Database Errors

Anyone else getting a lot of these recently?

Dom

yep - also, the page often gets timed out as its so slow..... or maybe thats my brain!

Originally Posted by Domski

Anyone else getting a lot of these recently?

Yes.

In the past I've experienced these outages when no one else has... a reboot of my browser (Chrome) generally resolves.
However, in this instance given 4 of us are complaining of the same I'd say the issue is more likely server than client side.

Make that five. I was just on my way to the water cooler to ask about this and here's the thread already.

Originally Posted by DonkeyOte

Yes.

In the past I've experienced these outages when no one else has... a reboot of my browser (Chrome) generally resolves.
However, in this instance given 4 of us are complaining of the same I'd say the issue is more likely server than client side.

Can someone give it a kick while I'm away skiing please?

Dom

I give up

It [database error] just [database error] took [database error] me [database error] eight [database error] attempts [database error] to [database error] view [database error] one [database error] thread.

Dom

I agree it is a server side problem. Not experiencing time outs or other errors with any other sites open in my browser (FireFox).

I just got an OOPS! respponse when I tried to log in. Tried a second time and got into Forum. Dom--enjoy the slopes. I'm headed to Vail in two weeks for some spring skiing.

I thought it was just me...my stuff runs, no creeps when browsing this forum yesterday and today. Before I can get my reply to go through, several people will have replied...LOL

logged in early this AM, this is the first time that the page even loaded all the way up without the database error msg. I can see smile icons and other stuff still refreshing while I'm typing this.

I reported this on Monday & the owners are working to repair the database

I can add my name to the list, it's pretty bad today and has been for some time now.
Time out errors are pretty common too.
I was blaming BT and after an hour with them they came to the conclusion that it had to be the sites visited, not the connection. Curiously it also happens with MrExcel to a lesser extent, but no other sites.

Another interesting point
When there is a database error, a post might have been sent, and you don't know about it until you resend it, and lo and behold there are two posts.
Lastly I have had situations where I know I have edited something but paging back from the error page the previous unedited page appears, and on refreshing the edited post reappears.

Sorry to rant on but now I have resorted to copying all posts to notepad before I send a reply, to often all is lost when an error occurs.

Slainte
Alistair

Today has been the worst day yet! I'm actually having to work!

Originally Posted by Marcol

I can add my name to the list, it's pretty bad today and has been for some time now.
Time out errors are pretty common too.
I was blaming BT and after an hour with them they came to the conclusion that it had to be the sites visited, not the connection. Curiously it also happens with MrExcel to a lesser extent, but no other sites.

Another interesting point
When there is a database error, a post might have been sent, and you don't know about it until you resend it, and lo and behold there are two posts.
Lastly I have had situations where I know I have edited something but paging back from the error page the previous unedited page appears, and on refreshing the edited post reappears.

Sorry to rant on but now I have resorted to copying all posts to notepad before I send a reply, to often all is lost when an error occurs.

Slainte
Alistair

Marcol, it's unfortunate that when a databse error occurs the specific table that faults appears to the server to be in use so will not accept new data, it may be that there is an auto repair script running which is why some of you, time to time, can post a new post but then cannot access the forum ...etc, i'm sure that now the owners are aware of it they will repair and optimise the "Post" table and all will be back to normal.

I've been told that the database error has been fixed, it was a script error

The load is under control now, one of the scripts on the server was going into an infinite loop which was causing the error, have not slept since 24 hours now .. trying to get it sorted ..
All under control now .. Please let me know if you face any issues.

Getting a lot of database errors when accessing/posting to the site again

Dom

Not having a problem (yet)

There was a period of time yesterday when the site wouldn't load properly for a couple of hours and then today I started getting the errors but it could just be me.

Dom

Originally Posted by Domski

There was a period of time yesterday when the site wouldn't load properly for a couple of hours and then today I started getting the errors but it could just be me.

Dom

It takes a while on my end to reload a page...that started yesterday. If I hit reply to a post...it takes quite a while for the screen to refresh to a point where I can type in the reply box....and it takes even longer before the manage attachments part of thr screen loads to where I can attach a file. It hasn't timed out yet, but it really is slow.

I had the same issue yesterday as well.

Is there something wrong with this file?
http://www.excelforum.com/excel-prog...six-files.html

It has 15 views....I think they are all mine...but I have yet to get the file to fully open so i can see what is written in there.

I don't see a file attached John.

Dom

Can you open that thread?

I have yet to be able to get into that thread. I know that I said file, but I meant thread.

I finally got it to open.....

I've had lots of slowness today. I can click on a thread, go open my email, read all my mail, go check on my kid's grades on the school's site, check another forum for new posts and then come back here and wait some more....sometimes when I return, I find it has timed out and other times it will have finally opened the thread.

Yes, opens fine for me.

Dom

Woohoo!
Not sure what is different today than yesterday, but so far today the forum is flying.

So far every thread that I click on opens almost instantly.....<keeping my fingers crossed>

I've already reported this

It is happening today to me. So far I am counting 6 times up to this post.

Getting plenty of errors again today.

Dom

I reported problems at the weekend & have been assured that they have been resolved

Roy, what are the errors?, can you copy one next time and show one to me? maybe i can help!

It has been a difficult day today for me and this site!

I got this today when trying to upload an oversize file.

vBulletin Message
Your submission could not be processed because a security token was missing.

If this occurred unexpectedly, please inform the administrator and describe the action you performed before you received this error.



Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.2.0

Normally trying this causes a crash in the Manage Attachment window and occassionally it returns a message saying the file is oversize, I suspect it is supposed to do the latter. However this often happens with a file of 700k when the info states that 1000k is allowed for a .xls file.

Slainte
Alistair

In this case the file was grossly oversize, but it was accepted zipped.

Pretty much impossible to do anything on here today.

Dom

I have timed out twice this morning and it's not my connection because I have no problem accessing other sites in a timely manner.

I've had no problems today at all.

It seemed to improve about 11:30 and haven't had any problems since then. Up to that point I could barely get onto the site without it throwing up an error.

Dom

I had the same database errors as Domski this morning...

Database Error...Database Error...Database Error...Database Error...Database Error...Database Error...Database Error...Database Error...Database Error...Database Error...Database Error...Database Error...really starting to get on my nerves to be honest.

Dom

Reported at 1pm UK time

Cheers Roy.

Dom

A bad morning for me trying to log on.

I've only just been able to log on now! 15:46 GMT it's nearly home time!! my boss will have seen a spike in my putput!

Originally Posted by Blake 7

my boss will have seen a spike in my putput!

Sounds embarrassing

Dom

What are you complaining, today I got the database error screen only 20 times

Guy's, not wishing to defend a problem if it exists but usually weekends (especially Sunday early hours or Monday early hours) forum back ups take place, i do mine on a Sunday morning around 4am, the backup takes around 3 hours or so, that makes the forum unavailable for most of that time, i'm assuming thats the issue here, however it shouldn't take all day or roll in to the hours when most of your members would be on

Originally Posted by Domski

Sounds embarrassing

Dom

oh dear, how funny, can you imagine!

I meant Output!

Originally Posted by Blake 7

I meant Output!

I personally like the looks of putput!

Originally Posted by Marcol

@ Simon Lloyd

That sounds acceptable, but why not a bit of "error trapping" that displays, a message that informs members and guests what is going on?

That would require a great deal of programming knowledge and constant checking for a flag to say that the forum is being backed up, it would use valuable resources almost every minute.

Originally Posted by Marcol

Is it not possible to shut the forum down prior to backups, and redirect to an information page during the process?

Yes the forum can be locked (as i do on occassion) but maybe like me the owner would forget sometimes to unlock it, to do it automated is possible but would require 3rd party software to determine when the back up is about to take place and perform a forced redirect at server level, again it needs a lot of programminmg knowledge. One thing though, is when a backup is taking place unless you restrict resources available at that time the software will consume as much as is needed in order to perform the task quickly, throttling this would mean there are some resources but the forum would be down much longer.

This sunday i backed up 21Gb and it took 4hrs 20mins, a small price to pay for the luxury of being able to roll back should something go wrong. You have to remember that it isn't free to keep our forums online and the costs spiral the more space, ram, cpu power and bandwidth you need, it gets to the point where from month to month you wonder if you can keep it online

So, in summary, the backups should take place at a historically slow time for the forum (any owner can tell this from their stats software) and should never roll over to any busy period, if it becomes unavoidable then yes, the owner should manually place a redirect...etc for that time along with a message, but there again there are owners and owners

I received this email last night

Hi Roy,
There was a high load on the server due to crash in one of the DB's.
It has been repaired now and should be working fine.

I couldn't get on all day yesterday (Saturday June 18, 2011) I had to go outside and do stuff instead, it was horrific!

I think you'll find that the site you used gives a few false positives, this one is more accurate http://www.my-ip-neighbors.com/?domain=67.225.213.199 however it's only for the IP address of excelforum, the dedicated server can host may ips so you'd need to know the actual ip of the server itself not the one for the domain.

Actually the server is in the US Marysville, Washington, and ishosted by GoDaddy. You could have a point about the extra hosting but even using your link 20 extra hosted is absoulutely nothing (depending on waht those sites run or their demands on the server resources) if it was 100+ i'd be concerned.

Encountered the database error screen more than 3 times today and lost 1 of my ansers.

@snb and your "w" key

@Martin

When giving condensed answers, 'anser' suffices...

@Marcol

I tried (or to use a common OP feedback: 'it doesn't work'); but I think you forgot to declare the variables....
I got error message "Error 1147 Marcol out of range"
I'm stuck.

It is not a good day for Excel Forum

Another day of limited access

I reported this this afternoon, seems OK now

it seems ok and i must say that it....

There must be something seriously wrong in the background as this is becoming a regular occurrence.

Someone needs to pull their finger out and get it sorted.

Dom

I keep pushing for an upgrade to a newer version of vbulletin, but....

Not having a go at you Roy, I assume the 'problem' lies elsewhere.

Dom

I'm guessing since there was an hour and a half without any posts that everyone experienced the same db error that I did?

Nah, I just deleted everyone's posts in the last 90 minutes. Got tired of reading them.

I couldn't get on for a while there either.

I reported this yesterday, no response but it seems to be fixed.

Holy no connections Batman! I had to do work for like 15 minutes there.

Are you okay? Shall I post a few questions?

Dom

Originally Posted by Domski

Are you okay? Shall I post a few questions?

Dom

Hahaha, that's ok, I don't know if could answer questions / problems from you!

If Domski left the tavern at 1:30am and had consumed 3 pints per hour for the previous 3 hours, what should the value of cell D28 be if A28:C28 (merged cell) has the population of Japan and R11 is Pi to the 11th digit?

Originally Posted by Paul

If Domski left the tavern at 1:30am and had consumed 3 pints per hour for the previous 3 hours, what should the value of cell D28 be if A28:C28 (merged cell) has the population of Japan and R11 is Pi to the 11th digit?

Can you post a sample workbook?

@Mordred

Congratulations with your first Excelforum Millennium.


@paul

I guess it amounts to approximately 3 database errors a day (like I have lately).

@snb, thanks, I've actually been anticipating the roll-over since I hit 900 or so.

@Paul, 3 pints per hour for 3 hours is too drunk to look at little cells!

I'm off for an evening at the races. Between now and 18:35 can you please build a model that I can use that will guarantee me success.

Please note the following stipulations:

- I know nothing about horses, who is running or riding. I'm not even sure where the race track is.
- I will be getting progressively more drunk as the evening goes on (probably at a rate of 3 pints an hour)
- I will be accessing the spreadsheet through my smartphone which doesn't have Excel so it must be GoogleDocs compatible
- I will hold you liable for any losses I incur
- I'm a really bad loser

I am waiting!!!!

Dom

Here you go.

To RS
I see that works but I really wanted a macro. and could you make it secure, I plan on selling it and making a mint.

RS, I can't get that to work in my workbook. Can I e-mail you the 42MB file so you can put it into all 108 worksheets?

Lol, you guys! , I have offered to help out with these errors, but as Roy gets little help or response i guess your stuck with them, however, there are other fantastic excel forums, i mean you only have to scan the qr code pic with a smart phone or do a little digging at one of the links in my sig

Originally Posted by Simon Lloyd

there are other fantastic excel forums

This is the only one I am a member of! I don't think I could keep up with the other forums.

Database errors of this kind and frequency are down to two things, failing or poorly maintained hardware or ill coded templates or modifications - as you say both fixable

I have to say im not sure what you mean when you say someone has been fast tracked?

Originally Posted by Marcol

Fast-tracking was common in my industry. Some annointed whizzkid straight from university, plenty paper qualifications, but no experience, would be rapidly promoted. The directors seemed to think the faster they where promoted, the faster they gained experience, it typically would take 3-6 months to attain super-star status. In reallity they could talk a good game, and it would only take a further 3-6 months for them to move on and inflict their brilliance on someone else.

I have no axe to grind with uni-graduates, quite the opposite, most given the chance are exellent. It's the zero to hero ones that usually fail to impress all but the management.

I inderstood the concept of fast track, i just didn't know who you were referring to , i haven't seen the whizzkid aspect or even a fair working knowledge in those that you refer to, and as they are absent 99% of the time they give you no possibility of measuring any degree of competence. So i guess in your analogy of the situation they must have been much better than super stars, considering the speed at which they whipped through and onward, gods maybe?

Roy doesn't have as much control as he should have, given the responses he gets from those that should (or lack of) i don't know how he stays motivated to continue admin here. Anyway i'm in danger of raking up old gripes from everyone so i'll stop commenting on that, but if members started showing their distaste for lack of support and care for their community by aiming their mouse elsewhere for a while then the powers that be will sit up and take notice if the ranking figures take a decline.

'nuff said!

I notice the board's creaking badly again today, as it does most days.

Who picks up the emails to webmaster at this place? Might be time for a sustained barrage of disapproving emails.

Dom

I keep passing this on, but it doesn't seem to get resolved.

Do you get any response?

Dom

After a fashion

The apparent lack of interest by the site owner is a shame but something which we've got used to I guess. Might stick a couple of links to other forums in my signature and see how quickly that gets a rise.

Dom

Got the usual daily errors today so thought I'd send an email to the webmaster and guess what...Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently. What more would you expect from this outfit?

Dom

The forum's been virtually unusable for me today. Continuous database errors and slow page load times.

Rubbish isn't it! Shall we go on strike?

Dom

I have complained about it and so have other moderators (to the owner)... still not much reason to believe it will be stabilized anytime soon...

This is getting pretty annoying!

Whom did you send a email ?
I sent one clicking 'contact us' (down to every page).
I suppose the site is being maintained in India. It seems to be most problematic from ca. 16.00 hours India time.

'.. or to take arms in a sea of troubles and by opposing end them...'

Time for a bit of people power. If enough of the most prolific posters went elsewhere for a couple of weeks the place would soon go to pot and someone might take a bit more notice. The lack of interest in the opinions of those who keep this going as a site is apparent and getting to a point where I think if they don't care why should I.

I have been told today that they intend upgrading to a newer version of vBulletin

I'm sure Leeds United intend to win the Premiership again some day, can't see it happening any time soon though

Not to worry - perhaps they're doing an in-place upgrade right now?

Romp, they wouldn't do th

Originally Posted by snb

Whom did you send a email ?
I sent one clicking 'contact us' (down to every page).
I suppose the site is being maintained in India. It seems to be most problematic from ca. 16.00 hours India time.

'.. or to take arms in a sea of troubles and by opposing end them...'

Guess what, another problem, multi-quote doesn't seem to work, anyway @ snb http://www.excelforum.com/2548795-post60.html it's not hosted in India.

@Domski, the reason it failed is because the mailbox is full so obviously not being looked at and maintained!

I am sorry you guys are having these troubles - maybe with the software upgrade they will fix it?

Grrrrr, at least I've learned to paste to Word before pushing "Post"

It's the op's I've no doubt abandoned through getting utterly smegged off with the site I feel sorry for.

Dom