server4 outage - Page 3

CML209 · 11 Nov 2005, 12:10 PM

Maybe the answer is for all of those enhanced members on server 4 to keep up the inquiries (even after things are up and running) about being moved to a better server.

PetersWeb · 11 Nov 2005, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by anachron
I would hope that this outage will cause the admins to perhaps move Enhanced accounts to some kind of fail-over dual independent / synchronized server situation so that this can't happen in the future. I would gladly pay another $10 per year for that privilege; I've lost a lot more than $10 by not being able to receive any email for the last 4 hours.

My two bits.

I too wouldn't mind paying a little extra to ensure that an outage of this magnitude doesn't happen again. I'd be quite happy to discuss this with the powers that be at some stage as I'm pretty serious about this.

Today is my last day in the office before going on a business trip next week and I had planned to download some files I have on Fastmail to my Laptop before leaving. Looks like I'll have to try and get them over the weekend and use my home ADSL bandwidth

CML209 · 11 Nov 2005, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PetersWeb
I too wouldn't mind paying a little extra to ensure that an outage of this magnitude doesn't happen again. I'd be quite happy to discuss this with the powers that be at some stage as I'm pretty serious about this.

Today is my last day in the office before going on a business trip next week and I had planned to download some files I have on Fastmail to my Laptop before leaving. Looks like I'll have to try and get them over the weekend and use my home ADSL bandwidth

The sad point is that the free accounts are getting that less interrupted service.

oysterquartz · 11 Nov 2005, 12:45 PM

If we pay more will get further degraded service

That seems to be the equation ... free = good ... enhanced = .....

**Sherry** · 11 Nov 2005, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CML209
Maybe the answer is for all of those enhanced members on server 4 to keep up the inquiries (even after things are up and running) about being moved to a better server.

IIRC that is just what they did. They put the Enhanced users on the new faster server when they got server 4. I guess any server can have a problem and I'll bet they are frantically working to get it solved non stop. That's probably why we're not hearing a lot right now. The last thing they want is to have Enhanced, or any, customers not able to get mail...

Sherry

CML209 · 11 Nov 2005, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sherry
IIRC that is just what they did. They put the Enhanced users on the new faster server when they got server 4. I guess any server can have a problem and I'll bet they are frantically working to get it solved non stop. That's probably why we're not hearing a lot right now. The last thing they want is to have Enhanced, or any, customers not able to get mail...

Sherry

Hi Sherry, I think server 4 was doomed from the getgo. That's the one that had to have all the stuff done that I don't understand. I don't want to take the approach of harsh complaining like I did last year. I'm not going anywhere. I like FM, and as I mentioned, the filespace is up. I just think since this has been a recurring problem that they should consider moving the paying customers to the more reliable servers, which is why I mentioned seeing if there was a graph or something that could compare downtime.
Chei Mi

DianeB · 11 Nov 2005, 12:58 PM

I have a full account & for some reason thought I was on server 3, but appears I'm on 4 too.

(East Coast)

Had problems off/on all day long & *big* time problems tonight. Haven't been able to get to my mail for hours now.

Though I agree, this is the first time such an outage has caused such severe problems in a long time now, & I'm sure Jeremy, Rob & the crew are doing everything they can to get us back up & running. Until then, on the bright side of things, *ho hum*, guess I'll get to bed earlier than usual tonight.

~Diane

elvey · 11 Nov 2005, 01:03 PM

This bites. I thought J&R said long ago that the servers all use hardware RAID. Do we have any good information about which servers are more reliable? As noted here on the wiki the official logs are worse than useless.

[edit: ultimately, it took about 3 days for service to be restored.]

CML209 · 11 Nov 2005, 01:04 PM

I started a thread that I hope will get some response, good or bad. http://www.emaildiscussions.com/...threadid=39234
It's one thing to grin and bear it (which is fine), but that doesn't mean we should seek the better service. Seems like all too many are finding out we are on 4.

William9 · 11 Nov 2005, 01:13 PM

I have been unable to login to the FastMail server for about 6 hours. I question why the mail server4 function cannot be temporarily transfered to another server while the repairs are made. I know that email is important to everyone. I use mine for medical purposes, so being out of touch because of a 6 hour or more server problem can be very distressing.

William9 · 11 Nov 2005, 01:19 PM

I have a couple of paid accounts. I would be willing to pay more to get reliable service. Maybe FastMail would consider buying a more reliable server for those customers willing to pay a premium. Anyone know of an email service providing really dependable access?

not_happy_jan · 11 Nov 2005, 01:37 PM

I have been sitting at home in Sydney writing an essay all day. My email stopped working at about 11am I think.

I am amazed it has been down all day - it is 4:30pm as I write this.

I have emails on 3 domains hosted by 3 different ISPs and I forward them all to my Fastmail account which I use all day, every day for business and personal email.

I (stupidly, in hindsight) just assumed that the boys (and girls?) at fastmail would have a multiple redundant/mirored server set-up that would mean that my email would never be unavailable unless a meteor hit the NY data centre (or center, to the Yanks...).

After this I will have to set up another email service with a totally separate provider, and have all my emails redirected to both at all times, as I (and the rest of you) obviously cant rely on fastmail... What a shame.

William9 · 11 Nov 2005, 01:44 PM

I agree. One server failure should not cut off service. I expected that FastMail had some sort of load sharing or redundancy -- so that important communications would still get through to the customer.

David · 11 Nov 2005, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by William9
Anyone know of an email service providing really dependable access?

You could do what I do William, and open a Pobox.com forwarding account, and forward to at least two places - currently I am forwarding to Fastmail and PumaPost, but I can forward to any account, and switch away from a failed service in just a few seconds.

elvey · 11 Nov 2005, 01:45 PM

http://wiki.fastmail.fm/index.php/InfraStructure has info on what hardware etc. fastmail uses.

Putting enhanced users on a higher end RAID seems like a good idea.
(5->1->10->...)

11 Nov 2005, 01:03 PM	#38
elvey The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2,458	This bites. I thought J&R said long ago that the servers all use hardware RAID. Do we have any good information about which servers are more reliable? As noted here on the wiki the official logs are worse than useless. [edit: ultimately, it took about 3 days for service to be restored.] Last edited by elvey : 15 Dec 2005 at 09:45 AM.

11 Nov 2005, 01:13 PM	#40
William9 The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2,281	Server4 Outage I have been unable to login to the FastMail server for about 6 hours. I question why the mail server4 function cannot be temporarily transfered to another server while the repairs are made. I know that email is important to everyone. I use mine for medical purposes, so being out of touch because of a 6 hour or more server problem can be very distressing.

11 Nov 2005, 01:37 PM	#42
not_happy_jan Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2	This is very bad PR.... I have been sitting at home in Sydney writing an essay all day. My email stopped working at about 11am I think. I am amazed it has been down all day - it is 4:30pm as I write this. I have emails on 3 domains hosted by 3 different ISPs and I forward them all to my Fastmail account which I use all day, every day for business and personal email. I (stupidly, in hindsight) just assumed that the boys (and girls?) at fastmail would have a multiple redundant/mirored server set-up that would mean that my email would never be unavailable unless a meteor hit the NY data centre (or center, to the Yanks...). After this I will have to set up another email service with a totally separate provider, and have all my emails redirected to both at all times, as I (and the rest of you) obviously cant rely on fastmail... What a shame.

11 Nov 2005, 01:45 PM	#45
elvey The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2,458	Hardware info... http://wiki.fastmail.fm/index.php/InfraStructure has info on what hardware etc. fastmail uses. Putting enhanced users on a higher end RAID seems like a good idea. (5->1->10->...)

11 Nov 2005, 12:10 PM	#31
CML209 Essential Contributor Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 328	Maybe the answer is for all of those enhanced members on server 4 to keep up the inquiries (even after things are up and running) about being moved to a better server.

11 Nov 2005, 12:45 PM	#34
oysterquartz The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Athens Posts: 2,402	If we pay more will get further degraded service That seems to be the equation ... free = good ... enhanced = .....

11 Nov 2005, 12:58 PM	#37
DianeB Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: USA-South Carolina Posts: 503	I have a full account & for some reason thought I was on server 3, but appears I'm on 4 too. (East Coast) Had problems off/on all day long & big time problems tonight. Haven't been able to get to my mail for hours now. Though I agree, this is the first time such an outage has caused such severe problems in a long time now, & I'm sure Jeremy, Rob & the crew are doing everything they can to get us back up & running. Until then, on the bright side of things, ho hum, guess I'll get to bed earlier than usual tonight. ~Diane

11 Nov 2005, 01:04 PM	#39
CML209 Essential Contributor Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 328	I started a thread that I hope will get some response, good or bad. http://www.emaildiscussions.com/...threadid=39234 It's one thing to grin and bear it (which is fine), but that doesn't mean we should seek the better service. Seems like all too many are finding out we are on 4.

11 Nov 2005, 01:19 PM	#41
William9 The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2,281	I have a couple of paid accounts. I would be willing to pay more to get reliable service. Maybe FastMail would consider buying a more reliable server for those customers willing to pay a premium. Anyone know of an email service providing really dependable access?

11 Nov 2005, 01:44 PM	#43
William9 The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2,281	I agree. One server failure should not cut off service. I expected that FastMail had some sort of load sharing or redundancy -- so that important communications would still get through to the customer.