Recent Technical Issues
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Recent Technical Issues
Hi all,
First up, I want to make sure my intent in this is taken correctly. I'm not taking a dig at those who run and maintain this forum - they have their own lives and do this on a voluntary basis. This post is merely meant to discuss the technical issues and maybe find a way forward to prevent them in future.
There are a few areas of concern.
One is that the version of PHPBB in use (3.0.9) is almost 9 years old. The v3.0.x family of phpbb is no longer supported, and so any new security holes and bugs won't be fixed. It's probably long overdue an update.
Secondly, the site is sometimes down due to MySQL errors. Looking at the error codes returned, some of this seems to be down do the use of MyISAM as the storage engine. All recent versions of MySQL have moved to use InnoDB as the default as the continued use of MyISAM caused issues. I would recommend that the MySQL system backing the database is updated, and that it is changed to use the InnoDB storage engine.
Without access to the backing systems I can't tell - but I imagine that the versions of PHP and other scripting languages used by the site are probably quite out of date too.
There are also some idiosyncrasies baked into the site from the early ages - I seem to remember that quote chains are limited to 3 quotes so that the forum was viewable on early Blackberrys. Images that are larger than the width of the screen are merely cut off, instead of being made to fit the size available. Some of these probably need to come out.
Now again I appreciate that those who can do this don't have the time to help. I would be willing to give some help with this, and would be willing to share professional credentials etc with Limecat etc in private to show that I'm able to help with this.
Thanks,
FLIP
First up, I want to make sure my intent in this is taken correctly. I'm not taking a dig at those who run and maintain this forum - they have their own lives and do this on a voluntary basis. This post is merely meant to discuss the technical issues and maybe find a way forward to prevent them in future.
There are a few areas of concern.
One is that the version of PHPBB in use (3.0.9) is almost 9 years old. The v3.0.x family of phpbb is no longer supported, and so any new security holes and bugs won't be fixed. It's probably long overdue an update.
Secondly, the site is sometimes down due to MySQL errors. Looking at the error codes returned, some of this seems to be down do the use of MyISAM as the storage engine. All recent versions of MySQL have moved to use InnoDB as the default as the continued use of MyISAM caused issues. I would recommend that the MySQL system backing the database is updated, and that it is changed to use the InnoDB storage engine.
Without access to the backing systems I can't tell - but I imagine that the versions of PHP and other scripting languages used by the site are probably quite out of date too.
There are also some idiosyncrasies baked into the site from the early ages - I seem to remember that quote chains are limited to 3 quotes so that the forum was viewable on early Blackberrys. Images that are larger than the width of the screen are merely cut off, instead of being made to fit the size available. Some of these probably need to come out.
Now again I appreciate that those who can do this don't have the time to help. I would be willing to give some help with this, and would be willing to share professional credentials etc with Limecat etc in private to show that I'm able to help with this.
Thanks,
FLIP
Anyone But New Zealand
- Peg Leg
- Rob Kearney
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Re: Recent Technical Issues
I would happily donate a paltry monthly sub
If that helps
If that helps
"It was Mrs O'Leary's cow"
Daniel Sullivan
Daniel Sullivan
Re: Recent Technical Issues
I can't offer the sort of support/help offered by Flip but like Peg Leg I would also be prepared to offer help/support in the form of a donation.FLIP wrote: I would be willing to give some help with this,
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#BeSeenBeHeardBeBlueBELIEVE
I'm a Book Mark and damn proud of it. Storm 1:08 forever
Re: Recent Technical Issues
+1... Patreon or something similar? Or a one off if that was neededXanthippe wrote:I can't offer the sort of support/help offered by Flip but like Peg Leg I would also be prepared to offer help/support in the form of a donation.FLIP wrote: I would be willing to give some help with this,
I won't offer to help technically - unless you want the whole place deleted
I like your right leg. A lovely leg for the role.
I've got nothing against your right leg.
The trouble is ... neither have you
I've got nothing against your right leg.
The trouble is ... neither have you
Re: Recent Technical Issues
The only technical support I could offer is, if there is anything that needs plugging in or out of a power source I am willing to oblige. Otherwise more than happy to make a donation to the cause.
“Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.”
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Re: Recent Technical Issues
+1.Xanthippe wrote:I can't offer the sort of support/help offered by Flip but like Peg Leg I would also be prepared to offer help/support in the form of a donation.FLIP wrote: I would be willing to give some help with this,
And there was me thinking that I was the only one noticing that the system is creaking.
- limecat
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Re: Recent Technical Issues
There have been a couple of "small" outages in the last couple of weeks, but usually it's fairly stable.
That said, there are definitely improvements and upgrades that could and should be made around the place.
Thanks for the offer FLIP, but I should have the requisite skills to make any required upgrades, it's mostly the getting up off my fat arse to do them part that holds me back.
That said, there are definitely improvements and upgrades that could and should be made around the place.
Thanks for the offer FLIP, but I should have the requisite skills to make any required upgrades, it's mostly the getting up off my fat arse to do them part that holds me back.
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Re: Recent Technical Issues
No worries - the offer remains available should you change your mind. Given the amount I'm on here it'd only be fair to give back.limecat wrote:There have been a couple of "small" outages in the last couple of weeks, but usually it's fairly stable.
That said, there are definitely improvements and upgrades that could and should be made around the place.
Thanks for the offer FLIP, but I should have the requisite skills to make any required upgrades, it's mostly the getting up off my fat arse to do them part that holds me back.
Anyone But New Zealand
- limecat
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Re: Recent Technical Issues
Just as an update on this, recent outages were caused by a fairly significant DDOS attack, which has been impacting on many phpbb based forums worldwide over the last few weeks.
Hopefully changes we've now implemented have stopped the attack on our servers, but we'll keep monitoring over the next while.
Hopefully changes we've now implemented have stopped the attack on our servers, but we'll keep monitoring over the next while.
Keep up to date on our facebook page or follow us on mastodon.
Re: Recent Technical Issues
Thankslimecat wrote:Just as an update on this, recent outages were caused by a fairly significant DDOS attack, which has been impacting on many phpbb based forums worldwide over the last few weeks.
Hopefully changes we've now implemented have stopped the attack on our servers, but we'll keep monitoring over the next while.
I like your right leg. A lovely leg for the role.
I've got nothing against your right leg.
The trouble is ... neither have you
I've got nothing against your right leg.
The trouble is ... neither have you
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- Rob Kearney
- Posts: 8131
- Joined: April 10th, 2011, 10:23 am
Re: Recent Technical Issues
limecat wrote:Just as an update on this, recent outages were caused by a fairly significant DDOS attack, which has been impacting on many phpbb based forums worldwide over the last few weeks.
Hopefully changes we've now implemented have stopped the attack on our servers, but we'll keep monitoring over the next while.
Thanks Limecat. Have experienced the breakdown a couple of times but as I was travelling (and thus using various host wifi access) I assumed the problem was mine. Great to hear you're on top of it.
Re: Recent Technical Issues
As a fellow owner of a fat arse I compliment you on your getting off it. Shiny new upgrade!
Anyone But New Zealand
- limecat
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Re: Recent Technical Issues
Finally made a start on things. Still a lot to be done though.
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Re: Recent Technical Issues
Don't know if this an option, but other forums have a feature that if I click on a thread with unread posts, it brings me straight to the last post I read rather than me having to work out where I left off. If that was on the list it would be great.
And in 5 mins - knowing my history - someone is going to point me to an option for me to do that already
Thanks for the update btw.
And in 5 mins - knowing my history - someone is going to point me to an option for me to do that already
Thanks for the update btw.
I like your right leg. A lovely leg for the role.
I've got nothing against your right leg.
The trouble is ... neither have you
I've got nothing against your right leg.
The trouble is ... neither have you
Re: Recent Technical Issues
You'd be right. This was already a feature in the old version, but heres how.The Doc wrote: ↑June 30th, 2020, 10:47 am Don't know if this an option, but other forums have a feature that if I click on a thread with unread posts, it brings me straight to the last post I read rather than me having to work out where I left off. If that was on the list it would be great.
And in 5 mins - knowing my history - someone is going to point me to an option for me to do that already
Thanks for the update btw.
Just click on the red icon and it should take you to the first unread post.
Anyone But New Zealand
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- Bookworm
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Re: Recent Technical Issues
Slick new upgrade! Nice work!
Re: Recent Technical Issues
Yeah. Been doing that for years....The Doc wrote: ↑June 30th, 2020, 10:47 am Don't know if this an option, but other forums have a feature that if I click on a thread with unread posts, it brings me straight to the last post I read rather than me having to work out where I left off. If that was on the list it would be great.
And in 5 mins - knowing my history - someone is going to point me to an option for me to do that already
Thanks for the update btw.
Re: Recent Technical Issues
Looks slicker and presumably is more secure etc. What is left to do next?
- limecat
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Re: Recent Technical Issues
Change the "unread" icons from red to a more Leinster colour
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Re: Recent Technical Issues
CheersFLIP wrote: ↑June 30th, 2020, 10:59 amYou'd be right. This was already a feature in the old version, but heres how.The Doc wrote: ↑June 30th, 2020, 10:47 am Don't know if this an option, but other forums have a feature that if I click on a thread with unread posts, it brings me straight to the last post I read rather than me having to work out where I left off. If that was on the list it would be great.
And in 5 mins - knowing my history - someone is going to point me to an option for me to do that already
Thanks for the update btw.
Just click on the red icon and it should take you to the first unread post.