Having to use a VPN to access the site

[Connor]

Since the recent crash, I'm having to use a VPN to access the site, when there are others in the UK who seem to be able to get back online. Is this just a server issue that should rectify itself in time? I've deleted my cookies, catch etc. 

[ChrisSilver]

Hello Connor,

I thought I had replied to your email. Apologies if I didn’t.

There hasn’t been a crash as such, the server the website is hosted on is extremely stable. The issue was with a DNS setting which I will describe below.

This was caused by the old previously cancelled hosting that was automatically deleted today. I had not realised that the DNS records were contained within this hosting with the previous web host. So the domain name stopped pointing to the new sever. And this meant that users were unable to access the forum by the web address. This has been fixed (though please see below as it looks like it hasn’t been populated on all servers)

It appears that the forum may still not be working in some locations. This is due to the forum being populated in many different servers worldwide to give a better loading speed for worldwide members. Note that members in the same country and even in the same city may  technically be loading the website form completely different places, this is because of how traffic is routed differently. 

It is possible that the server which the forum is being delivered to your device from still has not been populated. 

Unfortunately you will need to wait. This should fix itself automatically within 24 hours of when the DNS was fixed. So hopefully sometime tomorrow. If you are still noticing an issue with getting onto the forum tomorrow night, please send me a private message and I can look into it. But current just need to wait for it to populate and then it should fix any connection issues you may have.

Apologies for the inconvenience. But good news that you have managed to get on with a VPN   

[sixgun]

i was just about to post about this - i haven't been able to access the site other than through a VPN - i tried it on the off chance it would work. If you didn't have access to a VPN or didn't know about this you would still be 'locked out'.

[Fifer]

2 hours ago, Connor said:

Since the recent crash, I'm having to use a VPN to access the site, when there are others in the UK who seem to be able to get back online. Is this just a server issue that should rectify itself in time? I've deleted my cookies, catch etc. 

I went through all of this today as well I too had to use a vpn but was very slow as it bounces your IP around seems fine now though 

[HighlandTiger]

I had this problem yesterday afternoon, but @ChrisSilverquickly answered my email, and informed me of the issues the site was having. I just left it a few hours and everything was back up and running by the evening. 

 

[Frenchie]

Hello,

The issue is still there for me (I am using a VPN now) 

[MancunianStacker]

Worked on 4G connection but not via my broadband. Thought something was up 🤷‍♂️ 

[Mox]

I always use a vpn and couldnt get on till this morning.

[Connor]

Hi everyone , Chris got back to me pretty quick and I did everything he said but it wouldn't work. Managed to get it sorted by restarting my phone in safe mode (not sure why but it worked). Seems all good now though.

 

If you're stuck, delete browser cookies, catche etc and then restart your device then try logging in again 

[Connor]

14 hours ago, ChrisSilver said:

Hello Connor,

I thought I had replied to your email. Apologies if I didn’t.

There hasn’t been a crash as such, the server the website is hosted on is extremely stable. The issue was with a DNS setting which I will describe below.

This was caused by the old previously cancelled hosting that was automatically deleted today. I had not realised that the DNS records were contained within this hosting with the previous web host. So the domain name stopped pointing to the new sever. And this meant that users were unable to access the forum by the web address. This has been fixed (though please see below as it looks like it hasn’t been populated on all servers)

It appears that the forum may still not be working in some locations. This is due to the forum being populated in many different servers worldwide to give a better loading speed for worldwide members. Note that members in the same country and even in the same city may  technically be loading the website form completely different places, this is because of how traffic is routed differently. 

It is possible that the server which the forum is being delivered to your device from still has not been populated. 

Unfortunately you will need to wait. This should fix itself automatically within 24 hours of when the DNS was fixed. So hopefully sometime tomorrow. If you are still noticing an issue with getting onto the forum tomorrow night, please send me a private message and I can look into it. But current just need to wait for it to populate and then it should fix any connection issues you may have.

Apologies for the inconvenience. But good news that you have managed to get on with a VPN   

Hi Chris, you did reply, thank you. I think the issue was with my device because it did let me back on once I did what you said but I had to restart after doing it. I thought by chance the old 'have you tried turning it off and and on again might work. 

 

[ChrisSilver]

On 24/11/2020 at 00:33, ChrisSilver said:

It appears that the forum may still not be working in some locations. This is due to the forum being populated in many different servers worldwide to give a better loading speed for worldwide members. Note that members in the same country and even in the same city may  technically be loading the website form completely different places, this is because of how traffic is routed differently. 

 

This was the reason why some members were still experiencing connection issues after the DNS was updated. As it can take around 24 hours since the DNS update for it to be populated everywhere. 

All of the routing should now be populated with the forum so there should not be any connection issues anymore. Should anyone still have any issues please private message me, but is should all be working since sometime last week  

[Silverman2U]

Interestingly I access mine via messages in my inbox, but have to log on instantly, fortunately password and user details saved on phone.

The site never works when I have my VPN on, at least pictures never load, so have to turn off and then fine. 

[ChrisSilver]

7 minutes ago, Silverman2U said:

Interestingly I access mine via messages in my inbox, but have to log on instantly, fortunately password and user details saved on phone.

If you change your IP address you likely will need to login again.

This issue wasn't about the forum working or not working on a VPN. And was just down to the routing taking time to automatically update/populate.