Sad news about a Trainzer.

Peter,
If you can get Herbert's next of kin to contact the hosting provider and provide a copy of a death certificate then you may be able to get the hosting provider to change the passwords for you. I know this worked once for me in the past when a friend of mine passed away.
 
Probably a long shot Peter but he may have logged on to his website from that PC and if he used Firefox may have saved the password which can be viewed, via Tools > Options > Security > Saved logins > show passwords not sure about other browsers as don't use them but probably something similar exists.
 
Some research

using http://who.is we find out the Registrar info:

Registrar Name:TPP WHOLESALE PTY LTD.
Whois Server whois.distributeit.com.au
Referral URL http://www.tppwholesale.com.au
Status ok https://icann.org/epp#ok
Domain name expires on September 11, 2016
And we have privacy enabled.
So for the domain name you can contact domains@tppwholesale.com.au
(probably best to just let it expire and fall off the web)
the site is hosted on unlimited-space.com servers.
this is where you need to gain the cpanel access, so you can clear things out.
On that server is where some action is needed.
best to remove the site, download all of it and get rid of the contact page.

hope this helps.
 
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Malc.

Nope! I scoured every file, nothing looked like what I'm after.

Saieditor


Thanks for the research.

I don't want to clear things out, and the web site will disappear when the hosting is not paid for, there is no rush to take it off-the-air. I have asked Herbert's brother if he can find access details, in the meantime I will explore the information you post above. Re your last line "download all of it and get rid of the contact page", this is what I want to do. I am trying to do what he wanted me to do, he gave me all his mesh files but unfortunately, he omitted his hosting details.

Peter
 
Hello Peter --

I'm sure Herbert forgot to tell you, and it's understandable -- He and I shared plenty of PM'S, as he helped me with some tight-curve couplers. among other stuff during many years; And when he mentioned his health issues, in which, my mother went through in 2008 as well. we talked about it in more detail, he was a fighter -- During that time I asked him if he had someone in mind, and I think he did mentioned you in one PM, so with all that said, he just forgot -- He said everything trainz was going to you!

Also, he told me once he had a second account here in trainz, but I forgot what alias he used!

Best bet to try to get that info, using the suggestions the guys left above this post, and hopefully you can continue hosting the site!
Herbert was a pioneer in these forums -- At least, TANE screenshot thread will forever host his name as he created that thread, I told them this once, and he laughs! -- LOL

Take Care, Peter!!!

Ish
 
narrowgauge said:
Malc.
Thanks for the research.

I don't want to clear things out, and the web site will disappear when the hosting is not paid for, there is no rush to take it off-the-air. I have asked Herbert's brother if he can find access details, in the meantime I will explore the information you post above. Re your last line "download all of it and get rid of the contact page", this is what I want to do. I am trying to do what he wanted me to do, he gave me all his mesh files but unfortunately, he omitted his hosting details.

Peter
Click to expand...
You're right, the site will disappear and fall off the web in September.

I have a hunch you will get access to the hosting site, so all shall be well ...

Chris
 
Sad news. Wish he best for family and friends. His contribution to the greater community can't be gauged. Condolences to family and friends.
 
I went to Herbert's web site today and used my Serif WebPlus software to import his site. Most of the pages are "Under Construction", so they imported perfectly. The pages that have pictures got mis-aligned somewhat, but I can correct that easily. If you like, once I clean it up a bit, I can "publish" the site to my hard drive, ZIP up the contents (they will be normal HTML files and JPG's) to send to whomever wants to keep the site alive past September.

Would that be you, Peter?

Bill
 
Bill

Thanks for making that effort. I have contacted the hosting service that are currently providing the site and it seem most likely that ownership of the domain and the site can be transferred to me. At the least, I can assume responsibility for the annual fees. I am in contact with Herbert's brother and he has no problems with this.

Now I have to consider this. I'm 87 and at the moment have no known physical problems that can cause me to 'drop off the twig' but nevertheless that is in my future so I will have to consider the necessity of handing the responsibility to someone younger.

Let's get this changeover finalised then discuss it later. It may seem that I/We are making more of this than necessary but it highlights something that needs discussion. We need to get people involved in a wider context. Trainz creators are going to leave or die and perhaps there should be an expectation that they do what Herbert did and pass their creations on to someone else or some central repository. Perhaps N3V could create a 'Code Vault' that could store max/Gmax/blender mesh files for the future. That is the point where the current system falls down, the finished product remains available but not the meshes. This would imply that N3V would inherit the copyright upon the death or departure from the game of the original creator. Perhaps they don't need to store the mesh, that can always be regenerated, they just need to have automatic assignment of the copyright.

Thoughts?


Peter
 
I think the idea of a central repository for assets, meshes, along with bits and pieces for Gmax/Blender is brilliant.
If Herbert thought of passing on his creations to another, then you can be sure that others will get the same idea.
We are in a terrible quandary at the present moment with the assets of those who leave. A repository could solve such problems. We probably never thought of {abandonware} when UTC - and other early builds - came out. I certainly didn't.

We could probably ask whomsoever owns these forums to create a forum for this topic, for I am sure, that those who seek to engage more than just playing a game would be here - or somewhere else - in a Trainz community and the very existence of a forum and a central repository would attract users: that is to say content creators, contributors and users of such a code vault (so to speak).

It is something that could possibly be run in parallel with TrainzNext, that is to say, the common content creator's platform in the making as we write.


Peter, go ahead with the changeover, I am happy to help out and render you with any assistance you may need.

Chris
 
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It is unfortunate, however, that storage space = money in the real world. N3V probably cannot take this for action as just the maintenance of the database would reuqire a nearly full-time employee. On the other hand, there are a few Trainzers out here who have their own web sites (me included) who might be willing to store that type of data. Typically, however, that could be Terabytes of data and not cheap.

However, we are hijacking this thread and need to go off-line or start another thread. I'd suggest the "Suggestion Boxcar" but that isn't easy to post in.

Bill
 
I have my own websites (many) (far away from Trainz) (although Trainz is my relaxation).
(I have one Trainz site, but bless my cotton socks, I never get time to update it!)

I agree that storage space = money in the real world, and I am coughing up $$$ monthly and annually. I renewed one domain name this morning and moved another domain and its data away from my hosting yesterday. This demands time, talents and resources, as you do say.

As I understand things, we are looking to see how we can make vinnybarb's creations and assets available according to his desires and wishes as communicated to narrowgauge.

Let's see what data is involved (fully realised creations) (parts of creations, meshes, etc) and what can be put up on a hosting site and how.

After we understand that, I sense that narrowgauge shares an important truth and at 87, he may not have many years to oversight and / or maintain this; and that this factor might be the next topic of discussion, for we rely on the help of those interested and those who are able to guide such a discussion.
 
narrowgauge said:
Bill

Thanks for making that effort. I have contacted the hosting service that are currently providing the site and it seem most likely that ownership of the domain and the site can be transferred to me. At the least, I can assume responsibility for the annual fees. I am in contact with Herbert's brother and he has no problems with this.

Now I have to consider this. I'm 87 and at the moment have no known physical problems that can cause me to 'drop off the twig' but nevertheless that is in my future so I will have to consider the necessity of handing the responsibility to someone younger.

Let's get this changeover finalised then discuss it later. It may seem that I/We are making more of this than necessary but it highlights something that needs discussion. We need to get people involved in a wider context. Trainz creators are going to leave or die and perhaps there should be an expectation that they do what Herbert did and pass their creations on to someone else or some central repository. Perhaps N3V could create a 'Code Vault' that could store max/Gmax/blender mesh files for the future. That is the point where the current system falls down, the finished product remains available but not the meshes. This would imply that N3V would inherit the copyright upon the death or departure from the game of the original creator. Perhaps they don't need to store the mesh, that can always be regenerated, they just need to have automatic assignment of the copyright.

Thoughts?


Peter
Click to expand...

Hello Peter, sir ...

That's good news about Herbert's site, and you're taken charge of it!

Since late 2001, I seem a plenty of trainzers passed-on, and their creations forever will be at the DLS -- However, unlike Herbert, who had you in mind, these creators suddenly one day where passed-on, and we only found out, because a son / daughter discovered their hobby, forum while they search through their computers. and told us! I am saying this because I know if they knew they would passed-on they would have done something about their meshes; But sometimes the unexpected happens! -- I think you're idea is good one, and perhaps you should note it at the Suggestion forum, or send Tony a direct thread -- He does read these, and have answered. or send him a direct email about your idea on this subject!

Take Care
Ish
 
I keep a file on my network router hard drive that contains around 30 or 35 web sites that I regularly haunt. For each of those web sites, I have my username and a small blurb about my passing I would like my executor to post in that forum. The passwords are stored elsewhere safely. I also have ZIP files of everything I've ever created that are updated on a monthly basis (if needed), including all my routes and content on the DLS. It gives me peace of mind to know that it will be taken care of and not leave friends wondering where I've gotten off to.

As for storage of large amounts of data, there are quite a few "cloud" providers that are not as expensive as an actual web site. That may be one way to go. If you have password access to the storage area then you keep control of who knows where the files are. I'm not sure, but doesn't Google itself give you 1 or 2 TB of free storage?

Bill
 
HiBaller said:
I'm not sure, but doesn't Google itself give you 1 or 2 TB of free storage?

Bill
Click to expand...

Yo, they do.

Very interesting message, btw.
lightbulb.jpg
 
I agree, cost is a problem but also continuity. People leave for many reasons, that includes us, so it could happen that whoever is current guardian departs without managing to pass the torch and their web site goes down, everything is lost.

I suggested N3V as the custodian because they already have the DLS contents which includes the .IM files so all they need is permission to assume the copyright of any of the content triggered by the death or departure of a Trainz creator. If necessary they can recreate the original mesh from the existing .IM so storage is already there, the only additional requirement is just a record of those creator IDs that have given their permission.

I know this does not cater for those who do not upload to the DLS although permission can still be given as non-DLS content will still be around in some-bodies files so post-departure file access is still possible. I suggest that any work involved could be undertaken on a voluntary basis.

How would this work? Maybe something like this. Somebody stands up and explains what is proposed and volunteers to maintain the records. As additions are made to the list, copies are uploaded to N3V for their records and at the same time copies are sent to a select trusted group to maintain the continuity. I would visualize this as being completely voluntary as access to the content would only become available once triggered by one of the two events, death or departure. This has the added advantage of allowing anyone to change their mind and withdraw permission. The list could even be added to the WIKI allowing people to edit the list and add their names.

Thoughts?

Peter
 
Saieditor said:
Yo, they do.

Very interesting message, btw.
lightbulb.jpg
Click to expand...

No they don't now, 15GB free over that you pay.

15GB cost is free.
100GB costs $1.99 per month.
1TB costs $9.99 per month.
10TB cost $99.99 per month
and so on

May be getting confused with the Unlimited Free photo and video storage that currently is only for Google Nexus users.
 
Hi everybody.
Clam1952 is correct ln his posting at #98 of this thread. Google do give 2gbt free storage on drive for two years, but only when anyone purchases a chromebook or high end tablet/phone. Other than that I am afraid its "cough up folks". You can keep the free allowance going if you buy a tablet one year, a phone say 18 months later, followed by a Chromebook 18 months after that. By that time your tablet will undoubtedly want replacing again. However you will then be doing exactly what Google want and planned for you (LOL).

That's how they became the most valuable commercial enterprise in the world.
Bill

Bill
 
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