Hitchwiki:Preserving and reviving digihitch

For those who were not aware, the founder of Digihitch passed away a couple of months ago. digihitch.com looks unmaintained. guaka had been in touch with Salman in 2008 to integrate hitchwiki and digihitch and got some kind of access to the server, which today proved enough to fetch a database dump and get access to all files. Please do contact guaka if you have more experience with digihitch administration (especially with PHP Nuke).

Let's try to at least preserve and possibly revive digihitch.com

Overview: June 22nd, 2010
 * guaka has (some kind of) access
 * can fix issues in database
 * acquired database dump (with all articles and forum threads)
 * can fetch files
 * domain name seems biggest issue

Forums down?
Currently the forum is up

http://www.digihitch.com/forums.html 19:47, 10 June 2010 (UTC)

phpBB : Critical Error Error creating new session

Fixed, by repairing some tables through phpMyAdmin! guaka 20:22, 10 June 2010 (UTC)
 * But not possible to post new topics yet. At least all information is back, enough for today I guess :) guaka 20:30, 10 June 2010 (UTC)

Doing a TRUNCATE and REPAIR of phpbb_sessions should fix the problem. --Juan Manuel 13:10, 28 July 2010 (UTC)


 * Fixed it (again) in phpMyAdmin. guaka 20:36, 28 July 2010 (UTC)

Re-enabling posting
Been checking out MySQL tables, phpnuke and phpbb, but didn't get far yet. There's also a bug that's stopping me. guaka 23:42, 13 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Is this happening on digihitch.com or on a mirror?
 * Can users login? I think they intentionally disabled it on the main site, so probably it's just a flag in the settings. But anyway, we shouldn't re-enable it on the original site without talking to hikecrazy. --MrTweek 09:26, 22 June 2010 (UTC)
 * yeah, it is possible to login and also to post an entry in your diary. But that's all there is now. --Robino 15:25, 22 June 2010 (UTC)

Restoring status
I don't have write permissions for most files, I might be able to do stuff through PHP scripts though and I can fix stuff in the database (such as the forums which are back now, well at least readable). guaka 21:49, 10 June 2010 (UTC)

Database
I downloaded the database through phpMyAdmin. Pretty safe. guaka 23:42, 13 June 2010 (UTC)

Fetching all files from server
I downloaded all files in the root directory. There are a lot of directories and it's lot of work to recover the files in there one by one. Which directories definitely need to be fetched? guaka 20:06, 10 June 2010 (UTC)

With my access I can't see anything in the server root over FTP, but over PHP I can. I'm using PHP File Manager now but with that I can only download file by file, which is not feasible with the number of files that are around, spread over many directories. The software has an archiving functionality, but it's not working. Ideally something from here: http://www.hotscripts.com/category/php/scripts-programs/file-manipulation/file-management/ would be able to do it, anyone has more experience with any of these? guaka 23:42, 13 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Maybe you can try to write a little php-script, that just puts everything in one big zip-file :) --MrTweek 09:28, 22 June 2010 (UTC)
 * I was hoping someone can point me to such as little php script ;)  Also, I suspect http://php.net/zip might not be turned on on the server - I tried zipping stuff with some PHP file manager but that didn't work.   Maybe we can have a session together to figure this out and to hopefully get copies of all files. guaka 11:44, 22 June 2010 (UTC)

Mirroring
Archive.org only has data up to 2008. Probably a lot is missing there. httrack doesn't want to mirror the site either, with standard parameters. Probably some problem with session/cookies. Can someone else give it a try? guaka 23:21, 13 June 2010 (UTC)

The domain name?
What can we do?

Main Digihitch people are in touch with Morgan's wife - but it will take time. The main thing to find out right now is: what is needed to transfer a domain name from a deceased person to someone else at GoDaddy? guaka 20:20, 21 June 2010 (UTC)
 * tweek.digihitch.info CNAME hitchwiki.org. guaka 22:10, 22 June 2010 (UTC)

Walter-Hecks-MacBook-Pro:~ olindata$ whois digihitch.com Whois Server Version 2.0 Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net for detailed information. Domain Name: DIGIHITCH.COM Registrar: GODADDY.COM, INC.   Whois Server: whois.godaddy.com Referral URL: http://registrar.godaddy.com Name Server: NS1.M3SE.COM Name Server: NS2.M3SE.COM Status: clientDeleteProhibited Status: clientRenewProhibited Status: clientTransferProhibited Status: clientUpdateProhibited Updated Date: 15-jan-2010 Creation Date: 18-jan-2001 Expiration Date: 18-jan-2011 >>> Last update of whois database: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 03:36:08 UTC <<< NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the registrar's sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring registrar. Users may consult the sponsoring registrar's Whois database to view the registrar's reported date of expiration for this registration. TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our Whois database through the use of electronic processes that are high-volume and automated except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations; the Data in VeriSign Global Registry Services' ("VeriSign") Whois database is provided by VeriSign for information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or related to a domain name registration record. VeriSign does not guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a Whois query, you agree to abide by the following terms of use: You agree that you may use this Data only for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail, telephone, or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply to VeriSign (or its computer systems). The compilation, repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of VeriSign. You agree not to use electronic processes that are automated and high-volume to access or query the Whois database except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations. VeriSign reserves the right to restrict your access to the Whois database in its sole discretion to ensure operational stability. VeriSign may restrict or terminate your access to the Whois database for failure to abide by these terms of use. VeriSign reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET, .EDU domains and Registrars. The data contained in GoDaddy.com, Inc.'s WhoIs database, while believed by the company to be reliable, is provided "as is" with no guarantee or warranties regarding its accuracy. This information is provided for the sole purpose of assisting you in obtaining information about domain name registration records. Any use of this data for any other purpose is expressly forbidden without the prior written permission of GoDaddy.com, Inc. By submitting an inquiry, you agree to these terms of usage and limitations of warranty. In particular, you agree not to use this data to allow, enable, or otherwise make possible, dissemination or collection of this data, in part or in its entirety, for any purpose, such as the transmission of unsolicited advertising and and solicitations of any kind, including spam. You further agree not to use this data to enable high volume, automated or robotic electronic processes designed to collect or compile this data for any purpose, including mining this data for your own personal or commercial purposes. Please note: the registrant of the domain name is specified in the "registrant" field. In most cases, GoDaddy.com, Inc. is not the registrant of domain names listed in this database. Registrant: Morgan Strub PO Box 37337 Phoenix, Arizona 85069 United States Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com) Domain Name: DIGIHITCH.COM Created on: 18-Jan-01 Expires on: 18-Jan-11 Last Updated on: 15-Jan-10 Administrative Contact: Strub, Morgan admin@m3se.com PO Box 37337 Phoenix, Arizona 85069 United States 6026179440     Fax -- Technical Contact: Strub, Morgan admin@m3se.com PO Box 37337 Phoenix, Arizona 85069 United States 6026179440     Fax -- Domain servers in listed order: NS2.M3SE.COM NS1.M3SE.COM

If that doesn't work there's a more expensive way to snatch expiring domains.

Email?
Contact kasper at guaka dot org if you prefer personal communication.

Links

 * Thread in CS Digihitch group
 * Thread in CS Hitchhikers group