A question about server load...

[jfulcer]

Please, I hope no one takes offense at this, but a post on the CB popped a question into my mind that won't go away.

I don't know who posted it, but someone pointed out there was 503 members and 703 guests on the board at the current time. Now I don't know what normal loads are on the board and this could be perfectly normal (and probably is).

The question that popped into my mind revolves around the knowledge that there are certain indviduals around this fine nation of ours that have a supreme dislike of this board and it's users. What better way to get back at them than to make the board unusable?

It would be very easy to write a script to do a type of 'denial of service' attack on the boards, and any web service for that matter. One that continually requested pages/etc that could induce a drain on the boards that might appear as a guest/anonymous of some sort.

Again, not knowing what the big picture is, I don't know if this type of thing could even happen or be the root of the problem, but I got that voice in the back of my head going "What If??".

<b><i>What If?</i></b>

 

[Cricket2]

1) IP's are logged

2) Usualy D.O.S. attacks are non-stop. I believe the loads are sporadic (sp) or only at certain times of day.

There also may be a choke in place, but I really don't know.

There is a specific solution in progress, we just have to wait for it to take place. It will fix the problem as far as I can see.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

We run webtrends reports looking for just such things. It's all real people.