Maintenace/Performance thread.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Today (2011-07-16) I was getting time-outs and refusals from about 0700 to after 1200 EDT. My network tools showed the server was up, but I was unable to connec to the application.

Was this scheduled or unscheduled?

If scheduled, I would like to have the maintenance schedule published so we all can know when there is no availabilty.

  Edited July 24, 2011 by A Nonny Moose  

[Mithokey 96]

I totally agree. Simtropolis goes down A LOT and if some of the down time is scheduled, then I would like to know the schedule.

[jacksunny 741]

I think it was another database error. I was getting that page that always pops up when there is one.

  Edited July 16, 2011 by jacksunny  

[The Avatar 1,088]

Yeah me too, except for me, my web browser just kept loading the page for a few minutes untill it eventually gave me the "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage" screen. I was able to get into ST for one minute after a few tries, but it was very slow.

[jacksunny 741]

Even now I'm getting constant time outs and empty responses and the site is running slow. My advice to people is to copy what you are about to post before you post it in case of a time out. That way you won't have to retype everything again.

  Edited July 17, 2011 by jacksunny  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

It nearly got me this morning when it went off the air abruptly at 10 a.m. EDT. I just push the post button on a rather long post, and I got back, eventually, a can't reach the site message. I quickly backed up and copied the post into an HTML editor, then tried again with no success.

the site was back an hour later.

Is this site overload?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Unreachable from 0900 to 0930 again this morning, and from the looks of the header, chat is off the air.

[jacksunny 741]

Chat appears to be back online. Can a mod please tell us what is happening?

  Edited July 18, 2011 by jacksunny  

[GMT 389]

Yeah I am totally suffering from connectivity issues to the ST for quite a few days now. One second it works, next it says unavailable, next second it works again...

While all other sites work fine.

Maybe some staff member has an idea/explanation whats wrong?

[Eʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ 273]

Could be a DoS attack, I really don't think any of the staff actually know what it is to be honest. If it was confirmed what was happening with the site they would tell us almost immediately; via. twitter or sc4d forums.

Edit: 5minute downtime @ 3:15PM GMT -6

  Edited July 18, 2011 by elemented9  

[Sniper296 83]

Recieved this MYSQL error a few minuites ago:

Warning: mysqli_query() [function.mysqli-query]: (08S01/1053): Server shutdown in progress in /var/www/vhosts/simtropolis.com/httpdocs/forum/ips_kernel/classDbMysqliClient.php on line 222

www.simtropolis.com Driver Error

There appears to be an error with the database.

If you are seeing this page, it means there was a problem communicating with our database. Sometimes this error is temporary and will go away when you refresh the page. Sometimes the error will need to be fixed by an administrator before the site will become accessible again.

You can try to refresh the page by clicking here

«Return to the index

Fatal error: Cannot redeclare class ipsDriverErrorTemplate in /var/www/vhosts/simtropolis.com/httpdocs/forum/cache/skin_cache/ipsServerError.php on line 21

[RipRap 4,400]

The same messages I received yesterday...

Probably a DoS attack...

[Eʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ 273]

Yep, we're a victim of some pretty weird spam and hacking I think.

See: https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/topic/44745-how-i-download/page__pid__1174198#entry1174198

  Edited July 18, 2011 by elemented9  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Yep, we're a victim of some pretty weird spam and hacking I think.

See: http://www.simtropol...98#entry1174198

Could not open that link. However, I think the site may have been hacked. I've been getting some funny Spam of late.

[Yarahi 1,816]

Yep, we're a victim of some pretty weird spam and hacking I think.

See: http://www.simtropol...98#entry1174198

Could not open that link. However, I think the site may have been hacked. I've been getting some funny Spam of late.

I think that post was reported because of severly spam.. It was the same as this one (top post, not jacksunny)

The person posted that thing 4 different places in the forums

  Edited July 18, 2011 by yarahi  

[jacksunny 741]

Really??!! I shouldn't have replied then. I thought it was a serious post. lol

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Really??!! I shouldn't have replied then. I thought it was a serious post. lol

If its the one I am thinking of, the user name was the same as the text of the message. Clearly a spammer. Seems to have been archived.

I had another brief DOS at 1055 EDT. This seems to happen even if you are logged on. Some hacker is mussing with the data base, or trying to. Wish we could set a trap for him.

  Edited July 19, 2011 by A Nonny Moose  

[jacksunny 741]

Even when ST is up, it is very slow. How would you set a trap for a hacker?

[RipRap 4,400]

It should be where people log in, I think...

[jacksunny 741]

Is there supposed to be another site running on the same IP as Simtropolis, because there is. Is ST on a shared server or dedicated one? Maybe the other site is slowing ST down.

  Edited July 19, 2011 by jacksunny  

[RipRap 4,400]

there is... what?

Simtropolis is run by a server located in, DALLAS, TX... Is it supposed to be run in TORONTO?

Oops, fpound out it is SoftLayer Technologies...

I found this one...

Simtropolis.com - Simtropolis

Simtropolis Title:

Simtropolis | Online City Building Community

Simtropolis Keywords:

simcity, citiesxl, city-building, community, stex, bat

Simtropolis Description:

The largest online City Building Gaming community -- For fans of city-building games.

Simtropolis Dmoz Categories:

Top » Games » Video_Games » Simulation » God_Games » Sim_Games » SimCity_Series » SimCity_4

Simtropolis Related Sites:

simcitycentral.net | SimCity

sc4ever.com | SimCity 4 Resource Center

zealgames.tripod.com | ZealGames

www.vgnutz.com/simulation/simcity-series.htm | Video Game Nutz

www.futurecity.org | Future City Competition

www.duke.edu/~tlove/simcity.htm | Making Sense of Software: Computer Games and Interactive Textuality

simcities.host.sk | Sim Cities!

simcity.ea.com | SimCity 4

sc4devotion.com | SC4 Devotion | The home for the serious player

citiesxl.com | Cities XL

Simtropolis IP:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Simtropolis server location:

Dallas in United States

Simtropolis ISP:

SoftLayer Technologies

  Edited July 19, 2011 by 111222333444  

[jacksunny 741]

It was somewhere near Toronto but was relocated to Dallas.

[RipRap 4,400]

It was somewhere near Toronto but was relocated to Dallas.

SoftLayer Technologies, the ISP says

  Edited July 19, 2011 by 111222333444  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Could not connect today from 0815 to 0915EDT. The new site is less than reliable.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The system has been vary slow to disconnected for the last half hour or so, and quite slow since around 0900. The service on this new server is service only in the barnyard sense.

[jacksunny 741]

It has been on and off this morning.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

It has been on and off this morning.

This afternoon too. It is most annoying when it dies when I have just pushed the post button. When I get back, I have to check to see if the post was done, or if I can insert the block I saved.

[jacksunny 741]

I know, I hate that.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Today, Sunday July 24, 2011 the availability and continuity of the host site and therefore our application has been extremely spotty. I am beginning to wonder whether this site has the necessary bandwidth to handle our traffic. Today, my experience with it has been like talking to a dial-up site.

I cannot believe that there is application software trouble after all this time, and all the effort put in by the staff and their helpers. Maybe it is time to look hard at the guys in Dallas. Do they take weekends off, maybe? Do they monitor at all? What is their experience level in operating an international site that expects 24/7 operation? Currently, this is deplorable.

  Edited July 24, 2011 by A Nonny Moose  

[RipRap 4,400]

we should do a real good job!