25th August - NETWORK PROBLEMS STILL ONGOING

[tradedemon]

Hi guys

Im sure many of you have been suffering from the same problems that I have. If you can access the site then I thought I would give you all a little update.

The problem is not on the actual server but the SAVVIS Network which gives connectivity to a whole load of server providers. Our server happens to be on the SAVVIS network aswell. So access has been very patchy ,sometimes the site is available other times it just times out.

For any updates about the situation and ideas of when stability will be back check the link below:

http://www.ltstatus.com/

Other than that I cannot do much right now and im just waiting for LayeredTech and Savvis to bring the networks back to some sort of stability.

Thanks

[noobie]

Cheers for that trade, i was getting quite worried lol. It seems ok at the mo, so fingers crossed :D:D

[tradedemon]

Yes it does seem a lot more stable as of right now :)

[MrXile]

I`ve had trouble getting on all day, timing out all the time - only got on about 30 mins ago ... :(

[noobie]

Yeah, same here :(
Its also not helping my internet playing up too and having to manage on a poxy half meg grrrrr!!!!!
Nasty nasty mr internet sky men :(:( lol

[MrXile]

lol awww .... 500k connection, poor you Noobie.

I feel for you.

So, the site is UBER slow for you lol

[noobie]

Oooohhhh yes lol
Im ready for throwing the router across the room haha, but that wouldnt be such a good idea....The rate im going, ill be better installing a free dial up trial rofl.
Just got back from a weekend away so i was looking forward to posting on the forums again, and im finding it quite hard now lol

[MrXile]

Well, I have not been on coz the mrs was back home from her holiday with her mother lol

When I do come back, its taking minutes to refresh a page, minutes to load the REPLY box etc - annoying.

So I think I`ll leave this site alone until its fixed lol

[noobie]

Ive found if you click a button twice it works better for some strange reason lol

[MrXile]

We shouldnt have to click twice lol .....

****e server is the probably cause.

Might help if the admin (*cough*) pruned the members ; cleared up some space, after all - 4800+ members, and about 12 are active lol

[tradedemon]

Ok Im gonna ignore the comments about the ****e server as I suspect thats just Xile being Xile again..

anyway i have been told by the datacenter that the dropped packets problem has now been fixed and that the site should be running smoothly again... If there are any problems just let me know.. (That is if you can access the site..)

[MrXile]

Err ..... Trade, wtf is that meant to mean?

There is no other reason why the site would be timing out all the time, and when it IS loading, its loading very slow.

Its a server problem.

So, XILE being XILE care to explain your inane comments please? Do NOT try to make me look like a **** Trade, as your comment there stinks of past arguments if you ask me.

So please, explain in full detail what you meant by that. Do not tempt me into replying again with lies. Please. For your own sake and the sake of the site.

Your MSN conversation is still on file, you know, the one where you admitted to being in the wrong about the time you banned me, I even have the IP log file and the authenticity report from Microsoft (you know, in case you accuse me of doctorin the conversation) and if I`m completely honest, going from your comment above, it would seem you STILL hold a grudge against me for whatever reason.

So, I envisage your next move will either be to try and explain what you mean, or you`ll simply ban me. Which, IMO is the option I think you`ll take, as your quite obviously in a despairing mood with me, why I`ll probably never know.

The thing with you, is that you want your members (all 12 of them) to be active, and honestly give you their opinion on what they would like to see the site doing, or how they think it should progress. Which, if you remember correctly, you asked us to do in the past, which we did - I remember before you wrongly banned me, you were talking about the site moving forward - turning it into a profitable database, all this time has passed, and nothing changed, and yet your still banging on about `moving the site forward` - yet I see no action of this ever happening.

The first step, as I assume this topic is now about, is upgrading the server - as this does not belong to you, you only own the domain - and the server space is probably rented per year, to host the domain you own (signaturebar.com) - so why not move on to another host? A more reliable, and reputable one with 24/7 online support who could help immediately if ever there was problems for the site.

Your always banging on about being No.1 on these rating sites, how does it look if the No.1 site is always down, or experiencing problems with the site in general? People are NOT going to want to vote, they are NOT going to want to revist, they are NOT going to advertise the site via word of mouth (in this virtual world, word of fingers).

You are always commenting on how you will be moving to this forum, or that forum software, and implementing new things, new ideas - but there is always talk, and no action.

If you ARE serious - why are these things not already done, and then we are told about them afterwards? Actions speak louder than words, and it would seem that your all talk. Prove me wrong.

Not only that, but if you want to move forward, why are you still bothered about being No.1 on a voting site? Why are you not taking the site into a more mature market of design? After all - thats what you offer here, images made to order? Why be the same as the 1000`s of other graphics resource forums out there? Why stick to the same walked line over and over? Take a detour, make the change - you just might be surprised as to how it`ll effect the site on a more general level.

I hope this is NOT my last post, as I did come back - considering the crap I got in the past, and again I offered my help where I was told it was needed. Do not make my reservations about you become a reality again. Take the comments on the chin, like a grown up should - and work with them, rather than throwing your dummy out.

Its the least I expect from someone who is 27, married with kids - and owns a portfolio of sites.

[gromit]

I know you know everything but im going to risk my 13 years of experience,

There is no other reason why the site would be timing out all the time, and when it IS loading, its loading very slow.

Its a server problem.

Not entire true, this could be a lot of reasons, networkwise. hardwarewise, cable, routers, routing configuration, network attacks, dns, bad iptables, etc... so it happens, and it could happen to any network, just ask google or yahoo.

Theres no need to panic or be so negative.

I think im one of those 12 active members, and since im in, this is the first time i see the site down, and i have seen the site grow and change, i have been on 3 - 4 userbar/sigs popular forums as mod/admin/simple mortal and i find this one the best one and i like helping get it to #1 cause it deserves it.

?The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.?

[MrXile]

Yep, thats right - I know everything :yawnsmiley:

Seriously, get a grip. My words are with trade, not you - so dont bother trying to goad me into an argument over what could be, or could not be the problem.

I was a MCSE for 17 years, and I know my way around a network having worked for Novell for 4 years too, and there could be lots of reasons for `downtime`

The issue here is nothing to do with network issues. There is an underlying problem here that trade seems to have with me, and I want the problem solved one way or another.

Simple really.

[gromit]

Ok, thats nothing to matter with anyone else or other subject then!!..

Good Luck..

..::gromit::..

[Dantekain]

If ya ask my opinion...this is being pulled out of proportion...
Don't make a mountain out of an anthill.

Talk to each other on msn or pm but don't make this good forum your personal battlefield...please...???

And I know..ya didn't ask my opinion...I'll shut up now and let tha painkillers kick in...

[chews]

Its gettin better by the days past,today is becoming normal fast like last time.hope that this site will get fast to normal.

@ noobie i agree that double clicks made faster sometimes.

[noobie]

I'm still having problems :(
How is it for everyone else?
Its extremely slow for me and mostly wont load pages :(

[MrXile]

Major problems ; always timing out - wont load the site.

When the site DOES load (not often) its increasingly sluggish.

[gromit]

Same behavior here!

..::gromit::..

[noobie]

Its seeming a lot faster for me now, still not what it should be, but loads better deffo :D:D

[Mel76]

.oO( thats coz I fed the hamsters before ;) )

[tradedemon]

@ MrXile: Im not even going to bother responding in full to your immature and petty response to my post. But I will say that its obviously quite clear you know nothing about networking. Your statement makes no sense whatsoever? If you have a problem with the server and the people running it then feel free to leave and offer your unhelpful and demotivating remarks elsewhere?

My view is simple If you want to help then please offer your support and kind words. But if you have nothing decent or constructive to say then don't say it.

Saying the server is ****e doesnt help anyone ?? And since you're such an expert then whats your solution to the problem ? Your totally useless suggestion of trimming the inactive members bares no relevance on server performance , how the PHPBB script operates, or the server and network problems we have been experiencing. I try not isolate and pick on individual members but your truly ignorant comments deserve a response and this time frankly you have over stepped the mark.

This is a friendly and helpful community and we all do our best to help one another and support one another in whatever way we can. If you want to fit in with everyone else then feel free to do so, if you don't then you're going to have to expect comments from members and myself like the above.....

@everyone: If anyone is still having any serious server problems , I was having some all day today but it seems better now, then just PM me or contact me on MSN at z_durrani@hotmail.com

Thanks

[gromit]

Its good for me now!! NORMAL!

..::gromit::..

[tradedemon]

Apparently we were having network issues with the Savviss Backbone in Dallas over the weekend so that was the first problem. But things were resolved and back to normal on Monday. My server admins have now installed some filters to help with the DDOS attack the server was getting. Im hoping those filters will keep the site running smoothly.. :)

If anyone does have problems then please let me know as I can always ask the datacenter to investigate further.

[MrXile]

How is that possible Trade?

Savvis have engineered it's network around a single platform which enables one global IP backbone, rather than using regional autonomous systems stitched together. Which means that once data gets onto the network, it's a single BGP hop to the global network node nearest the host destination. This minimises the number of router hops and reduces the risk of downtime when traffic has to go back and forth multiple networks to get the response needed.

So if thats the case, what was the problem? As the denial of service would only temporarily shut down their datapackets if the attack was constant, and from 1000`s of computers ; because all they would have to do is clear their latency management table, which would allow the IP addresses of their customers access to the servers quicker ; and they could easily block out the incoming IP`s with the DoS attack as they would not be known IP`s to the network anyway.

There-by, the LMT would be clear - and the packets would still get through on a regular basis regardless of the bombardment of requests from the DoS.

[tradedemon]

Hi Xile

Here is the link to the updates I was following Im no server expert so maybe you can understand more of the details on the LayeredTech blog than I can... Check the blog posts from August 25th thats when it all happened after some backbone router crashed. If you see the comments by the rest of the server providers on their you will see im not making this all up and that many servers on the LayeredTech network were affected. I hope you believe me now.

http://www.ltstatus.com/

Also the DDOS is a different issue and thats targetted to our server not the Savvis network, again if you can help with the problem let me know. As from what im gathering the site is still under attack even if the performance of the server is slightly better now...

thanks

[tradedemon]

the server admins on my machine also sent me this config of the continuing problems

http://72.232.34.2/connection.txt

obviously i have no idea what that log file means as im no networking expert like you. So again if you can shed light on what that means please do so, as it would be helpful. The issue is currently being escalated to third to level 3 support so im hoping a resolution is near.

thanks

[MrXile]

Ok I`ll have a good look at those tomorrow ; 3:26am, gotta get up for work tomorrow (day in the office lol) at 8am. So I`m to Zzzzland.

I`ll get back to you.

[tradedemon]

ok thanks look forward to hearing about it.

[noobie]

Its gone really slow again :( Hope they manage to sort it soon trade, must be stressing you out.

[tradedemon]

Just wanted to follow up on this. I couldnt bear it any longer so have now moved the site to my other server.. The site is still getting bombarded with traffic so the problem could be lasting a while longer and I cannot wait that long.

So the site has now been permanently moved to my other server. Im hoping things will remain stable here :) Most people should start to see the benefits today for others the DNS propogatino might take up to 48 hours to have full effect.

Anyway hope the problems are now solved and we can resume as normal. Once again any problems then just pm me on MSN my id is z_durrani@hotmail.com

thanks

[noobie]

The site is running fantastic now trade :D:D
Its funny how much i missed it for the couple of hours it was off. So pleased its back to normal now :D:D

[noobie]

The sites still not ok for gromit, as the dns hasnt refreshed properly yet....so hes asked me to say hi to everyone for him haha

[tradedemon]

Haha Gromit will have to wait i guess... Hiya Gromit.. :)

[noobie]

Right....come on everyone that the site is ok for, lets get this site busy :D:D...chat chat chat, post post post, give me some requests to do :D:D

[Mel76]

ooerr the site is on anphetamines or summat now lmaoooo

[noobie]

LMAO.....its so fast yeah, i love youre way with words mel haha, make me laugh :D:D

[tradedemon]

Talking of speed am i imagining things or is it actually running faster than the old server even when it was running normal ?

[noobie]

Yeah, its loads faster than it ever was before, im loving it :D

[MrXile]

I can get on!!! OMFGZ :D

[Mel76]

.oO(flush dns on ipconfig on ur comp will that work ? :P )

Welcome back Xile :D

[MrXile]

Still intermittent problems though - refresh, and it loses connection to the site.

[Dantekain]

Got great connection now..thought it was the hospitals connection but the site seems to be runnin' smoothly now

[tradedemon]

I expect dns propogation to still continue causing problems for some for the next 24-48 hours but after that there should be no problems at all...

[xBRONCOS]

everything seems 2 be back 2 normal. on on my ps3 web browser and it uploads perfectly no more error

[tradedemon]

thanks for letting me know Bronco :) Glad its running nice and smooth for you.