Topic: WxForum slow, and Unable to connect to database

[JohnN]

I am having 2 issues.
1) Has anyone else been experiencing slow loading here on WxForum?
2) When I was trying to post a reply to a topic, it wouldn't load, and then I got a Cannot Connect to Database error. I tried opening the main page in a new tab, and got the same error.
As far as number 1, that my just be me. My internet has been pretty bad (although still better than dial-up) so that may just be on my end. I am paying for 15 Mbps downloads, but right now I am averaging between 3-6 Mbps. Last time the cable guy came out, he blamed it on the router. I have a nice router, not some cheap thing. I would hope the router is not the problem. Sorry for the rant, just hate paying for something and not getting what is promised. Actually I don't pay, my parents do. But still.

[vreihen]

I received a database connection error last night.  The page loaded fine on a refresh.  The problem is server-side for sure, not on your home connection.....

[JohnN]

Forgot to mention that in my post. The page reloaded fine for me too.

[saratogaWX]

vreihen is correct -- it is a server-side thing.  We have a few aggressive search bots that seem to do a large number of concurrent queries and clog up the works sometimes.  I have been blocking them (mostly Chinese), but haven't gotten them all yet.

Best regards,
Ken

[JohnN]

Thanks for letting me know. It doesn't bother me too much, just wanted to make sure you knew about it. Any idea what the point of having bots do searches is? Looking for email addresses, perhaps?

[saratogaWX]

The one this morning was due to a runaway Python script from a hoster in Quebec,
the one this evening was likely a script running from a server in Ukraine .. I've blocked 'em both.

It is sometimes like playing whack-a-mole however so I can't promise these will be the last interruptions.

They seem to be just reading the pages (maybe for indexing?) -- email addresses are not shown on pages for 'guest' viewers, and then only if the individual allows it in their profile for logged-on users.  These engines never seem to be logged on, so they only get the public view of the forum.

[JohnN]

I wonder what they get from just reading pages. There must be something, otherwise no one would waste time making these bots. Anyway, thanks for trying to keep on top of them.

[smorris]

It is sometimes like playing whack-a-mole however so I can't promise these will be the last interruptions.

The owner over on one of the scooter forums I frequent got fed up and blocked all of China, Russia, and other area IPs. He figured the very few real members lost was offset by the continuous PITA the rest of the area caused.

[SLOweather]

My internet has been pretty bad (although still better than dial-up) so that may just be on my end. I am paying for 15 Mbps downloads, but right now I am averaging between 3-6 Mbps.

Have you tried rebooting the router and modem?

[JohnN]

I swapped out the router I am currently using with an old one, and the speed increased to around 15 + Mbps. Then I put this one back, and the speed was still fine. After a while, it went back down to about 3-5 Mbps. Maybe it is a router problem, because right now, when I am sure there are not many people online, I am still at about 3 Mbps. I might have to look into a better router. I want to get what I am paying for.

[richard583]