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EarlG

(22,702 posts) Mon Nov 4, 2024, 01:52 PM Nov 4

416

A note about increased traffic and the possibility of DU restrictions on and around election day

Last week we struggled with a completely unanticipated issue -- our database glitched out and it took around 48 hours to fix it, during which time we had to significantly reduce the database load by restricting who could visit DU. We think we now have this situation resolved.

However, beginning today, and going through election day and beyond, it's likely that extremely high traffic will force us to make similar restrictions. To be clear, this would not be the same problem as the database glitch which happened from Thursday thru Saturday last week. However, our multi-step approach to dealing with it is the same.

Under normal circumstances, anyone can visit and read DU. But once our traffic load gets too high, the site will slow down and eventually crash if we do not take action.

When that happens, our first step is to restrict access to registered members only. If you have a DU account, whether you're a Star Member or not, you can get in and read the site.

If this "Level 1" procedure is not enough to reduce traffic to a manageable level, we restrict access further. Our "Level 2" procedure is to restrict access to Star Members only. If you have a DU account and you are Star Member, you can get in and read the site.

The less said about our "Level 3" procedure the better, but just know that if we hit that level, nobody will be able to access the site. In that worst-case scenario, we will post further information on the homepage explaining the situation.

During these periods of expected high traffic, we constantly monitor the site's performance to make sure that things are not getting overloaded. When traffic gets too high, we may be forced to switch to one of these restricted levels in order to stay online.

This is, unfortunately, very difficult to resolve. It is not cost effective for us to run servers powerful enough to handle the kinds of traffic we might see over the next 72 hours or so, when those circumstances only occur once every four years. And I'm afraid it's not as simple as just "adding more power" temporarily.

So while we have done our level best to prepare for tomorrow's election when it comes to security and traffic load, and we will be monitoring the site constantly and doing our best to run under "normal" conditions for as long as possible, I'm not going to sugarcoat it -- this is your official heads up that there is a good chance that we'll be operating in a restricted mode at least partially over the next few days.

Thanks for reading, and please let me know if you have any questions.

EDITED TO ADD AN IMPORTANT NOTE: If the worst should happen and DU goes down completely, we will post updates on our Facebook page. (We no longer have an active Twitter account.) We may also send updates to the DU mailing list. If you receive our weekly "Last Week In Review" emails, then you are already on this list. If you are not on the list, you can sign up via the form on our Contact page.

130 replies

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A note about increased traffic and the possibility of DU restrictions on and around election day (Original Post) EarlG Nov 4 OP

Thanks for all the hard work! n/t BaronChocula Nov 4 #1

Thanks for the update and the head's up! Wounded Bear Nov 4 #2

Thanks BlueSky3 Nov 4 #3

Thank you for everything you are doing, DU Admins. 2016 was unbearable. catbyte Nov 4 #4

No questions, but Thank You for the heads-up! We will get through this. nt CaliforniaPeggy Nov 4 #5

Thank you, EarlG. You are a sanity saver if not life saver! MLAA Nov 4 #6

You are appreciated! Here's hoping things go as smoothly as possible for you. chia Nov 4 #7

Thanks! quaint Nov 4 #8

Thanks guys! Dennis Donovan Nov 4 #9

We can always go to DU Facebook - those of us who use it. I think that it worked in 2016 question everything Nov 4 #10

I checked it out in 2016 and it was pretty awful. Does DU have a Xitter page? Crunchy Frog Nov 4 #29

I have never monitored our social media pages EarlG Nov 4 #40

That's Hilarious question everything Nov 4 #46

At some point there are some jobs humans just won't do. Marcuse Nov 4 #59

Thank you Earl True Blue American Nov 4 #100

Thanks, guys. I really appreciate your hard work and keeping us informed. nt Biophilic Nov 4 #11

Strength and Honor, friend and noble warrior for truth. WheelWalker Nov 4 #12

Information ScotLass Nov 4 #13

Well, here we go!!! Think. Again. Nov 4 #14

Thank you for all you do, guys Diamond_Dog Nov 4 #15

Thank-you so much for all the Blue_Roses Nov 4 #16

DEFCON times....nt DoBW Nov 4 #17

I'm so-o-o-oo grateful for DU and for all the work you do! FakeNoose Nov 4 #18

All updates and work is very appreciated. DU is the best as an information clearinghouse. SoFlaBro Nov 4 #19

Ty, and GOOD LUCK!! 🤞👍 electric_blue68 Nov 4 #20

Excellant professional post. chouchou Nov 4 #21

Thank you so much for all you do. Hope22 Nov 4 #22

GOOD LUCK to everyone - I will be a poll watcher all day but will check in progressoid Nov 4 #23

Thanks for the heads up sdfernando Nov 4 #24

Let's GOoooooo ismnotwasm Nov 4 #25

Would it be good for all of us to throttle back our own posting? marble falls Nov 4 #26

It's not the posting that's the problem, it's the total number of visits EarlG Nov 4 #42

COMPLETELY understandable, and thanks for this message! 💙 Gaytano70 Nov 4 #27

Acknowledged and thanks! We will be glued to MSNBC the whole evening tomorrow and into Wed morning PatrickforB Nov 4 #28

Thanks for letting us know. greatauntoftriplets Nov 4 #30

Thanks of the clear explanation. We all appreciate the work you do to make the site available and user friendly, and Martin68 Nov 4 #31

---maybe suggest that most of us refrain from posting anything that does not pertain to the election. 3Hotdogs Nov 4 #32

It's not the posting that's the problem EarlG Nov 4 #47

Or even an option dweller Nov 4 #49

thank you! DemonGoddess Nov 4 #33

Back up your database every 15 minutes! NameAlreadyTaken Nov 4 #34

Thank you. 33taw Nov 4 #35

I miss the old DefCon days, when various features would progressively go out. Crunchy Frog Nov 4 #36

The current system of levels is similar to the old one EarlG Nov 4 #48

Signed up for the emails. It will ve a sleepless night. NNadir Nov 4 #37

Mahalo for letting us know just what to expect. Cha Nov 4 #38

Thank 3auld6phart Nov 4 #39

Your behind the scenes work....... drumpfsucks Nov 4 #41

Earl G: You're the best!! Sogo Nov 4 #43

Thanks to you and Elad for giving us this home Maeve Nov 4 #44

Scotty, we need more power! We're running on impulse power. StrictlyRockers Nov 4 #45

Thank you BoRaGard Nov 4 #50

Thanks for all the hard work! Grumpy Old Guy Nov 4 #51

Thank you! sagetea Nov 4 #52

Thanks for all that you do. And I'm glad I'm have a star membership! GoneOffShore Nov 4 #53

Dear EarlG and Elad, Thank you for everything this site gives us, thank niyad Nov 4 #54

Got it! Thanks for all you and Elad do! ❤️ littlemissmartypants Nov 4 #55

Fully understand! bluestarone Nov 4 #56

Thanks for this heads up and for everything you do for us! ShazzieB Nov 4 #57

Why not block new sign ups for 72 hours starting now? n/t FSogol Nov 4 #58

Thanks for the heads up Earl KS Toronado Nov 4 #60

not again Soxderrube Nov 4 #61

Donate $5 wryter2000 Nov 4 #95

This message was self-deleted by its author Karma13612 Nov 8 #129

BS Soxderrube Nov 4 #62

It's not a game EarlG Nov 4 #91

just pray we dont have a repeat of 2016. AllaN01Bear Nov 4 #63

Supporting DU is important. No excuses for not LuckyLib Nov 4 #64

Well, see you on the other side! Initech Nov 4 #65

Thanks guys. You're the absolute best!!! judesedit Nov 4 #66

Thank you, EarlG! piddyprints Nov 4 #67

Thanks so very much! nolabear Nov 4 #68

Thank you to both you and Elad. sheshe2 Nov 4 #69

Battle stations orangecrush Nov 4 #70

Thank you for the update! chillfactor Nov 4 #71

Fingers crossed. Thx for letting us know and working so hard. marked50 Nov 4 #72

Thank you for all your hard work. Good luck tomorrow. BoomaofBandM Nov 4 #73

Thank you for all you do. barbtries Nov 4 #74

IF DU goes 100% down obamanut2012 Nov 4 #75

Understood! Appreciate your efforts. keithbvadu2 Nov 4 #76

Thank you, EarlG and elad. Aristus Nov 4 #77

Many thanks Marthe48 Nov 4 #78

Thank you! And thanks for understanding how much we all rely on DU every day. mountain grammy Nov 4 #79

I normally choose "leave me logged in on this computer" when I log in. Does that tie up resources ? eppur_se_muova Nov 4 #80

It wouldn't make any difference EarlG Nov 4 #97

Are there any non-essential functions we as members can avoid to significantly lighten the load? muriel_volestrangler Nov 4 #81

Sounds like a plan. We are the reverse of Star Trek however. GreenWave Nov 4 #82

Thanks for all your work, EarlG! calimary Nov 4 #83

Thanks Ananda62 Nov 4 #84

In that case, I might actually get some work done tomorrow. mahatmakanejeeves Nov 4 #85

i get the traffic thing, but after the previous stunt to get more paid views... I'm skeptical as hell NotHardly Nov 4 #86

Slightly confused... EarlG Nov 4 #101

Thank you EarlG Tigerpal Nov 4 #87

Welcome to DU radical noodle Nov 4 #121

Where would we be without you? ReRe Nov 4 #88

You got this. DJ Porkchop Nov 4 #89

Perhaps you can make a subreddit for us to post in? joshcryer Nov 4 #90

Your hard work and this site are so appreciated. pnwest Nov 4 #92

K&R spanone Nov 4 #93

Thanks EarlG bdamomma Nov 4 #94

EarlG, would it help if everyone Captain Zero Nov 4 #96

It would not make any difference EarlG Nov 4 #99

I would like to add that our beloved DU has an Instagram page as well. OldBaldy1701E Nov 4 #98

Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride! liberalla Nov 4 #102

TY EarlG mntleo2 Nov 4 #103

Thank you. hotdamn00 Nov 4 #104

Thanks for the heads-up and all you do behind the scenes. Golden Raisin Nov 4 #105

Thanks EarlG Arthur_Frain Nov 4 #106

Thank you for all you do Greybnk48 Nov 4 #107

Thank you EarlG for all the work you do for us Trailrider1951 Nov 4 #108

Maybe pin this to LBN for a few days? Prairie_Seagull Nov 4 #109

Thank you for all of your hard work relayerbob Nov 4 #110

Thank you UpInArms Nov 4 #111

Thanks guys for all you do. TomSlick Nov 4 #112

Many thanks Earl!! n/t Ars Longa Nov 4 #113

Thank you, and EarlG, for everything thing you guys do! lobointexas Nov 4 #114

Thanks so much for keeping us informed, EarlG! Hoping for the best!!! Rhiannon12866 Nov 4 #115

Appreciate the info! bovine6 Nov 4 #116

Profound thanks and hugs to you, EarlG and Elad Hekate Nov 4 #117

Thank you for the info. As always. Bluethroughu Nov 4 #118

Thanks for the hard work ... let's go win! (nt) confoosed Nov 4 #119

Que sera sera. FailureToCommunicate Nov 4 #120

Roger that. nt Hotler Nov 4 #122

Thank you EarlG and Elad for this wonderful community. blogslug Nov 5 #123

About these "crashes". Refer to Churchill's "fight them on the beaches" speech. Yeah, that one. jaxexpat Nov 5 #124

EarlG, thank you and your team for all you do. badhair77 Nov 5 #125

Site issues mamacita75 Nov 5 #126

Doesn't it just suck to have such a popular and well-run home to come to? BobTheSubgenius Nov 5 #127

Will restrictions ease soon? Marthe48 Nov 7 #128

Post removed Post removed Dec 9 #130

BaronChocula

(2,535 posts)

1. Thanks for all the hard work! n/t