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Related: About this forumTechnical issues appear to be resolved (update 2, Friday afternoon)
Last edited Fri Mar 7, 2025, 02:19 PM - Edit history (2)
UPDATE FRIDAY 2:20 PM ET:
We switched back to normal mode this morning and everything has been working fine so far. We can't be sure, but we now suspect that the issue may have been something to do with a major botnet attack which occurred yesterday -- it wasn't directed at us specifically, but many sites appear to have been caught in the crossfire. Details are in reply 28 below. As of now things appear to be back to normal. Our apologies for the inconvenience.
UPDATE 9:40 PM ET: Were still having issues when attempting to open the site to all visitors, but its looking increasingly like server weirdness (thats the technical explanation) rather than anything nefarious.
The site is currently running smoothly in members only mode, so were going to leave things as they are overnight and see how things are in the morning. If the issues persist, well need to do further troubleshooting.
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
We appear to be experiencing unusually high traffic, which is causing the site to slow down and crash
In order to compensate while we investigate the situation, we've temporarily switched to registered members only, which significantly reduces the load on our database. Hopefully this is not a major problem, and we'll have an update for you soon.
highplainsdem
(60,535 posts)EarlG
(23,457 posts)Probably more likely to be a DB glitch. We did do some regular maintenance earlier today which is normally not a big deal, but maybe something went awry with it.
magicarpet
(18,458 posts)... starting at 7:13pm. Finish reading my chosen thread - then back to the Latest Discussion page - that is when the Cloud Error page shows up. Wait a bit - then log on - then all is okay.
Thanks for tweaking the works and keeping things up and running. Have a good night.
NotHardly
(2,705 posts)Kali
(56,676 posts)I just had a gateway error for the first time in a long time and wondered if it was me. why do you think traffic is up? the daily chaos of asshole or something else?
EarlG
(23,457 posts)The database is getting overstressed, but it could be a software glitch.
Submariner
(13,268 posts)for about a week. No timeouts. Just a slow load then normal clicks between pages in Maine.
FullySupportDems
(417 posts)Lol In a previous life, I'd make sure all the indexes were functioning. I wonder if any of them do that anymore...it's probably all point and click now.
You'll get it, I'm sure of that!
HarryM
(449 posts)Here's a little poem we used to recite about that:
99 lines of code in the app,
99 lines of code
Take it down
Debug it 'round
1,965,842 lines of code in the app
Granted I wasn't a coder, but I did troubleshoot systems, apps, networks, etc. for about 5000 folks for about 30 years
Thank the gods I am retired
You guys here do a great job of holding the thing together.
Keep it up. We need you.
BigmanPigman
(54,707 posts)I am a tech moron and have no idea what anyone is talking about of this thread. Tech talk is like Greek to me.
3catwoman3
(28,749 posts)...but that I doubt I will ever make it to the Renaissance.
One of these days, I want to learn how to post pictures.
BigmanPigman
(54,707 posts)I live alone and have to figure out everything on my own. It's time consuming and very frustrating. On top of that Cox and Samsung always seem to make devices and provide service that are crap. I constantly run into issues.
kimbutgar
(26,950 posts)Im glad this site wasnt hacked!
CaliforniaPeggy
(156,244 posts)I appreciate your keeping us in the loop.
William769
(59,147 posts)Trying to post today has been horrendous.
sheshe2
(96,355 posts)Pisces
(6,170 posts)EarlG
(23,457 posts)We have a mailing list which you have to sign up for separately (we send out one email a week on Mondays, which is a recap of the previous week's most recommended threads). I'd send out a message to all our subscribers on that. The sign up form is on our Contact page here:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=contact
We would also post on Facebook (our Facebook account is generally unused, but does exist). Finally, even if the site is completely taken down, we should have a way to post a simple message on the front page of the site with information about the situation.
Sneederbunk
(17,320 posts)wolfie001
(7,263 posts)
Marcuse
(8,822 posts)
Ellipsis
(9,432 posts)GreenWave
(12,418 posts)TommyT139
(2,198 posts)'Twas a "members only" lockout that got me to finally sign up!
I had been lurking since early in Trump's training regime first administration.
Hekate
(100,132 posts)ms liberty
(11,025 posts)tavernier
(14,329 posts)It rocked our house
orleans
(36,707 posts)BBbats
(286 posts)BBbats
(286 posts)People & MAGA's have been discovering this site & checking it out. I certainly never discuss it but I've overheard people who are in the center( but lean right) talking about DU.
Surprised the Hell out of me when one said the info here was generally accurate & more reliable than where they usually get their news from.
That's a good thing!
I think people are realizing they've been had. As I overheard one say "You can't even trust Jimmy Dore anymore!"
CaptainTruth
(8,066 posts)SunSeeker
(57,766 posts)
Butterflylady
(4,584 posts)I hope it's not a denial of service attack.
If not it could be a good sign in disguise.
Cha
(317,458 posts)working well now.
greatauntoftriplets
(178,679 posts)I was getting Gateway 403 messages that said DU was the problem.
we can do it
(12,996 posts)mahina
(20,480 posts)EarlG
(23,457 posts)Folks have been reporting slowness on other sites today too.
John1956PA
(4,874 posts)Fla Dem
(27,455 posts)In other words, have all our devices been infected with this malicious malware? And if so, what should we do to secure any personal data on our laptops,
iPhones and other equipment?
Thanks for any light you can shed from n this.
Blue Full Moon
(3,237 posts)mountain grammy
(28,762 posts)MustLoveBeagles
(15,013 posts)At first I thought it was just me.
LilElf70
(1,426 posts)surfered
(12,084 posts)reports are the Space X rocket failed today. Too bad Musk and Trump werent on it, Orem would have gotten the answer to his question that we all want to hear: Is he dead yet?
Captain Zero
(8,782 posts)Or just a coincidence?
True Blue American
(18,579 posts)Ford_Prefect
(8,527 posts)William769
(59,147 posts)mahina
(20,480 posts)I was worried.
SunSeeker
(57,766 posts)
Rhiannon12866
(251,362 posts)GAJMac
(257 posts)Orrex
(66,764 posts)Oh, well. Tomorrow is another day.
Cheezoholic
(3,561 posts)MyMission
(2,008 posts)With the members only access I haven't had a problem reading or replying to posts, which was happening earlier today. I appreciate all you do!
Rhiannon12866
(251,362 posts)Demnation
(433 posts)CaptainTruth
(8,066 posts)calimary
(89,221 posts)This site isnt just a site. Its a political lifeline.
Sailingdiver
(347 posts)For your incredible support
OldSWODog
(134 posts)EarlG, greetings...I can't begin to comprehend what's happening but I'm glad you and your colleagues are on top of it...thanks much...cheers, OSD
oldsoldierfadingfast
(220 posts)Earl G and all who are working on this. Now, walk away for awhile and don't think about it. Get a good night's sleep!
Here's hoping that it gets solved tomorrow.
LuvLoogie
(8,595 posts)Maybe all of us are flooding the social media zone with news of The Vandal's fuckery, and we're hurting feelings out there.
AmericaUnderSiege
(777 posts)Never, ever. Dark shit is afoot over there. No details, just take my statement for what little it is.
Bayard
(28,871 posts)So does every post I recommend.
Response to EarlG (Original post)
Bayard This message was self-deleted by its author.
True Blue American
(18,579 posts)On board and several are having the same problem. Negative robots are flooding several trying to gas light and pretend we do not have a serious mess in Government.
MODS are having trouble weeding them out.
malaise
(293,641 posts)KY_EnviroGuy
(14,767 posts)DU is needed now more than ever......
I remember the days of Reagan's and W's time when we were naive and thought it could never get any worse.....
Good luck with your diagnosis and we hope it's an easy fix.
Quanta
(271 posts)That said my connection wasn't secure and that somebody may be trying to steal my credentials that mentioned DU specifically. I wish I had taken a screen shot.
cbabe
(6,320 posts)Rhiannon12866
(251,362 posts)progree
(12,775 posts)highplainsdem
(60,535 posts)doc03
(38,898 posts)boonecreek
(1,411 posts)I was getting the 504 gateway timeout like yesterday and about the same time.
doc03
(38,898 posts)two or three times.
FalloutShelter
(14,238 posts)For all you do.
progree
(12,775 posts)but when it is OK (returns to normal), then I very shortly get hit with another one. Several times now.
William769
(59,147 posts)You probably already know, I'm just throwing this out there.