Michael Van Heffernan
11-08-2005, 03:49 AM
Let's kick off with mine!
Last month my website suddenly vanished so I contacted the provider by phone. I was assured there was nothing to worry about; lightening had hit the providers building and a power serge had burnt out the hard disk on the server. Nothing to worry about... And so I went to bed reasonably assured the site would be there in the morning.
08:15 there is a telephone call from my provider. 10 minutes of highly technically detailed explanation later I was left bewildered and wondering what he was on about. To cut through the BS started firing questions at him:
Me: Is there going to be more downtime?
Host: Yes.
Me: Is that because of the lightening?
Host: Yes.
Did you have a backup of your hard disk?
Host: Yes.
Me: Are you going to use the backup to get my site up and running again?
Host: No.
Do you have a backup?
Host: No
Me: Why not?
Host: The backup server was IN THE SAME BUILDING THAT GOT HIT BY LIGHTENING…
Me: Are you insane?
Host: Clinically…
It took weeks to get the back together again…Basically starting from scratch. Years of databases, specially designed interfaces, the works – all gone… Fortunately the host saw fit to pocket all the expenses and set up the site again, but that only really balanced out the lost revenue.
MVH
Last month my website suddenly vanished so I contacted the provider by phone. I was assured there was nothing to worry about; lightening had hit the providers building and a power serge had burnt out the hard disk on the server. Nothing to worry about... And so I went to bed reasonably assured the site would be there in the morning.
08:15 there is a telephone call from my provider. 10 minutes of highly technically detailed explanation later I was left bewildered and wondering what he was on about. To cut through the BS started firing questions at him:
Me: Is there going to be more downtime?
Host: Yes.
Me: Is that because of the lightening?
Host: Yes.
Did you have a backup of your hard disk?
Host: Yes.
Me: Are you going to use the backup to get my site up and running again?
Host: No.
Do you have a backup?
Host: No
Me: Why not?
Host: The backup server was IN THE SAME BUILDING THAT GOT HIT BY LIGHTENING…
Me: Are you insane?
Host: Clinically…
It took weeks to get the back together again…Basically starting from scratch. Years of databases, specially designed interfaces, the works – all gone… Fortunately the host saw fit to pocket all the expenses and set up the site again, but that only really balanced out the lost revenue.
MVH