This week we pushed out some database improvements. There have been one or two glitches, but response time has improved, with maximum loads now around 60%, and average loads around 45%.
First, the glitches: some sites appear to have problems with their forums. Specifically, orphaned posts that no longer have a thread. We think this happened over time, due to some bug in the thread deletion code. This is not a serious problem (and we will fix the affected sites and the bug), but the new database code was treating this as fatal, and refusing to show the affected sites. If your site was affected, I'm sorry.
Second, during this work, database replication got broken, and on Monday afternoon was causing many "500" errors. This is now working properly again and Wikidot.com's master database is happily replicated to three slaves, two of them outside our main data center.
We have made a nicer 500 error page that should make your users less stressed if the Wikidot cluster can't handle a request. But the good news is that there have been few or no 500 errors over the last days.
Total system loads are now maxing at 60%, during the very peak hours, and averaging 45%. Before the database optimization, peak loads were approaching 90%. At 100%, we get risk of excessive internal queues, and errors (the infamous Snowleopard Syndrome).
We're continuing the work on static HTML caching of sites for anonymous visitors, which should reduce maximum and average loads further (I expect by about half but that needs to be seen).
Have a great weekend!
I haven't encountered any 500 errors lately, but I want to see this new page!
A screenshot, please? :)
~ Leiger - Wikidot Community Admin - Volunteer
Wikidot: Official Documentation | Wikidot Discord server | NEW: Wikiroo, backup tool (in development)
Yes, I can't wait to see it. Weird huh?
Snowleopard syndrome… Is that like slashdotting, or slashdot+wikidot+apple?
Free wiki to first person to post a screenshot of the new 500 error page, then. :-)
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I think I did see it, actually, and I thought “Oh goody, they've finally fixed this error page to be better”.
But I don't have a screenshot!
I remember it said something like “report this to Wikidot if it keeps occurring, but please visit this page first to see if we already know about it”.
That page is the only proof I have of seeing the 500 error, but to be honest, I can't even remember what the page looked like.
James, you missed the nicest part then (-;
Piotr Gabryjeluk
visit my blog
I know about the Current Problems page, but only because I am watching the entire www site for changes and saw it in an email notification. Still hoping for a glimpse of the 500 error page ;)
~ Leiger - Wikidot Community Admin - Volunteer
Wikidot: Official Documentation | Wikidot Discord server | NEW: Wikiroo, backup tool (in development)
dang, wish this page would have come up a few days earlier, i actually saw the 500 error. i could have taken a screen shot!
The only time I'll ever be glad to say that XD
I get a free wiki =)
~ Leiger - Wikidot Community Admin - Volunteer
Wikidot: Official Documentation | Wikidot Discord server | NEW: Wikiroo, backup tool (in development)
Excellent, we have a winner!
Your prize, dear Shane, is one abandoned site: tell me which one you want, and it's yours.
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Hmm.. an abandoned site? Would this one count?
http://multiplayer.wikidot.com
3 total edits, last one on 25 May 2008
User has not made any other contributions at Wikidot
Would be good as a redirect to my Multiplayer site.
~ Leiger - Wikidot Community Admin - Volunteer
Wikidot: Official Documentation | Wikidot Discord server | NEW: Wikiroo, backup tool (in development)
Yes, good choice. I've parked the abandoned multiplayer.wikidot.com site under another name, so you can claim that name now… :-)
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Wow! Today's your special day Shane!
Thanks!
~ Leiger - Wikidot Community Admin - Volunteer
Wikidot: Official Documentation | Wikidot Discord server | NEW: Wikiroo, backup tool (in development)
I just saw the screen, and took a screenshot… Now I'm sad.