The new search system- problems, observations, issues

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Okay, this is so annoying. The DISboards have never been the same since the switch to BoardTracker. I have tried to be tactful, but the New Posts function still stinks.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I still cannot receive any email notifications and posting sometimes takes several minutes.....not to mention no PM capability.

Please at least let me know if I have been heard

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

I heard ya!

Of course, you probably weren't meaning me.

 

[bicker]

It should be noted that the switch to BoardTracker actually improved the situation -- that indeed the switch to BoardTracker was undertaken because performance was much worse before.

 

[kapeman]

I can't do a search now.

I get the following error:

The The DIS Discussion Forums - DISboards.com database has encountered a problem.


**************************************

Also, notifications aren't working for me either.

 

[kapeman]

In other cases when you change servers your internet provider has to recognize the new server. It may be your internet provider is slower at recognizing this new server. I have been getting my notifications.

I'm not sure what you are referring to here.

Are you talking about DNS name resolution?

If you are, the IP for DisBoards.com may not have changed since the new servers are behind a load balancer.

If the IP address had changed onre of two things could happen:

1. The ISP could have cached an old IP for Disboards.com, in which case the hosting company could re-direct the traffic to the correct address.
2. If the hosting company does not redirect, the user would get a page not found error.

Would you mind clarifying?

Thanks!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Still no email notifications.........

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Webmaster ALEX...

Do I need to start a new account?
I don't want to but it seems my email notification is never going to be resolved.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

starting a new account would not help your email at all. You would have to switch to an email provider that was letting things through right now.
You know you can always check your User CP and see what is going on with your subscribed threads

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

starting a new account would not help your email at all. You would have to switch to an email provider that was letting things through right now.
You know you can always check your User CP and see what is going on with your subscribed threads

I know that is very different.

I guess my concern is why did this happen after the server switch?
Are you attempting to fix it?
Will it ever be fixed or this is just how it is?

 

[Renysmom]

I am sure that Alex is doing all he can to rectify the problems since the change over. Everyone needs to give him a break, he is ONE person dealing with a MAJOR switch of servers and thousands of accounts and postings.

A server switch is very difficult as you dont have any idea if it will work seamlessly or what issues may arise. Even though I miss my email notifications I am sure that they are not as high on the priority list as say keeping the boards up and running. Its also possible that the notification system is part of a larger program, maybe not even a program/service owned by the DIS and if that is the case, they may be waiting for assistance from another party.

Until then just log onto the Dis, click on User CP (up top on the right) and you will see all your subscriptions and any replies made to them.

 

[WebmasterKathy]

I know that is very different.

I guess my concern is why did this happen after the server switch?

Are you attempting to fix it?

Will it ever be fixed or this is just how it is?

New servers, new addresses. Some ISPs are quicker than others to recognize the new addresses as valid. Nothing here for the DIS to fix: our servers are sending the messages, but we don't control the servers on the receiving end.

Is there a reason you can't use the User CP notification of new posts in the meantime, as Alex suggested in his response to you? It's much more real-time and reliable than email...

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Yeah, that is all good and dandy; but, I wonder does he realize the impact it has on the members of this forum? I will point out, in full disclosure, that I do not donate to support the forum, as I am sure this forum generates plenty of revenue from advertising.

I used to check this forum hourly.....yes hourly (!)....maybe even half-hourly. I would click on the New Posts to see what was new.

Look at how long it has been since I have signed on. I am sure he does not care, but does he realize that this could potentially translate into lost customers???

I just wanted to point that out.

 

[kapeman]

Yeah, that is all good and dandy; but, I wonder does he realize the impact it has on the members of this forum? I will point out, in full disclosure, that I do not donate to support the forum, as I am sure this forum generates plenty of revenue from advertising.

I used to check this forum hourly.....yes hourly (!)....maybe even half-hourly. I would click on the New Posts to see what was new.

Look at how long it has been since I have signed on. I am sure he does not care, but does he realize that this could potentially translate into lost customers???

I just wanted to point that out.

Ah, the irony.

Even as this was being typed, the email notification system started working again.

At least it did for me.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Ah, the irony.

Even as this was being typed, the email notification system started working again.

At least it did for me.

Murphy's Law - right?! I am glad that the email notification system is working for you again.

(Of course my comment still, and has always been, is on the New Posts system).

 

[bicker]

Do keep in mind, though, that your point is that users like you are visiting less often because that feature isn't working as you expect it to, but the reason why that feature doesn't work as you expect it to is that the forums have more users than it can handle if it did work as you expected it to. So the forums are apparently not hurting for users.

 

[BoardTracker]

Please let me & others now what is going on with thread notifications. I haven't received email notifications since last night & have checked all my settings.
TIA

Notifications have nothing to do with search. I see WebmasterAlex addressed the email issues though.. if it still doesn't work for you after few days, but does for others, it is your likely to be something your ISP's can address.

Last time I checked the DIS profiles weren't working. =/

Also has nothing to do with the BoardTracker search. However, they do seem to work for me.

Okay, this is so annoying. The DISboards have never been the same since the switch to BoardTracker. I have tried to be tactful, but the New Posts function still stinks.

New Posts function can be added. The fact that its missing was due to the fact that it used an inefficient mechanism of the old search.
If WebmasterAlex is reading this: Please contact us and we will see about helping you set up "New Posts" page using BoardTracker..

Note however (as Bicker say), performance of pretty much anything, before the change to BoardTracker, was very bad. Its been a while since I myself saw an error/timeout page on simple things like posting/reading.
If the killer-application for you in here is "New Posts", perhaps that should be brought up with the DisBoards crew and added so you have all the functionality you need..

I can't do a search now.
I get the following error:
The The DIS Discussion Forums - DISboards.com database has encountered a problem.

Bizzare, this doesn't seem logical. BoardTracker's search (of DisBoards) is not using the database of DisBoards.. therefore that error is not "possible".
Can you provide the URL at which you encountered this error?

 

[paults]

finally I got in somewhere.
trying to post or reply to a thread is like waiting at my doctors office
I sign in I sit down and wait for the nurse to call me still waiting for the nurse to call me etc, etc

these boards, to me are slower then before, I'm I the only one with this problem.

 

[Luxo]

I'm a new user and might be doing it wrong, but I can't make Advanced Search find anything by a user name (either mine or others!)... Help!