Website slugish

[Dutch_Master]

I'm getting repeated 'database connection errors' when browsing the forum for the last 2 hrs orso. Reloading often fixes the issue, but loading pages takes forever. Other sites work as expected. Any ideas?

[M-Saunders]

We were being Slashdotted and OSNewsed simultaneously Has calmed down a bit now though.

M

[Dutch_Master]

OK, thx Mike!

[paulm]

We were being Slashdotted and OSNewsed simultaneously Has calmed down a bit now though.

M

Is that why the system clock is always wrong? Or have you lost NTP.

Sorry, couldn't resist - this is one forum that never tells me the right time....

paul.

[Levi]

You mean OSNews had linked to LXF website? I don't get it...
Wikipedia isn't much help here....

~Levi

[Rhakios]

You mean OSNews had linked to LXF website? I don't get it...
Wikipedia isn't much help here....

~Levi

Slashdot and OSNews are websites that post news stories and links to the original articles, large numbers of readers visit these sites, then follow the link to the article of interest on the LXF site (LXF test on Ooo3 in this case), all these extra visitors put the site under a heavy load.

Other websites can have a similar effect, being User Friendly's LotD (Link of the Day) can have a similar deleterious effect, especially for sites that don't expect to get a lot of visitors.

[Budgie]

My first experience of this forum has been very poor indeed. It has taken several minutes to load each page and I note the activity is usually waiting for an advertising site or even something in Russia. Unless you can cut the clutter a bit or speed up response you will damage the reputation of your excellent magazine.

[RedWillow]

I note the activity is usually waiting for an advertising site or even something in Russia.

Have you read this thread yet? It seems that something sinister may be going on, although we await the final diagnosis. Hint: if you've got adblock plus installed, add '*.ru' as a filter rule. Worked like a charm for me.

[Budgie]

I note the activity is usually waiting for an advertising site or even something in Russia.

Have you read this thread yet? It seems that something sinister may be going on, although we await the final diagnosis. Hint: if you've got adblock plus installed, add '*.ru' as a filter rule. Worked like a charm for me.

Many thanks. Have installed adblock plus and already noticed an improvement. Will add the *.ru filter now.
Thanks for the tip.
Regards,
Budgie

[RedWillow]

Will add the *.ru filter now.

Now? As in 22nd January = now? You're a bit late; Mike fixed the problem 10 days ago and I haven't been getting any hits on my *.ru filter rule since.

But I'm glad you've found Adblock Plus useful. You may or may not have noticed, but when you first started Firefox after installing it, a window will have popped up offering a subscription to a number of filter rule sets. I always choose the first one (USA Easylist - or something like that) which deals with most of the irritating ones. I don't often have to add my own rules.

A word of warning about the *.ru filter rule. If, by chance, you want to visit a reputable Russian web-site, it will bugger up your browsing experience something rotten. To see what I mean, have a look at the St Petersburg Times site with and without the *.ru filter enabled. Link:

http://www.sptimes.ru/

[ollie]

A word of warning about the *.ru filter rule. If, by chance, you want to visit a reputable Russian web-site, it will bugger up your browsing experience something rotten. To see what I mean, have a look at the St Petersburg Times site with and without the *.ru filter enabled. Link:

http://www.sptimes.ru/

Nope, I get the information from the site (in English) but the images and ads have been blocked. If you were visiting these sites on a regular basis and needed the images putting a rule in to allow that site before *.ru would allow better access.

[RedWillow]

Nope, I get the information from the site (in English) but the images and ads have been blocked.

Yep! That's what I meant. Ads have been blocked = good. Images have been blocked = bad. Which is why I said the filter buggers up your browsing experience (in Russian sites).

But I take your second point. Trouble is, you'd have to set up rules for every .ru site you wanted to visit. Not that I visit (m)any!