The future of the forum:

[b1k3rdude]

This forum was founded in 2001 (internet archive), and has been an invaluable source of information and help for over 24years and during this time the forum has always been free for anyone to join and participate. 

Following on from Mel's post, as it stands one person is paying out of pocket for the hosting and domain renewal, but that person is retiring from the role. I/we would like to try and keep the forum online and avoid all of the incredibly invaluable information contained within this forum being lost. So off the top of my head we have following options - 

- Someone else takes over the hosting and domain costs in its entirety.
- I/we setup some kind of crowd donation page and ask for donations, over-donations would simply be saved for the following years costs etc.
- Or I try and figure out how to migrate the entire forum to a Raspberry pi or Mini Pc, and cover the cost of the domain name myself. 

The annual hosting and domain name cost, is about the same a pair of tyres. Most of that is the hosting cost, which can probably be reduced, if I can figure out how to safely reduce the amount of space the forum is using.

I'm a computer engineer in my day job, but I know very little Linux. MyBB, hosting and domain forwarding would all be an almost vertical learning curve for me. And that's before I even look at the feasibility of doing a migration from online to local hosting.

[Grahamm]

My business is hosted on NamesCo and I have WePanel Premium (see https://www.names.co.uk/wepanel-hosting )

I wouldn't be able to maintain the site, but I think that might be OK for hosting.

[fazersharp]

I would be willing to chip in some money. So how much is needed to be raised each year.

[b1k3rdude]

My business is hosted on NamesCo and I have WePanel Premium (see https://www.names.co.uk/wepanel-hosting )

I wouldn't be able to maintain the site, but I think that might be OK for hosting.

We will have to have a PB chat and see how that would work.

[b1k3rdude]

I would be willing to chip in some money. So how much is needed to be raised each year.

I mentioned the amount in the OP, but the actual amount is currently £260 p/y. £240 for the hosting and £20 for the domain name registration..

Buy as I mentioned, if I can get the foot print down the hosts costs should go down with it.

[fazersharp]

I would be willing to chip in some money. So how much is needed to be raised each year.

I mentioned the amount in the OP, but the actual amount is currently £260 p/y. £240 for the hosting and £20 for the domain name registration..

Buy as I mentioned, if I can get the foot print down the hosts costs should go down with it.

Are any of theses any good
https://www.ionos.co.uk/hosting/web-hosting

Going forward would a "by us a coffee" thing work- if you have found some help on here. I dont know how you set them up and then also as you say a fund page of some sort.

[BBROWN1664]

Are any of theses any good
https://www.ionos.co.uk/hosting/web-hosting

the pain of moving to save £0 a month is not something i think is worth it unless they provide something more than. We would nee dtheir business ackage at the moment which is exactly the same price as we currently pay £16+VAT

[unfazed]

I mentioned the amount in the OP, but the actual amount is currently £260 p/y. £240 for the hosting and £20 for the domain name registration..

Buy as I mentioned, if I can get the foot print down the hosts costs should go down with it

I will give half the cost tomorrow after I get out of hospital, I will message you with my private email address shortly to arrange the payment.  It is not right to have one person paying the full amount, I had not realised that only one person is funding the lot. i have made a few good friends from this site over the years. I was on the original forum in 20003,  but lost access when it changed and had to rejoin in 2011. I had uploaded a lot of information and manuals, but must the lost in the last change. I managed to upload some again but appear to have lost that facility for some reason and be been unable to re upload anything recently.

[fazersharp]

Th

I mentioned the amount in the OP, but the actual amount is currently £260 p/y. £240 for the hosting and £20 for the domain name registration..

Buy as I mentioned, if I can get the foot print down the hosts costs should go down with it

I will give half the cost tomorrow after I get out of hospital, I will message you with my private email address shortly to arrange the payment.  It is not right to have one person paying the full amount, I had not realised that only one person is funding the lot. i have made a few good friends from this site over the years. I was on the original forum in 20003,  but lost access when it changed and had to rejoin in 2011. I had uploaded a lot of information and manuals, but must the lost in the last change. I managed to upload some again but appear to have lost that facility for some reason and be been unable to re upload anything recently.

That is amazing, I was just thinking if enough people can put £10 in a go fund or whatever it is then that would do it.

I see about the cost issue with moving for 0 benefit but does it need to be a business hosting. As no trade is done, and how about advertising on here.