Eratosphere Forums - Metrical Poetry, Free Verse, Fiction, Art, Critique, Discussions Able Muse - a review of poetry, prose and art

Forum Left Top

Notices

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Unread 11-30-2017, 01:50 AM
Alex Pepple Alex Pepple is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 4,916
Blog Entries: 140
Default Terrible Hack = Long Downtime

Dear Eratosphereans,

I'd stopped posting news of hacks and recovery for some time now due to an apparent lack of interest in those posts of woe, and the rather esoteric technical explanation of what's going on. But given how badly we were hit this time, and how long a downtime resulted from it, I figure a word or two on it won't hurt.

At some point in my recovery attempt it looked liked like all was lost and I'd have to load the forum software afresh and thereby destroy all the recent member data and posts, and all the years of archived data. I persevered with it, though, for several days and it looks like, in the final analysis, we didn't take too bad a hit in terms of data loss. Still, it's possible that a couple of days or so of member posts might be missing (but it could have been much much worse here too, as is now the case with the Able Muse Press website that's lost a couple of years of data!).

The downtime got extended this time because in the process and steps I took recovering from the hack uncovered some software bugs in the vendor-provided server software, and the ISP/web-host wasn't much help in fixing it, so I had to figure things out myself, but then the server software kept crashing each time I thought I'd recovered and stabilized the system, and each time it crashed, it kept corrupting the data from the member posts, so much so that that data appeared unrecoverable for a long stretch of time--essentially, a perfect storm of hackers, poor support, bad software and software bugs! ... And this went on for days, resulting in the several days of total server failure and downtime. That's about the gist of it--luckily and with lots of debugging and patching work, we're back!

Cheers,
...Alex
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Unread 11-30-2017, 03:10 AM
Seree Zohar's Avatar
Seree Zohar Seree Zohar is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: oy of the storm
Posts: 5,002
Default

You never cease to amaze. Major kudos for your time, caring, and efforts. Warmly appreciated, Alex!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Unread 11-30-2017, 04:15 AM
John Isbell John Isbell is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: TX
Posts: 6,630
Default

Ouf. Thank you, Alex, thank you, for your inspired work in putting the Eratosphere back online. You brought it back!
Who would hack a poetry website? What is the payoff in that? One can only wonder.

Cheers,
John
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Unread 11-30-2017, 04:58 AM
Jayne Osborn's Avatar
Jayne Osborn Jayne Osborn is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Middle England
Posts: 6,950
Default

I've been frantic -- because I was utterly helpless to do anything!

When my thread Strange Goings-on at Eratosphere completely vanished after a couple of hours I was in further despair, afraid that all was lost. I couldn't PM anyone or do anything, in fact...

You're an absolute marvel, Alex, a STAR, and I could cry with relief now that we're back on track!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Boss

Jayne

Edited in: As I've said on another thread, please lend your (financial) support to Alex in any way you can, here, to assist him in the fight against the would-be destroyers of our precious community.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Unread 11-30-2017, 06:37 AM
Catherine Chandler's Avatar
Catherine Chandler Catherine Chandler is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Canada and Uruguay
Posts: 5,857
Blog Entries: 33
Default

Thank you, Alex, for your perseverance. I was worried that this time, that was it! It's a shame you lost the Able Muse Press website data. It's beyond me who would be interested in this continued hacking of Eratosphere.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Unread 11-30-2017, 07:30 AM
Maryann Corbett's Avatar
Maryann Corbett Maryann Corbett is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Saint Paul, MN
Posts: 9,655
Default

Thanks from me, too, Alex, for your perseverance in all things.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Unread 11-30-2017, 08:27 AM
Nausheen Eusuf Nausheen Eusuf is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 651
Default

Many thanks, Alex -- you are awesome!

Nausheen
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Unread 11-30-2017, 08:55 AM
Allen Tice's Avatar
Allen Tice Allen Tice is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Brooklyn, NY USA
Posts: 6,119
Default

"I'd stopped posting news of hacks and recovery for some time now due to an apparent lack of interest in those posts of woe, and the rather esoteric technical explanation of what's going on."

Alex, I'm kinda interested in this sort of esoterica actually, and also how you analyze and manage digital frustration, but understand that others might not be so much.

Why this site? Obvious thoughts would relate to its international reach, its size as such, the desire to penetrate the software vendor's product, and simply because it is there. A dog gnawing a bone doesn't care what kind of bone it is, it just gnaws. Simple smash and destroy vandalistic joy doubtless plays a part. This is a thrill kill, spray paint anything, schizo world.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Unread 11-30-2017, 09:24 AM
Michael F's Avatar
Michael F Michael F is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: a foothill of the Catskills
Posts: 968
Default

Yes, thank you, Alex.

It is bizarre, but some twisted souls just like to pee in other people's porridge.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Unread 11-30-2017, 11:40 AM
Ann Drysdale's Avatar
Ann Drysdale Ann Drysdale is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Old South Wales (UK)
Posts: 6,664
Default

Thank you, Alex. Bless you for your hard work and perseverance.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



Forum Right Top
Forum Left Bottom Forum Right Bottom
 
Right Left
Member Login
Forgot password?
Forum LeftForum Right


Forum Statistics:
Forum Members: 8,399
Total Threads: 21,839
Total Posts: 270,784
There are 2980 users
currently browsing forums.
Forum LeftForum Right


Forum Sponsor:
Donate & Support Able Muse / Eratosphere
Forum LeftForum Right
Right Right
Right Bottom Left Right Bottom Right

Hosted by ApplauZ Online