Hi

I am currently creating a custom image hosting website and would appreciate your input regarding cross-server file storage. I know these types of sites eat bandwidth and take up lots of storage space, so I was looking at implementing a feature where the site could be run over a few servers instead of just one.

If I decided to go with this option, what would be the easiest way to implement it using php? How would I be able to build it into the admin panel where when a new server is needed, I can just add it into the admin panel and set it up there, and images/files are automatically shared between the servers available so as not to overcrowd any of the servers?

Thanks in advance,

Craig

On first sight, i think i would make something like store new file on server number (file id modulo server number), and store this "where's the image" number in database, so no problem when modifying the number of servers.

But would you use ftp to store the file or, as someone mentioned on my webmaster forum, "NFS mount disks from other servers, as you can often share bandwidth allocation between servers, alternatively round-robin the DNS and have the script on all the servers."

Thanks for the reply

Craig

I never used the technique you're talking about, so i wouldn't be of any advice.