It seems here lately, I have been reading a lot of posts about how slow AR has been here lately, and the frustration that people are getting when they cannot get on to their favorite blog spot. At various times of the day, I attempt to logon or go to a post and and I get the dreaded following message:
Proxy Error
The proxy server received an invalid response from an upstream server.
The proxy server could not handle the request
Reason: Error reading from remote server
Apache/2.2.3 (Red Hat) mod_ssl/2.2.3 OpenSSL/0.9.8b Server at activerain.com Port 80
To computer junkies such as myself, this is almost as bad as Microsoft's "Blue Screen of Death." I know how frustrating this can be, so before you get your urinary tract further upset or knickers in a wad, a few words about computers and networks. In a computer network, a proxy server is a server which services the requests of its clients (AR members/users) by forwarding their requests to other servers that contain the data or information that they are requesting.
In basic terms, here is how a typical Internet system works. A user typically connects first to the proxy server your first encounter with the Active Rain network. Your are generally requesting some service, such as a blog, response to a blog, or other resource, available from a different server somewhere on the network. The proxy server provides the resource by connecting to the specified server containing the desired data and requesting the service on behalf of you the client.
Generally, all of this works rather seamlessly until high traffic volumes occur. When you get the proxy server error, equate this to getting a busy signal on your phone. Yesterday AR posted 1624 blogs. Now couple those posts along with tens of thousands of responses.
When you look at this sheer amount of volume along with the popularity the Active Rain community has enjoyed over the past few years, some traffic tie-ups can be expected. So before you pull your hair out, utter a few choice words under your breath, or pitch your computer out the window, calm down and just try calling back at another time. It will certainly save a lot of wear and tear on your urinary tract...
Join my birthday alarm. It is fast painless and the best part of all, you will be helping me out.
This post is included in one of AR's newest groups Blogs Happen... . We are a friendly lot of misfits. Check us out and join the group. You will be glad you did...
Michael
Copyright © 2008 by Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
