Extreme Technical Issues

[OldDad]

I am unable to log on to the board at all unless I use a proxy - This is what I get when I try to log in:

An Error Has Occurred!
We are sorry OldDad, but you are currently banned from using this forum. If you feel you have not violated any rules, it is possible that this message is an error caused by your browser. We have found several browsers can cause this error. The following solutions have worked to fix this problem. If you are an AOL user, you will most likely need to use an external browser like Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari or FireFox. For Windows users, Internet Explorer, or the browser you are using, usually may be found by going to your Start Menu or Desktop.
If you are using Internet Explorer, delete your cookies by going to TOOLS, INTERNET OPTIONS and then click DELETE COOKIES.

IF YOU ARE USING FIREFOX, you will need to delete your cookies for this domain by going to TOOLS, located at the top of your browser and selecting OPTIONS. Next select PRIVACY. Then click on the button that says, SHOW COOKIES. From there you scroll down to the record for GraceCentered.com and click REMOVE COOKIES. We have seen this work many times.
Offensive content. Rules violations.

Admin has assured me that I am not banned - and of course, if I was I couldn't post this! He has done a couple of jiggles to some IP stuff, but the problem persists.

Compounding the problem is that the slow issues on the server, resource limits and such, means my proxy times out 90% of the time, and I have to log in over and over again.

This is very time consuming and makes reading and particiapting on the board nigh impossible.

Anyone else having this issue?

[ChristNU]

I would have replied earlier, but I couldn't access the site, LOL. (actually today looks good so far).

I have not been "banned" yet, but I have experienced the other symptoms you list, constantly, and it is extremely frustrating. Did I say it is Extremely Frustrating!?!?

The randomness of it is also disconcerting, you never know when it will strike, accessing the site, accessing a thread, posting a reply. Did I say it Extremely Frustrating?!?!?

A little heads up as to what is going on would probably help, but I understand we are all guests here, and it is their show.

[fenton]

Not just me then whew!!!!

I was wondering what in the world did I get banned for, the fishing joke?   

[OldDad]

Another member pointed out something I hadn't thought of, my technical problems seem to have started close to when gillandro and tazgirl were banned yesterday...

[OldDad]

Day 3 - no issues resolved.

[fenton]

Day 3 - no issues resolved.

Same here

[admin]

The traffic load has been extreme recently. We've gone to cloud servers for foreign traffic and made additional tweaks in attempt to handle this but the problems obviously persist. We may have to go to a multiple server platform to handle traffic (which is expensive). We're still in entry stages to upgrading forum software as well which should help some.

I wish I could say more. It's difficult to know when traffic will spike because it's somewhat tied to search trends on Google and Yahoo. When certain social topics become popular in the mainstream, people will search for it and click through to here. So within minutes server load could spike in massive level.

I'm thrilled with the traffic, we've just got to strengthen our ability to handle it. You can help by donating and by deleting old messages in your inbox and sent files. Thanks.

[Jaime]

Admin, the posters on line at the bottom of the open page is mostly averaging 250 or so, we have had 400 plus in the past. How is the additional traffic you are talking about shown?

[fenton]

I'm not understanding how that effects how I can get on if I use 3g and get connected right away. But when I use my Wi-Fi at my house i can not get passed the banned page ----      

[ChristNU]

The traffic load has been extreme recently. We've gone to cloud servers for foreign traffic and made additional tweaks in attempt to handle this but the problems obviously persist. We may have to go to a multiple server platform to handle traffic (which is expensive). We're still in entry stages to upgrading forum software as well which should help some.

I wish I could say more. It's difficult to know when traffic will spike because it's somewhat tied to search trends on Google and Yahoo. When certain social topics become popular in the mainstream, people will search for it and click through to here. So within minutes server load could spike in massive level.

I'm thrilled with the traffic, we've just got to strengthen our ability to handle it. You can help by donating and by deleting old messages in your inbox and sent files. Thanks.

Thank for the update, admin. It helps ease some of the frustration to know why what is happening is happening. Thanks again.

[admin]

Admin, the posters on line at the bottom of the open page is mostly averaging 250 or so, we have had 400 plus in the past. How is the additional traffic you are talking about shown?

The stats come from an app in the forum software. Loads affect it as well so when there is a high load it's trying to get info from the overloaded server. As best I can tell, the visitor stats are 10x higher and maybe more. And that doesn't include the traffic to the rest of the site.

[fenton]

OK thank you.

[Gomer]

I got banned last night on one computer I was using, but not banned on another computer I switched to.

[Nevertheless]

Same ISP?

[Gomer]

Same ISP?

No.

[Nevertheless]

That's why the other computer worked. There is some kind of a glitch that is causing certain ISPs to be blocked and receive the "banned" notice. Admin is working on it.

[Gomer]

No message

[admin]

How's the forum behaving today? There's been a substancial change that the host and I think could do the trick.

[ChristNU]

It's rockin' for me. 

Looks like the changes are working. Thanks for all you do!

[Jaime]

It's much better here lately. Thanks.

[fenton]

Alot better
However I still cannot get on using my home computer

[admin]

Alot better
However I still cannot get on using my home computer

Working on that next.

[fenton]

Alot better
However I still cannot get on using my home computer

Working on that next.

Awesome