Forwarded for your information.
Donna King
Tolpuddle/Cannell List Manager
----------------------------------------------------------
> Situation
>
> The 1901 Census Online system was designed to accommodate 1 million
users
a
> day. This figure was developed from benchmarking other popular sites
and
> increased to be well in excess of expected demand.
>
> It was anticipated that there would be early excitement and interest in
the
> site when it was launched but the numbers have been unprecedented.
Actual
> figures are suggesting 1.2 million users have been trying to use
the
site
at
> the same time, as opposed to across a whole day, and even more when the
USA
> 'woke up'.
>
> This led to substantial overcrowding of the gateway to the site,
resulting
> in overload and the disappointment for many of not being able to
gain
> access.
>
> Solutions under way
>
> The project technical team (Amey Technology Solutions, BT, QinetiQ and
> Sopheon) are working closely together, and in consultation with the PRO,
to
> improve the service and a number of technical modifications have already
> taken place. For example, we are currently simplifying the design of
the
> pages (images and frames not real content or search capacity) as
a short
> term measure, just as BBC Online did after September 11th, to increase
> throughput.
>
> BT is also increasing the bandwidth over the weekend to ease any
congestion
> and to help to meet this high demand temporarily. At the same time, we
will
> also be agreeing a method for increasing the bandwidth longer-term.
>
> Technical details
>
> Software Oracle
> Operating system UNIX
> Hardware SUN
>
>
>
>
> ==== LISTOWNERS-ENGWLS Mailing List ====
> .
>
>
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