server age cutoff

[pinch]

I have a fast free isp server that expires posts after 30 days, plus a good paid server.

Running the free server as primary and paid server as backup works. However, when fetching older articles the primary server takes time to return "not found". This slows backup downloads to about 1/3 speed, regardless of the number of connections (and needlessly hammers the primary).

So, I leave the paid server as primary unless I'm fetching something recent, which means I can't queue up a mixed batch of big recent files and some older ones without using up my paid quota. I therefore switch back and forth between primary servers a lot.

It would be very helpful to have an optional age cutoff for each server, to be used only if there are other active primaries or backups (and when the age of the file is already known).

Thanks for providing an excellent tool, and your frequent updates!

[Hecks]

I agree that adding a max retention field for server entries would be a simple solution.

However, with premium NSP's offering unlimited accounts with huge retention and all the connections you could need to max your b/w for $11/mo or less, that surely is the better long-term solution than faffing with ISP servers. I guess it depends on cost vs benefit from your own POV.

[davidq666]

i totaly agree, adding a max age to the server would be awsome solution. i currently have a low retention flat of 350-400 days plus a backup block with higher retention. every time the backup is needed the speed slows down so much that i prefer changing to the block alltogether for that download and changing back afterwards.

[Binz]

Hello,

Is there a new about this request of a min / max retention setting for each server ? (which is personally "the" more important improvement i'm waiting for on Alt.Binz )

Like davidq666 and many people I also have an unlimited cheap offer for low retention content (< 400 days for me) and a blocking account for high retention (1000 days). And in a Primary / Backup use, the speed is very slow for high retention articles. So I can't launch several downloads with too different retentions, it's very annoying.

IMO the backup server feature should be only used for punctual missing articles in the retention limit of the primary server. And as an exception of a new feature regarding min / max retention for each server.

Thanks !