Despite that it has been known for a while, the time has now simply come. PHP 4 has received its final release, version 4.4.9. The last security fix, the last bug fixes, and the last time it will get support. It’s time for PHP 5. If you run a web site at a hosting provider, or perhaps are your own host .. this blog entry is a required read for you.

PHP Programmers : http://tinyurl.com/65rgfl : Symphony contacted customers about their security.

With MySQL v3 out of the way, and MySQL 4 and 5 being used everywhere now (and if you have not upgraded to the latest stable .. shame on you) I think it is time to point out that you can use MySQLi for your code, software and sites. This blog is to inform you about MySQLi and give you information so you can decide to upgrade and if you have already to perhaps use it on your vBulletin installation.

Bigger PHP applications, such as vBulletin can gain a lot of increased performance from running a PHP op-code cache/accelerator such as APC.

Here are some instructions on how install APC on various systems, my personal experience is with what appears the most common: 32bit CentOS 5 Server.

In the last few years I have hosted the vBulletin Fans Chat Network over at irc.vBulletin-Chat.com and we have grown quite a bit. We are still what is to be considered a small chat network, but we are an open network, have a flexible group of staff and have a growing group of supporters and chatters.

Each year I review the situation and decide whether to stop or continue with the chat network. After all, I pay it out of my own pocket or use the few donations we receive. And it could be that we’re paying too much for too many services when we perhaps only need half of the resources. Or, we might have grown so much that we need to double our set up and increase capacity. To just name a few questions I ask myself when the time is there again to make that decision.

There are quite a few domain names that I own, and they have to be hosted too. Some are small few page-sites, and others are medium to large. But they will all do just fine with shared hosting-, or virtual private server hosting solutions. And each account is only using about 50% of the capacity.

Individually each account is affordable, cheap, works just fine, and could work with a few parked and add-on domains. But as soon as a site peaks in traffic there could be problems. And some have the potential to do so. However, all together the bills I pay add up to quite a bit. A solution was needed, but the solution must have potential to grow without doubling the costs quickly.

Over the last six months I have spend quite a bit of time and money into updating my home entertainment system and my little office. Changes included upgrading my internet service provider account and purchase new hardware, and most recently replacing a few ugly wooden planks with a new, more shiny, bigger one. And there is more to come.