License Server

[med]

Hi,

After all the research - I settled on 68 classified. This is the best.

one question though, regarding the license, will my site continue to work if for unforeseen reason you guys close the business. (BTW I wush you guys a long life).

In the past I have come across license models where the site stops working once the business goes down. So I do not want fall in that trap again.

Thanks

[Lhotch +]

They have stated in the past if they were to close up shop they would do away with the license server and unlock if for eveyone.

[seymourjames +]

I can also confirm that is what has always been said by Eric at 68 classifieds.

I too was interested in this.

I have seen 8 or 9 businesses lately suffer massive money losses as a result of this kind of technic, and not because the company closed. But because the datacentre had done something daft rendering the license server useless for a period of 3 weeks.

I am not concerned about unlocking the script as much as I am about the site being rendered useless at the snap of a finger. Is there any local license file as backup incase the license server cannot be contacted?

I was seriously redy to commit to buying a license this evening, for my site, but now have serious concerns and am contemplating looking elsewhere Shame really as it looks very versatile.

[seymourjames +]

68 Classifieds uses perhaps the most reliable hosting provider on the market called RackSpace. You cannot do better and this company has an incredible reputation and service agreement - you are unlikely to find anything better. They do not come cheap. Look at Rackspace's clinets and it becomes fairly obvious.

Eric has always been clear about 68C policy in such an event. There is nothing to be concerned about at all.

Hi seymourjames,

I have no doubt as to the abilities of Rackspace, but im sure you can admit that there is a massive network of cables, routers and gateways between rackspace and the rest of the world.
Again I dont doubt the ability of rackspace or C68 for that as the web app looks great. But what happens if a carrier goes belly up between my dc and rackspace? If my customers could still see my server but my server could not route to rackspace (ok I know chances are slim, but its a possibility that has to be considered).

The site would cease to function, not because the license is invalid, but because (and off course I am saying this on the basis that it is a continous connection that is required) the connection was broken at a point and it could not connect to the server within rackspace.

This for me, is a flaw no matter how small. As I say I have seen no less than 8 businesses suffer lately due to something which broke the constant link. It is possible, and many people do make use of it, to have a locally stored license file, or signature within the license check file, which if a connection to the main license server cannot be obtained takes over regardless of the length of time the link stays down for.

If this is something that is already in use then fair enough otherwise I would be placing my trust in another individual and the internet not to have any hiccups.

With regards to the policy Eric has, could you point me to this, as it is not easily found and I would be interested in reading the full low down.

Many thanks,

[seymourjames +]

Who says there is a constant connection with a server being polled every second? I really think you are in the realms of what happens if. Now unless you are running a mission critical system then you are going over the top to be frank. If your site is that critical, you can always make a mirror couldn't you - then 2 links would need to go down. What you should be doing is choosing a good hosting company.

I think you should read the forum and the testimonials. Look at the type of support offered in general from not only 68 classifieds but the community as a whole. What would be nice is if you could point me to another classifieds script where you can honestly say it competes technically, in terms of features, supportwise or in terms of the depth of community help. The fact is you can't.

seymourjames,

I never did say there was another classifieds script I found that has prompt technical help. Features yes as one company makes a system with features the next makes a few more and sells it as a better system.

With regards to your point of mission critical, yes I could make a mirror, house them in 2 different datacentres and my host is very reliable. My point was carriers on which the dc sits

Anyway all this is besides the point for me and to be fair there is little point in arguing, although a healthy debate never harmed anyone.

All I wanted to know was if C68 closed up would my site carry on working without any contact files sent, modifications needed? I think the answer was no which leaves me to have to make a decision. Im all up for testimonials and I have read a fair few which is why im still seriously considering C68.
If your asking me if I would trust C68 to make an effort if they went out of business....I couldnt answer that one and this is what I need to sum up before commiting.

[seymourjames +]

I can answer that and I am sure others will follow. There is no doubt that 68 classifieds would honor what they have said in the past that the code would be put into the public domain should they not continue for any reason. Why would they leave thousands of users high and dry including many friends. You judge for yourself.

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

Personally, I think you are being overly concerned. To start with there is no guarantee for anyone for any script and/or software that relies on the interconnectivity of the internet for 100% reliability of everyone's routers network, servers to always be up. That's a fact. Look at Google with over 1 million servers! Let alone other issues that aren't even necessarily hardware related like DNS issues, etc..

Secondly, your 68 Classifieds site doesn't go down and become useless if the license check fails. You would lose the ability to login to the administration only until the check is done successfully. Everything else still works. Couple that with what has already been stated regarding 68 Classifieds if they were to go out of business (highly unlikely) then there is not an issue.

I don't actually know of any other commercial software script that does not also have license check built in and am unaware of any classifieds software script that has what you are referring to with a local license check backup, not to say that there isn't any, I'm just not aware of any. Of course, there is something to be said that if the internet connection is so bad that your script can't connect to the license server, who's to say that it can connect to a different one as well?

Life always has some gambles to it. Who's to say that I won't die in a car accident tomorrow? All of my sites will then be useless or at least updates probably aren't going to happen.