Simtropolis Error 520: Help Diagnosing

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

Hi all,

For a while I've been observing intermittent Error Code 520 pages from Cloudflare every so often. The times this occurs isn't consistent, and I've not noticed any particular page or sequence which causes the error. For me there's no common timeframe during the day when it happens either, and when it does, a subsequent immediate page refresh solves the issue (from where loading proceeds as normal).

I'm wondering how best to investigate, and so this topic is a place to post about your own experiences, for how frequently you notice it. Maybe then we can piece together any patterns, even though at the moment it appears entirely random.

I'll then forward the info to @Dirktator who can investigate with the host and/or Cloudflare as needed.

Just to clarify, the all too familiar error page is:

 

I've added a poll you can all vote on with a few questions, so we can gauge how widespread this issue really is.

Please also reply with additional details (such as Cloudflare Ray ID), which will help with our investigations. This is shown at the bottom of the error page, and is a unique identifier which can allow tracking down the cause from Cloudflare's end. And of course, best not post your IP address in public.

Thanks!

-CB

[Ulisse Wolf 4,461]

Then I am not the only one who is experiencing these random errors. When I get this bug I will take a screenshot 

Note: In the survey I put no to the question "Are you signed into Simtropolis when it happens?" but this error happens to me both when I am logged in and when I am not logged in

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

11 minutes ago, Ulisse Wolf said:

Note: In the survey I put no to the question "Are you signed into Simtropolis when it happens?" but this error happens to me both when I am logged in and when I am not logged in

Thanks for voting, and good point. Thinking of this to be more inclusive, I've just edited that poll option in Q5 to include an "Either" option, as it also fits for me with seeing this when signed out and as a guest. I moved over our votes to that instead, which covers both Yes/No choices.

[Tyberius06 12,267]

To be fair, I have not paid attention to the error code, but now and then it happened. Speaking of it, I just came here now opened two new TABs out of my notifications and one of them produced the error the other one loaded properly... Then I hit the F5 on the "broken" tab and it showed up this time properly.

[redfox85 659]

I have never received the error. Are the servers by chance in Canada ?

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

10 minutes ago, Tyberius06 said:

To be fair, I have not paid attention to the error code, but now and then it happened. Speaking of it, I just came here now opened two new TABs out of my notifications and one of them produced the error the other one loaded properly... Then I hit the F5 on the "broken" tab and it showed up this time properly.

Thanks for confirming. This matches with my general observations as well. I do notice each time it occurs, a refresh never makes it happen again straight away. It's different from the timeout errors which are known to be triggered when the server is under extra strain. These 520 errors I've found aren't due to excess load.

 

7 minutes ago, redfox85 said:

I have never received the error. Are the servers by chance in Canada ?

That's interesting, and yes, Simtropolis is indeed hosted on a dedicated server in Canada.

Perhaps this suggests proximity to the ST server could be a factor, as being closer it might bypass Cloudflare (serving the CDN) and connect directly.

[catty-cb 4,412]

On phone quite a lot which is using broadband mobile, home computer is using a fibre optic cable to connect to internet and I don't get problem nearly as often, doesn't seem to matter if I'm logged in or not, but F5 always works so I think I just got used to it happening

[nos.17 5,256]

I can't recall the last time this has happened, though I'll pay more attention in the future. It's definitely been at least a few months since I've noticed any issues, other than the regular outages, of course.

If it helps I'm in Indiana which is also not far from Canada.

[thecitiescenter 3,059]

It happens every now and then for me, I’d guess 2-3 times/week and I probably login to Simtropolis maybe 5 or 6 times a day.  Ofc this is all guess work on my part as I havent really kept track - but will do so moving fwd and get back with some data points.  FWIW, I’m in the Bay Area, California.

[catty-cb 4,412]

Coming up to 10pm here in New Zealand (on desktop PC) and just tried to go over to the Banished club

Next ray at 10:27pm

Maybe there is something to the further away from Canada you are, the more 520 errors, anyway heres another one at 11:27pm

That's odd am tempted to try staying up to 12:27am and see if it happens again or not think I'm going to head to bed 

  Edited October 20, 2023 by catty-cb  
adding more rays

[CaptCity 4,915]

I've noticed this for a while now and seems to be almost daily. I just took it for 'one of those things' and just got used to doing a refresh. There does not seem to be any pattern in when it happens vs. what I'm doing at the time. It's done it when selecting a file to download, visiting various forums, and when modifying homepage features. It's done it both after being on the site for a while and also almost immediately. I believe it does seem to occur the more rapidly I switch between things (pages, forums, settings, etc.), but that might be me imaging things...

I'll try to take note more to see if there's a pattern.

[catty-cb 4,412]

have gone all evening with no problems and just as I was about to log off

[carlosmarcelo 982]

I live in Brazil, in Sudest Region.
Nowadays I come sometimes in Simtropolis (1x per week), but even when I had came lot of times per day, rarely got 520 error page. In this year, maybe, I had saw just once time a long time.

Always, I'm logged, in chrome desktop (more times) or in chrome android mobile.

I hope this informations help you.

[CaptCity 4,915]

Just happened to me again...

2023-10-22 20:51:12 UTC

It happened when I used the back arrow on Microsoft Edge to return to a previous page. This kind of makes me remember it occurring when doing the same on previous occasions.

Selecting the 'Learn more' link gave me this... It's pretty generic and probably not useful.

 

 

[TogaMasterJohn 711]

You know, I remember seeing this sort of error at least once or twice several months ago (at some point this year, for sure). After refreshing the page a few times to no avail (the other time after an hour or so), I came back a few hours later, and it seemed like everything was working again. Every time I've gotten on this site since then, I've had no errors (minus the one or two temporary outages).

I didn't realize that others were experiencing issues as well. I haven't experienced this issue in forever, it seems. Quite fascinating!

I haven't been on here in a few weeks due to IRL stuff keeping me busy, but I'll be sure to let you know if I see that error or another similar anomaly in the future.

[nos.17 5,256]

Oh shoot i just got the first one I've seen in months. Happened when I was opening multiple tabs in quick succession from my notifications. It only happened on the first tab opened and immediately went away on refresh.

Cloudflare Ray ID: 81b5626b7e6a2afa

[rivit 3,402]

One to add - had a couple today  (just now) - was browsing  'Show me what youre working on'  and had been working backwards and forwards across the last couple of pages. Got the 520 when trying to quickly back track to the Main Menu page where I had started from. Got the impression cache may have been corrupted (faulty page ref) leading to the 520.

[CaptCity 4,915]

Just happened when trying to hide a STEX file - first time in 6 days. That's one of the longest periods without it happening. Still nothing that seems like pattern yet.

[thecitiescenter 3,059]

Just got it right now, it's been a while since the last time.  Logged in, going between pages in the forums.  I don't notice any particular pattern either.  Seems really random.  Cloudflare Ray ID: 81e575b2f8d267fc

[anonymous1234 216]

It happened to me right now... there's a screenshot

I'm signed in now as you can see. You can see also the  RAY ID down below in the screenshot. 

[AsimPika3172 1,155]

Got this error this morning when click something...

[Scbilder 64]

Occurred for the first time about 20 minutes ago while signed in . Url:

https://community.simtropolis.com/profile/5563-deadwoods/content/?type=downloads_file

Browser: Firefox. VPN enabled.

Had just downloaded deadwoods file and clicked "Find their other files" when the error screen popped up. Tried replicating steps, but no recurrence.

 

[CaptCity 4,915]

Once again, just now... Was changing an image on the secondary carousel feature on the Homepage. Another long stretch this time.

Edit: Hmmm... Just happened again (5 minutes later). Selecting a topic link. Using Edge with several (5) tabs open to various subforums.

[anonymous1234 216]

Happened again to me while trying to see a notification 

[CaptCity 4,915]

Another one just now - was on the Home page and selected the 'Forums' tab on the banner. Using Edge with no other tabs open.

[catty-cb 4,412]

I keep getting it on my phone and it's always when I am moving from one place on the site to another

[carlosmarcelo 982]

 So, just happen NOW, when I tried translate to read this topico with chrome's plugin of google translator: 

 

After 2 refreshs, the page / translater loaded correctly.

This never happened before.

[thecitiescenter 3,059]

Just got one while trying to sign out.  I also got one earlier in the week while trying to edit a forum post.  Cloudflare Ray ID: 8254cd6f2900967f 

[Ulisse Wolf 4,461]

I held this error while I was posting a post.  Cloudflare Ray ID: 8288a5863cbbba9a

[CaptCity 4,915]

Just got another while opening a new tab to display the Paeng's Journey topic. Three other tabs open in Edge.

Cloudflare Ray ID: 828a4482e8aadb9e 

...and another one just now (2 hours later) while opening the Showcase subforum in a new tab. Only one other tab open this time. Doesn't seem to like opening new tabs today. This is the first time I've noticed even a slight pattern. If it can be called a 'pattern'...

Cloudflare Ray ID: 828b2b84dab8db9e