Since I've gotten a new computer, I've had problems accessing BC with both Firefox and Explorer (up to date versions).
The only thing that has changed is that I'm running Windows 7 now instead of XP. All other sites I try to access work normally.
The error messages I receive are either "Problem accessing page cannot connect to server" or "DNS Lookup Error" once I refresh about a dozen times I get through, but it's getting old real quick. Anyone else having a problem or know of a solution?
Comments
Connection
Are these problems happening at 35 minutes after the hour? For housekeeping reasons we restart the server at 35 after the hour about six times a day. You may bet errors then.
Once you have gotten an error, you can continue to get the same error depending on the settings of your connection, browser, caching, etc. Your ISP may also serve you a "stale" page if you connect through a proxy.
Two days ago there was a brief period in the day in which the DNS server which I have no control over was down.
Here's a trick to try: http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf is a redirect. The actual location of the site is http://qnez.org/bcmain/99shoes or use PING on your command line to get the numeric address of the site and use that for a bit while proxies and caches expire. Two or three days of using an alternate address and you should be able to go back to addressing BCTS the way it's supposed to work.
There are technical reasons for using a redirect; it makes it possible to move the site with minimum downtime.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
DNS Problems
I've heard of this happening with one other user.
DNS problems are usually widely distributed, so it probably affects only a subset of users.
Here's an explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_Name_System
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_server
Here's BC's actual IP address: [[[[ 64.27.29.166 ]]]]
You can plug it into the Big Closet web address and bypass DNS, so you might try that when BC is experiencing what appears to be an "outage" sometime.
http://64.27.29.166/topshelf/
Be aware that if Bob or Erin tweak the server address* in an emergency, this hard-coded number may change.
Cheers,
Puddin'
* This is one way in which servers can be swapped in or out, for example.
-
Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
Might be the DNS server on your ISP
Many ISPs have DNS servers that are, frankly, crap. You might wish to try setting up your computer to an alternative DNS provider.
There are three major free services -- two of them are from companies that make it their main business; the third one is from Google. There are instructions on their pages:
http://www.opendns.com
http://www.dnsadvantage.com
http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/
Okay, questions answered in
Okay, questions answered in order received... i think.
Erin - No, it pretty much happens all the time "only" since I got the new computer near the beginning of December. Tried the alternate addy and same problem.
Puddin - IP address... same problem.
Sir Lee - Before I go and change things I don't know anything about, a question. If I was having this specific problem with only BCTS and not with any other of the dozens of sites I visit then is this the actual problem? That's why I was asking if anyone else was having the same problem using similar OS and Browsers.
~Lili
Blog: http://lilithlangtree.tglibrary.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lilith_langtree
~Lili
Write the story that you most desperately want to read.
For some unknown reason,
For some unknown reason, BCTS recently ended up on my McAffee banned IP addresses list for my Firewall. This produced a similar issue. The browser doesn't know why its timing out or unable to resolve an address for the target site... only that the info doesn't come back when it asks for it. You might check your firewall settings and see if you've maybe experienced the same glitch.
No other reports of this same problem
Some similar problems have been cleared up by tweaking of settings on browser or ISP connection or firewall.
Maybe we can get Bob or Piper in on this, they are much better hardware people than me. :)
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
HOKEY POKEY
You put your left foot in.
You put your left foot out.
You do the Hokey Pokey and you shake it all about.
That's what it's all about!
Then you do a power off and a restart.
LoL
Rita
Ha! Ha!
Age is an issue of mind over matter.
If you don't mind, it doesn't matter!
(Mark Twain)
LoL
Rita