[Barefoot-Memories]

From what I understand, and I could be wrong, there are 2 servers involved in a BD site:
The hosting server and the DB (database) server.

The photographer has to choose a host and put his/her website there, and BD will install the template. They sell hosting, but you don't HAVE to host with them.

The template gets data, though, from a BD database server where the data & code are stored. BD used to install a mySQL database per photographer, but they centralized all the databases into their own a few years ago when someone stole their code (and they really did get ripped off that time, not just an accusation and a lame threat of 9696NFL lawyer action).

So my question is: Was this a DB server, or a hosting server? I'm guessing a hosting server because a LOT more people would be affected if it were a DB server.

For their hosting, do they promise backups or anything like that? Most hosts have a huge list of features, including regular backups. It's clear they DIDN'T have a backup, but did they TELL people they would? If they did, someone needs to find themselves a lawyer.

EDIT:
I just found out that it's a DB "server" that had the problems.
I put quotes around it because I'm not all that sure that they run what we would call "servers" (evidenced by their email debacle last year)

There are people down who DO NOT host with Blu (they have symptoms like a splash page that just loads forever), and there are people who lost everything (their carts, their slideshows, everything).

[Barefoot-Memories]

Melody, on May 20 2008, 09:27 AM, said:

It's a database server, people are down who don't host through blu. You get to their loading screen and it just sits there forever.

They apparently didn't lose the entire server - just certain clients were lost when they moved the files to a different partition. (wtf partitions database servers? is this a common new practice?)

is it common practice to run your entire company's email system on a single workstation with no backup?

it may just be their common practice to run their "database" on a workstation with a normal plain-old harddrive. I'm starting to think that maybe they didn't (or don't) have an actual database server and that it's just running off a workstatioin (with no backup) like their email did.
...just thinkin'...

I also thought that they resold hosting thru somewhere. Lots of hosts have resellers' accounts where you can "sell hosting", but you're really just reselling. That's what I thought Blu did for hosting. If that's what they're doing for hosting, then those people do probably have a legitimate host on the backside, so if there ever was a problem or dataloss, there would probably be a backup somewhere.

Since this wasn't a hosting server that had problems, it looks like it was an internal BD computer (since the "tech" had access to drive partitions), and that's just .... what's the word.... typical.

[JimCook]

I just read the post bludomain did on DJ's blog:

http://opensourcepho...ur-website.html

Unbelievable....

[HCT]

Thanks DJ!

I saw their phone number and got super excited. I called the number and it's the wrong number. I've been emailing them for couples days now trying to get a refund on a site i ordered couple weeks ago which I've never received. Feel like I got scammed.

[David Medina]

JimCook, on May 20 2008, 02:56 PM, said:

I just read the post bludomain did on DJ's blog:

http://opensourcepho...ur-website.html

Unbelievable....

I agree!

There is no worst animal than the one that is licking its wounds.

Bludomain post on DJ's blog demonstrate that they are more concern about their company than the unfortunate 40. To say that 40 is minimal to cover their stupidity of not having back up and to attack DJ's to cover their incompetence is unbelievable.

I wonder how long would they let a negative post in their blog?

You would think that a company with "over 10,000" (their words not mine) website would have a contingency plan for error like this. The problem is not the error... that can happen to anyone... the problem is not having a backup plan in place that would have protected their clients against errors. And what makes it worst is that it has happen before! That demonstrated lack of professionalism and it is unbelievable. And worst... to try to shift blame and to minimize the situation by saying it was "minimal"!

DJ... I congratulate you for your offer to provide a solution and to speak out and give people options.

The fact that your offer is open ended demonstrate that you were not trying to benefit from the spoils and contradict Bludomain accusations. After all, if they are that good, I would think those forty users won't have problem going back... but at least they now have a choice while they wait for bludomain to make good their promises.

DJ, we stand behind you.

[Jamie Lynne]

JimCook, on May 20 2008, 09:56 AM, said:

I just read the post bludomain did on DJ's blog:

http://opensourcepho...ur-website.html

Unbelievable....

That is pretty crazy! I think it is great that DJ even thought to offer people who lost their site a solution while they figured things out. So props to that!

[Chelo]

Parris, on May 20 2008, 06:04 AM, said:

You got a set a (whats the spanish word for balls) on you!

Bolas, Parris. Bolas.

[danwatkins]

I guess that's why they call it blu?

(Sorry...too much Elton John to ignore...)

[JimCook]

danwatkins, on May 20 2008, 05:24 PM, said:

I guess that's why they call it blu?

(Sorry...too much Elton John to ignore...)

[tim_miller]

danwatkins, on May 20 2008, 05:24 PM, said:

I guess that's why they call it blu?

(Sorry...too much Elton John to ignore...)

Showing your age pops.

[David Medina]

Chelo, on May 20 2008, 07:13 PM, said:

Bolas, Parris. Bolas.

or "cojones"

[StudioAlameda]

David from Puerto Rico, on May 20 2008, 02:49 PM, said:

or "cojones"

or "huevos."

~rc

[miguel p]

Haven't you all figured it out? DJ is a genius! he's trying to get your attention!!!!!!!!!!

[davidjay]

Regas Chefas, on May 20 2008, 02:51 PM, said:

or "huevos."

~rc

or peanuts

[Parris]

Regas Chefas, on May 20 2008, 02:51 PM, said:

"huevos."

~rc

I thought huevos meant eggs??? Cojones looks seems way more macho. lol. Eggs are for Blu Domain and those other scallywags, El DJ tiene Cojones grandes...muy grande ahahaha. My spanish is like whoa!

[Chelo]

Parris, on May 20 2008, 08:15 PM, said:

I thought huevos meant eggs??? Cojones looks seems way more macho. lol. Eggs are for Blu Domain and those other scallywags, El DJ tiene Cojones grandes...muy grande ahahaha. My spanish is like whoa!

scallywags!! HAHAAHA!

Spanish like whoa!! BWAHA!

...spanish like whoa... woohoo, too funny.

[bobbyearle]

I spoke out on the blog in support of DJ, got a somewhat harsh response from blu (very surprising), and now my site is down. I've emailed my host to check it out but I was wondering if I don't host with blu, is it still possible for me to be affected by them?

**BLUDOMAIN DID NOTHING - IT WAS MY SERVER**

[JimCook]

bobbyearle, on May 20 2008, 09:08 PM, said:

got a somewhat harsh response from blu (very surprising)

Doesn't seem surprising to me....

[Barefoot-Memories]

bobbyearle, on May 20 2008, 06:08 PM, said:

I spoke out on the blog in support of DJ, got a somewhat harsh response from blu (very surprising), and now my site is down. I've emailed my host to check it out but I was wondering if I don't host with blu, is it still possible for me to be affected by them?

Even if you don't host w/blu, from what I've seen, your site could still be affected, as the problem was with their database. But if your site was up this morning, then down later today, that's suspicious, as the problem occurred previously & no new "mishaps" were reported today.

There are instances (w/evidence) of Blu taking retalitory strikes at its customers for online comments, so you may want to look further into your site uptime logs.

[JimCook]

Barefoot-Memories, on May 20 2008, 09:18 PM, said:

There are instances (w/evidence) of Blu taking retalitory strikes at its customers for online comments, so you may want to look further into your site uptime logs.

You have to be kidding me.