Help: Unable to access Mudcat

Subject: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: GUEST,rangeroger
Date: 20 Sep 02 - 09:39 PM

I am unable to access the Mudcat through my regular bookmarks. I am here by using the IP provided by Max when things crashed a few months back. I can't get my cookie reset nor can I even access the "Help" Forum where this request belongs.

In another thread I mentioned that I had cleared my cookie cache for another of my user accounts. When I rechecked that one was the only one affected.The cache for this account is still intact, so it is not( I think) a problem on my end. However, I notice that no else seems to be having a problem posting, as the post times seem up to date.

Is it me, or is there a problem with the Mudcat right now?

rr

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: GUEST,John from hull
Date: 20 Sep 02 - 09:46 PM

don't worry rangergoer, it is the same for everybody, there seems to be a slight problem at Mudcat right now, hopefully it will be fixed when max gets chance.john

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: GUEST,Amos
Date: 20 Sep 02 - 10:09 PM

Odd -- the DNS and other IPs don't work at all; fortunatelyt his one does, but the Login buttons don't come back to this one (or can't find it because no DNS).

Well, I got a lot done today using the time I woudl have spoent chatting here!! So there's a sdilver lining.

A

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: GUEST,Hrothgar
Date: 21 Sep 02 - 12:06 AM

I'm in, but I don't have a cookie and can't reset it. Should I have an emotional breakdown because I've been rejected by a computer?

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: GUEST,Mudlark
Date: 21 Sep 02 - 03:18 AM

After 26 hours...severe Mudcat withdrawal. Thanks to whoever it was who gave me this address! I can do without cookies but not w/o Mudcat!

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: smallpiper
Date: 21 Sep 02 - 04:27 AM

Have you upped your security level - I did a few weeks ago and couldn't get near the cat untill I reduced it slightly again!

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: mack/misophist
Date: 21 Sep 02 - 09:59 AM

One of the machines appears to have been down. But now it is not.

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: InOBU
Date: 21 Sep 02 - 10:42 AM

I was edgy, snapping at the wife, frowning at babies, clearing my throat in meeting, all symtoms of mudcat withdrawl for the past 48 hours... cheers, Larry

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Sep 02 - 10:46 AM

Hey, I forget what that address is - can somebody share it with the rest of the class?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: rangeroger
Date: 21 Sep 02 - 11:36 AM

Here you go, Joe.

http://207.103.108.101/threads.cfm

rr

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Sep 02 - 11:56 AM

i couldn't get in at all,at all yesyerday,after trying ragtime,loki,shirty ,dharma & http://207.103.108.101/threads.cfm. don't matter no anyway, its bach! i'm happy again!

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: MMario
Date: 21 Sep 02 - 12:00 PM

happy to be back - but now I'm getting the same error message for the annexe and folkinfo.org that I got for mudcat all yesterday!

computers - gotta love 'em, because otherwise they'd make great boat anchors.

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: C-flat
Date: 21 Sep 02 - 01:45 PM

Yep, same here! Been struggling for a couple of days but I didn't know that other adress so thanks for that.
C-flat

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: 53
Date: 21 Sep 02 - 01:47 PM

it is up and running now.

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: Mr Red
Date: 22 Sep 02 - 03:51 AM

Couldn't get in at all when I tried yesterday.

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Sep 02 - 03:53 AM

I wonder, do other chatrooms get disgruntled clients whingeing about not being able to log on?

It's a COMPUTER!!! It's designed to crash every 3 weeks or so, just so you don't get complacent about your programmes... then they will be able to sell you another at an inflated price in the hopes that it won't keep crashing on you... but of course, it does, so they sell you an anti crash programme that causes other stuff to disappear.... see the pattern emerging here?

LTS

Subject: RE: Help: Unable to access Mudcat
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Sep 02 - 11:26 AM

I could not figure out what you were all talking about (DNS: Do Not Surf?) so I used a Phone-a-Friend card and got the following from Mmario, who OK'd my posting it. I hope it get into our FAQ, and I've asked him to explain that other Internet Health muystery-- routers-- for the next section in my primer.

~Susan

====================================================

What I *THINK* happened (which may or may not be true)
Computers are very dumb. Everything you "tell" them to do has to be said in their "language" and exactly correctly or they won't do what you want. They don't speak slang, and they require exact information.

When a computer goes out to "look" for a site on the internet - it doesn't actually look for (example) www.mudcat.org; What it does is go to the equivalent of a library card catalog - called a DNS server - which stands for Directory Name Services. This "translates" the name of the site into something the computer understands.

DNS servers update their catalog of names at various intervals - the interval differing for different DNS servers. If a site is down when the DNS server updates - the entry may get deleted. Then until the catalog gets updated again the DNS server cannot "find" the site in order to translate the address for the computer asking to "go" there.

The varying schedule of the DNS servers explains why some people were able to get onto the Mudcat when others could not.


Why could people get on using the IP address?

(http://207.103.108.101/threads.cfm)

Well - the number portion of that address is what the computer is actually looking for when it searches for "www.mudcat.org" (It's a little more complicated than this - but that answer is essentialy correct)


Why couldn't people getting in through the IP address reset their cookies?

Because the Cookie Reset procedure depends on the NAME - "www.mudcat.org"


Oh.... I think I GET it. Thanks, Mmario!



~Susan