Cloudflare DDoS
 

I have experienced inability to login to this site today (25/5/2018) from 1300 Zulu until just now. I was getting a Cloudflare 521 error. I was able to access the main Forum Page, but any attempt to access a sub forum resulted in the aforementioned error message. Of concern was the fact that ARRSE was down as well. I wonder if the transatlantic cable is severed and if any other PPRuNers have had the same difficulty today. :(

- Ed

Perhaps this offers a clue:Error

PPRune Acting up May 24 - blocking some countries
 

I suddenly could not access PPRune during my day for a while. When I finally did get through I got some messages about browsers needed checking and then the page was only partly loaded until I did a refresh.

Any news on the problem being on my end only or generic?

not just you #metoo

Same things happening to me, it takes several attempts to get a page to load, with a constant stream of "database error" messages coming up now. Before that error screen I often get a Cloudflare "checking your browser" message, which always then results in the "database error" message, which seems to be coming from the forum software itself, as it mentions that the administrators already know about the problem.

Me as well :(

Me as well. It looks like the forum PHP code is having trouble connecting to the mysql database, as the error is being generated in response to a failed mysqli_real_connect() call.

The interesting question (to me) is why CloudFlare DDoS protection is kicking in. Maybe just as a result of the HTTP 503 & 520 errors that CloudFlare is seeing coming from the forum? But a real attack could certainly cause mysql connection issues simply due to concurrent connection limits, etc. Of it could be all the folks reloading the page trying to get it to work! Heh.

Busters picture in this weeks Capcom is missing, it must have been there judging by the numbers of entries but I don't see a picture. Previous Capcom pictures are displaying. Is it me or is there something wrong?

I've been seeing similar errors that appear more like DNS problems than database server errors.

On the 1st of April, 2018, Cloudflare in partnership with APNIC released recursive DNS servers 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 (see https://1.1.1.1 for the story), perhaps they are using it in their own network for services like this. Both IP addresses of 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 come with historical baggage that Cloudflare is trying to steer away from to make it useful again.

re PPRune "Acting up" May 24 (and also around midnight GMT on May 28-29)
 

On May 24, around 1800 GMT, encountered what appears to be same issue (displayed a page headlined "database error" and stated "The PPRuNe Forums database has encountered a problem").

A check using https://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/ indicated the site appeared to be down.

Happened again at midnight GMT on May 28-29, 2018. Given the hour, wasn't sure if site undergoing planned maintenance, or ??? I didn't try again until hours later, so can't speak to duration of the most recent apparent outage. Site administrators almost certainly aware of issue, so this is simply for benefit of anyone else who encountered that error message. It isn't just you.

Vietnam banned from PPRUNE?
 

"The owner of this website (www.pprune.org) has banned the country or region your IP address is in (VN) from accessing this website"

Can only access by VPN now

Seriously PPRUNE management, are our posts THAT bad? :{

It was happening again on and off this morning, between around 10:00 and 12:00 GMT, very roughly. Same database error message as before, but this time the glitch seemed to be very sporadic.

Sight ? sight ?......

PPRuNe now insist of captcha at any move
 

What's wrong? I'm logged on and on my home computer, definitely without ant virus treats and at static IP. But any move - forum change, page reload, truing to answer post - oops and page with Captcha protection fires on me.​​​​​​​

https://i.imgur.com/dpskuvm.png

Using Firefox. Added the Privacy Pass. Seems to work okay.
Bob.

Be sure your browser accepts and does not delete cookies.

Any ongoing issues?

Ongoing issues - yes since about 3 days I get a panel from Pprune on each
new screen and have to click I agree all the time.

Did you

• log out and back in
• clear browser cache
• ensure your browser accepts and doesn't delete cookies
• turn off ad block

?

If so, tell us

• your device type?
• browser and version?
• mobile skin or desktop?
• Are you logging in from overseas (i.e. European IP)? Did you ACCEPT the PPRuNe terms of service when they popped up?

Thank you

DDoS Recurrent Error Message
 

Dear IBobi, I have had further difficulties accessing this site today. I got a Cloudflare Error 521 message repeatedly from 1600-1900Z. I have complied with the steps you kindly suggested above. I will attempt deeper diagnostics when and if the problem resurfaces.

- Ed

Had most of these problems intermittently over the last few days. Now when I use wifi here in Budapest I get a message saying access from Hungary IP address is refused?? It was ok this morning. No problem with mobile data.