access Atlas Quest for a short period, and that's only a worst case scenario. The site will still exist, even if you're not able to access it for a day or two. =)

-- Ryan

Should we start saving water and gathering canned foods and batteries?

Should we start saving water and gathering canned foods and batteries?

Definitely. ;o)

-- Ryan

Thanks for all you do, Ryan! We appreciate it!

T-N-T (TRH N T on AQ)
Cleveland, New York

Will the change have any impact on the clue links located at LBNA (the ones hosted here)

Should we start saving water and gathering canned foods and batteries?

Maybe we should all just get prescriptions for anti-anxiety meds. I mean, I know I get anxious when I can connect to AQ, don't you? ;)

TG

Will the change have any impact on the clue links located at LBNA

It shouldn't, but if something goes terribly, terribly wrong, the links might be broken for a day or so.

Everything is looking good so far, though. The IP address change has propagated to my system already, and AQ has been accessible the whole time. =) I think I'm out of the proverbial woods for Part I of the IP address migration. Part II of the change (when I disable the old IP addresses) will begin next week.

If you want to know if the new IP address has propagated to your system, run the command "ping atlasquest.com" from the command line. If the reply comes from 38.119.120.169, the new IP address hasn't propagated to you yet. If the reply comes back from 74.200.76.117, that means you're using the new IP address.

Just remember, there's not really any way you can speed up the process yourself. If you're still seeing the old IP address, just try again later. It's supposed to fully propagate within about 48 hours or so, but I intend to wait a week before doing anything else.

-- Ryan

oh man, so if I plant a letterbox at the old address, it will be lost forever?
So I best not plant one there.
tee hee

I'm lost on this fancy wording i.e. ping command line. I just want to know that when I hit AQ on my favorites it will go where it is supposed to go? Is that correct? Or do I put in the Internet Explorer address bar: 74.200.76.117 and it will take me there then? And later on when things settle down I can then change my favorites to the correct address? Right?
Thanks, Okie Dog

I just want to know that when I hit AQ on my favorites it will go where it is supposed to go?

Yes, don't worry about it. I'm half sorry I even brought it up if I realized it would cause so much confusion.

NOTHING WILL CHANGE.

NOBODY HAS TO CHANGE ANYTHING.

I only mentioned the IP addresses just in case I screwed something up--it was nothing more than a precaution that, happily, does not seem to be necessary.

-- Ryan

I only mentioned the IP addresses just in case I screwed something up.

So, is this the Google geocoder having problems resolving some addresses, like your IP address? Couldn't you just give it the latitude/longitude instead? Or maybe the IP address is located near a park, I understand that it can find parks pretty good.
-wassamatta_u

So, is this the Google geocoder having problems resolving some addresses, like your IP address? Couldn't you just give it the latitude/longitude instead?

Actually, even though I don't think I've mentioned it, the geocoder will take latitude and longitude coordinates if that's what you prefer. ;o)

-- Ryan

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Yes, don't worry about it. I'm half sorry I even brought it up if I realized it would cause so much confusion.

Yeah, you seem to have confused everyone. LOL

Maybe this will help people... think of it like a phone number. When you type 'www.atlasquest.com' your computer does not actually know how to contact AQ so has to check an phone book for the number. Every internet provider has their own so there are THOUSANDS of phone books out there but they all have the same information in them. Right now, the phone number listed in the internet phone books for Atlasquest is 38.119.120.169 but that number is in the process of changing to 74.200.76.117. The "issue" is that it takes time for ALL of those phone books to get updated, meaning that for a day or two your computer may be looking in one that still has the old number and that number has been disconnected but if you manually tell your computer where to find AQ (ie, type 74.200.76.117 instead of www.atlasquest.com) then you can bypass the phone book and still get here.

and once all the phone books get updated, then nobody's computer will have problems looking up the number any more... I got it...

great analogy Eidolon, easy for everyone to understand. You should get a job translating geek speek for the masses

night writer

Great comparison Eidolon. I never thought of it that way, but that is right on target! You are so smart ... or at least good at analogies!

Great comparison Eidolon

If only technology Geeks and Doctors could speak so understandably. I would know a whole lot more and enjoy learning it even!!!

Thanks

~Aurora
The hicks from the sticks

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If only technology Geeks and Doctors could speak so understandably

So what does the fact I am the technology geek for some doctor's offices say?!?

Quote If only technology Geeks and Doctors could speak so understandably

So what does the fact I am the technology geek for some doctor's offices say?!?

The end is coming!

That you are then a terrific transolator and you need a raise!!!!!

~Aurora

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Right now, the phone number listed in the internet phone books for Atlasquest is 38.119.120.169 but that number is in the process of changing to 74.200.76.117.

Just outta curiosity, is there a way to know what address we'll looking at? The URL just says www.atlasquest.com/...

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Just outta curiosity, is there a way to know what address we'll looking at? The URL just says www.atlasquest.com/...

On Windows machines: Click Start, Run, type "cmd" (no quotes) hit 'OK'. On the black screen, type "ping www.atlasquest.com" <enter> and the number will be listed beside the name.

For what it is worth, this does not help for a lot of BIG websites since people like yahoo or google have many computers out there, not just one single either/or address like AQ does.

If only technology Geeks and Doctors could speak so understandably

So what does the fact I am the technology geek for some doctor's offices say?!?

Heaven approaches?

But, can you explain doctor-speak to the masses as well as you can explain geek-speak to the masses? LOL

Me, too! The AQ mail was blocked here at work but I can now access it again. YEA!

I'm half sorry I even brought it up if I realized it would cause so much confusion.

It's not so much confusion as anxiety. where will I get my 'fix' if AQ goes down?! Pressure is on, Ryan! :)