IM Chat System Temp Turned off

[EpicNPC]

As I posted yesterday, the forum has been experiencing an unusual issue over the last few weeks with high memory usage spikes on the server that cause the site to stop loading for about 2-5 mins, then returning back to normal. We don't know yet the cause of it, but it appears it could be due to the forums Instant Messaging Chat system.

To test out this theory, I've turned it off for the next 24 hrs and we'll see if we get any more memory spikes during this time. If we do, then I'll turn off the chat box also.

I also turned off custom chat rooms, since I don't think anyone was using that anyway.

If we get no spikes during this time, then that will confirm it is the chat system causing the issue and the IM system will remain off until it's fixed. If we do get more memory spikes, the forums will be upgraded over the weekend to the newest version including all addons and hopefully that will resolve the issue.

I'll keep this thread update.

 

[EpicNPC]

I had to turn off the Chat box also since it seems there are major style issues if the main Chat system is turned off.

 

[OGEdge.com]

Quick, everyone send your ads to roflchops' skype!

 

[Naota]

Banned - scammer - 3 scam threads - http://www.epicnpc.com/active-disputes/550290-naota-kame-took-money-namechange-vanished.html

I wonder what the mods did today? Did they actually go outside!?!?!?

You should just leave it disabled, faster load times and less drama.

 

[Geek]

I wonder what the mods did today? Did they actually go outside!?!?!?

You should just leave it disabled, faster load times and less drama.

I bought a 150 gallon tank and re arranged my entire house

 

[Austin Powers]

i quite enjoy not having the chatbox or im system

 

[EpicNPC]

There were no memory spikes since the chat has been turned off confirming that it was the cause. The chat will be upgraded over the weekend and will be back by Monday for another test run. If memory spikes continue after that, it will remain off until we can get the issue fixed.

 

[OGEdge.com]

Sending roflchops more ads on skype now.

 

[Austin Powers]

there was a bit of a lag spike at 9:50pm AEST ( 3 minutes before this post )

 

[EpicNPC]

how long did it last? I don't have any notifications in my inbox so I'm guessing it was very short

 

[Austin Powers]

yeah it only lasted a couple of minutes

 

[mklaben15]

Hey epic, any idea when the chat room will be up? It's my favorite feature

 

[EpicNPC]

definitely not today. Maybe by the weekend.

 

[Tazman69]

removed. Only saw the first few post but now see the rest. Hope it returns soon

 

[infy]

missing the chat box.
Advertsing in real time helped me make a lot of deals when i was on and ready to do so

 

[nebula13]

any idea when it will be bak?

 

[EpicNPC]

we're still under a DoS attack, going on almost 2 weeks now, so not in the foreseeable future.

 

[OGEdge.com]

/sadface

 

[blackjack2128]

any update?

 

[EpicNPC]

sorry, still no ETA on when it will be back. We were in the middle of modifying it when the attack began, so we still need to finish the changes before turning it back on.

 

[OGEdge.com]

Just curious, how does the current DDOS attack tie in with the decision to turn back on live chat? I suppose it just increases server load which can slow / crash the site?

 

[Geek]

Just curious, how does the current DDOS attack tie in with the decision to turn back on live chat? I suppose it just increases server load which can slow / crash the site?

Server without chat bogging it down = able to withstand ddos attacks np

Server with chat available = slowed down to the point where ddos attacks can be more effective

Server resources play a huge part in mitigating attacks.

 

[Sakura]

I believe, as Mike said, it forced them to stop working on the changes they were putting in to make the IM system work and focus on preventing the DDOS attacks.

 

[OGEdge.com]

Gotcha

 

[EpicNPC]

I just didn't want coding changes going on during the attack because it would cause additional confusion if something went wrong. Coding errors can cause server crashes, page freezes and other issues and since there was also an attack going on at the same time, if something did go wrong it might have gotten confused or blamed on the attack and not the actually bug in the coding.

My programmer is currently in the middle of another project, so once that his complete he will complete the changes on the chat here. If I had to guess I'd probably say sometime next month.

 

[UnholySonata]

I vote for keeping it off. All it was used for is idiots spamming and people trolling.