The Forestry Forum

Forum Help => Technical Support Topics => Topic started by: Dave Shepard on March 05, 2008, 11:57:32 PM

Title: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Dave Shepard on March 05, 2008, 11:57:32 PM
And I don't mean little gray rodents with bushy tails. Been getting a lot of error message today, trouble finding the server. Some kind of MySql thingy going on trying to get to the gallery etc. Most of the error are blaming high traffic? Don't know what it's all about, but thought it was worth a mention.


Dave
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 06, 2008, 09:12:03 AM
Yes, something is squirrelly and I don't know what it is yet. I'm seeking help from the company that hosts the dedicated servers on this, but nothing yet. There has been something squirrelly  since the new harddrive and OS was installed last October. I think something is not configured correctly.
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 06, 2008, 10:00:59 AM
I just observed 58 yahoo spiders on the site at one time.  I blocked the access to the forum for those. We'll see if they could have been causing the connection problems. They certainly were sucking bandwidth.  At times, I really dont care if we get new information listed in the search engines. I'd rather grow by word of mouth and invitation.
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: stonebroke on March 06, 2008, 10:08:50 AM
whats a yahoo spider, pardon my ignorance?

Stonebroke
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 06, 2008, 10:49:12 AM
Its a bot, or program that crawls around the internet gathering information for their search engines. That many here at once may have been creating problems. Probably not creating, but adding to what ever might me acting up.
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Greg on March 06, 2008, 11:07:12 AM
FWIW, I've not seen any problems accessing the Forum, of late.

Greg
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Dave Shepard on March 06, 2008, 11:08:14 AM
It may during the day, but this morning when I had the most trouble there was only 8 guests, 7 forumites, and one spider.


Dave
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Radar67 on March 06, 2008, 11:42:05 AM
Jeff I just got this on the main www.forestryforum.com page. Maybe it will guide you?

Currently Online:
Warning: mysql_query(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL-Link resource in /home/www/forestryforum/board/Sources/Subs.php on line 321

Warning: mysql_query(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL-Link resource in /home/www/forestryforum/board/Sources/Subs.php on line 321

Warning: mysql_query(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL-Link resource in /home/www/forestryforum/board/Sources/Subs.php on line 321

Warning: mysql_fetch_assoc(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in /home/www/forestryforum/board/SSI.php on line 662

Warning: mysql_free_result(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in /home/www/forestryforum/board/SSI.php on line 695
0 , 0
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 06, 2008, 01:16:05 PM
I believe all of those those errors occurred because of a table repair process the host was running I just found out about. I just got this moments ago from them

Hello,
I have ran consistency checks on the hard drive and repaired several table indexing errors. If you continue to have a problem please submit a ticket and if possible let us know a way to duplicate the errors you're seeing with the website (any links, URL's, usernames/passwords etc would he helpful)

At the moment the database is in an optimal state per mysqld

best regards,
Josh Craddock
Linux Administrator
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: ronwood on March 06, 2008, 03:17:14 PM
Jeff,

How do you determine that you had Yahoo spiders on the web site?

Ron
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: pigman on March 06, 2008, 03:30:16 PM
 He looks here Ron.    https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=who
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: ronwood on March 06, 2008, 03:52:10 PM
pigman,

Thanks for the info.

Ron
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Fla._Deadheader on March 06, 2008, 08:36:06 PM

Just got booted off the FF. Couldn't connect to the server ???   Clicked on another site and went right to that.  ::) ::) ??? ???
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: thecfarm on March 06, 2008, 09:01:09 PM
I just had to X everything out and start over.The first time I got something like what radar posted Tried again and here I am.
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: farmerdoug on March 08, 2008, 11:12:05 PM
Jeff,

   I have noticed that when I get the error to load page from SMF when I hit reload it will come up fine.  I also noticed that after the reload I see someone posted while I was getting the error in the database.  It usually happens only in the thread or board that I am loading at the time.  People posting in other boards causes no problems for me it seems.  I wonder if the database updating for the post is what may be the problem.  It may be a software problem that just is showing up due to our forum size.
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 08, 2008, 11:31:00 PM
I dont think so as I've been playing around in the crash board for testing and it gives the same issues. Different database, much smaller, and a different instance of the software. I'm almost sure its the way mysql is handling the data, not the data itself, or the software, but something in the operating system.
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 09, 2008, 09:04:46 PM
I just had an epiphany. Maybe. :D   After getting several cannot connect to the database errors today, I started thinking, what are the reasons that one could not connect? I started reading up on persistent connections and wondering how in the world we could be exceeding the settings for that, and if that might be the problem if we were. Then I got the errors on the front page where all the random photos are.  I looked at that and it looked like every time the front page calls for the random photos, it creates 12 separate connections to the database. If 3 people are coming at the same time into the forum, we have 36 connects, and so on and so forth. With the increased amount of traffic we are getting everyday, I wonder if thats the problem> Something as simple as the random photos breeding like bunnies?

So, for a test, I decreased the photos to 3. Lets see if thats helpful.
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Dave Shepard on March 09, 2008, 11:15:37 PM
I got one connection problem last night really early this morining, otherwise smooth sailing. :)


Dave
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Brad_S. on March 09, 2008, 11:26:03 PM
I was getting extremely frustrated with the ssllloooowww response to the point that I was avoiding the forum, but it's cruising along nicely now!
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 09, 2008, 11:43:33 PM
Thats no way ta be...
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Dave Shepard on March 09, 2008, 11:49:05 PM
I just wait, I get withdawls if I don't. Don't want to start twitchen' or nothin'. ;D


Dave
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: farmerdoug on March 10, 2008, 12:22:13 AM
Jeff, I am still getting the Database is busy error but the forum is loading faster when there is no problem that is. ::)
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Dave Shepard on March 10, 2008, 12:32:46 AM
Connection Problems

Sorry, SMF was unable to connect to the database. This may be caused by the server being busy. Please try again later.


Is this what you are getting?


Dave
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: farmerdoug on March 10, 2008, 12:36:56 AM
Yes, that is the main one.
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 10, 2008, 12:40:29 AM
Yep.  I think I made an improvement, but there is still something fishy going on.
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: breederman on March 10, 2008, 06:27:47 AM
I got it this morning when posting a reply, retryed it and it worked.
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: ronwood on March 10, 2008, 09:45:01 AM
Jeff,

I got the same error this morning as Dave. Not sure what is going on but if I can be of any assistance please let me know.

Ron
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 10, 2008, 09:52:37 AM
Any idea on how to up the Max persistent connections on PHP?
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: ronwood on March 10, 2008, 12:28:49 PM
Jeff,

Have you looked at changes any of the settings in the php.ini file. Link might be of help

http://www.thekramers.net/phpdemo/dbphp.html

Will have to take a closer look to night.

Ron
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Dave Shepard on March 10, 2008, 12:34:50 PM
Right now access to the Forum is lightning fast, the delay to load pages is almost imperceptible, and I'm on the slow computer. ??? I'm not complaining mind you. ;)


Dave
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Dave Shepard on March 10, 2008, 12:40:27 PM
Had to open my big mouth, back to Turtle Speed. I think it may be my connection though, it, too, can be squirrelly. :(


Dave
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Kevin on March 10, 2008, 01:31:59 PM
Quote from: Jeff on March 06, 2008, 10:49:12 AM
me acting up.

I've seen that before but Tammy usually steps in before it gets too out of hand.  ;D
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Tom on March 10, 2008, 02:33:34 PM
Quote from: Jeff on March 09, 2008, 09:04:46 PM
I just had an epiphany. Maybe. :D   

I always wanted one them.   They have big ears.  I think they are cute.  ;D
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Brad_S. on March 10, 2008, 08:05:54 PM
For a while there, searches were very fast, now I am timing out before any results are returned. Related?
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 10, 2008, 08:18:13 PM
I have not been able to index the search because of the problems at hand.
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Norm on March 22, 2008, 09:28:46 AM
I have had zero troubles with the forum lately. Did you find your squirrel Jeff?
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 22, 2008, 12:18:30 PM
I think I did Norm.  I found a difference in one of the apache modules from the old operating system to the new called mod_security.  Its actually another layer of security on the server, sort of a php firewall if you will. I believe that its configuration was objecting to the security's built into the software and causing the clashes.  I did a little creative editing with our .htaccess file so the Forum's software could dodge that module. From the minute I did that, things got better.

I was talking to Ronwood on the phone and together we were shooting ideas back and forth. I forgot now what it was exactly that Ron said to me, but it sparked an idea to look for something in a new direction and my research led me to that updated module as a potential problem.

All signs so far look like we caught the squirrel. :)
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Dave Shepard on March 22, 2008, 12:28:32 PM
A friend of mine caught a squirrel chipmunk once. He skinned it and made a hacky sack out of it. Kinda weird playing hacky sack when it's got a tail on to it. ;D


Dave
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Norm on March 22, 2008, 01:56:33 PM
Way to go Jeff. Those are the kind of problems that are very tough to solve. We all appreciate your hard work. :)
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Coon on March 22, 2008, 10:04:29 PM
I still got the connection cannot be made just earlier this evening.  I X'd the page out and reloaded from the start and it worked.  Everything seems to be working just fine now though.
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 23, 2008, 08:40:01 AM
testing
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 23, 2008, 09:35:39 AM
Shoulda knocked on wood yesterday. :-\    I've got it running again via some database table repairs, but not sure if things are right yet.  I see some issues where the last posts made just before the problems that erupted this morning dont show in the index .
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Norm on March 23, 2008, 09:44:20 AM
Sorry Jeff, I knew if I said anything it would jinx you. ;)
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Roxie on March 23, 2008, 09:56:24 AM
"Backing up database! Be back with you shortly
  Backing up database! Be back with you shortly
Administration Login
Username:  Password:   
Minutes to stay logged in:    Always stay logged in:  "


Ack!  Got this after I tried to send a message .... I think the message is lost because it's not in my "outbox" folder. 
Title: Re: Something squirrelly going on.
Post by: Jeff on March 23, 2008, 09:57:56 AM
Yea, that was the generic message while I has working on it. I then changed it to technical difficulties Happy Easter. :D

If you tried to send the message while I was in the middle of this, yep, its lost. Sorry Roxie. :-\