If you're seeing this post, then you're not one of those experiencing the problem!

But, just in case you're in contact with someone who is, we just wanted to let everyone know that we're aware that some people, when they try to access the boards, are getting a request to install Chinese language support and a series of unreadable characters. There seems to be an issue with DNS, and for some reason it's only affecting some people.

Annette's raised a fault report with our webhost and is waiting for a response... so tell anyone you know in this situation to sit tight and we'll get it sorted as soon as possible.

End of community service announcement

ETA: Update

Annette has been talking to our webhost and he is trying to work on the problem.

Webhost: there is something MAJOR messed up with DNS on the internet today. For example GTEI's DNS's are poisoned with chinese web site data...
Webhost: are you configured for a server assigned DNS or do you hard set it?
AMCiotola: I'm guessing assigned?
AMCiotola: it's weird because some people see the boards, others dont
AMCiotola: I can log on to the FTP fine but not the web
Webhost: thats what i mean...
Webhost: some dns's are poisoned
Webhost: its all messed up, but its not here...
AMCiotola: so we've got to wait this out ...
Webhost: i think so but... i'll check around to see if i can do anything

Will update as more information becomes available.


Wendy
Boards Admin Team

Yeah I had the problem at work but at home I'm fine and dandy. ^_^

I had problems. Seems to be ok now.

Same here - things were OK after a couple of hours.

I had problems just half an hour ago.

Ann

I couldn't get through the whole day!! I thought the site had crashed again! Thanks be to goodness that wasn't the case, and we didn't lose anything!!

Hasini.

Yeah I had that problem yesterday evening, I was so glad when I could access the boards a couple of minuteds ago
Hope the problem won't come back!!

I couldn't get on either, yesterday. But apparently some people I have talked to today still can't get on.

I couldn't get on all day yesterday, but today I'm good to go. I'm glad to have access again!

I've only just been able to get back myself after losing access late last night.

If anyone is talking to people who still can't get here, please assure them that we do know some people still can't get in. It's an ongoing problem, our webhost knows about it and there really is nothing we can do beyond waiting for it to clear up. Clearing cache is working for some people, but not everyone (it didn't for me).

For those who want the technical explanation, it's all to do with DNSs - our webhost says that some sites haved their DNSs 'poisoned' with Chinese data - it's not just these boards, and it's not just sites hosted by our provider, as far as we can tell. We don't know why, but they're gradually getting flushed out.

If people still can't get in, all we can advise is that they try to be patient - their access will come back soon as the problem resolves itself.


Wendy
Boards Admin Team

I hope this isn't a prelude to next year's Olympic games and the cyber-terrorism that many expect. It's almost as if the DNS's were deliberately slapped around to see how hard it would be to do it. I hope that's not the case, but if you've been following the online problems Estonia has had this spring, you'll know it's possible.

I notice that the whois lookup showed the IP location for lcficmbs.com to be Beijing yesterday and Arizona today. Sure looks like something strange was going on. Glad it got worked out.

Amy

Yay I can get on!

For a moment there I thought my nfic sequel had disappeared along with the boards.

I had another copy of the nfic sequel's first part on my computer but my computer got hungry and ate it for a snack and I keep meaning to get it off the boards and keep forgetting to.

LadyMirth: Stop insinuating that I am a luddite. I am just absentminded..... and very very cute. :-P

Cheers,
The Little Tornado.

Hi

It looks like the DNS issue is back, after the boards where down yesterday. I'm writing via an anonymous proxy right now, and apparently one not getting his DNS information from the same database as my own ISP's DNS server.

Regards, Michael