An announcement - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***Mithadan*** · 08-09-2024, 08:08 AM

If you have recently entered the forums, you have all noticed the frequent 508 error messages (insufficient resources) preventing access to the Downs, I have attempted a fix.

A 508 message, based upon my feeble, tech-deficient research, is the result of a site's servers being overwhelmed by too many users viewing or interacting with the site. Others have commented upon the large number of visitors shown as being on the site, often more than 2500 (the counter shows that the most people on the site at one time was 6300 this past May).

Recently, Huinesoron noticed that one forum, The Movies, was consistently attracting more than 90% of the visitors. He also noticed that one thread, Full-Length LoTR Parody Movies, was showing an absurd amount of "hits," presently more than 22 million (not a typo) with the number increasing by hundreds of thousands every week. It appears that something in this thread has been attracting bots/AI scrapers. This is based upon observation, not technical confirmation. I know of no way to determine whether any particular post in the thread is attracting the attention.

The primary posters on this thread over the last several months have been Huinesoron and Galadriel55 who have been using it to develop their Finrod Rock Opera (a worthy endeavor if you have not noticed it). After discussing this with them, I have moved this thread into a private forum. It is no longer visible in The Movies. They will continue to privately work on the Finrod Opera in the private forum. I am sure that if any of you want to see it or follow their progress, they will accommodate you.

Before I moved the thread, The Movies forum showed roughly 2000 visitors. After I moved it, it showed 135 visitors. I suspect that the "visitors" that we viewing/mining the thread when it was moved will remain there, clogging our server until they leave the page they are viewing. After that, they will not be able to reach the thread, hopefully curing the 508 problem. Or maybe this ham-handed effort will not be a fix. We'll see.

08-09-2024, 08:08 AM	#1
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,371	An announcement If you have recently entered the forums, you have all noticed the frequent 508 error messages (insufficient resources) preventing access to the Downs, I have attempted a fix. A 508 message, based upon my feeble, tech-deficient research, is the result of a site's servers being overwhelmed by too many users viewing or interacting with the site. Others have commented upon the large number of visitors shown as being on the site, often more than 2500 (the counter shows that the most people on the site at one time was 6300 this past May). Recently, Huinesoron noticed that one forum, The Movies, was consistently attracting more than 90% of the visitors. He also noticed that one thread, Full-Length LoTR Parody Movies, was showing an absurd amount of "hits," presently more than 22 million (not a typo) with the number increasing by hundreds of thousands every week. It appears that something in this thread has been attracting bots/AI scrapers. This is based upon observation, not technical confirmation. I know of no way to determine whether any particular post in the thread is attracting the attention. The primary posters on this thread over the last several months have been Huinesoron and Galadriel55 who have been using it to develop their Finrod Rock Opera (a worthy endeavor if you have not noticed it). After discussing this with them, I have moved this thread into a private forum. It is no longer visible in The Movies. They will continue to privately work on the Finrod Opera in the private forum. I am sure that if any of you want to see it or follow their progress, they will accommodate you. Before I moved the thread, The Movies forum showed roughly 2000 visitors. After I moved it, it showed 135 visitors. I suspect that the "visitors" that we viewing/mining the thread when it was moved will remain there, clogging our server until they leave the page they are viewing. After that, they will not be able to reach the thread, hopefully curing the 508 problem. Or maybe this ham-handed effort will not be a fix. We'll see. __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.