2012 Flashback: Free Republic: 2 Weeks Left of Relevancy Unless You Fix It [updates at 130, 270]

October 23, 2012 | Self

[Lazamataz]

"WHO THE HELL SIGNS AN UPGRADE AGREEMENT WITHOUT READING THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT???!?" -- South Park, Human CentiPad.

[Tijeras_Slim]

True dat... it is sort of like posting without reading, and no one here does that.

[PA Engineer]

Someone posted a trace route log that showed the FR stream bogging down in the San Jose area. That, IIRC, where the FR servers are located. Is the problem with the FR hosting facility? If so, FR should be considering alternative hosting facilities.

I originally thought the primary problem was with NTT America, Inc. and indeed there is a problem there normally when I trace route to FR. Last night I observed something different. I was able to post and refresh relatively easy at the beginning of the debate and then FR would not respond while signed in and very slow in lurker (Private Browsing) mode. The trace route during that time was very rapid even up to FR.

Oddly, the delays at NTT America disappeared when FR basically ground to a halt.

[Lazamataz]

I’m still in for that Beta tester role. :)

BTW, we should join forces and I’d love to see how your ideas might integrate to some of mine. :)

Now that I know your phone number, let me know a decent time to chat. It’s very important to me that you know I mean to include you and John ((((100%)))) should this thing be useful!!!!!

Uh, John, you might need to learn a new language, but how bad is that??? :)

[Lazamataz]

JimRob has been hear, scan upwards. Unlike Obama, he answered every point raised.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Woe is the person who gazes upon me, for they shall perish.

[Syncro]

Well, I think I meant pageviews.

I just remember back during one of the Pres election days there were 11 million “somethings” that day.

Wow, 1.2 million pageviews that's a bunch, and 77,000 pageviews per hour at the peak that's a lot too!

And an average of 1m a day, FR is the man!

Thanks to you, John, and Chris for keeping FR up and shaking up the political scene.

I don't quite understand that cloud thingie (and don't want it clogging up my brain either lol) but it seems it has potential to be part of the solution.

Thanks for the post Jim.

[Jim Robinson]

Yeah, I remember the 11 million hits number too. I think our third party hits counter software in those days was over counting. I think “hits” included pages and images so it probably wasn’t over 1 million pageviews.

[Lazamataz]

That speaks to a problem behind the firewall. Once you are in the server farm, something’s causing a near-thrash condition. Okay, that’s not the right term for it, but you know what I mean.

[humblegunner]

it probably wasn’t over 1 million pageviews

That ain't no small fish!

[paul544]

Yeah... I’m not wading into that mess. Too much emotion and not enough IT.

I just know there are solutions available and in modern IT, taking this long to fix an issue with a message board is not something that should be going on. But it’s not my baby so... All I know is that I stayed off the site most of today as it was still slow. Soon just start going elsewhere. Twitter isn’t a bad replacement.

[Lazamataz]

I have no computer expertise whatsoever - so this suggestion is probably way off base. But, I’m wondering if you could eliminate some of the posting history, private mail and other ‘home page’ niceties. All that stuff must take up a huge block of memory. Who goes back more than just a few days on their own history, much less anyone else?

That won't be it. That stuff is in a db. This is chewing processer time and availability. Different parts of the same animal.

[rdb3]

Yes, but, I never have trouble tuning his program in Monday through Friday at 12 noon ET no matter where I am or what’s going on in the world. Not so with FR.

I must concur.

The pain you feel today is the strength you'll have tomorrow.

[Jim Robinson]

Look, if you don’t trust me don’t donate. In fact, if you think I’m that bad, just leave. No one forces you to be a member here.

[Ol' Sox]

chewing processer time and availability

Interesting. I've noticed certain patterns of behavior when the system is acting wonky. The following are problematic functions:

Logging into the system
Responding within an open thread
Searching personal history, previous posts

Each of these would seem to require some form of authentication - if I were looking at these problems within one of my own systems, I would look at LDAP. Not sure what authentication routines or procedures are being used within FR but I'd be looking there.

[Lazamataz]

Interesting. I've noticed certain patterns of behavior when the system is acting wonky. The following are problematic functions:

Logging into the system
Responding within an open thread
Searching personal history, previous posts

Each of these would seem to require some form of authentication - if I were looking at these problems within one of my own systems, I would look at LDAP. Not sure what authentication routines or procedures are being used within FR but I'd be looking there.

Good observation. JohnRob, here's a lead.

Also, I note that posting to a ping list, which requires a lot of lookup of names, is slower. Perhaps the user database needs optimized, and maybe some of the related authentication code (cookies-referencing code, I suspect) needs to be looked over.

[Lazamataz]

Arcy was being a real nudge. There's some deleted comments you should purvue.

I mean, God love ya Jim, but they have you as some sort of Bonnie and Clyde. Your health simply isn't good enough to ENJOY ill-gotten gains!!! I'm amazed and impressed you do all you DO with the forum, frankly... that can only come from a labor of love, y'know? Love of America. You miss America as much as I do.

[advertising guy]

that’s a beautiful story Jim....however I told ya what the problem is and gave ya the number to the IT tech to prove it....for the cost of a phone call....I did this 4 times in 2 months.....so Pardon me if all the explainations fall on deaf ears

I like Fr but loath arrogance or ignorance

[presently no screen name]

if you're not up and running on election night 2012 you might as well close the door on any thought of continuing your political relevance.

BS!! Our work is done for a bit by then on election night. Seems your main interest is in partying and whining and FAIL big time in your manipulative attempts with your liberal agenda here. Go crawl back in your dark hole. We have permanent lights on @ FR and, perhaps, too bright for you.

[presently no screen name]

You can attack the messenger all day long on this one.

You are no messenger, just a whiner - a dime a dozen! Get in the back of the line where you will see how 'not relevant' you are.