The Platform

Montreal.com uses Drupal 5.x and a large assortment of third party modules, run on PHP 5.2.4 with the eaccelerator and memcache extensions.  At this time our webserver is a 64bit Linux platform.

We have been a Linux outfit for a decade and a half.

In terms of hardware, we have always followed several generations behind the cutting edge, using tried and true overclocking techniques to build extra margins of stability into the servers.

Currently we use all AMD processors.

The main webserver uses a DFI Lanparty UT CFX3200-DR/G S939 motherboard with an Opteron 165 processor at 2789MHz.  This is a fantastically stable motherboard. There was nothing better for Socket 939.

The database server also uses this motherboard, with the Opteron 165 running at 2970MHZ.

The webserver uses a 1999 Antec full tower server case with a Zippy HP2-6460P APFC 460W PSU. The database server is housed in a 2005 Antec SLK3000B case with an Antec EA500 500W APFC PSU retrieved from a Sonata III case.

There is a backup and/or caching server in the works with a DFI Lanparty Ultra-D motherboard, housed in an old tower case that is old enough to have fitment as well as ventilation problems, so it is a slow build. It will use an early Opteron 165 which requires more cooling than later revisions. This will come online as site traffic requires.

For the time being the database server also serves as the caching server.

The main site layout theme is evolved from the Pleroma theme.  The Montreal City Weblog pages use a theme that is based on the Vertigo theme, and our image page theme began life as Webchick.