N Gauge Forum

Notices, Help With Problems and Your Forum Ideas... => Computer Help => Topic started by: dannyboy on March 14, 2018, 10:50:56 PM

Title: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: dannyboy on March 14, 2018, 10:50:56 PM
From about 8pm until just 15 minutes ago, I have been unable to connect to the forum. I was getting pages stating that there was a script error or the server was busy. Thankfully all seems to be well now, (I was getting withdrawal symptonms  :(). Anyone else had a problem?  ???

Okay, I presume there was a problem as I have just noticed that there were no posts between 6.52pm and 10.44pm. :doh:
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: RailGooner on March 14, 2018, 10:52:25 PM
Who turned the lights out? :worried: I haven't been able to access the forum for the past several hours. :uneasy:

I suspect thanks are due for restoring normal service to @Only Me (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=1328) . :thumbsup:
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: weave on March 14, 2018, 10:55:18 PM
Hi,

Yes, same problem. Can't help with explanation but you are not the only one. Keep calm and drink red wine.

Cheers weave  :beers:
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: dannyboy on March 14, 2018, 10:57:36 PM
Prefer a single malt - unfortunately that is out of the question as I am at work!  :'(
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: themadhippy on March 14, 2018, 11:20:00 PM
Quoteunfortunately that is out of the question as I am at work
you didnt actually have to do some work to keep the withdrawal symptoms  at bay?
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: dannyboy on March 14, 2018, 11:27:33 PM
Extremely onerous work - I had to look at other websites!  :D
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: JohnN on March 14, 2018, 11:30:56 PM
Me too. Got the message:

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

And then a page full of 'type 500' error messages but didn't manage to copy them down. If that's any use to Admin.
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: Bealman on March 15, 2018, 12:03:23 AM
Yeah, I got all those too here in Australia. Maybe our Tech Only Me will shed some light on the glitch.

All seems well now, though.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: Caz on March 15, 2018, 08:33:15 AM
The host the forum uses suffered a DDOS attack for about 4 hours and that is why we were off line but all ok so far today.
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: emjaybee on March 15, 2018, 08:44:03 AM
Quote from: Caz on March 15, 2018, 08:33:15 AM
The host the forum uses suffered a DDOS attack for about 4 hours and that is why we were off line but all ok so far today.

I'm impressed that other model railway websites/forum's see us as that much of a threat. Honestly, the lengths they'll go to to get voted the number one UK model railway website.

All Hail NGF!

;D
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: Newportnobby on March 15, 2018, 09:47:47 AM
In one way I'm glad it wasn't just me, as usually my browser is blamed by the techy as being the issue but I did try 3 different browsers and got the same message from them all. I have been finding the forum to be quite slow lately with pages 'hanging' before reloading. I do have BT Infinity fibre optic but I think they need to up their game :hmmm:
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: Tank on March 15, 2018, 11:19:47 AM
Yes, sorry about that everyone.  I'm still waiting for an official explanation, but it seems that we were attacked!   :o 

I have been sent some information regarding some upgrades to the forum and tightening security with our host.  Software upgrades basically.
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: Dancess on March 15, 2018, 12:13:49 PM
Russians !!
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: emjaybee on March 15, 2018, 02:13:59 PM
Quote from: Tank on March 15, 2018, 11:19:47 AM
Yes, sorry about that everyone.  I'm still waiting for an official explanation, but it seems that we were attacked!   :o 

I have been sent some information regarding some upgrades to the forum and tightening security with our host.  Software upgrades basically.

It's those swines in the 2mm society, they can't handle the fact that we're cooler.

:P
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: Caz on March 15, 2018, 03:37:02 PM
@Only Me (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=1328)   Must admit since the PHP etc update the forum is flying along here.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: Tank on March 15, 2018, 04:14:56 PM
We're on 7.0, but I may knock it up to 7.1 as that's what is recommended by our host.  They're stopping all support for anything older than 7.1 later this year.
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: Tank on March 15, 2018, 04:26:08 PM
I've just knocked it up to 7.1 

We'll see how that works out!  :D
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: austinbob on March 15, 2018, 08:04:47 PM
All sorts of error messages here since your post. Message asking me to log out and back in - but I can't log out.
If I clear messages as read they pop up again.
Have not been able to post messages so don't know if this will get to you.
:beers:
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: Caz on March 15, 2018, 08:17:45 PM
Seems there was another problem but all sorted now.  Thanks.
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: MalcolmInN on March 15, 2018, 08:21:12 PM
Quote from: austinbob on March 15, 2018, 08:04:47 PM
All sorts of error messages here since your post. Message asking me to log out and back in - but I can't log out.
If I clear messages as read they pop up again.
Have not been able to post messages so don't know if this will get to you.
:beers:
Yes me too just now ! I could look and read but not log in.  As you say, I could not log out, nothing to log out from !
Looks like you fixed it though !

In case others can view and have similar problems ;
my method that sorted me was to disconnect shut down restart and yea! Loged in !

On the other hand that may have been a coincidence, in that the Elves may have fixed a problem between me going and coming back !?

So, if I can send this it will mean I can answer NPN's post about his wee problem with his panel :)

EDIT Ah ! Just seen the post from Caz, forget all the above seems my thoughts on Elves was right !
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: Bob Tidbury on March 15, 2018, 08:39:34 PM
Snowwolflair rang me on  my land line to say he couldnt log out I and couldnt
Log in to send a post   I rang him back and he said he had just managed to log on and sent me a PM by the time I went back to the Kindle all seemed to be working again .
Thankyou Paul and Tank whatever youve done between you it seems to have worked .
Ime completely lost now without the Forum .
Bob Tidbury.
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: Tank on March 15, 2018, 08:50:51 PM
I've reverted the forum back to PHP 7.0 so that may have cured it. :uneasy:
Title: Re: NGF offline / Unable to connect to forum
Post by: MalcolmInN on March 15, 2018, 09:31:42 PM
Quote from: Only Me on March 15, 2018, 08:55:15 PM
Just clear your local browser cache it will have 5.5 cookies on it....
So my method, posted above, did work then = powerdown/reconnect !

Elves in my puter then :)