Earlier today, I tried to access the forums and I was presented with a "Performing Maintenance" page and only admins could log in. This evening, I tried to access the forums again using the link on the main AARoads webpage and all I got a white page with the words "Sorry Folks". I was eventually able to get back in here by doing a google search and accessing one of the forums directly.
To whoever handles these things, can you please check the link from the AARoads main page? Thanks.
Also, my avatar is gone but that's not a big deal because I can re-upload it.
Your avatar is showing fine here (unless you just reuploaded it; well, it's hit and miss. Sometimes it shows up, sometimes it doesn't). I would personally host it off the site so it will work no matter what unless you delete it on your site.
Anyways, all but one of the smileys aren't working as well. Only this one ( :happy: ) is working.
There are a number the explanations I have for you...
The forum maintenance mode was activated by me while I contacted my host provider to discuss security concerns with the php scripts of this forum. After addressing some of these, I reactivated the forum.
The "sorry folks" image was from May and that file should have been deleted, but I never got around to it. All of my "write" permissions were reset, and I have to manually reset them to delete or change any files. Fortunately I have figure this conundrum out, but that is why the sorry folks image was in place briefly...
The error messages from earlier this evening were caused by me upgrading the forum to the latest version of SMF. This is now complete...
Your avatar changed, like mine did, because I reinstituted an older version of the forum files/scripts I had saved from May 14, 2009 in place of the most recent ones due to concerns with the security of the php scripts.
There may or may not be another change to the forum in the coming days. Please bear with us on these changes...
Well, if you need some help with SMF, I'd be willing to lend what I know about this type of forums. I may not be a developer of SMF, but I do know my way around.
Quote from: AARoads on November 18, 2009, 07:16:19 PM
There are a number the explanations I have for you...
The forum maintenance mode was activated by me while I contacted my host provider to discuss security concerns with the php scripts of this forum. After addressing some of these, I reactivated the forum.
The "sorry folks" image was from May and that file should have been deleted, but I never got around to it. All of my "write" permissions were reset, and I have to manually reset them to delete or change any files. Fortunately I have figure this conundrum out, but that is why the sorry folks image was in place briefly...
The error messages from earlier this evening were caused by me upgrading the forum to the latest version of SMF. This is now complete...
Your avatar changed, like mine did, because I reinstituted an older version of the forum files/scripts I had saved from May 14, 2009 in place of the most recent ones due to concerns with the security of the php scripts.
There may or may not be another change to the forum in the coming days. Please bear with us on these changes...
AARoads,
Thanks for the update. I saw that hackers got a hold of the forums so I completely understand that there's a lot of cleanup to do. I will try to reload my avatar sometime tonight. Thank you for all your hard work and hopefully you can get everything working as soon as possible.
Every time I try to get into the forum, I continue to get the "sorry folks" image. In order to get into the forum without the "sorry folks" image, I have to use the address aaroads.com/forum/index.php. Hopefully, everything will eventually get back to normal. At least I can get into the forum.
Whew! It's good to see the forums back up!
Quote from: Hellfighter on November 18, 2009, 11:48:55 PM
Whew! It's good to see the forums back up!
Agreed.
I know it's probably being worked on, but just in case it's not.
I noticed that the list of users for the day is not back up yet.
There is a ": (: 0, : ) " at the bottom of the page.
Also the chat room is gone.
it is. we are working on it :)
Quote from: mightyace on November 18, 2009, 11:54:32 PM
Quote from: Hellfighter on November 18, 2009, 11:48:55 PM
Whew! It's good to see the forums back up!
Agreed.
I know it's probably being worked on, but just in case it's not.
I noticed that the list of users for the day is not back up yet.
There is a ": (: 0, : ) " at the bottom of the page.
They preatty much just have to reinstall the addon. Then that should show up and work again.
It appears that the issue with the "Quick Reply" going slow as molasses has been resolved as well.
There are several features that were fixed with the theme that we lost temporarily due to upgrading the software. As rickmastfan67 said, these will have to be reinstalled and we'll do that asap.
Wow, we're back! :)
I was beginning to worry that the forum was permanently closed.
Hooray! Thank you
What's happened to the avatars?
During the reload, some of the newer avatars were unfortunately lost. The best solution to this would be to reload your avatar.
Back to normal!
Quote from: Master son on November 24, 2009, 04:25:17 PM
During the reload, some of the newer avatars were unfortunately lost. The best solution to this would be to reload your avatar.
Newer? I've had the same one since January. :P
Great to see the site back. I was getting a bit worried there.
Hmm... seems my avatar is missing, and I haven't changed it months.
Also, if anyone wondered where I went I've been lurking and I only check the Canada board anymore.
Glad to be back!
Quote from: Master son on November 24, 2009, 04:25:17 PM
During the reload, some of the newer avatars were unfortunately lost. The best solution to this would be to reload your avatar.
Solution for the future, upload your avatar off site at a personal site or at a site like Photobucket. I personally have mine hosted @ Photobucket, so mine wasn't effected during the reload because the forum retained the URL link for it.
Wonderful to have you back! :clap:
It's great to be back! Like some others, I was worried the forum would be gone.
On a side note, Quick-Reply doesn't show me the smilies like it did in the Alina theme.
Quote from: Michael on November 25, 2009, 10:59:06 AM
It's great to be back! Like some others, I was worried the forum would be gone.
On a side note, Quick-Reply doesn't show me the smilies like it did in the Alina theme.
we've been having random trouble with the smilies. my regular reply here shows a bunch of them :sombrero:
I've noticed two smilies have been added, this one :hmmm: (doesn't show up) and this one :happy:
What happened to the "Highway" theme?
BigMatt
Quote from: BigMatt on November 27, 2009, 08:12:25 PM
What happened to the "Highway" theme?
BigMatt
I made an executive decision and deleted all themes outside Button Copy and default. We are open to adding new themes later...
...including something similar to the previous "Highway theme"?
The reason the smileys don't exist in the Quick Reply box is because they were part of a plug-in for the forum software - a plug-in I don't wish to see installed since it had many bugs (including the quote problem)
Quote from: Master son on November 28, 2009, 09:35:29 PM
The reason the smileys don't exist in the Quick Reply box is because they were part of a plug-in for the forum software - a plug-in I don't wish to see installed since it had many bugs (including the quote problem)
This is pretty much in one form or another why most of the missing things were removed. We wanted to ensure that potential vectors for attack are minimized. The more themes, extensions, and plugins we have installed, the greater the chances of one of them being not thoroughly reviewed for security and thus allowing the crackers re-entry.
What happened today?
I see there were no posts between approximately 12:30 and 8:30pm EST plus I was not able to access the site during that time.
Quote from: mightyace on December 09, 2009, 08:48:46 PM
What happened today?
I see there were no posts between approximately 12:30 and 8:30pm EST plus I was not able to access the site during that time.
Server was rebooted. Problem solved for now. Remember folks, when AARoads Forum is down, first check to see if AARoads itself is down - before you panic about the forum. Because the site won't be down for very long if it is.
Quote from: AlpsROADS on December 09, 2009, 08:59:31 PM
Server was rebooted. Problem solved for now. Remember folks, when AARoads Forum is down, first check to see if AARoads itself is down - before you panic about the forum. Because the site won't be down for very long if it is.
Thanks,
I did check that and that's how I knew it was more than the forum. (I tried periodically from 3:30pm EST until 8:30pm EST until I could access it again.)
If one of us notices AAroads.com or the forum is down, should we email someone? If so, who at what address?
Quote from: mightyace on December 09, 2009, 09:54:45 PM
Quote from: AlpsROADS on December 09, 2009, 08:59:31 PM
Server was rebooted. Problem solved for now. Remember folks, when AARoads Forum is down, first check to see if AARoads itself is down - before you panic about the forum. Because the site won't be down for very long if it is.
Thanks,
I did check that and that's how I knew it was more than the forum. (I tried periodically from 3:30pm EST until 8:30pm EST until I could access it again.)
If one of us notices AAroads.com or the forum is down, should we email someone? If so, who at what address?
I noticed it from this afternoon onwards. I had problems logging into the control panel for the server as well, but as it turns out, they were doing maintenance on their control panels, so the timing led me to think it was an overall problem with the hosting company servers. Later on our cpanel started working properly again, and that is when I called and had the server rebooted.
it may likely have been a DDOS attack.
Quote from: Master son on December 09, 2009, 11:13:37 PM
it may likely have been a DDOS attack.
If it was, they were certainly barking up the wrong tree! :pan: