Slow Site Issues

[FichtenFoo]

Sigh... had to contact them again. This blows.

[Red Comet]

I haven't been able to get on for nearly a day now. Constant timing out and SQL errors were what I kept getting over here in the land of Oz.

[FichtenFoo]

Well, here's what they had to say:

     

Hello,

Thank you for contacting Support.

We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you. Currently, we have an issue with our server. Hence, you are experiencing the issue with your Web site. Our highest levels of management are engaged and working with to get the issue resolved. The issue with the server will be resolved as soon as possible.

If you have any further questions, please update the Support Console.

Sincerely,

Shiny James
Customer Support

Shiny. Hopefully it IS resolved soon. Pissing me off.

[FichtenFoo]

So they say the server issue is resolved and there should be no more issues. How's things working for you guys? Still slow or normal?

[chaos_theory]

Its seems much better on my end. Not top speed but still a vast improvement. I thought I was on dial-up for a while.

[clee-cm]

Things are back to normal, the server issue has not been to bad for me.

[nico]

Here on my mother PC it's fine. I should test with my own connexion when I am back home.
Past weeks when I tryed to connect to the forum my explorer didn't respond. I can reach the site from my office anymore.

[spiffitz]

FF, are you on a virtual or shared hosting plan? This slowdown is typical of a shared plan, where many different sites use the same server machine. If a site on your shared server hogs the bandwidth then everyone's traffic is affected. That explains how the site seems to be fine one hour and crawls the next. Popular forums with lots of users, messages, and pictures going through it will eventually suffer on a shared plan.

BTW it's still like molasses on my end.

[Red Comet]

Slow again as I write this. Took nearly 5 times as long to load this page than it should and I'm on a reasonably fast connection too.

[clee-cm]

I can't believe that I did not think of this sooner. 

I have to agree with spiffitz, you should check your hosting plan terms, if you are on a shared plan, then some one is hogging all of the bandwidth on the server. I encountered a few slow downs on this website today as well.

It took me a few minutes to load the Show unread post page, I am on a T-1 with T-3 connect.

[FichtenFoo]

Yeah, I have broadband as well... I'm going to have to call customer service, but unfortunately my hosts dedicated plans are $129/month. Far more than I can afford, not that I don't love you guys.

I'll have to check out other hosts and consider a move. Anyone have any recommendations?

[fulcy]

dreamhost!

[FichtenFoo]

Ugh...

Hello,

Thank you for getting back to us.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. I have accessed your Web sites without any issue. Please try to access the Web site from your end by clearing the browser cache and cookies. Also, please try to use different browser and different ISP connection with the different computer this may be the temporary issue. If the issue still persists, please get back to us with the following information:
•The exact URL where you are trying to access your Web site.
•The screenshot of the error message that you are receiving while accessing the Web site.
•Is there any specific time period during which you are unable to access your Web site?
•The browser type and the full version number (Example: IE: 6.0.2800.0116).
•The geographical location from where the site is inaccessible and the ISP you are using.
•The operating system you are using and its version (The service pack version if you have any).
•The internet connection you are having.
•Do a tracert for your domain name and get back to us with the results.

To find the tracert result, please follow the steps given below:
a) Go to the 'Start' Menu-> 'Run'
b) Type 'cmd' or ‘command’. This will open up a DOS window.
c) In the window, type the command: tracert domain.com.

Please update the Support Console with the requested information so that we can assist you further.

Sincerely,

Ramon Garner
Customer Support

Well, the problem is NOT just me. Users from all over the world are having issues accessing the site lately ALL THE TIME. You must have the magic connection or something since you never seem to see the slowdown. Unless what the rest of the work considers slow is what you consider fast? Anyway, to help get to the bottom of this HOPEFULLY once and for all here's the answers to your bullets:

1: http://fichtenfoo.com/forum
2: No errors, just a 1-5 minute wait to access any dynamic content/database page such as and especially the forum and blog.
3: All the time. There's little 5-10 minute periods of normal speed once an hour or 2 and a few days ago after some so called server fixes it was fast for a day but now it's slow again.
4: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.15) Gecko/20080623 Firefox/2.0.0.15
AND
Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.11
5: Pittsburgh PA, but other users from around the world are also experiencing serious lag
6: Windows XP SP2 and I do auto updates so I'm always updated.
7: Comcast Cable Internet/Broadband
8: Tracert screengrab: {removed}

Now normal static pages load at a normal speed. The problem seems to be with the databases. Also I cannot afford a dedicated server and realize there's multiple sites on any server, however users in my forum where we've been discussing the slowness issue think that's the problem. And I quote:

"FF, are you on a virtual or shared hosting plan? This slowdown is typical of a shared plan, where many different sites use the same server machine. If a site on your shared server hogs the bandwidth then everyone's traffic is affected. That explains how the site seems to be fine one hour and crawls the next. Popular forums with lots of users, messages, and pictures going through it will eventually suffer on a shared plan.

BTW it's still like molasses on my end."

The thread where we've been discussing this can be found here. Enjoy the  slow load however... or not. http://fichtenfoo.com/forum/index.php?topic=4006

You moved me to this current server last year after my prior one was experiencing heavy load. (as I suspect is happening again on this one) And that transition was brutal! You moved my files but neglected to switch the DNS. It took me 3 TS calls to get someone to listen to me and fix what I knew to be the problem there. Then you didn't fix the DNS for my other domain names which took a few more calls.

I'm getting fed-up with your service though. I've been having nothing but poor/slow service for the past year and am considering finding a new host. As a freelance web designer with over 12 years experience I need a host that I can rely on not only for my site, but for current and potential client sites as well.

Once again I ask: PLEASE IMPROVE YOUR SERVICE AND FIX THIS ISSUE ONCE AND FOR ALL!

[FichtenFoo]

BTW, I checked out dreamhost... looks nice. If this continues as it is I might make a switch when my current "contract" runs out. I'd hate to switch as it's a hassle, but having spotty service is just as bad.

[spiffitz]

I'll have to check out other hosts and consider a move. Anyone have any recommendations?

I've used Westhost since 2003 without a problem. Their site manager is great and you can configure your site's installed programs through a browser. Tech support is fast and great when I needed it, which I really didn't need much except for billing questions because I'm always confused when it comes to plans and numbers. No experience with any other hosting services because I had a free host through a friend's machine before Westhost. Westhost was actually more reliable and faster with tech support than my friend was.   I just happened to cancel my service today as I didn't need the domain anymore, but I'd choose them again once I decide on a new URL get another site rolling. Yeah I know I sound like a commercial, but I don't know how my first host ever could've been any easier to deal with.

BTW a virtual private server (VPS) is a step below dedicated, the price jump isn't much. The problem is some hosts provide only shared or dedicated, no VPS. Of course they won't bother telling you about VPS from other companies and instead try to up-sell you to a dedicated server. Your host may have a VPS upgrade option, check all their plans.

[FichtenFoo]

Site is slow again... has been all weekend. Tech support is on it. Should be fine soon I hope!

[fredpekker]

Site was pretty slow this morning and while navigating the in-progress threads, I got this:
 

Internal Server Error

The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.

Please contact the server administrator, webmaster@fichtenfoo.net and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error.

More information about this error may be available in the server error log.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

This was about 7:10 AM, and I'm not sure what I did that could have caused it.

[EDIT] Got this error twice trying to navigate back to forum's main page after posting this, aprox. 7:22 AM
The board hates me.  [EDIT]