UPDATE: The issue with the missing auction items has been resolved. All sellers are advised to check their entries in upcoming auctions and update as necessary. Thank you for your patience.
"Update... The good news is that the first of two transfers of the database is complete. The system is now on a new server and secure, but it is an expensive server, so the next transfer will be to move it all to a virtual server that is more affordable. That will not happen for at least two weeks...
The bad news is that there appears to be some unanticipated data leakage during the transfer. A few people have reported some auction lots entered a few days ago having gone missing. We are investigating to see if we can recover them, but this is all very new to us (Megan and I... mostly Megan.... bless Megan). It is very likely that the lots will need to be reloaded. If we cannot figure out what happened and recover the lost data in the next 48 hours, then I will send out a message to re-load the auctions. I am very sorry for the inconvenience. Once we have all the transfers complete these problems should not recur."
Despite the travails of the software being down, Gary Hostetler was able to use our nifty spreadsheet to reconcile the auction. Sellers will be paid out at the September meeting. One seller has asked that a check be mailed, and we're getting that out. We had a very successful mini-auction netting nearly $250 for the club. Mini-auction proceeds pay for the meeting room rental each month, so bravo to all our sellers, bidders, and volunteers who make it all happen. Thank you for all you do for the club.
Maybe it is time to consider having a flee market type event like CCA's BIG FISH DEAL. Sellers are charged per table used, buyers are charged 8 to10 dollars to enter the event, but no runners, auctioneers, accountants, bidder card issuers or MGA access are needed. The club only has to procure the location and set up the tables and control the entry. Yet the club will get about the same amount of income. Sellers that only have one or two items can be accommodated by sharing a table. Sellers can sell anything fish related.
Update: MGA won't be up in time for the Saturday meeting. The people who can replace the switch can't get to the hosting datacenter until Sunday. A good example of why software should have a backup datacenter geographically distant from the primary. But hey, I'm not a risk consultant anymore.
We don't pay anything for MGA so shouldn't complain too much. We'll alert everyone to how we'll run the auction when we figure it out. The club hasn't had to run an auction manually since 2013 when MGA was first rolled out. We'll be kickin' it old school.
Update: NECA is aware of the problem. The MGA web hosting service has a switch down which they hope will be replaced by the end of this week. In the meantime, I'm researching other software options to lessen our dependence on MGA.
Yes, MGA appears to be down. Matt and I have been trying to get in since Sunday. Yesterday morning when I still couldn't get in, I went to the New England Cichlid Association web page and filled out the Contact form asking for assistance. I haven't received a reply yet. NECA purchased MGA from Jeff Greenspan. I've also asked them what their future plans are for the software.
If the server is still down tonight, I'll start a dial-a-thon with CCA and NEC friends to see if someone can put me directly in touch with the correct parties. Worst case scenario, we'll be conducting our monthly meeting auction on Saturday the old-fashioned way.
That's good news! It looks like I lost a few items out of the October auction, but it's easy enough to add them in again.
If you've already entered things for September or October, I definitely recommend checking your entries.
UPDATE: The issue with the missing auction items has been resolved. All sellers are advised to check their entries in upcoming auctions and update as necessary. Thank you for your patience.
Yes, I entered some items last week and they were gone yesterday. Not a big deal, as long as it's working on Saturday.
UPDATE: Announcement from Ted Judy
"Update... The good news is that the first of two transfers of the database is complete. The system is now on a new server and secure, but it is an expensive server, so the next transfer will be to move it all to a virtual server that is more affordable. That will not happen for at least two weeks...
The bad news is that there appears to be some unanticipated data leakage during the transfer. A few people have reported some auction lots entered a few days ago having gone missing. We are investigating to see if we can recover them, but this is all very new to us (Megan and I... mostly Megan.... bless Megan). It is very likely that the lots will need to be reloaded. If we cannot figure out what happened and recover the lost data in the next 48 hours, then I will send out a message to re-load the auctions. I am very sorry for the inconvenience. Once we have all the transfers complete these problems should not recur."
UPDATE: MyGroupAuctions is back up.
Despite the travails of the software being down, Gary Hostetler was able to use our nifty spreadsheet to reconcile the auction. Sellers will be paid out at the September meeting. One seller has asked that a check be mailed, and we're getting that out. We had a very successful mini-auction netting nearly $250 for the club. Mini-auction proceeds pay for the meeting room rental each month, so bravo to all our sellers, bidders, and volunteers who make it all happen. Thank you for all you do for the club.
You'd have to develop some rough, realistic estimates to demonstrate that the club income would be about the same for the board.
Maybe it is time to consider having a flee market type event like CCA's BIG FISH DEAL. Sellers are charged per table used, buyers are charged 8 to10 dollars to enter the event, but no runners, auctioneers, accountants, bidder card issuers or MGA access are needed. The club only has to procure the location and set up the tables and control the entry. Yet the club will get about the same amount of income. Sellers that only have one or two items can be accommodated by sharing a table. Sellers can sell anything fish related.
If anyone has an extra abacus, please bring it to the meeting!
Update: MGA won't be up in time for the Saturday meeting. The people who can replace the switch can't get to the hosting datacenter until Sunday. A good example of why software should have a backup datacenter geographically distant from the primary. But hey, I'm not a risk consultant anymore.
We don't pay anything for MGA so shouldn't complain too much. We'll alert everyone to how we'll run the auction when we figure it out. The club hasn't had to run an auction manually since 2013 when MGA was first rolled out. We'll be kickin' it old school.
Update: NECA is aware of the problem. The MGA web hosting service has a switch down which they hope will be replaced by the end of this week. In the meantime, I'm researching other software options to lessen our dependence on MGA.
Hi Jim,
Yes, MGA appears to be down. Matt and I have been trying to get in since Sunday. Yesterday morning when I still couldn't get in, I went to the New England Cichlid Association web page and filled out the Contact form asking for assistance. I haven't received a reply yet. NECA purchased MGA from Jeff Greenspan. I've also asked them what their future plans are for the software.
If the server is still down tonight, I'll start a dial-a-thon with CCA and NEC friends to see if someone can put me directly in touch with the correct parties. Worst case scenario, we'll be conducting our monthly meeting auction on Saturday the old-fashioned way.
Sincerely, Patchin
Yes, I have the same problem. Club officers are looking into this.