Most pkg downloads are failing.
Posted February 2nd, 2008 at 5:48 pm by Ste
Filed in: Repo Issues, Site News
Recently, I had to move the serving of my repository’s XML file from the Dreamhost server that was serving it, to a free global caching system (http://coralcdn.org), as my hosting provider was threatening to disable the site due to the high number of connections per second. That move, even though the caching system isn’t perfect, saved the site and Dreamhost left the site alone.
Today, they have throttled a different account of mine - the one that serves 50% of all the zip files. They said that there were too many connections and it was driving up server load. Consequently, the vast majority of all downloads from that server are failing now, and there’s nothing I can do about it. There are two other server, that two other folks graciously let me use, that are currently each serving about 25% of the downloads. They cannot handle more traffic.
I have complained to Dreamhost, pointing out that they have essentially destroyed my site. I also have pointed out to them that they are not providing me the service that my account is supposed to have - namely, 10TB of data transfer a month. I’m not even close to that and they have cut me off and rather ruined things.
I’m not expecting them to change their minds, however.
Sigh.
I’ll try to figure *something* out …
-ste
UPDATE: 2008-02-03, 14:55 - I shifted half of the load from the throttled server to one of the other two, temporarily. Now that server is serving 50% on my zip files and the throttled server is only serving 25%. This means that fewer downloads will fail. Also, because it’s an important package, I hard-coded the OpenSSH package to only come from an un-throttled server, so that people can get to it. Make sure you refresh your Installer.app, so that you pick up the change, before trying. -ste
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February 2nd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
You, sir, are a trooper. Is there anything we users can do on our end?
February 3rd, 2008 at 3:19 am
Thats a bummer Ste. I added the http://coralcdn.org source but it just shows up under the Untitled category. Do you think this problem will be resolved relatively soon? I’m sure you’re working hard to find a solution, but in the mean time is there any way I can acquire OpenSSH manually? My phone is unusable until I can install it. :P
February 3rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Perhaps a good old fashioned public shaming will cause them to have a change of heart? I’d be spreading my story around to places like Digg and consumerist.com as I speak.
Would it be even remotely possible to use your TB allotment every month *without* placing these sorts of loads on the server? I’d think no, and in the situation it puts them in the wrong, IMHO.
I say drag them through the mud, and let the truth be known. You’ll have a huge iPhone community behind you which would surely be happy to do the same if you should so request.
If that convinces them to take a second look at their choice, then mission accomplished. If not, then I’d fight for my money back and change hosts. I did exactly that (and won) a year or so back.
I’d offer you server space if my plan would be helpfull, but what I’ve got to offer wouldn’t be of much help.
Keep up the fight, and thanks for all your time!
February 3rd, 2008 at 2:45 pm
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