There is now a new search index powering the site search, relieving load on the main database. The intention is to make search more accurate and faster.

Note that with this new search engine, new posts can currently take up to 5 minutes to be entered into the search index. This may be reduced once I know more about what load this process places on the server.

Please let me know feedback regarding the new search - accuracy, speed, stability, etc

There is also a small update to the search results so that Internet Explorer users shouldn't now see "search expired" messages when returning to the results list

Just tried it with different search terms, very fast

Do we no longer need the + or - search handles as they are no longer present although using them seems to work?

That is way, way better
I run IE9 and kept losing the search term but now I can go back, go forward etc and no 'search expired' It's nigh on instant with me and the accuracy is much improved with far fewer meaningless posts in the results.

Did a search for 'h7' (as in headlight bulbs) earlier using the old search and got zero hits. Just repeated it with the new search and got 60-odd hits, all relevant-looking. So first impression is much better.