Author Topic: We are having some problems with the site!  (Read 21793 times)

WGHalvorsen

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #30 on: October 23, 2016, 20:39:37 »
I am in Sweden and I cannot access the site directly from here, with a local IP address, even after changing the DNS settings. However, if I get a Canadian IP address through my VPN, I can access the site with no problem. Strange.

/Bill

Akira

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #31 on: October 23, 2016, 20:47:30 »
Afraid notification will not work until we have solved the pesky DNS issues of NG at the hosting site. Currently NG is blissfully unaware of the world around itself and has lost any memory of its mail server.

The OpenDNS servers we recommended will occasionally update their caches and at that point they can lose track of NG if the local DNS isn't co-operative due to DDOS etc. I think this is the reason members now start to have connectivity issues again.

As soon a we get the local DNS records updated, things ought to run more smoothly and ordinary DNS servers might be pressed into service too.

Appreciate your efforts anyway!
"The eye is blind if the mind is absent." - Confucius

"Limitation is inspiration." - Akira

Erik Lund

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #32 on: October 23, 2016, 22:10:00 »
OK, I'm in again ;) Thanks Bjørn!
Erik Lund

Erik Lund

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #33 on: October 23, 2016, 22:35:31 »
 This is on your own risk and for Windows users only:
 
You will need to edit this file with Notepad:
 
c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
 
First change the rights to edit the file by right clicking on it and set the security to allow all access
 
Add these two lines at the bottom of the file and save it
 
162.210.51.116 nikongear.net
162.210.51.116 www.nikongear.net
 
From the Command prompt type this and hit Enter:


ipconfig/flushdns
Erik Lund

Jan Anne

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #34 on: October 23, 2016, 22:55:53 »
Same trick to fix the DNS for NG can be used on a Mac:
http://www.mactip.net/how-to-edit-the-hosts-file-on-a-mac/

And add this entry: 162.210.51.116 nikongear.net

Please be aware that this fix might cause problems if we change IP addresses in the future.
Cheers,
Jan Anne

Erik Lund

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #35 on: October 23, 2016, 22:59:12 »
Thanks JA!

Let me know if you want me to send it out via an email,,,
Erik Lund

Bjørn Rørslett

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #36 on: October 23, 2016, 23:19:18 »
The "hack" with the HOSTS file can be used on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Their HOSTS files all use the same format.

To check what IP address NG uses if a similar incident should befall us in the future, and NG becomes unreachable:

From a command line, issue

ping fiercebearofthenorth.com

and write down the IP address in the answer. It will always be identical to what NG itself uses.


Erik Lund

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #37 on: October 23, 2016, 23:26:03 »
Let me know if you want me to send it out via an email,,,
Erik Lund

Bjørn Rørslett

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #38 on: October 23, 2016, 23:37:29 »
Apparently the "hack" works, so why not. Just stress people do this on their own risk.

The support of Site5 is slow to respond after the recent company take-over, so we need to do something to circumvent the issue while waiting for them to act.

stenrasmussen

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #39 on: October 24, 2016, 00:15:32 »
After numerous attempts I'm in.
Still no access to NG via my iPhone though  :'(

Erik Lund

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #40 on: October 24, 2016, 00:22:48 »
Consider it an admission test ;) You passed
Erik Lund

Andrea B.

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #41 on: October 24, 2016, 00:24:22 »
Hardcoding your /etc/hosts file is risky for a variety of reasons.
And that fix does not always work depending on location. It did not work for me today for hours.
Then I got onto NG for a short time. Then blocked again. Now back on.
I think that there is a big problem at Site5. This is not all because of the DoS attack, although it did affect a large area of Texas.


John Geerts

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #42 on: October 24, 2016, 00:24:50 »
The hosts  file adaption seems to work  ;)

Bjørn Rørslett

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #43 on: October 24, 2016, 00:25:09 »
Good to see you, Sten.

You need to hack iOS on your phone, then.

On a more serious note: it is really food for thought that we now can circumvent the collateral damage of contemporary malicious attacks by employing an approach to networking that dates 30+ years back in time.

Erik Lund

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Re: We are having some problems with the site!
« Reply #44 on: October 24, 2016, 00:27:24 »
That is so true! And yes when everything is up and running again we will prepare a clean up recipe ;)
Erik Lund