Andrez -

I think the problem is that no one knows exactly what the problem is.

A warning has been posted that "user(s)" with a particular kind of crudware search engine were causing interference with mudcat operation. The particular "search engine" cited came bundled into a number of "free downloads" and usually didn't clearly tell you that the component was present. It was also available to people who wanted to "build their own personal search engine," so it can come from almost anywhere. It doesn't cause a lot of problems for most sites, but overloads mudcat because every page at the 'cat is full of links to other pages at the 'cat; and it sometimes tries to open all the links at the same time - and overloads the interface. Maybe.

I have found a few other sites that have identified excessive traffic generated by this crud; but most of them have not had service interruptions from it. This is possibly due to the different kind of content at the 'cat.

I don't know if this is still the main source of problems, or if there are others.

Some of the problems experienced earlier appear to have been resolved, since I see different hangups, and different error messages - sometimes. Currently a common hangup that I get is a "File Site Found, Waiting for Reply" and then it just sits there. Occasionally I get a message that says "Insufficient Memory to process database search request." Others report this latter message more frequently than I see it. Either of these conditions could be caused just by excessive traffic, or could be caused by a "full buffer" at the interface or in the database search engine. It could be due to a hit from the crudware mentioned, excessive ordinary traffic, or a "memory leak" in the database. When it occurs, the obvious and customary solution is just to reboot the server. Since most of the clones can't do a reboot, and Max is entitled to some small bit of "having another life," it occasionally takes a few hours before a reboot can be done.

I know of one specific other site that began showing the same (hang or insufficient memory) errors about three weeks ago; but the operator there is not nearly as conscientious as Max and our clones, so I've pretty much just stopped visiting there.

Note that my comments are entirely speculation, based on what I see when I try to connect. Those who run the 'cat are working the problem; and I am not a participant in that and have no knowledge other than what I can guess may be going on.

John