When changing to the new server the IP address issue got sorted, was possible to re-enable the visitor stats.
The difference in lower numbers might come from these reasons:
1) Not all subdomains were yet brought online
2) Bots/spammers are barred more effectively than before
3) Less people interested in boot disks
4) Forum software makes it difficult to participate
As for 1), we're working to bring them back.
On point 2), changes were applied on the DNS and server. This blocks much of the unauthorized bot crawlers, in the past they were being counted as real visitors.
Point 3) is a fact too. Less optical drives, more computers with built-in rescue environments and other social reasons bring less people as say, compared to 2008.
Then we have 4), which is the same as a three years ago but I'm worried about any upgrades since it tends to lose or mangle the contents of user posts. I know it seems crazy but happened too often before. Series 4 of the forum software is now being tested for release as we speak, I don't enjoy the fact it is filled with Javascript dynamic reloading of pages. This is known to cause troubles. So I'll hold the updates until the dust settles on the new series, then upgrade mostly because of the security issues: http://community.inv...munity-suite-40