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Author Topic: Moving servers ...  (Read 13735 times)
grahame
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« on: September 12, 2020, 01:29:16 »

Closing post, old server ... back in an hour or two


Edit on new server ... and we're back.  Members should find virtually no difference but are advised to take local copies of new material they post in case we have teething problems / issues under severe load over the next day or two.

The main (Simple Machines) software is still to be updated and that will be much more visible to members, but we are now running on a modern cloud server that will support it.

Further edit ... I will log know outstanding bugs here ... a number of issues that came up overnight already fixed and there may be others

1. If you like a post then unlike it, the "unlike" gives you a blank window back (the "unlike" works - just a display error)
Intricate to debug / not a big problem - will be left until system is much more settled due to danger of replacing one bug by a bigger one!

2. Certain quote characters in posts made before the forum moved are being displayed damaged, and cannot be used in new posts either. - edit FIXED Jan 2021
Error message when you try and post them is a bit frightening; advice therein impractical for us.

3.  [17.9] The notification for PMs still has the large white space where the text should be.   Seems to be only with replies to PMs.  An original one *does* have the text in the email.
On my bus list for next upgrade
« Last Edit: February 01, 2021, 15:43:43 by grahame » Logged

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grahame
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« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2020, 01:52:57 »

Closing post, old server ... back in an hour or two

And back up on the new server if you have found this message!

TESTING ... if you are posting anything of substance, please keep a local copy of what you say!
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JayMac
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« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2020, 02:40:57 »

One thing I've noticed is that I had to log in again - despite having selected 'forever' in the past. Also my forum 'style' of choice - chocolate and cream - isn't sticking. It's defaulting to the light blue scheme, even after I select style '3'.

No problems viewing content though.
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grahame
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« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2020, 02:58:28 »

One thing I've noticed is that I had to log in again - despite having selected 'forever' in the past. Also my forum 'style' of choice - chocolate and cream - isn't sticking. It's defaulting to the light blue scheme, even after I select style '3'.

No problems viewing content though.

The software was ready to go on the new server, and I'd had to change a couple of settings for it to not interfere with the old server over the last few days.  One of those server had not been switched back, and I think that was the source of your issues.  Please retest, though - I've done a very great deal of trying things out, but may have missed some things.

I am also in the process of doing some database adjustments / tuning and early indications are that it might lead to a few "server busy" messages - may I re-iterate "please keep copies of what you write" .... copy and past to a temporary window while you post is a good idea.  Hope I can remove that "advisory" later today.
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GBM
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« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2020, 06:54:00 »

I've noticed several recent posts where the ' has been corrupted to form a totally different character
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grahame
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« Reply #5 on: September 12, 2020, 07:45:24 »

I've noticed several recent posts where the ' has been corrupted to form a totally different character

Ah yes - I note an example here, for example.  Could be an interesting one remembering how we had to fight with character sets in the past.  Not a general thing on all data - otherwise image such as my avatar, the new server "click for details" flags at the top right and all the other images I have posted - all of which are held in MySQL - would be corrupted.

Agreed.  Shameful.

Regarding your earlier point about experienced staff not making mistakes, similar incidents on the railway (involving the non-technical skills I mentioned earlier) indicate ‘experience’ makes little difference - indeed it can lead to complacency.  That’s why Red Squirrels post was spot on.
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PhilWakely
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« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2020, 07:49:13 »

Is there a corruption of the pound character in one of BNM's latest posts (see attached) or is this long standing?
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grahame
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« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2020, 08:32:17 »

There looks to be an issue with certain characters ... the old posts appear to be correct in the database (so I am not panicked) but I can't make a new post using them ... so irritating today and probably a tricky one to sort.     The error message if anyone tries to post these characters talks about versions and upgrades but the solution is far from as simple as following their instructions due to the law of mammoth unintended consequences.

Update ... utf8 v utf8mb4 ... I need to experiment in a way that will break things and need me to restore tables from backup - will require a forum outage so I will look to that overnight (and may not be tonight as I have day stuff to do and need sleep)
« Last Edit: September 12, 2020, 09:05:30 by grahame » Logged

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grahame
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« Reply #8 on: September 12, 2020, 12:56:37 »

The server's PHP software was not configured to send out emails ... I have just noticed and fixed that but members will have missed any notifications sent in the past 10 hours.
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« Reply #9 on: September 13, 2020, 05:17:33 »

Update ... utf8 v utf8mb4 ... I need to experiment in a way that will break things and need me to restore tables from backup - will require a forum outage so I will look to that overnight (and may not be tonight as I have day stuff to do and need sleep)

"The first 90% of the work takes the first 90% of the time ... the final 10% of the work takes the second 90% of the time" ... and so it seems in sorting out character sets. 

* At present, new posts and personal messages with smart quotes and pound signs are being saved with "?" characters in their place.  Old posts render with damaged characters.  However, the underlying old data appears to be AOK.

* In looking to fix the issue, the server barfed at looking to run with the old data loaded onto it with settings changed and it looks like I need to reload not only the forum data, but other databases including the server management ones.  This effects other sites on the server and I'm not rushing into it tonight; present situation something to live with for a few days.

* Good news is that work on other sites on the new server yesterday loaded the databases and processor very heavily and it stood the loading without falling over.

* We store images in a database ... following image and attachment are "test" pieces to make sure I have not broken images in trying to accept special characters and in adding a work-around.

« Last Edit: September 13, 2020, 05:54:11 by grahame » Logged

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« Reply #10 on: September 13, 2020, 08:24:23 »

Image not showing only faint outline rectangle. However when you reply the image appears in the topic summary. The Attachment is fine
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« Reply #11 on: September 13, 2020, 08:59:55 »

Both appear normal now
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« Reply #12 on: September 13, 2020, 09:01:30 »

Fine now
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Red Squirrel
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« Reply #13 on: September 13, 2020, 12:06:31 »

Taunton?
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« Reply #14 on: September 13, 2020, 12:08:02 »

Taunton?

 Grin Grin Grin
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