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Overclock.net: Chapter Three

21K views 244 replies 76 participants last post by  ENTERPRISE 
#1 ·
Good morning everyone,

We know all has been very quiet on the community and platform side of things for some time now - during this quiet period we've been quite busy behind the scenes, and have some big news to share about the next chapter for Overclock.net.

In early 2017, the Huddler platform we currently run the community on was officially declared end-of-life. This kicked off a search for us: we needed to find a new software platform to run the site, and all options were on the table. After exhaustive discussions with potential partners, we decided that the best approach for the community was for us to not only find a new software platform, but a new ownership group as well.

I'm pleased to announce that Overclock.net will be joining the VerticalScope, Inc family of communities effective immediately. If you're not familiar with VerticalScope, discussion forums are what they do - and their team supports some of the largest names on the web. We'll be joining their growing portfolio of technology forums backed by VerticalScope's platform and community support, and gain access to their development, content, and advertising teams.

In addition, this news means we will be migrating to VerticalScope's VBulletin-based software platform. It is modern, one of the industry standards, and will be fully supported by teams of developers and infrastructure / operations folks from the VerticalScope side. Many of our longtime members and staff will remember VB as having been our original software platform, though we'll soon be running a better-supported and more modern version of the tools we were acclimated to in the somewhat distant past.

What will be changing?

On the community side, initially very little - VerticalScope's philosophy is to work with communities which generally already work, so all of our existing team will be staying onboard in their existing roles. ENTERPRISE, The Manual, myself, and all of our other volunteer moderators, editors, and event staff will still be here as we work through this transition and beyond. In time, we'll be joined by additional faces from the VerticalScope (VS) community and technical teams, and these folks will be introduced appropriately when that time comes. As VS puts it, they are "primarily here to make sure the lights stay on". We are very much continuing to steer our own ship as a community, with expanded support from one of the biggest names in the industry.

On the platform side, quite a lot of change is coming - and very soon:

At approximately 7am Pacific time on Tuesday, January 16th, the website and forums will be placed into maintenance mode while the transition from the Huddler platform to VBulletin takes place.

This migration process is anticipated to take at least 18 hours, but we will be communicating status as the day goes on via social media. If you don't yet follow @overclocknet on Twitter or Overclock.net on Facebook, you may wish to take a moment to do so now so you can continue to see the latest updates. When we come back online, it'll be full-speed-ahead on VBulletin. When we come back up, we'll have discussion areas waiting for you to experiment with new features, ask questions and get help, or report any bugs or technical issues you encounter. The team has performed several other migrations of Huddler-platform sites into the VS technology stack, so they have plenty of experience with this kind of transition.

We can't wait to welcome you into 2018 by welcoming you into a new chapter for Overclock.net, and welcome your questions as we conduct the final prep for the big migration day. This will be a big year for the community, and we're thrilled to have you all along for the ride with us. Stay tuned for Chapter Three.

UPDATE 2017-01-16 9AM PST: Hi all, please be advised we are experiencing a slight delay in migration. Stay tuned for further updates. All systems are operating normally at this point. We will provide an update when we have a new target for downtime beginning.

UPDATE 2017-01-21 11pm EST: New migration target start time: 7AM Pacific, Monday Jan 22nd
 
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#2 ·
Exciting! Cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-changes...
wheee.gif
 
#3 ·
Lets get it!
OCN 2018
specool.gif
 
#5 ·
:drunken:
 
#6 ·
I couldn't have said any of that better myself. Hi all, my name is Kyle, I'm one of the reps here at Verticalscope, just wanted to introduce myself and us a little bit before the ball really gets rolling tomorrow.

To give you all a little idea of what we do and why we are here I have broken down some of the basic questions that I am sure most of you have.

Who are you, VerticalScope?

VerticalScope is a company of enthusiasts. We manage multiple communities online that work to engage users with a broad spectrum of themes and interests. Our focus it to continue the steady growth of these communities while working to maintain the passion and spirit that make each one unique. Technology, Automotive, Motorcycle, Fashion, Health and Wellness are just a few of the many groups of sites we engage with.

Why are you converting the site to vBulletin?

We have made the decision to migrate to vBulletin as it is the same platform we use to scale hundreds of other sites.

What are our intentions?

We bring reliability, support and the infrastructure needed to ensure that the community will be around for years to come. It's our goal to work with the community and the board staff to help provide the resources required to give this community a broader reach. This works to attract new members to better the overall knowledge shared in the community. Over time the community grows further and becomes an even better resource of information on the subjects you love so much.

Will leadership change?

Continuity is an important focus for us, YOU as the membership of this community have helped to set the tone. New members are made to feel welcome and should want to continue to contribute to the growth of the site. Your Mods and Admins that you have grown to appreciate will not change and will still be here to help you and keep the site clean and free of distractions. The VerticalScope team are primarily here to make sure the lights stay on and there are as few bumps in the road as possible. We recognize that each community is unique and having respect for this is paramount to us. Since the beginning the moderation staff has established the unique rules and regulations here. The community has also established a strong reputation that makes the site inviting and engaging to all users new and more experienced.

What am I here for?

My primary role along with the rest of the team is to be a technical contact. You can think of me like the man behind the curtain in the wizard of oz. The community and moderation staff built the foundation and keep the roof from falling, I am here keeping the lights on inside while we all enjoy the party. We will be on the forum checking in daily to make sure regular maintenance is all taken care of and keep things running smoothly from behind the scenes.

I do look forward to getting to know you all and this unique community better.

Thanks
 
#131 ·
I couldn't have said any of that better myself. Hi all, my name is Kyle, I'm one of the reps here at Verticalscope, just wanted to introduce myself and us a little bit before the ball really gets rolling tomorrow.

To give you all a little idea of what we do and why we are here I have broken down some of the basic questions that I am sure most of you have.


Who are you, VerticalScope?

VerticalScope is a company of enthusiasts. We manage multiple communities online that work to engage users with a broad spectrum of themes and interests. Our focus it to continue the steady growth of these communities while working to maintain the passion and spirit that make each one unique. Technology, Automotive, Motorcycle, Fashion, Health and Wellness are just a few of the many groups of sites we engage with.

Why are you converting the site to vBulletin?

We have made the decision to migrate to vBulletin as it is the same platform we use to scale hundreds of other sites.

What are our intentions?

We bring reliability, support and the infrastructure needed to ensure that the community will be around for years to come. It’s our goal to work with the community and the board staff to help provide the resources required to give this community a broader reach. This works to attract new members to better the overall knowledge shared in the community. Over time the community grows further and becomes an even better resource of information on the subjects you love so much.

Will leadership change?

Continuity is an important focus for us, YOU as the membership of this community have helped to set the tone. New members are made to feel welcome and should want to continue to contribute to the growth of the site. Your Mods and Admins that you have grown to appreciate will not change and will still be here to help you and keep the site clean and free of distractions. The VerticalScope team are primarily here to make sure the lights stay on and there are as few bumps in the road as possible. We recognize that each community is unique and having respect for this is paramount to us. Since the beginning the moderation staff has established the unique rules and regulations here. The community has also established a strong reputation that makes the site inviting and engaging to all users new and more experienced.

What am I here for?

My primary role along with the rest of the team is to be a technical contact. You can think of me like the man behind the curtain in the wizard of oz. The community and moderation staff built the foundation and keep the roof from falling, I am here keeping the lights on inside while we all enjoy the party. We will be on the forum checking in daily to make sure regular maintenance is all taken care of and keep things running smoothly from behind the scenes.

I do look forward to getting to know you all and this unique community better.

Thanks
Welcome to OCN Kyle.

Can you please speak about Virticalscopes' previous security breaches and how you addressed those at the time? And also what you are currently doing to prevent something like that happening again?
I'd also like some word on the lack of HTTPS on the site, this is 2018, HTTPS is something any new website should have, site wide, going forward.
We're a close knit, passionate community, I'm sure you've observed this over the past 24 hours or so - And especially as one of the largest and most popular TECH forums on the web, a lot of us will want clear and honest explanations and answers.

Cheers.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by TechnicalAdmin View Post

I couldn't have said any of that better myself. Hi all, my name is Kyle, I'm one of the reps here at Verticalscope, just wanted to introduce myself and us a little bit before the ball really gets rolling tomorrow.

To give you all a little idea of what we do and why we are here I have broken down some of the basic questions that I am sure most of you have.

Who are you, VerticalScope?

VerticalScope is a company of enthusiasts. We manage multiple communities online that work to engage users with a broad spectrum of themes and interests. Our focus it to continue the steady growth of these communities while working to maintain the passion and spirit that make each one unique. Technology, Automotive, Motorcycle, Fashion, Health and Wellness are just a few of the many groups of sites we engage with.

Why are you converting the site to vBulletin?

We have made the decision to migrate to vBulletin as it is the same platform we use to scale hundreds of other sites.

What are our intentions?

We bring reliability, support and the infrastructure needed to ensure that the community will be around for years to come. It's our goal to work with the community and the board staff to help provide the resources required to give this community a broader reach. This works to attract new members to better the overall knowledge shared in the community. Over time the community grows further and becomes an even better resource of information on the subjects you love so much.

Will leadership change?

Continuity is an important focus for us, YOU as the membership of this community have helped to set the tone. New members are made to feel welcome and should want to continue to contribute to the growth of the site. Your Mods and Admins that you have grown to appreciate will not change and will still be here to help you and keep the site clean and free of distractions. The VerticalScope team are primarily here to make sure the lights stay on and there are as few bumps in the road as possible. We recognize that each community is unique and having respect for this is paramount to us. Since the beginning the moderation staff has established the unique rules and regulations here. The community has also established a strong reputation that makes the site inviting and engaging to all users new and more experienced.

What am I here for?

My primary role along with the rest of the team is to be a technical contact. You can think of me like the man behind the curtain in the wizard of oz. The community and moderation staff built the foundation and keep the roof from falling, I am here keeping the lights on inside while we all enjoy the party. We will be on the forum checking in daily to make sure regular maintenance is all taken care of and keep things running smoothly from behind the scenes.

I do look forward to getting to know you all and this unique community better.

Thanks
Welcome to OCN :)
 
#8 ·
I realise this might be a bit off-topic, but will there be a way to make off-topic threads visible to non-members? I have a couple car logs here, and I'd like it if I can link to them from other sites (Bimmerforums and ClubProtege). As it is now it won't help, because they can't view the threads.
 
#12 ·
#13 ·
#14 ·
I also hope we aren't losing badges and the ability to show off our rigs... Kind of let's us show off our pride, and some of the stuff we've participated in with OCN over the years...
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiteWulfe View Post

I also hope we aren't losing badges and the ability to show off our rigs... Kind of let's us show off our pride, and some of the stuff we've participated in with OCN over the years...
That's my first thought as well. Sig rigs are one of my favorite features of this site, and I put probably more effort than I should into setting those up.
 
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#19 ·
Good to hear. Do you know if it will be possible to make off-topic threads visible, as asked? I realise this is not a migration issue, but I think it can be of value to people here.
 
#20 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKuhn View Post

Good to hear. Do you know if it will be possible to make off-topic threads visible, as asked? I realise this is not a migration issue, but I think it can be of value to people here.
I don't make a habit of changing site rules, particularly in face of a major migration. When the migration is done I will gladly discuss this with the moderators
 
#21 ·
No problem. I'm aware that you're not the one making the rules (as you said, you're here mainly to give support with the new platform), at this stage I just wanted to know if it can be done. My logic told me that it should be doable, but I was unsure.
 
#22 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKuhn View Post

Good to hear. Do you know if it will be possible to make off-topic threads visible, as asked? I realise this is not a migration issue, but I think it can be of value to people here.
It is unlikely, I am not sure as to the overall value this would bring overall. The OT section is more of a place for OCN members to chill and relax and discuss topics that are not part of OCN's core mission. I do not really see the benefit of showing this section (A section not part of our core values) to the general viewing internet
 
#23 ·
Excited to see this and can't wait to see what effects this will have from a moderation standpoint.
 
#25 ·
Last time I was active on this forum it was still running vBulletin. I missed the transition to Huddler and it seems OCN is getting back to its roots
smile.gif
 
#26 ·
I have felt like OCN over the years has taken a dip for the worse. I remember when ocn did the "win your dream rig" and put more effort into it's community which thus has all died off.

As for verticalscope. I'm unsure you guys were hacked in 2016 losing 45m passwords n such and breached in 2017. What are you guys doing on your side to improve these security breaches.

I've had recently some tough times. X2 layoffs, lost my house and vehicle and basically lost everything I owned. The community stepped up and helped me out to much. The OCN community can't be touched. Let's hope with these changes we can see the old OCN who used to give back to the community like you guys used to.

I love OCN it's a place of community and knowledge.
 
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