LlamaServer fixed

[Gandalf Parker]

In the military we called them Lockheed Fixes. Sometimes just banging it, or taking it apart and putting it back together, would fix the problem. But I agree it was most likely the connections.

However IF flipping the RAM was the fix then the front stick might have problems. I would run a mem check.

Gandalf Parker

[Lingchih]

My guess is... you were lucky. Resetting everything, including the RAM, set the computer back to operational. I would make a bet that this machine is set to implode again at some point though. It just sounds too fishy.

[Meglobob]

Nano technology, self repairing machines, its here, now!

[llamabeast]

Anyone playing on the LlamaServer should have received the contents of this post as an e-mail. But I thought I would post it here as well, just to make sure people see it.

---
Hello all,

So, on Monday, something funny happened to the LlamaServer. Let's say, for the sake of melodrama, that it exploded (it didn't explode). In any case it stopped working. I suspect the fault was connected with Hurricane Ike, which apparently took out the mail server for a bit. Maybe the LlamaServer's frantic efforts to contact the mail server made it overheat (I think I will post more about this on the forum, for any who are interested).

Anyway, I managed to mysteriously fix it by taking it apart and putting it back together again, exactly as I found it. So everything is now running smoothly again.

Please note that all e-mails sent to the server during the downtime have been lost. So you should send your turns in again if you didn't get a receipt e-mail. However, I've reset the timers for all the games, so you have a bit of time (e.g. for a game on 24-hour quickhost, it'll host about 24 hours from now). Game admins take note: this will have overridden any other delays you may have put in place.

Thanks for your patience over the last few days. Everyone's been very patient and very helpful, which I really appreciate.

Now, back to the games!

llamabeast.
---

[lch]

"llamaserver and e-mail problems",
"LlamaServer 'sploded (though things will be okay)",
"LlamaServer fixed",
"On the mysteries of the LlamaServer 'splosion",
and now even a "Llama server turn time" thread on first page is a little much for my taste. I'm merging all those threads sans the last one.

[chrispedersen]

I have sent 3 emails to llamaserver over 3 hours using 2 different email sources.

I get no response. As it is getting close to deadline, I am going to delay the game, World in Crisis. Llama, if the turn doesn't show in a timely fashion, could you look into it?

If it does, you can force host, if so inclined.

Thanks

[Zeldor]

I think it's for all games. Llamaserver did not update for an hour.

[Bwaha]

I just changed the message to players successfully, so Llama server is running. Someone want to force a hosting? Kickabout is on hold due to calem going AI.

[llamabeast]

What I'd like to add to this discussion is that I hate power cuts, especially when you get 4 in one day. That's not meant to happen in England.

[chrispedersen]

Thanks llama....

The weird thing was that I could ping / traceroute to your server. I could go to the admin pages. I just could *not* get the turn submitted.

We all know email is best effort....

But, perhaps I could make one small suggestion to the llamaserver.

Have a Env Variable - Hostable?.
Have a keep alive email send - say every 5 min or so.
If the llamaserver doesn't receive its own keepalive email it disables hosting (postpones all games) until 30 minutes after email reception returns.

This would prevent games from hosting in at least some instances where email couldn't be received.

Alternately, you could do keep alive pinging. Choose 2-3 well known ip addy's such as 4.2.2.2. Test for the return. If you can't receive ICMP returns - delay hosting.

My .02

Chris