If it seems slow around here...

[EUROPA]

If it seems slow around here...it's becuase many people are having trouble accessing the boards.


http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=...ie=UTF-8&group=rec.arts.disney.parks&start=25

 

[suzanneb]

Mon-Wed...just go in TODAY!

 

[wdw4us2]

A frustrating week.

Was on the board Monday morning, but couldn't get back on until today.

I think I'm addicted to The DIS!

 

[grinningghost]

I was locked out since Sunday. I was in shock when the DIS actually came up today.

 

[OnWithTheShow]

Same here, and I tried everything to make it work.

 

[emmagata]

The problem was with a DNS entry somewhere on the net.


What's weird is that it didn't seem to be a total blackout. I was still getting some email notifications.


You can remedy this problem.

Search your computer for a file called HOSTS.

Open it with notepad.

Enter the following.

198.64.133.85 www.disboards.com
209.123.16.20 www.wdwinfo.com

(it may not show it, but there is a space or a tab between the IP numbers and the WEB address)

Then save the file.

Make sure you don't add an extension (like .txt )

What will happen is your computer will look in the HOSTS file for the IP address of www.disboards.com and www.wdwinfo.com instead of asking a DNS server for it.

 

[HB2K]

Better hope the DNS entries do not change....

 

[emmagata]

That's true.

But hopefully they won't.

If they do, hopefully people who follow my advice will remember that they did it.

 

[OnWithTheShow]

Seems as if the problem has been fixed. I made no changes and the DIS works again.

 

[emmagata]

It is.

I was going through DIS withdrawal until I realized it was a DNS problem.

I believe this happened a year or two ago.

 

[CWIPPERMAN]

Several days ago - in the midst of the outage, I was able to get on and post a brief explanation of what was going on. I am somewhat of a computer person - but tried to make it easy to understand. Here it is:

There are some technical issues. Just so you know, there are some of us that cannot access ANY of the site through normal means. I am a computer person who runs a couple of websites, so I know a couple of tricks & that's how I ended up here. When I try to access any of the forum from the main page, or by going directly to the forum, I get the "cannot find server".

I was able to find a post from Alex (the webmaster), but it looks like it was only posted in the community forum, so many of you may not know what is going on yet.

Here's the abbridged version (I am writing in VERY simple language.... so excuse me if I'm talking down to any of you tekkies out there... I'm trying to let everyone understand). The company that handles the web address for the websited decided to change the server (basically the hard drive) where the information is stored. When you do something like this, it changes the web address where people must go to look for this information. There are several main routing computers around the world that direct you to the website using the web address (it is a series of numbers - as opposed to the name of the website). Getting all of these different computers to know where the website is now located takes several days.

I'm much better at analagies... so here goes. Let's say that post offices aren't connected by computers - and every address change is done by sending a letter to each post office to tell them your new address (work with me.... I'm trying to write in laymans terms here). So, you move, and notify your local post office of your new address. Well, anyone that sends stuff directly through your post office will still get mail to you - without any problems. But imagine that if it comes through a different post office (and one that hasn't been notified of your address change yet), it will be returned as "no longer at address". This is basically what is happening. Slowly... the various "post offices" are being notified of the new web address. That is why some of you can now access different parts of the forum - while others cannot access any of it.

It usually takes about 48 hours to notify all of the various routing machines out there, so over the next day and a half, some of you may be able to access more & more of the site.

Hope this explanation helps.

It was originally posted in this thread: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=390793 , and has already been somewhat buried - so many of you may not have seen it.

I would guess however, that most of you should have full access by now.

 

[emmagata]

Well, this is how I explained it to my wife. She says she understood but who really knows!

Anyway, I told her that every computer on the Internet has a unique number called an IP address. But IP addresses are hard for people to remember so they gave them names instead.

When you type in "www.disboards.com" there are computers out there that keep a cross-reference list of IP numbers and matching names. When the name is looked up and the matching IP number is found, your computer can talk to "www.disboards.com".

However, when a computer gets a new IP number but keeps the old name, the list needs to be updated. Since there are quite a few "list keepers" out there, each one must be updated. This can take a while. Once all of the "list keepers" are updated, you can then talk to "www.disboards.com".

But there is a way around that.

You can setup your own cross reference list on your computer. If you have a list on your computer, your computer will look there first before contacting "list keepers" out on the Internet.

The only problem with keeping a list on your computer is that if the IP address changes, you need to update your list or you may end up going to a different web site (or none at all).

It should only be used in case of emergencies like when you are have withdrawal symptoms by not being able to contact your favorite web site!!!!