Forums keep locking up.

English Forums Feedback
1

I have looked through the first few pages of the feedback forum to see if anyone else has this problem, but I don’t seem to see any mention of it.

However, I’m not so certain it is a problem isolated to only me, so if anyone else has this problem, please kick your comments into this thread.

The forums keep locking up on me. I can go to the forums, sometimes read part of a thread, sometimes read one or two entire threads, but most often only get to read one page of a thread. When I click on the link to go to the next thread, the loading icon in the browser just keeps spinning endlessly but goes nowhere, most often with “waiting for opensuse.org” or “waiting for suse.com” showing in bottom left of the browser window.

At first, I thought this was some kind of Firefox bug … until I tried Chromium and had exactly the same results.

This happens:
With JavaScript on
With JavaScript off
Logged in
Not logged in

(actually, it is worse when logged in!)

Note that it never does go anywhere. I have walked away from the machine for a couple hours to do something else, and have come back to see nothing has changed.

I can stop it & refresh, still the same.

I can try a different link in the forums, still the same.

But…

If I copy the link, close the browser, then launch the browser again and go to the same link, I get there instantly.

Also, if I right-click on the same link in Firefox & choose “Open link in a new Private Window”, I get there instantly.

If I do neither of those two things, I can browse no further on opensuse.org, including repository search or opensuse news.

This especially poses a very difficult and frustrating problem when trying to post a message while logged in. Nine times out of Ten (or perhaps even more often than that), the lockup occurs when I click on “Submit Post”. I have to close the browser, relaunch, log in again, click on the Reply link, and retype everything I had tried to post.

(Of course, I have quickly learned to type my message in a text file, or at least before hitting the submit button, select all the message body and copy it to a text file, so when I return I just paste and post. All this is a PIA with capital letters, naturally.)

I often have this same problem when trying to log in to the forums, so most of the time I browse the forums, I do so with JavaScript disabled and read the 2nd page of a thread by opening in a private window, then continue reading other threads.

If I find something I wish to comment on, I have to close the browser, relaunch it, turn Javascript back on, paste a copied link to where I was into the browser bar, then hit reply, which then prompts me to log in. At that point I get to write my message (or paste a failed message attempt) and sometimes can then post it.

After posting, I have to close and relaunch my browser, or browse again in a private window.

I have the same problem when trying to update my settings or my profile. Change one thing, hit save, close the browser, launch the browser, log back in, make the change again, hit save again, repeat until it finally decides to take.

All very frustrating, don’t you agree?

This happens in multiple browser versions, different machines, …

Is this a common problem? Makes it very difficult for me to participate.

-fb

2

… I just had to do that again to post this followup comment.

Wanted to add that this problem also presents me with the problem that I can almost never log out of the forums, and that also when logged in, I am forced to close multiple times while still logged in.

-fb

3

I sometimes observe this kind of behaviour if I have put my laptop to sleep, then resume some time later. When it happens, I often clear the cookies (or clear entire history), and click on my opensUSE shortcut

https://forums.opensuse.org/forum.php

and log in again. No problems after that for the remaining session.

4

On 2013-12-27 06:46, Fraser Bell wrote:
> However, I’m not so certain it is a problem isolated to only me, so if
> anyone else has this problem, please kick your comments into this
> thread.

In case you can’t solve this problem, I suggest that you can post instead via nntp, using
Thunderbird, for instance.

Here it describes how:
http://forums.opensuse.org/faq.php?faq=novfor#faq_mobile

At least, this method would allow you to participate till you find a solution.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 13.1 x86_64 “Bottle” (Elessar))

5

Oh, I can still participate … just not very easily. :-l>

But, might try that sometime if I get frustrated enough. The thing is, though, that I also have that problem on the rest of the OpenSUSE site, for checking the news,

openSUSE News

checking the FAQs,

FAQ - openSUSE

or for searching for Software or solutions.

openSUSE Online Software Repositories: Search

SDB:System upgrade - openSUSE

or anything else at opensuse.org

6

…wish it was that easy for me.

This happens while I am trying to read, or trying to reply, and clearing the entire hiistory doesn’t help, I actually have to close the browser most of the time.

7

Fraser Bell wrote:
>
> Oh, I can -still- participate … just not very easily. :-l>
>

Once you get used to nntp you will find the web interface slow and
time consuming.

–
Version 3.10.2
openSUSE 13.1 (Bottle) (x86_64) 64-bit
Kernel Linux 3.11.6-4-desktop
Where are my penguins :- https://features.opensuse.org/316767

8

On 2013-12-29 04:46, vazhavandan wrote:
> Fraser Bell wrote:
>>
>> Oh, I can -still- participate … just not very easily. :-l>
>>
>
> Once you get used to nntp you will find the web interface slow and time consuming.

That’s true. :slight_smile:

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 13.1 x86_64 “Bottle” (Elessar))

9

On 2013-12-29 04:36, Fraser Bell wrote:
> or anything else at opensuse.org

I don’t remember if you said you had tried with a new user :-?

I had Firefox crash several times in 13.1. Once I could not even start it, because as soon as it
tried to reload certain page from the previous session, it crashed. I had to remove that page from
the list.

A moment ago Thunderbird also crashed, silently, while I was not even looking at it.

I don’t know why.

I can not imagine why other browsers would crash for you, unless they share some component.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 13.1 x86_64 “Bottle” (Elessar))

10

On Sun, 29 Dec 2013 03:36:01 +0000, Fraser Bell wrote:

> robin_listas;2611888 Wrote:
>>
>> In case you can’t solve this problem, I suggest that you can post
>> instead via nntp, using Thunderbird, for instance.
>>
>> Here it describes how:
>> ‘openSUSE Forums FAQ’
>> (http://forums.opensuse.org/faq.php?faq=novfor#faq_mobile)
>>
>> At least, this method would allow you to participate till you find a
>> solution.
>>
>>
> Oh, I can -still- participate … just not very easily. :-l>
>
> But, might try that sometime if I get frustrated enough. The thing is,
> though, that I also have that problem on the rest of the OpenSUSE site,
> for checking the news,
>
> ‘openSUSE News’ (http://news.opensuse.org/)
>
> checking the FAQs,
>
> ‘FAQ - openSUSE’ (http://en.opensuse.org/FAQ)
>
> or for searching for Software or solutions.
>
> ‘openSUSE Online Software Repositories: Search’
> (http://software.opensuse.org/search?utf8=&baseproject=openSUSE%3A12.2)
>
> ‘SDB:System upgrade - openSUSE’ (http://en.opensuse.org/Upgrade)
>
> or anything else at opensuse.org

Sounds like it might be something with the authentication servers rather
than the forums. There are a few things that have been acting squirrely
for the last few days. Do you see similar problems on the SUSE, Novell,
or NetIQ sites? (I’d check, but I haven’t been able to reproduce it here
myself).

Jim

–
Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator
Forum Use Terms & Conditions at http://tinyurl.com/openSUSE-T-C

11

Hi, pal:

Firefox isn’t crashing, I can browse anywhere else, just the opensuse.org and suse.com sites aren’t responding until I go private mode (suggesting it is a tracking issue of some sort) or I close & restart the browser.

-fb

12

Yes, and this is for the entire opensuse.org site and suse.com site, not just in the forums.

When looking for software, for instance, at openSUSE Online Software Repositories: Search

or trying to go through SDB articles SDB:Offline upgrade - openSUSE

or browsing here Planet openSUSE

or here openSUSE News

So, it is not specifically a forum-only issue, but an opensuse.org and suse.com issue.

…perhaps it is them danged yankee spies intercepting my browsing too long, or maybe them dagnabbed canuck spies in Ontario?

:quiet:

13

Fraser Bell wrote:
>
> hendersj;2612328 Wrote:
>> On Sun, 29 Dec 2013 03:36:01 +0000, Fraser Bell wrote:
>>
>>> robin_listas;2611888 Wrote:
>>>>
>>>> In case you can’t solve this problem, I suggest that you can post
>>>> instead via nntp, using Thunderbird, for instance.
>>>>
>>>> Here it describes how:
>>>> ‘openSUSE Forums FAQ’
>>>> (‘openSUSE Forums FAQ’
>> (http://forums.opensuse.org/faq.php?faq=novfor#faq_mobile))
>>>>
>>>> At least, this method would allow you to participate till you find a
>>>> solution.
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Oh, I can -still- participate … just not very easily. :-l>
>>>
>>> But, might try that sometime if I get frustrated enough. The thing
>> is,
>>> though, that I also have that problem on the rest of the OpenSUSE
>> site,
>>> for checking the news,
>>>
>>> ‘openSUSE News’ (‘openSUSE News’ (http://news.opensuse.org/))
>>>
>>> checking the FAQs,
>>>
>>> ‘FAQ - openSUSE’ (‘FAQ - openSUSE’ (http://en.opensuse.org/FAQ))
>>>
>>> or for searching for Software or solutions.
>>>
>>> ‘openSUSE Online Software Repositories: Search’
>>> (‘software.opensuse.org: Search’
>> (http://software.opensuse.org/search?utf8=&baseproject=openSUSE%3A12.2))
>>>
>>> ‘SDB:System upgrade - openSUSE’ (‘SDB:System upgrade - openSUSE’
>> (http://en.opensuse.org/Upgrade))
>>>
>>> or anything else at opensuse.org
>>
>> Sounds like it might be something with the authentication servers rather
>> than the forums. There are a few things that have been acting squirrely
>> for the last few days. Do you see similar problems on the SUSE, Novell,
>> or NetIQ sites? (I’d check, but I haven’t been able to reproduce it
>> here
>> myself).
>>
>> Jim
>>
>> –
>> Jim Henderson
>> openSUSE Forums Administrator
>> Forum Use Terms & Conditions at ‘openSUSE Forums FAQ’
>> (http://tinyurl.com/openSUSE-T-C)
>
> Yes, and this is for the entire opensuse.org site and suse.com site, not
> just in the forums.
>
> When looking for software, for instance, at ‘openSUSE Online Software
> Repositories: Search’
> (http://software.opensuse.org/search?utf8=&baseproject=openSUSE%3A12.2)
>
> or trying to go through SDB articles ‘SDB:Offline upgrade - openSUSE’
> (http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Offline_upgrade)
>
> or browsing here ‘Planet openSUSE’ (http://planet.opensuse.org/)
>
> or here ‘openSUSE News’ (http://news.opensuse.org/)
>
> So, it is not specifically a forum-only issue, but an opensuse.org and
> suse.com issue.
>
> …perhaps it is them danged yankee spies intercepting my browsing too
> long, or maybe them dagnabbed canuck spies in Ontario?
>
> :quiet:
>
>
Try launching Firefox in safe mode

firefox -safe-mode

–
Version 3.10.2
openSUSE 13.1 (Bottle) (x86_64) 64-bit
Kernel Linux 3.11.6-4-desktop
Where are my penguins :- https://features.opensuse.org/316767

14

In addition to the suggestion to run FF in safe mode (to see if that
helps), try also purging all cookies and cache.

Jim

–
Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator
Forum Use Terms & Conditions at http://tinyurl.com/openSUSE-T-C

15

…done all that, doesn’t help.

And, it isn’t a Firefox issue, since it happens in other browsers

But, doesn’t really matter. I was really just interested in finding out if it is a somewhat universal problem, or if it is just happening to me.

For all we know, it could be internet traffic shaping somewhere along the line.

I am still going to continue to participate.

Oh, yeah … and:

Thanks to each of you for your recommendations, suggestions & comments. Much appreciated.

-fb

16

On Tue, 31 Dec 2013 04:46:01 +0000, Fraser Bell wrote:

> But, doesn’t really matter. I was really just interested in finding out
> if it is a somewhat universal problem, or if it is just happening to me.

I should’ve remembered that it wasn’t just FF from the original post -
whoops. :slight_smile:

Given that it’s just the few sites that I think are all hosted in the
same location - though you said the wiki (en.opensuse.org) and
software.opensuse.org also were doing it - the first is located here in
Utah, but the second is in Germany.

But the authentication system is all in Utah as I recall, so maybe it’s
the authentication servers. I did notice a little slowness in them
earlier today when I was testing an issue with bugzilla - during login.

In your browser, there may be a tool that gives you network statistics -
in Chrome it’s in the developer tools. Firefox, I think, needs the Web
Developer plugin to see it - but the profiler in there will give you
information about response times from various sites the browser connects
to when opening a page - it might be interesting to see where the
slowdown is using one of those tools.

Jim

–
Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator
Forum Use Terms & Conditions at http://tinyurl.com/openSUSE-T-C

17

…maybe Utah doesn’t like ancient Canadians in British Columbia? Or, maybe just ones in Kamloops? :\

(wouldn’t be a big surprise. Did you guys notice my friends list is empty?)

In your browser, there may be a tool that gives you network statistics -
in Chrome it’s in the developer tools. Firefox, I think, needs the Web
Developer plugin to see it - but the profiler in there will give you
information about response times from various sites the browser connects
to when opening a page - it might be interesting to see where the
slowdown is using one of those tools.

Jim

–
Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator
Forum Use Terms & Conditions at openSUSE Forums FAQ

…that appears to be included in the newer Firefox, or at least in Firefox 24.2.0 ESR, which is what I am using.

But, of course, as we start narrowing things down …

It isn’t happening today, for the first time since I registered with the OpenSUSE forums!

… maybe “they” realize we are on to them! rotfl!

-fb

18

On Tue, 31 Dec 2013 05:16:01 +0000, Fraser Bell wrote:

> …maybe Utah doesn’t like ancient Canadians in British Columbia? Or,
> maybe just ones in Kamloops? :\

Nah, I hail originally from the Minneapolis area - and while that’s not
Canada (obviously), it is the “great white north” - so they’re used to
dealing with people who really know cold. :wink:

> …that appears to be included in the newer Firefox, or at least in
> Firefox 24.2.0 ESR, which is what I am using.

Cool, I wasn’t sure if it was an extension in mine, because I mostly use
Chrome when surfing the web these days. The network tool is what’s
needed, and it needs to be open when the page is loaded.

> But, of course, as we start narrowing things down …
>
> It isn’t happening today, for the first time since I registered with the
> OpenSUSE forums!
>
> … maybe “they” realize we are on to them! rotfl!

That could well be - I know a few folks were back in the office today
(not enough vacation time to take the day off), so it’s possible someone
noticed something and gave it a swift kick. :wink:

Jim

–
Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator
Forum Use Terms & Conditions at http://tinyurl.com/openSUSE-T-C

19

The problem returned with a vengeance about 2 or 3 weeks ago.

I am certain, now, that it is an issue with the authentication or related authentication cookie(s).

What happens is that, while on the forums, I spend about 1/10th of my time waiting for opensuse.org, 1/4th my time waiting for www.suse.com, and more than 1/2 my time (!) waiting for esp.attachmategroup.com !!!

It would appear to me that something is blocking the suse.com and attachmategroup.com, or there are not enough resources dedicated to those servers, or for their responses to IPs in my geolocation, or some such thing.

If I just wait for a response, it never comes. If, when it hangs, I keep stopping, then hitting reload, I finally get from waiting for suse.com to waiting for esp.attachmategroup.com. If I then wait, it will never (I have left it for a couple hours while doing something else, just to see) move beyond that. If I stop, reload, stop, reload several times (it will now keep getting as far as attachmate), it will eventually suddenly come alive.

At that point, it continues past novell.com and the page loads in a flash after that.

Sometimes I can read 2 or 3 pages before it locks again, other times it will lock on trying to get to the next page after only 1 page, and most of the time it locks if I hit the “Reply with Quote”. I have to do the routine all over again, then can write a post, and when I hit submit post, it will lock again. I just return to the stop, reload, stop, reload routine, and the reply finally gets posted and I am sent to the proper page to continue reading.

It is frustrating, it is very counter-productive (think how many posts I could read, and how often I could respond, if not for this), and sometimes makes me avoid the forum in favour of doing some other task that doesn’t have this problem.

Interesting to note, again, that if I use the “Open Link in New Private Window” option, at all times I will get where I am going instantly, even while the other logged-in page stays locked up like that trying to get to the same page.

So, of course, I do most my reading of the forums in “Private Windows”. But, of course, I cannot reply, then. So I have to reload the thread in a normal window (oh boy! Here I go again…!), relocate the post I wish to respond to, hit reply, and hope it goes to the editor (sometimes it does, sometimes it does not).

I am at a loss how to deal with this.

I suppose I may have to look into the NNTP thing Carlos talks about, but I really don’t want to do that at this time.

If I had a pipeline in to whoever manages those two servers, I might be able to get a solution.

When I have more time, I most probably will try to use the network tools you mentioned, sometime in the near future.

20

Hi
Sure it’s not DNS? No issues here logging in, browsing, replying to this (I also use nntp 99% of the time…)