Difficult Picture upload... again

[Susquatch]

Sir, your pictures will not expand for me.

This is an ongoing challenge for many members. The images system has been messed up for quite some time on the forum with no sign of hope for the future.

The best way to improve the situation. Is for the poster to select thumbnail when uploading a photo.

 

[Janger]

Admins @Susquatch @David @Jwest7788 @Alexander note post 37,38,40 with @SomeGuy sleuthing the image load problem. @David I see you've already liked that post.

 

[Janger]

This is an ongoing challenge for many members. The images system has been messed up for quite some time on the forum with no sign of hope for the future.

The best way to improve the situation. Is for the poster to select thumbnail when uploading a photo.

View attachment 66599

I'm sorry @Susquatch the image you uploaded above, (by thumbnail?), does not work for me on Safari - however it works on FireFox!

 

[SomeGuy]

I'm sorry @Susquatch the image you uploaded above, (by thumbnail?), does not work for me on Safari - however it works on FireFox!

Same issue with his attachment.

Keep in mind that Edge, Chrome, Brave, Opera, etc. are all Chromium (I think they're calling it Blink? now) based. Safari is WebKit based which is what Chromium forked off of long ago. And FireFox has its own Gecko engine. This is why you'll see different behaviour in each browser, likely due to support of various protcols. FireFox being the further behind of the group in terms of updates to latest standards, so it's probably not using that QUIC or HTTP/2 stuff. I don't have FireFox installed on this machine, but maybe I'll check it out in that browser when I have time to see the difference in the requests.

I also just tried on another XenForo forum I'm on (they have a test section I could play with) and it works fine in same browser, in another tab at the same time even. Same sort of upload and attachment, uses lightbox as well...request headers and such look very similar, pathing looks identical, file naming looks the same...just everything checks out. Hence leading me to believe server side is denying it somehow.

Can I ask where/how this is hosted? I seem to remember someone along the way saying something about this is hosted on something they had access to anyway...not just your normal public hosting provider? Wondering if it could be something in the network path that's interrupting the request, especially given the 200 back from the server.

 

[Susquatch]

I'm sorry @Susquatch the image you uploaded above, (by thumbnail?), does not work for me on Safari - however it works on FireFox!

I didn't say it fixed it, only that it's the best way we know to improve this.

@SomeGuy - We have been through the same stuff you are looking at. I'd say don't waste your time but I've learned that sometimes a new pair of eyes see things others might miss.

At this time we believe that the data is being screwed up on the server, it isn't a zenforo or a network problem. The server guys have gone nuts and been unable to fix it. At this point, I think it's fair to say that they have given up but don't want to admit that. I'd be inclined to say that they don't have the required knowledge, but we do not have direct access to the server so we can't really help and it isn't fair to throw stones. That's why I'd like to move to zenforo hosting - no middle man.

 

[SomeGuy]

I didn't say it fixed it, only that it's the best way we know to improve this.

@SomeGuy - We have been through the same stuff you are looking at. I'd say don't waste your time but I've learned that sometimes a new pair of eyes see things others might miss.

At this time we believe that the data is being screwed up on the server, it isn't a zenforo or a network problem. The server guys have gone nuts and been unable to fix it. At this point, I think it's fair to say that they have given up but don't want to admit that. I'd be inclined to say that they don't have the required knowledge, but we do not have direct access to the server so we can't really help and it isn't fair to throw stones. That's why I'd like to move to zenforo hosting - no middle man.

Given the content is there and can be retrieved if you don't rely on the javascript library that's doing the loading on here, it's unlikely it is actually screwed up in how it's stored on the server. With the errors I've seen, the request is making it to the server, the server is processing it, and then something on the way back is blocking it. Technically the server side part of XenForo (the php parts) isn't providing the image, it's javascript requesting the image resource directly, the web host part is returning it (hence the 200), so it's likely something outside of that, either on the server not supporting the protocol fully, or firewalls on the way back.

What access do you have? At least SSH into a console for your slice of hosting? I deal with far more difficult problems daily, this problem is solvable, though you might be right about not having the access necessary to fix it. I also live in the Microsoft world more (so asp.net/IIS/kestrel/azure/etc) so have less specific knowledge about xenforo and haven't setup a php/mysql server or message board since the old vbulletin days.

 

[Bandit]

It seems I can not edit my last few posts. Maybe me or ? Now the edit shows up in this post, just used it.

 

[Susquatch]

Given the content is there and can be retrieved if you don't rely on the javascript library that's doing the loading on here,

Not a given at all. Sometimes it can't be found at all.

it's unlikely it is actually screwed up in how it's stored on the server.

Well, that's what I first thought too. But keep in mind that this all began after a server crash and a move to a new server. It worked just fine before that. For the longest time we were not even getting the right images. That seems to have been fixed at least for the threads I've checked, but in many cases there is no image at all.

With the errors I've seen, the request is making it to the server, the server is processing it,

Agreed.

and then something on the way back is blocking it.

Sometimes. But sometimes the server does not process the request correctly.

or firewalls on the way back.

I've checked traffic at every forwarding node from here to there and back. No faults found.

What access do you have? At least SSH into a console for your slice of hosting?

None.

I deal with far more difficult problems daily, this problem is solvable, though you might be right about not having the access necessary to fix it. I also live in the Microsoft world more (so asp.net/IIS/kestrel/azure/etc) so have less specific knowledge about xenforo

Me too.

and haven't setup a php/mysql server or message board since the old vbulletin days.

I operate several other forums without difficulties like this. However, they are all much smaller. I'm surprised that you are old enough to remember bulletin boards. I was one of the first 100 people to use the public internet.

 

[Susquatch]

It seems I can not edit my last few posts. Maybe me or ? Now the edit shows up in this post, just used it.

You lose the ability to edit posts after 5 minutes.

In appreciation for supporting our costs with a donation, Premium members have no time limit and can also post photos in their PMs.

 

[SomeGuy]

Not a given at all. Sometimes it can't be found at all.



Well, that's what I first thought too. But keep in mind that this all began after a server crash and a move to a new server. It worked just fine before that. For the longest time we were not even getting the right images. That seems to have been fixed at least for the threads I've checked, but in many cases there is no image at all.



Agreed.



Sometimes. But sometimes the server does not process the request correctly.



I've checked traffic at every forwarding node from here to there and back. No faults found.



None.



Me too.



I operate several other forums without difficulties like this. However, they are all much smaller. I'm surprised that you are old enough to remember bulletin boards. I was one of the first 100 people to use the public internet.

Ok, well sorry for trying to help

 

[Tom O]

Yeah bulletin boards trying to find a password that wasn’t taken one time I got so pissed I used “ This call is from Calgary “ password accepted.

 

[Susquatch]

Ok, well sorry for trying to help

I sure hope I didn't come across as ungrateful. I always appreciate another set of eyes looking at such things.

If you sense any negativity, I sincerely apologize. It's probably just my extreme annoyance with the issue itself coming through, definitely not your efforts to help.

 

[David]

Ok, well sorry for trying to help

We appreciate another set of eyes looking at the problem!

 

[SomeGuy]

I sure hope I didn't come across as ungrateful. I always appreciate another set of eyes looking at such things.

If you sense any negativity, I sincerely apologize. It's probably just my extreme annoyance with the issue itself coming through, definitely not your efforts to help.

Came across a bit of "we've already tried everything so don't need your help" but it's all good.

We appreciate another set of eyes looking at the problem!

If I could get into the servers, I'm sure I could figure it out, but sounds like access is limited.

 

[David]

Came across a bit of "we've already tried everything so don't need your help" but it's all good.


If I could get into the servers, I'm sure I could figure it out, but sounds like access is limited.

I've never asked to be honest. Let me see what I can sort out.

 

[Arbutus]

Not trying to muddy the waters here - but is the server software available as a purchase for self-hosting? Is it affordable?

I have a full blown Dell PowerEdge 810: 4x 10 core XEON @2.4GHz, 120Gb RAM, 60Tb RAID, 4x1000gb ethernet in a 4U rack with a UPS, running UBUNTU LTS.

If there is someone with the space and knowledge - I would be willing to donate it as a server for the forum.

 

[Bandit]

Thanks for fixing my posting on @JustaDB s post about the Calgary welder. And in hand with trying to get the problems fixed with the forum site. Most nearly all the time I have no idea what you all are talking about.
We shall see if the “edit” button/tab shows it face when I post this.
Thank you all again!
Yes it was there, just used it to put these 2 sentences in. Just noticed that the delete button/tab is also missing when the edit button/tab is missing.

 

[Susquatch]

Yes it was there, just used it to put these 2 sentences in. Just noticed that the delete button/tab is also missing when the edit button/tab is missing.

Sounds good.

Yes, the delete and edit buttons hang out together......

 

[Janger]

Not trying to muddy the waters here - but is the server software available as a purchase for self-hosting? Is it affordable?

I have a full blown Dell PowerEdge 810: 4x 10 core XEON @2.4GHz, 120Gb RAM, 60Tb RAID, 4x1000gb ethernet in a 4U rack with a UPS, running UBUNTU LTS.

If there is someone with the space and knowledge - I would be willing to donate it as a server for the forum.

View attachment 66931

Some years back @Jwest7788 was operating the forum from a rack in his garage. I think it was a major time commitment. Then we had some problems as part of a larger set of support issues and growth Josh was having with other client sites so he decided to move everything to a professional hosted solution and we, CHMW, came along for the ride. I think Josh just absorbs the cost of this within his company. I'm not on the board anymore so this is just what I recall. Super nice of you @Arbutus to offer to donate equipment for the forum. and shout out to @SomeGuy for the sleuthing work. I know the forum admin's have spent a ton of time on this and I thank you guys for the commitment.

One possible path forward, if I can QB from my deck chair, perhaps a roll back to a more generic xenforo install, and I appreciate that could be a huge amount of work to migrate back from the 'AS-IS' state with the various optimizations that have built up over the years. Please don't shoot me for suggesting it. I'm in IT too and hiding behind the couch as I type. So come on members join up to premium level so we can easily afford dedicated xenforo hosting.