The Halloween Horror Strikes Again

[Keith Robinson]

Sorry about the downtime again, folks. Expect it to happen again! HostGator informed me that this website is using over 25% of the entire server (which contains all my sites and many others too). In other words, there are too many Blyton fans!

They've suggested using a dedicated server, but I don't want to go that route because it's VERY expensive. Actually, even though they switched off the forums temporarily, it's the book details page that's the biggest resource hog at the moment, so I might disable that temporarily until I find out what's going on. It's being hit HARD.

Please bear with us!

[Daisy]

Thank you for your explanation and efforts Keith. All strength to your elbow!

[Julie2owlsdene]

Yes, thanks for keeping us updated Keith.

[Julie2owlsdene]

Before I signed on, I just glanced at the site as a guest. And it wouldn't let me look at the forums!

So I had to sign on to have a look around!

[Eddie Muir]

Thank you for keeping us informed, Keith.

[Katharine]

In other words, there are too many Blyton fans!

That's the trouble with it being such a good web-site, if it wasn't very good, no one much would use it.

[Anita Bensoussane]

I'm amazed that our website uses more than 25% of the entire server! I'd imagined HostGator to be enormous, with our website being just one of numerous scales on the gator's body. But it seems that we Blytonians are quietly taking over the world! I hope something can be sorted out, Keith!

[Lucky Star]

Thanks Keith. I logged in earlier and thought "oh no not again. Hopefully all will work out in the end.

[Wolfgang]

We know the content is enormous, and when such automated robots from Google and other search machines scrutinize the site, it can take cause quite some traffic.

[Keith Robinson]

Ha! Anita, just to burst your bubble slightly, we're not taking 25% of HostGator's entire space, we're just taking 25% of our own allocated server. But still, 25% is quite a chunk!

Imagine HostGator as a huge hotel, and our server is one room on the 12th floor. In this analogy, there are quite a few people sharing that room. One of them (probably Mr. Goon) is taking up a quarter of the room, which is MOST unfair...

It's a poor analogy though. This issue isn't about space, it's about the number of connections to the server at one time. So I suppose it's more like the number of people coming through the doorway at once. Wait -- no, imagine cars on an interstate or motorway, and... and...

[pete9012S]

Do we have to be signed in permanently now to access the site?

[Moonraker]

Why would you want to use the forums without signing in?

It is rather odd that our problems started when HostGator had problems, as it admitted and explained on its support forum. Before that, all was fine. Since then, we have been having problems. Isn't that a bit of a coincidence? It's a bit like having rain coming in after a new window is fitted, and the builder telling you you are making too many phone calls.

I know, a poorer analogy than Keith's!

[Anita Bensoussane]

Anita, just to burst your bubble slightly, we're not taking 25% of HostGator's entire space, we're just taking 25% of our own allocated server. But still, 25% is quite a chunk!

I was half-joking. It does seem that we're a victim of our own success though!

Do we have to be signed in permanently now to access the site?

No - I signed out and I was still able to access the forums (as long as they were up and running!)

Why would you want to use the forums without signing in?

People might be on a shared computer and not want others (possibly including young children) to have access to their account. Or they might be on a mobile device and not want to be permanently signed in in case they lost the device and someone else got hold of it.

Edit: Sorry Nigel, just realised that you weren't necessarily talking about people remaining logged on permanently.

[Julie2owlsdene]

When I sign on, (I always sign off) I could access the forums okay.

When I just popped in quickly to read a few posts, without signing on, it wouldn't let me!

If this is the case, then guests and people browsing won't be able to read the forum posts.

[Eddie Muir]

My experience was the same, Julie. I got the following message when I tried to view active posts without logging in:

Sorry but you are not permitted to use the search system.