FAQ
When are we upgrading ATRL?
There is no set date but we will give a 24hr notice before upgrading to the next version of ATRL.
Any rough idea on a date?
None that we're ready to make public, but we're doing the best we can and will continue to put in as much time and focus as our schedules allow until we're on a stable server.
If you don't see a GINORMOUS banner at the top of the page alerting you about ATRL's transition, it's because we haven't announced it yet.
Are we still moving to vB5?
We are not fully committed to launching vB5 at this time.
What happens when you take ATRL offline?
We take the forum offline because it's almost impossible to work on the upgrade with lag issues. We experience the same amount of lag everyone else does.
Is search ever coming back?
Yes.
Are registrations ever going to reopen?
Yes.
Are over capacity messages ever going to end?
Yes.
Will there be a bookmark feature on the new ATRL?
Yes.
Will we get quote notifications on the new ATRL?
It's possible, but we haven't tested it yet.
Are the color schemes coming back?
Yes.
Where can I see the new features we'll be getting?
We don't have an official list of the features we're going to allow at this time, but we'll be making some announcements in the coming days.
Can I be a mod?
No.
Previously...
I want to address some of the speculation generated from numerous threads over the past few months and update you guys on where we’re at in the repair process.
ATRL’s Server
This forum is running on very old vBulletin software, bloated with custom functionality that didn't scale well for a community of this size. We also suffered a crash trying to optimize the server a couple weeks ago – it too has left lingering issues that affect the current performance. Joe (ATRL's owner) is working around the clock to improve speed where it’s possible, but we can only do so much on this version of the forum’s software.
For a permanent solution, we’re working on a move to the latest version of vBulletin (vB5) and we’re confident that this will resolve all performance issues and bring in much requested features for usability and compatibility with mobile devices. It’s still fairly early in development, but we’ll keep you updated on the progress as we reach a launch date. We completely understand the frustration over how long it’s taking to resolve the server issues, and we want to thank everyone for their patience and support.
ATRL’s Traffic
Despite the lag, ATRL is still experiencing some of the biggest traffic gains in its history. We had a few dips in traffic during downtime, including the longest one ever recorded a couple weeks ago when the forum was offline for a day or two, but as long as we're up and running, traffic remains the same or better over time.
Some of you may have noticed a reduction in the amount of active members, but I assure you, this too is quite normal. ATRL registrations have not been open for several months, and while we occasionally open it to test the server’s performance, we rarely accept new members. Because we’re not taking in new members, the ones we lose aren't being replaced and we’re not making any gains. Our average of new registrants has been somewhere between 100 –150 per week, and we expect that to increase when registrations return.
ATRL+
We wanted to add some new features to our subscription service, but unfortunately there was no way to do so without adding to the overall performance lag. That said, we expect to deliver on those promises as soon as we’re able to install the latest forum software. Once that happens, all past, current and future ATRL+ members will receive a special bonus as our way of saying thank you for your support.
