People have been asking what this so-called "DNS problem" is, and how it happened. Let me explain.

[Skinner]

Whenever you type a domain name for a web site into your web browser, you computer needs to figure out where that website is. So it sends a request to something called a DNS server, which says something like this: "I'm looking for www.democraticunderground.com, could you please tell me where it is?" And then the DNS server tells your computer where to find the site. There are many, many DNS servers in the world that handle these requests.

For 10 years, we haven't had a problem. Your computer asks for democraticunderground.com, and some DNS server somewhere would point you to the correct place. Until yesterday, when some of the DNS servers stopped pointing to the correct place. Here's why.

On January 20 of this year, I received an email from our domain registrar, indicating that they had received a complaint about our "WHOIS" information being incorrect. In other words, someone complained that the public contact information related to the democraticunderground.com domain name was wrong. I do not know who made the request, or why. I suppose it is possible that it came from a concerned citizen, but I think it is more likely that it was a bored person who sent the complaint on a lark to see if they might cause us some problems. Which they did.

I immediately logged in to our domain registrar and updated our contact info. Some of you may be aware that Democratic Underground changed our PO Box last year, and that had not been updated on our domain name contact info. I changed the PO Box number and the Zip Code and clicked submit. Received my confirmation email about the successful update of my contact info. Domain registrar has a record of the fact that I updated our info. Problem solved.

Except the problem wasn't solved.

What I did not realize -- and what my domain registrar did not tell me -- is that the complaint was about the Democratic Underground PHONE NUMBER, not the PO Box. And, indeed, the phone number on our WHOIS information is wrong: 555-555-5555. That is the phone number that has appeared on our account for ten years, because I don't want some right-wing nut-job crank-calling me with death threats in the middle of the night.

Put another way: This was the insidious computer glitch commonly referred to as "human error." I get an email about out-of-date contact info. I remember that my PO Box recently changed. I log in and change PO Box. I completely ignore the incorrect phone number.

I did not receive any more correspondence from my domain registrar until yesterday morning around 11:00 am, when I got an email with the ominous title "Name Server Update Confirmation ID", which stated that my name server had been changed. I had not requested the Name Server Update.

So I immediately go to the domain registrar's website and try to log in, but get a message indicating that an Admin has blocked me out.

My first thought is "Holy S***. Someone's ripped off our password, logged in to our account, gave themselves admin privileges, changed the name server, and then blocked us out."

I immediately get on the telephone and call the domain registrar. While I'm on hold -- for 25 minutes! -- I am frantically changing all the passwords on all my accounts on every website I can think of.

Finally get through to a human being, start explaining my problem, and then AT&T drops my call.

Call back, wait another 25 minutes, finally talk to a human being, who explains that my phone number is wrong. Which is why they changed our DNS. No "last chance" email. No "I see you changed your info but missed one thing." They just shut it off.

I changed the phone number, and updated our DNS info. But the damage was done.
:argh:

Even thought we had updated our DNS info, it takes a long time for the updates to spread (or "propagate") to all the DNS servers throughout the Internet. In fact, well after the time I corrected the DNS info, some DNS servers had not yet received the earlier INCORRECT DNS information that was working its way around -- let alone the correction which was way behind and (even now) still hasn't made it to some of the darker corners of the Internet.

They say it sometimes takes as long as 72 hours for DNS information to propagate throughout the Internet. :(

If you are still experiencing problems, you can get around by setting your computer to use a public DNS server. Some instructions are available http://theos.in/windows-xp/free-fast-public-dns-server-list">here. Google has not been working for me, but OpenDNS has:

208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

If anyone else has any tips, feel free to post them in this thread.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. I apologize for the screw-up.

David Allen
DU Administrator

[tabatha]

1. Not your fault.

And thanks for the explanation.

Btw, I think a lot of people learned a bunch of stuff yesterday. I did.

[PBS Poll-435]

2. iPhone, right?

:P



Thanks for the info. Saved this post in case I need it.

[NYC_SKP]

65. "AT&T Dropped My Call..."

:rofl:

Oh, man, been there done that!

:hi:

[PBS Poll-435]

66. Blackberry ain't much better on AT&T

On more than one occasion my Blackberry has crawled into my bed, removed the sheets, and screamed at me at 4AM yelling "I AM BETTER THAN THIS CRAPPY NETWORK!!!1!"

:P

[Jamastiene]

83. Neither are landlines.

When it comes to AT&T, they just drop your calls for the hell of it. I hate AT&T. Can you tell?

[PBS Poll-435]

85. Starting to get a picture...

:P

[Ken Burch]

200. OMG...there's an ap for THAT?

[PBS Poll-435]

205. Pre-Installed

Along with MySpace.

(Whoever thought 1 might be used?)

[peace frog]

157. "Thank you for calling AT&T, how may I disconnect your call?"

:evilgrin:

[leftstreet]

3. K&R

Thanks for the explanation

[Denninmi]

4. Things happen. And, it's hard to keep up with all of the details.

Trust me, I'm a probate and tax paralegal. It's the little details that slip through the cracks that can drive you insane. And, no one person can EVER deal with the complexity of the modern world in its entirety. Just too much information to manage and too little time. We all just do the best we can.

I'm just glad it wasn't malicious. Those were my first thoughts yesterday -- someone had hacked the site to take revenge for our collective point of view.

Other than the withdrawal pains we all felt, it seems this was a "no real harm done" situation. Just glad the site is up -- we all need DU now more than ever to keep fighting the fight.

Solidarity, and Peace!

[old mark]

5. Started having problems very early this morning....by 3PM, it was fine.....nt

[GSLevel9]

6. fascinating... but to be expected when your success makes you a target to the RW

[Gemini Cat]

7. Thanks for the update. K&R

[GoCubsGo]

8. Thank you.

Open DNS works for me, too.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. When I type "whois democraticunderground.com" in a Linux prompt, I don't get a phone number.

Which I assume means you convinced your DNS people not to require you expose your phone to the psycho right-wingers.

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

47. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5. Just typed the command on the shell prompt. -nt

[Recursion]

52. I think they use the whois from GNU inetutils

I'm on Debian which uses the BSD whois for some reason.

[bongbong]

131. whois cmd

You need to add options to a lot of versions of whois to get all the info.

[RoccoR5955]

134. Funny, whois.net still has the phone number listed as

555-555-5555!

[seabeyond]

10. thanks for explaining. was clueless, not now. hey, hope you did not have to use your telephone #

and all is solved

[Paradoxical]

11. I can't believe they didn't try to contact you first.

They basically shut down one of the largest forums on the internet.

:wtf:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

12. Ick. What a PITA you've been dealing with the past two days.

Thanks for going through all of that to keep the site running, or sorta running. :P

I feel like a real jerk for complaining about my simply not being able to access the site while you've been dealing with the stinky end of running a website the whole time. Chin up! Things are on the road to recover and at least it didn't happen during the fund drive. :D

[kentuck]

13. David, I don't think it was a screw-up...

I think it was nefarious. I really do.

Like you would be the only person to make such a minor mistake and get shut down?

I think there is more. I just don't know what?

However, I do think it is political and an infringement upon our right to free speech. If that is the case...

[Paradoxical]

15. The lack of concern for the customer doesn't seem atypical.

It was a simple error and someone didn't want to take the time to clarify any discrepancies with Skinner. People are lazy.

[kentuck]

17. Did you make that decision?

Or perhaps you know who did??

[Paradoxical]

18. It was the butler, in the kitchen, with the lead pipe.

;-)

[kentuck]

20. Uh-huh...

Huh-uh...

[Paradoxical]

22. But seriously...

When dealing with network protocol...

Simple error+lazy support= big problem

As someone has already suggested, maybe it's time to switch to a more reliable provider.

[kentuck]

26. You are entitled to your opinion...

You speak with such certainty.

[The Straight Story]

14. People don't know what DNS is? Are they amish?

:evilgrin: Thanks for the update!

[upi402]

16. The longer I live

the less crazy the Amish seem.

Ok, Dylan Ratigan is on.... gotta go!

[Sonoman]

70. Until yesterday, I had never even heard of DNS.

But, then, I really don't care, anyway.

I still don't know what 'HTML' means, but it shows up in "Message options" above every post I make on DU.

'URL' is another one.

But I can drive a car at 200MPH.

Sonoman

[lfairban]

97. I know you probably don't care, but . . .

HTML=Hypertext Markup Language, the language web pages are written in. It is transmitted over the internet using Hypertext Transfer Protocol or http.

URL=Uniform Resource Locator. The Data Name Server, DNS, translates it into the Uniform Resource Identifier. It is kind of like a big phone book for web sites, give it a name and it looks up the number. So the URL democraticunderground.com is translated into the URI 216.158.28.195 . If you paste that series of numbers into the address bar, it should take you to the front page of DU, (since most browsers assume the http://). That is how I first got into DU yesterday. I assumed there was a DNS snafu not a server crash, and typed in the number Skinner handed out a long time ago, "Just in case".

If you want more details, look it up in your Funk & Wagnall. ;-)

I learned a couple new things myself because of this.

[Sonoman]

190. Thank you...

It's not that I don't care, it's that I don't care enough to do anything about it.

Thanks for the clarification, as clarity is somewhat elusive for me.

Sonoman

[lonestarnot]

99. And I thought it was a new kind of donut!

:P

[dbmk]

120. Hell...

When Google made a survey on Times Square, NY, 8% knew what a browser is.

:)

[mod mom]

161. I must be Amish then, since you've got a clue, I've got a question....

I couldn't access DU and received an email from DU kind Admins suggesting I select a public DNS, which I did.

I actually figured out how to do this on my own (which believe it or not is a big step for moi, who is practically a luddite :blush: ). I thought I was just adding a new 9public) DNS # but when I clicked the box to add the new # the old old poofed disappeared. Does this matter? I'm on a Mac and the public DNS I added was google.

Thanks! :hi:

[TahitiNut]

172. Hell ... I'm an olde phart who remembers when DNS was new.

Oh for the days of the research internet when Metcalf & Boggs were ironing out the bugs in Ethernet. (sigh) Majickal.
:silly:

[DeschutesRiver]

178. Well, I hope I look cute in a cap. long skirt while driving my buggy....

Though seriously, I am still on dialup in a very remote area, so not too far from the simple life here:)

I had no idea what dns really was, or that there was a thing called "public dns", or how it all fit together.

It has been a fun learning new things, always good for an older person like me, esp.

[ChromeFoundry]

19. Maybe you should switch registrars

Dotster's reviews are Poorly rated:
http://www.webhostingstuff.com/review/Dotster.html

[Orsino]

68. Yes, fire Dotster for incompetence. It's incredibly easy.

Find a better registrar, and the change can be seamless. Dotster never has to know until after you have shunted DNS resolution over to a new registrar and/or authoritative servers.

[hlthe2b]

21. HELP!!! I have tried every single suggestion to no avail.

I am using a Candian proxy currently (fiberprox.net)

I have tried the following:
1. reboot, clear cache, clear cookies, try to access "normally" via a google or yahoo direct link
2. Per Elad's suggestion, I edited my host file, cleared cache, cleared cookies-- no avail but here is what that file looks like:
# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
# 127.0.0.1 localhost
# ::1 localhost
216.158.28.198 www.democraticunderground.com
216.158.28.198 democraticunderground.com


3. Edited my wireless DNS settings, per Skinner's suggestions to
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
Cleared cache, cleared cookies, and rebooted

NADA


I am really concerned about using a free proxy, though I do use double layers of internet security protections, including anti-malware.


Can anyone PLEASE suggest something else? I have a sprint ISP since I use sprint wireless 3g/4g overdrive device. PLEASE! I have already expended two days on this, thinking it was a virus infection yesterday before I saw the information in the DUPanicRoom.

thanks to anyone who can solve this problem for me!

[kentuck]

23. Have you tried...?

shutting down your computer for a while and then turning it back on?

[hlthe2b]

25. YES

My frustration boileth over......sigh

[kentuck]

30. I would go into the Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel...

and see if there were any programs I did not recognize or did not use, and I would delete them. Be very careful what you delete and selective.

This is what I would do. Probably not what someone else might do. :-)

[ChromeFoundry]

32. It's the Proxy servers fault

see my post below.

[kentuck]

34. I saw that response and it makes sense....

I saved the information at bottom of your post for future reference. Thanks!

[FSogol]

86. I realize this advice is very late, but personally, I'd go get a Guinness

or 2.

[kentuck]

91. Sounds like a winner!

:-)

[rhett o rick]

107. I suggest adding an additional step. Shut down the computer, mix a martini, turn on the computer.

it doesnt always work but usually i dont care.

[hlthe2b]

108. Yes... with my dog lying on my feet and a couple of glasses of wine...

the fact that nothing I tried worked has resoundedly been converted to I DON'T CARE. ;)

Plus my own problem has now conclusively been pointed at a corporate enemy--Sprint, which has disabled any ability to redirect dns from their own settings on their 3g/4g sierra wireless overdrive device, which is what I use. So, while I failed, I get to at least blame the big corporate enemy... That is, if I cared....

[reggie the dog]

162. that fixed everything in southpark didnt it?

when the internet was broken, and no one had porn. the army shot at the big server and then one of the kids just unplugged the thing and plugged it back in again and it worked....

[tabatha]

28. Did you trying clearing dns?

Run -> Start -> ipconfig /flushdns

[hlthe2b]

29. I rebooted, which should have done it, but will try that..

[hlthe2b]

35. Yes... STILL NADA

[tabatha]

50. The only other thing that I did was remove DU cookies.

[Catherina]

72. YOU are my hero! After doing that, when I type 216.158.54.197

ijn the address bar, I'm able to log in and not get stuck on a page telling me I have a cookie problem. Thank you Tabatha!


Note, I had already erased my cookies, that's critical.

No changes to host file or router needed either.

[tabatha]

74. Thank all of DU.

Glad it worked, but this community has been full of suggestions and explanations - just amazing.

[ChromeFoundry]

31. First, stop using the Proxy

Your Proxy server has the wrong address cached and you cannot fix that. Remove your Proxy and it will use your hosts file.

this is more info from my other post...

This is how DNS is supposed to work. Your client is obeying the TTL (Time-To-Live) received on its last request.
There are a few things that you can do...

If your router is set up to forward DNS Lookups (your DHCP client will request DNS lookups from your router- example:192.168.1.1), you will need to change your DNS server to one that is resolving correctly and reboot your router to clear cached lookups.

If your client is getting the DNS Server address from your router configured by your ISP, you will need to either change your DNS Server to one that resolves the address correctly. All Browsers cache addresses internally per session. Close all your browsers and open a new one (or reboot your workstation).

I would not recommend having users change their Hosts file... just have them visit an alternate address, and bookmark it for a day or so:
http://www.democraticunderground.net /

For windows users, you can test your configured DNS Server's name resolution to DU with the following command from a command window:

NSLOOKUP democraticunderground.com

you should get the following addresses:
====
Non-authoritative answer:
Name: democraticunderground.com
Addresses: 216.158.28.198
216.158.28.196
====

As of right now OpenDNS and GoogleDNS are resolving correctly:
====
Server: google-public-dns-a.google.com
Address: 8.8.8.8
Non-authoritative answer:
Name: democraticunderground.com
Addresses: 216.158.28.198
216.158.28.196
====
Server: resolver1.opendns.com
Address: 208.67.222.222
Non-authoritative answer:
Name: democraticunderground.com
Addresses: 216.158.28.196
216.158.28.198
====

[Paradoxical]

33. Question...

Why is it that two different IP addresses are directed to DU?

[OhioChick]

36. They are redundant servers hosting the same information n/t

[Paradoxical]

37. Ah okay that makes sense.

Another question. I've tried pinging democraticunderground.com and all the possible IP addresses and none of them are responding.

What's up with that?

[ChromeFoundry]

40. The DU servers do not respond to ICMP requests

most likely the firewall front-ending the servers drops ICMP (Ping) request packets.
Most servers do this to eliminate yet another chance for a DDOS attack.

[TahitiNut]

174. That's a real annoyance for me, a refugee from the stone age internet.

ping and tracert were my favorites for my (mental) mapping of the 'tubes' ... when I needed to have it in my head.

[hlthe2b]

39. Done, but still having problems

as per my post below. Help appreciated

[ChromeFoundry]

55. If you are on Windows...

Since you have already configured your DNS Server to point to Servers that resolve the correct address. Remove the two entries from your hosts file (These seem to be causing 302 redirection errors for many users).

Open a Command Prompt and type (without quotes):
"Ping democraticunderground.com"

you should get a response like this:
Pinging democraticunderground.com <216.158.28.198> with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.

The address of 216.158.28.198 or 216.158.28.196 must be displayed. This shows that your hosts file is correctly formatted, or your DNSserver is resolving the correct address.

At this point you should disable your proxy server in your browser and you will be able to resolve www.democraticunderground.com just fine.

[hlthe2b]

45. ChromeFoundary...

I closed out the proxy, flushed my dns, cleared cache and cookies, changed the primary DNS to 8.8.8.8 and left the alternate to 208.67.220.220:

When I performed a NSLOOKUP democraticunderground.com
it simply times out.


???????????????????????????????????????????????

I am at my wits end.

[steve2470]

49. this is weird but has helped me:

Start, go to Control Panel, then to Device Manager

In DM, find Network Adapters

Uninstall your network adapter (or network interface card, NIC)

Reboot your PC

Hopefully Windows will automatically reinstall your NIC

If it does not, then go to Add Hardware.

This is a bit odd but has helped me.

[kentuck]

51. Shouldn't the primary and alternate be reversed??

I know nothing.

[ChromeFoundry]

56. Only if you like Google better than OpenDNS

I use OpenDNS as my primary and Google as my secondary at my router.. and define my router as a DNS forwarder set via DHCP, but I have noticed that most routers will request from either DNS randomly. Must be the way they implement client-side load balancing (LOL).

[kentuck]

62. Thanks for the info...

This place is an education anymore. :-)

[I Have A Dream]

102. Thanks for being willing to answer questtions. (I hope this wasn't already addressed.)

Yesterday, I tried to access DU by the IP address, and it wouldn't work. I entered http://216.158.28.196. It then resolved itself to democraticunderground.com, but wouldn't go any further. The site never came up.

What should I have done instead with the IP address? I also tried the IP address without http:// in front of it. (I understand IP addresses and DNS, but I'm not sure what I should have done in this situation to allow the IP address to allow me to access DU.)

Thanks!

[ChromeFoundry]

126. DU uses a 302 redirect (page moved)

when you come in on the IP address. The redirect location is, www.democraticunderground.com. Since your browser could not resolve that address, it fails.

I have also seen the hosts file edit cause this same symptom. Best bet would have been to use one of the other addresses; democraticunderground.net or .org.

[I Have A Dream]

206. Yes, I tried the other addresses, and they didn't work either.

Thanks for answering. I appreciate the explanation.

[Mojorabbit]

117. Yikes! This is way over my head. nt

[NBachers]

118. I couldn't get on until someone in the dupanicroom group at Yahoo suggested getting in via

http://www.hidemyass.com

Then all my DU dreams came true.

But joining the dupanicroom group at Yahoo was an enraging assbusting convoluted nightmare I wouldn't wish on anyone.

Maybe it'll be more fun for you:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DUPanicRoom

[Rex]

24. Whew...I thought someone hacked the site.

Good to see you back! Was starting to get paranoid. :tinfoilhat:

[steve2470]

27. thanks for taking the time to explain this, Skinner ! nt

[Fire Walk With Me]

38. Sorry to hear that they gave you a hassle.

No apology necessary :(

[demmiblue]

41. Damn tubes!

Thanks for the update. :hi:


(When I couldn't access DU, I thought it was some sort of suspenseful switchover to the new DU. :rofl:)

[Recursion]

42. I run some DNS servers and our upstream still is wrong :(

Which is weird because DCA seems to have very short TTLs set.

[Lugnut]

44. Here's a suggestion, David.

Contact your registrar and ask if they offer private registration service and what the charge is. From what I understand it's usually a nominal fee. Your registrar will then act like like a liason on your behalf and no weirdos will call you at 2AM. The only contact info they'll have for DU is that of the registrar.

On edit: Here's the link for your registrar. The charge is $7.00 a year. http://www.dotster.com/domain/whois-privacy.php

[steve2470]

46. +1 that's what I do with my website nt

[Poll_Blind]

48. Thanks for the info. When I saw that DU was going to something like BADDNSSHUTDOWN.COM

I figured it had to do something with one of your main providers. I had to hunt up a tweet with DU's raw IP to connect at all (I'm on QWest nameservers usually and they didn't fill in at all last night). I still have the IP in my hosts file, it's the only way I can connect. If I delete the entry in my hosts file and I still can't connect, I'll post something in the Ask the Administrators forum to get your attention.

A DNS change like that should not have taken that long to propagate. That was totally unacceptable and I have no idea what their problem was/is.

PB

[krispos42]

53. I can sympathize, Skinner

I had to do this last year at my new place of employment.

My boss, who is a very nice lady but entirely clueless about technology ("you can tell a MAN designed all this shit! If a woman had done it, it would make sense!) changed website hosts twice in two weeks. And I had to try to get it put together... and I'm just a guy that's decent with computers.


I spend a lot of time talking to tech support, let me tell you.


How you do this massive site is well beyond me!



Question: is it possible to simply type in the numerical IP address of DU's servers? Or this that too cumbersome? I can envision having to replace "http://democraticunderground.com" with the IP address every time somebody clicked a link.

[Dappleganger]

54. Oy vey!

[Matariki]

57. Well - this was all very educational. Thanks, I think.

And maybe DU should look at getting another registrar? Aren't there some that allow you to keep your phone number private?

Thanks for all the info on DNS issues. I learned quite a bit ;-)

[necso]

58. Thanks for the explanation.

Maybe some folks thought it was a DNS attack.

However, from what I've read (and experienced), there have been some other problems with the internet (nothing unusual). (The DNS problem I had the day before was more general (no lookup worked), and I have no idea what the cause was. But had I mentioned the specific nature of the problem at that time, then perhaps some other user would have had the thought (hey, maybe it's a DNS problem) occur to him or her a little earlier.)

I strongly recommend that internet users understand the basics of how the internet works (eg, lookup, routing, the role of ISPs). And even only slightly technical users may want to learn to use a toolkit to do ping, traceroute, etc (although sometimes for security purposes, the return data doesn't seem to be sent... I haven't used these tools much recently, so I don't really know what it's like now). (In the past, I've seen some hilarious things, like packets getting bounced back and forth.)

[pacalo]

59. Damn, I'm just thankful to get an explanation. Thought it was because of something I said.

:)

[slackmaster]

60. Shit happens. Google spends tens of millions of dollars per year trying to stay up 100%

And they aren't up 100%.

[OneGrassRoot]

61. Wow, this is really, really good to know, Skinner.

Thanks for the insight. I'm sorry you're going through so much grief with all this. :(

On the plus side, hopefully you guys see how treasured this site is. We news junkies are addicted to DU and the interactions here.

:yourock:

You guys definitely need a hug.

:grouphug:

[Renew Deal]

63. I just got on for the first time in 27 hours.

I couldn't get on from the phone either. Have to check it. Glad it's back. :pals:

[madfloridian]

67. 31 hours for me. Still having to use the proxy server.

I clear everything out now and then, cookies and cache, but afraid to mess with DNS stuff.

[drm604]

64. A suggestion.

If you want to stay legal and compliant but do not want your personal phone number etc. to be public (which is totally understandable) you can use one of the registration anonymity services. I know that godaddy, for example, provides such a service.

For some reason, I've had no problem connecting. I'm guessing that my local DNS cache kept the address info during any DNS downtime.

[gadjitfreek]

69. Zero joy.

I can get on. From work on my iPad and from my DROID...but from my home network on Time Warner Cable, nothing. Network or direct into the cable modem...nothing. I know next to nothing about networks. I hope it resolves...have the DU DTs!

[lpbk2713]

71. They will never change.

"Don't bother me with your silly little problems." :rofl:




Thanks for your perseverance. :thumbsup:

[JohnWxy]

73. I thought it was a cyber-attack from the fascisti!

[sybylla]

75. Shit, I just got one of those notices last month.

I guess I'll have to stay on top of that.

[classof56]

76. When I couldn't log on to DU yesterday, I went into major panic mode.

Talk about withdrawals! Then there was some google post about DU being hacked by Anonymous. Thanks for the clarification, Skinner, and thanks for hanging in there for all our sakes--mine especially!

Peace, solidarity and blessings.

[Plucketeer]

163. Me too! LOL!!!!!

It's late morning here and I just now got back on. I think I can honestly say, I've never really experienced "withdrawl" before this incident! :crazy:

[proud patriot]

77. Well something like this was bound to happen eventually

I'm glad to be back though

[itsrobert]

78. How about getting a Google Voice Phone Number

I think they are free.

[HipChick]

114. yes..they are free...I had a stalker...you can set out of service for crazy folks

[Capitalocracy]

79. They didn't, of course, feel the need to give you specific information to start with

that your phone number would need to be changed. No need to give personalized service to an extremely important website with thousands of daily users.

You're visible from Buenos Aires again. Took us a good two days! :hi:

[mirrera]

80. I teach web Design and this stuff only happens right before class...

I could not log on for 2 days and I tried not to go the 'worst case scenario' route (my neighbor is ex-IT and spooky)... but this is better for me and worse for you!

I have had the most unbelievable server issues just before teaching just after I uploaded my entire course. I fee your sweat!

[Dookiestix]

81. Thanx DU...

...for the clarification. I was sincerely worried that some right winger hacked in to screw up the site. All is now well.

[joeybear]

82. Thanks!

I've been in withdrawal.

[undeterred]

84. And here I thought there was an epic battle going on in a server room somewhere...

[truedelphi]

195. Perhaps there is, and Admin at DU just don't wanna admit it.

Of course, Skinner's kid is too young to blame him if he's the one who caused the Roman soldiers to show up in the server rooms. If he did tell us that's what happened, once the kid is a teenager, Skinner would never live it down.

[Slit Skirt]

87. thanks for explaining skinner..much appreciated

[rug]

88. You were tombstoned!

"So I immediately go to the domain registrar's website and try to log in, but get a message indicating that an Admin has blocked me out."

:wow:

[populistdriven]

89. I use google's DNS servers, no trouble here buts its 10 pm EST already

im using

8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4

[FSogol]

90. This should be pinned to the top of all forums. Lots are people are still lost/mystified, etc, etc

[steve2470]

92. I agree, Please do this Skinner nt

[Gman]

93. Well, shit happens

even when you do your best. At least it wasn't what you at first feared.

[Jamastiene]

94. So, it was you!

You are the one who broke DU?

:hide:

[efhmc]

95. Don't care why it happened. It stunk and want it to never

happen again.

[PatrynXX]

96. can reply on a proxy but no votes

not sure if I'd call Iowa one of the darker areas of the network, they are putting in fiber optic actually. But still goes thru Qwest at some point... I've asked the local ISP about it but being that my dad actually attended a public meeting on the local ISP for complaints about their customer service. they don't respond to us anymore... and I still take them over mediacom..

Back when Hamilton College was just that and not Kaplan, someone forgot to renew that name on the web. Had to go find the site via the ip addy's. which is the only way I found DU again. and using one of the better proxy pages I've used. (no popups from hell) sure it's from Canada but go figure. Most phone numbers on whois sites are wrong. One whois for hotfile I think lists the registrar actually and not the owner. Either way now if I try to go to the old DU Web of trust blocks the site for whatever reason for being unreliable... (WOT) totally understand DNS. did take MCSE, and if it weren't for Bush, maybe I could have afforded the $125 tests. but alas lost my job.

[Blue_In_AK]

101. That's happening here in Anchorage, too.

Features are missing.

[lonestarnot]

98. Skinner we love you. I like the old phone number too! Fagettabout it!

:toast:

[Blue_In_AK]

100. Admins, just so you know, I still cannot connect to you from Anchorage

without going through a proxy and changing my password. I liked my old password.

Something really seems to have taken you guys out. It's been two days up here without a connection, and if I hadn't had some help from another site, I wouldn't have known how to get back on here to let you know.

You need to fix it if you want to hang on to your members.

[Desertrose]

115. Ditto here in N AZ

"Something really seems to have taken you guys out. It's been two days up here without a connection, and if I hadn't had some help from another site, I wouldn't have known how to get back on here to let you know."

Password worked but some functions don't. Surprised I could post!

Seems like a lot of members missing.

[UnDued11]

103. Took me forever, but I finally figured out how to get back in & post

Had to create an account for my husband, and then STEAL it:) used a proxy-thingie that was super easy.. It feels weird to see "2" (now "3") as my post count..been here since 06/01:rofl:

[FarLeftFist]

104. I'm on quickly here in NYC.

But was getting a "can't find the server" message yesterday for only a couple of hours. But as of now things are back to speed. Keep up the great work!

[quakerboy]

105. When did all this happen

I never noticed a thing, never had a problem. Interesting.

as to tips... Buy low, sell high. also, Never vote for a republican.

[MrsBrady]

106. kick n/t

[mntleo2]

109. Its been working fine for me ...

Old geek wannabe here:

I log in several times a day to DU. Ok I admit it, it's cuz I loves me some DU. Sometimes it is slow but most of the time it is fine. Yesterday seemed all right and I believe I logged in at least 3 times throughout the day. I am on in a fairly old network, one of the first built (Seattle's old Pacific NW Bell bldg was/is a hub for a lot of the western US, beginning with phone service in the 1960s) and maybe it was one of the first to get the info, I don't know.

Hope this helps

Cat in Seattle

[Haole Girl]

110. It's ok Skinner

We all make mistakes. I've certainly made my share recently.

[mwooldri]

111. I thought my bosses at work had decided to cut you guys off...

... your site was timing out @ work all day :(

Glad to hear it *was* a DNS issue...

How difficult would it be to get "democraticunderground.org" or some other alternate domain and get it to point to the contents of DU - without the .com - and using a different registrar so if this were ever to happen again there would be a "back way in" so to speak.

I'm always in two minds about private name registration - that the records on the public "whois" are those of the name registrar. One part of me says if I am who I am, why hide it... and the other part says "what if..."? I would urge you guys to seriously consider private name registration so that a "concerned citizen" wouldn't have so much of an easier time again.

On another note, it would be interesting if Anonymous knew who this "concerned citizen" was.

Good to see you guys back.

Mark.

[alp227]

112. and the site has RESURRECTED during 12AM ET/9PM PT

I'm from San Jose, CA and clicked onto a link from google search...voila here I am! Yay I don't need a jerky logon-losing proxy anymore!

[AllyCat]

113. Thanks for the explanation. Sounds kinda fishy to me.

Bored person is probably the correct explanation.

[defendandprotect]

116. Ouch -- !! ... but are you saying there is now a tel# where you can be reached in

the middle of the night? :evilgrin:

And, were YOU also locked out of website and had to use an alternate route?

Imagine any number of people would have been interested in doing this to DU --

and presume your "Domain registrar" would know who that was -- ?


:popcorn:


And thanks for letting us know -- I actually understand now what happened -- !!

:)

[Phentex]

121. I thought Skinner would call or email me when he noticed I had not posted...

in a couple of days. :)

Guess I'll have to stalk him on my own now!

[defendandprotect]

150. Long list of people who had trouble, actually -- but

I would think the Domain Registrar would be able to tell Skinner who

it was who "complained" -- ???

[The Flaming Red Head]

119. Just another dastardly plot from the Chamber of Commerce

Its got to make us all feel special to be their targets

[florida08]

122. haven't been able to access for 3 days..

thought you had a server problem until I read the tweets. Am using kproxy now. This is a mess

[GoCubsGo]

124. Same here.

I wound up using Google DNS on my desktop today. It seems to be working fine so far.

[UnDued11]

149. Three days for me too.. I was able to open with a proxy, but not to log in

I created an account for my husband that did allow log in, and now I got a PM saying I had to tell them which I wanted to delete.. I guess husband & wife can no longer each have an account here.. I cannot even reply to the PM..:(, so I guess I'll end up tombstoned now:(..I sent Skinner an email explaining my dilemma.

I have tried multiple times to answer the PM, and cannot..and on MY account, I cannot even log in..



I've been here since 2001, but I am also not savvy enough to go meddling into the innerworking of my computer changing this setting and that..


What a pickle:(

[MelissaB]

123. Is there a reason you don't have privacy for the domain?

[barbtries]

125. this worked for me:

http://www.freeproxyserver.ca/

though trying democraticunderground.org and democraticunderground.net did not.

you're fine on my work computer and gone at home.

[KC]

127. It's

still down for me, using the link you provided worked.

[tanyev]

128. Holy crap! I finally got in. I need to thank our obsessive stalkers

at a site that shall not be named for giving me the information I needed to find DU again. Thanks, cave-dwellers! :hi:

[Newsjock]

129. From the DU archives: FR loses domain with phone number 5555555555

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1288501&mesg_id=1290050

The registrant Jim Robinson had the phone number as 5555555555

[CrownPrinceBandar]

132. Maybe there was a lesson there?

[CrownPrinceBandar]

130. Day 3: Still can't log on.........

I was able to log in normally for a few minutes this AM, but have since gone back to proxy-land because of the DNS issue re-occurring. This makes absolutely no sense to me.

[Historic NY]

133. Down again here in upstate NY back to proxy.....

does anyone know why withe proxy you can't reccomend, spell check, etc.?

[CrownPrinceBandar]

135. Hey Historic........

were you able to log in normally at all? I was just wondering as I was able to for just a few minutes and then it was gone. I would think if its just a case of renewing the DNS, it would be like turning on a switch. But I guess not.

[Historic NY]

146. its intermittent works then stops, I on again

[Ian David]

136. ...

[Kali]

141. hahahhahaha

this needs to be its own post

[salinen]

137. No worries

I've been stood up by prettier girls.

[Kali]

138. don't know if it matters,

but I'm still having to use a proxy - know MFM in Tucson is back on correctly

will keep waiting, as I assume it may have to do with my tiny dial-up company in virginia or somewhere back that way?

[The Backlash Cometh]

139. Yeah, I think this is peculiar.

Anyone determine if DU databases were breached during the time that Skinner was blocked out?

[snappyturtle]

140. Still in proxyland appox. 60 miles SE of Chicago! Out two days now...in four hours...

not that I'm counting!

[CrownPrinceBandar]

142. Back up w/ normal login here in N Cent. WV...........

We'll see how long this lasts.

[alfredo]

143. I used the OpenDNS solution last night. When I booted up

this morning I couldn't connect to the internet. I had to remove the DNS to log on. No DU. I then added the DNS to my network settings and everything on my puter is fine. I guess dynamic DNS is the cause.

I haven't figured out how to get my iPad connected to DU. I will just have to wait until the fix works its way through the tubes.

[Ian David]

144. Get a free Google Voice phone number and then set it to never ring. n/t

[bemildred]

145. GoogleDNS: 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4, works great. nt

[bullwinkle428]

148. Thanks for this! My iPhone now works again!

[Kali]

166. not for me

:-(

[bemildred]

184. Want help?

You have to put the numbers in the right place.

Tell me how you get internet and whether you use a router or modems or what have you. Maybe we can figure it out.

I had to put the new DNS servers in my router settings.

[Kali]

196. oh thank you!

I seem to be ok now - started getting DU from the right direction (my old book mark) about 2 hours ago

I am on dial-up and had finally called my ISP company and the tech guy walked me through inserting those numbers but it didn't work, so we were going to do the flush (whatever that is) but I just said meh, I'd wait a while longer and as long as I wasn't the only person on the planet that couldn't get on I was good - the proxy I was using was fairly functional so it wasn't a huge problem once I found it (with hugh thanks to pokerfan)

[bemildred]

203. Ah, dial up, that is more "technical".

Probably just as well to wait. My router has a web page I can do it with, but on dialup there would most-likely be no router. IIRC, you have to get into Windoze network settings in the Control Panel to do that, and you might have to reboot to get it to "take".

But I'm glad you are OK now.

[mod mom]

167. Thats what I switched to but does it matter if you don't switch back?

My original number disappeared when I clicked the box to add the 8.8.8.8 and I no longer have what was there in the 1st place. I'm sure this sounds stupid to those in the know, and I admit I am not one of those. :blush:

[AlabamaLibrul]

175. No, in fact you're probably going through a better DNS than what you had before n/t

[bemildred]

185. DNS servers are usually supplied automatically with your internet connection.

There ought to be a "get name server automatically" option of some sort that will come into play if you clear the manual settings you just supplied.

Any name server that is fast enough and will take your requests is OK to use.

[mod mom]

201. Thanks to both of you for your replies.

:hi:

[Shining Jack]

147. YOU LIE!!!

It's Gaddafi who sent static electricity to Wisconsin while changing from his numerous and ridiculous polyester outfits that crashed the site! (Yikes!)

[hunter]

151. I hear Christian Dior is looking for a new fashion designer...

:P

[Shining Jack]

197. Lol!

:rofl:

[CreekDog]

152. might be a bad idea to use a proxy from work

A lot of them expressly forbid use of proxy servers because it looks like you're trying to get past filtering software to get to prohibited sites.

[Callalily]

153. Whew! Thanks for the explanation.

I thought something was funky with my home computer!

Hope all is working now!

[Cronus Protagonist]

154. Then how come the direct IP address wasn't working?

I checked and tried that because the first thing that I assumed was a dns failure or a registrar issue. The site was not available through the direct IP listed in the dns records.

Maybe there's more to it than a simple registrar change.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

155. If skinner had not the good sense to jump on the old telephone

the way he did ,the problem could have lasted days on end. Think about it, who these days hangs on to a phone connection for 25 minutes or more twice ? The internet for example everything fast or faster xxx.The problem got the fix because of quick thinking in a telephonic world of slow motion. Hang'en in there on hold.

What you might call tenacity which is a quality and quality is the direction the site moves in.

Who ever or whatever is behind the problem , it had to be about slowing the flow of information.
More I think about slowing the flow than revenge I think. There is indeed a reason for everything that happens, right or wrong.

Quick thinking and tenacity got what is wrong righted.

Finding out the cause of what went wrong comes after the fix.

Should be interesting finding out what time will tell about that.,

[steve2470]

156. my tiny bit to help the cause, my twitter...

Democraticunderground.com has suffered a DNS problem. Use a proxy server to get there, or use Google Public DNS at http://bit.ly/850ew1

[calimary]

158. Well okay then.

Explanation appreciated - if not completely comprehended.

It was EXTREMELY upsetting while it was going on, though. Especially as other people were starting to be able to get back in, and I couldn't.

Hopefully the regular way to get back in will be fully restored. Because I'm still not completely sure how I was able to get back in here - some wild roundabout way with some Canadian (!?!?!?!?!?) website and proxy-something.ca (WFT???????).

[idrahaje]

159. Fixed

Finally the dark corner of Iowa (Bollocks) :P finally made it thru sometime this morning...

Okay now if anyone in Cedar Falls can tell me if Mediacom got it first PM me. I don't check this too often. No time...

[mod mom]

160. Thanks Skinner, followed admin suggestion & switched to public DNS

:hi:

[drmeow]

164. So a domain registration

has to have an accurate phone number? Is that something which varies by domain registrars or is it universal?

[snappyturtle]

165. Cyber hell is over! SO glad to access DU in a normal fashion!

:woohoo:

[JaneFordA]

168. Thanks for getting it all updated! :-)

... 'cause I thought it was FINALLY time to throw this stupid computer out the window, once and for all. So it thanks you, too, for sparing its life. :-)

I didn't realize I could experience such awful withdrawal symptoms from not getting my DU fix several times a day. :-)

THANK YOU again!

--Jane the pain

[EFerrari]

169. Someone was asleep at the switch and it wasn't you, Skinner.

Someone should definitely have contacted you.

I'm sorry you and DU are going through this.

[JEB]

170. Glad to have you back.

[BR_Parkway]

171. I thought someone made a snarky comment against Anonymous or something

[BlueCollar]

173. I've been a DUer forever

and all I have to say is that if there's a bug show up from time-to-time it's all worth it.


:toast: to the Administrators, Moderators and members...

[era veteran]

176. Mine was out Monday night and came back in the last hour

Glad it wasn't hacking. R

[Vinca]

177. Whoo! Hoo! I just got back in!

Guess I can cancel the addiction therapist.:rofl:

[JCMach1]

179. Now up normally in UAE as well

[NEOhiodemocrat]

180. thanks for the info

although it is all greek to me :) I am just so glad that finally when I tried to log on the site finally came up! I was all day yesterday saying "please please skinner get it back up! until I realized that had a certain dirty undertone to it! I can't believe just how much I missed DU!

[kpete]

181. i have

NO idea what you are talking about,
but Thanks for ALL you do for DU!
peace, kpete

[Kali]

182. I know you have been waiting since this started to hear this:

I am back on sans the proxy! You are most welcome, now please continue answering questions in ATA for my personal entertainment.

[tosh]

183. My dearest Skinner....

none of this was your fault. It was the SOLAR FLARE!!

Every tech problem I could possibly encounter happened to ME last week.

Mr. tosh reminded me of the recent solar flare and then I saw it here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x528445

I should have warned everyone!B-)

[Scottybeamer70]

186. Thank you for the update........

was quite sure I had done something wrong..........LOL............it all stopped for me the moment that I
opted out of Foxaudience............was sure FAUX had deleted DEMOUNDERGROUND for me...........:)
Glad it's all fixed..........was having withdrawal anxieties............heh

[femrap]

187. I haven't been able to log on

at all....I finally Googled 'Democratic Underground IP number' and saw a post from March 1....I clicked on it and got on.

I would have preferred a :tinfoilhat: explanation.

Shit. I guess I just realized that I don't want nor need to follow DU.

[boomerbust]

188. Locked out for 3 days

:bounce:

[sinkingfeeling]

189. I'm finally back on. Did an NSLOOKUP this morning and we still couldn't

find DU.

[2Design]

191. finally back in - ck'd twitter and it mention the dns problem

so I just kept trying

finally in

[Raksha]

192. I was FINALLY able to get back in normally about 20 minutes ago.

I must be one of the last ones. But as my mother always said, better late than never.

[LuvNewcastle]

193. I'm just now able to access DU.

I saw a cached copy with this thread on the page, so I knew you were having problems, but I couldn't click on the link to read the explanation. Glad everything seems to be back to normal.

[Diclotican]

194. Skinner

Skinner

At least, you are back;).. Not been able to wisit you for the last couple of days, and was worried it could be worse than it was... God it was just a human glitch after all...

Everyone can screw up, but it is great you are back up running again at least...

Diclotican

[pam4water]

198. Thanks for the info. I could tell it was the DNS I was surprise when google didn't work. Will the IP

work also or is like a cloud server thing?

[Ken Burch]

199. Sounds like the complaint was Freeper sabotage

like the assholes who stopped Andy's check from clearing at the hospital(and who are, probably, responsible for his death).

Not your fault.

Thanks for the explanation.

Shit like this will probably keep happening.

[Texasgal]

202. I'm BACK!!!

Oh what a horrible last couple of days!

Thank you Skinner!

[virgogal]

204. Thanks.