Annoucements Alert!!!

[Barry]

Originally Posted by Arrogant-One

I server and hosts for OzChess are in the USA. I think the problem, and have been told that the problem, is associated with the site actually being http://ozchess.com.au

When I was experiencing problems last night I tried both with and without the www and neither was resolving to an address. The problem could be as localised as the DNS settings on the individual which are generally defined by the ISP, especially if the ISP uses DHCP. It would be interesting to try and correlate people experiencing the problem and their ISP. I'm Exetel and would expect anyone on this ISP to have been experiencing problems at the same time as I was.

Originally Posted by Arrogant-One

One user who could not log on using the www, tried the non www and has been able to gain access problem free since then. Nevertheless, the registered domain name is www, and maybe its time for me to call the server (likely Monday at the earliest as my weekends get booked up pretty fast) and I'll see if this can be cleared up.

This is an incomplete analysis of the problem for a couple of reasons. Without going into all the possible scenarios I'll just reiterate, the problem I was having last night was resolving the domain both with and without the www. prefix. It seems to be a problem with the Exetel DNS server but could possibly have been affecting other servers out there. I don't know the cause and it could even be an Exetel problem however I haven't had problems with other sites and I have seen intermittent problems with this site on different days so I suspect the root cause originates from vbskinworks. However, with the hosts file fix I don't expect and future problems unless someone changes an IP address on me.

[Iconoclast]

Thanks Barry for your tech help. Much appreciated by AO and me.

[Arrogant-One]

Originally Posted by Barry

When I was experiencing problems last night I tried both with and without the www and neither was resolving to an address. The problem could be as localised as the DNS settings on the individual which are generally defined by the ISP, especially if the ISP uses DHCP. It would be interesting to try and correlate people experiencing the problem and their ISP. I'm Exetel and would expect anyone on this ISP to have been experiencing problems at the same time as I was.



This is an incomplete analysis of the problem for a couple of reasons. Without going into all the possible scenarios I'll just reiterate, the problem I was having last night was resolving the domain both with and without the www. prefix. It seems to be a problem with the Exetel DNS server but could possibly have been affecting other servers out there. I don't know the cause and it could even be an Exetel problem however I haven't had problems with other sites and I have seen intermittent problems with this site on different days so I suspect the root cause originates from vbskinworks. However, with the hosts file fix I don't expect and future problems unless someone changes an IP address on me.

Thank you Barry

I will take all of your observations up with the server people early next week. Your detailed analysis is very much appreciated.

Alex

[Gendo Ikari]

Originally Posted by Arrogant-One

Pax has claimed that he sometimes has difficulties accessing this site.

If anyone has trouble loading up www.ozchess.com.au

then I recommend you

a.) Use Explorer as opposed to Firefox; and
b.) Just type http://ozchess.com.au (without the triple www)

That should solve your problems. If not, please email me

allegation@gmail.com

Thanks,

AO

I couldn't access with the www and it now works with the above method. Strange days.

[shaun]

I ran the address www.ozchess.com.au through www.dnsstuff.com and received a whole lot of diagnostic information. I suspect the main cause of failure is the the website only has NS information registerd with 1 nameserver (au2ld.CSIRO.au.) when it needs two nameservers minimum. If au2ld.CSIRO.au. can't handle the request I suspect the site goes missing.
This is a problem that I assume should be fixed by vbskinworks

[Arrogant-One]

This is the reply I got today from the hosting service:

Alex,

I've made a few revisions to the zone files on this server, in particular for
ozchess.com.au, I changed www to be an A record instead of a CNAME. While
technically this shouldn't make much of a difference, we can see if it does.
(The server should automatically return the CNAME to A mapping as part of its
initial reply to the querying resolver.)

I've also updated the NS entries as they were set to erroneous values.

Let me know if that makes any difference. I've checked service monitoring also
and I don't note any connectivity issues to this server recently.

[Fischer-Fan]

Originally Posted by Arrogant-One

This is the reply I got today from the hosting service:

Alex,

I've made a few revisions to the zone files on this server, in particular for
ozchess.com.au, I changed www to be an A record instead of a CNAME. While
technically this shouldn't make much of a difference, we can see if it does.
(The server should automatically return the CNAME to A mapping as part of its
initial reply to the querying resolver.)

I've also updated the NS entries as they were set to erroneous values.

Let me know if that makes any difference. I've checked service monitoring also
and I don't note any connectivity issues to this server recently.

What's up with the new Play Chess area? It won't work for me.

[Arrogant-One]

To play a game using the new chess mod:

Step 1 - Click the Play Chess Forum

Step 2 - Create a new thread with the name of your opponent (ie Arrogant-One vs Iconoclast)

Step 3 - To move pieces type the square coordinates. For instance (e2,e4) - no spaces - and then type something else, like First Move or Pawn Push.

(e2,e4) Pawn Push

Then simply post your reply.

Step 4 - To respond to a move, simply hit the reply button and make your move in the above fashion.

[Arrogant-One]

Okay everyone,

As you know at OzChess we aim to please. So here's the newest feature to make your life more pleasant, or at least easier.

When you log in (and this is only available to registered members, not unregistered guests unfortunately) you will see in the top right hand corner the words Welcome, Arrogant-One (or whatever your handle/user name is). This is common you say, that's always been there.

Indeed, but the little upside down diamond beside your username hasn't! Click it, and enjoy

AO

[MOZ]

Originally Posted by Arrogant-One

Okay everyone,

As you know at OzChess we aim to please. So here's the newest feature to make your life more pleasant, or at least easier.

When you log in (and this is only available to registered members, not unregistered guests unfortunately) you will see in the top right hand corner the words Welcome, Arrogant-One (or whatever your handle/user name is). This is common you say, that's always been there.

Indeed, but the little upside down diamond beside your username hasn't! Click it, and enjoy

AO

[Arrogant-One]

Originally Posted by MOZ

Its even cooler if you have an avatar

Some users have discovered, myself among them, that sometimes when you want to edit a post and you hit the 'post' button, that it just says 'Loading' but never actually loads.

If this happens to you its actually pretty easy to remedy. Just click the 'Go Advanced' button (don't worry it shouldn't wipe out your edits), and re-post from that screen by clicking 'Save Changes'. So far that's been the silver bullet to rectifiy that issue which sometimes occurs.

AO

[Arrogant-One]

Okay,

The Inferno Shout Pro Shotubox has been installed!

OzChess Member:

AO, How is this Shoutbox different from the last one or the one at Chesschat?

Arrogant-One:

This one is better than the last one (which was the free edition) and the one at Chesschat. This one cost OzChess $30 Chesschat's is freeware.

OzChess Member:

Really?

Arrogant-One:

Yes!

OzChess Member:

Okay, well how is it 'better'.

Arrogant-One:

In 3 ways members will appreciate and about 6 ways admins/mods will.

Firstly, lets start with the Smilies. You will notice a Smiley button in the Shoutbox. Click it and see what happens.

Secondly, you can now send Private Message from the new Shoutbox. Use this command:

/PM Username; Message

The Username is the person you want to message, and the Message is what you want your PM to say.

For instance, lets say I want to send Firegoat7 a Private Message, I would type:

/pm Firegoat7; Hey Dave, what are the bots complaining about on Chesschat today?

Thirdly, the Shoutbox is now exclusive. That is, for members only. The Shoutbox cannot be viewed by non-members. In the coming days Matt and I will discuss whether there will be a minimum post requirement for members to be able to view and use the shoutbox (ie. minimum 5 posts)

Fourthly, users can set the Shoutbox settings to ignore certain posters, that is not see shouts from certain annoying posters (not really relevant because OzChess doesn't have too many).

Fifthly, it now has an archive like Chesschat's primitive vbshout 2.0 shoutbox (which is such a high security risk that CC will surely be infiltrated/hacked someday because it uses that type of shoutbox).

You can access the archives by clicking the word 'Shoutbox' in the top centre of the Shoutbox

Any other questions please let me know. Thanks,

AO

[MOZ]

Originally Posted by Arrogant-One

Okay,

The Inferno Shout Pro Shotubox has been installed!


Thirdly, the Shoutbox is now exclusive. That is, for members only. The Shoutbox cannot be viewed by non-members. In the coming days Matt and I will discuss whether there will be a minimum post requirement for members to be able to view and use the shoutbox (ie. minimum 5 posts)



AO

I am not much a fan of shoutboxes BUT this exclusivity seems to me illogical.
Surely the SHOUTBOXis the first place a newbie gets his toes wet.

[Arrogant-One]

Originally Posted by MOZ

I am not much a fan of shoutboxes BUT this exclusivity seems to me illogical.
Surely the SHOUTBOXis the first place a newbie gets his toes wet.

I suppose thats one view Moz, but the alternate view is that it is a privilege and benefit of becoming a member. Also, the exclusivity give it a Coffee Lounge feel. But depending on what Matt has to say about it, this may change. I am easy.

AO

[Iconoclast]

Ummm, I think, at first blush, that the Shout box ought to be for all to use as soon as they log on. I am thinking: free speach, inclussion, friendly place.

Surely we need not emulate CC CL as it self imolates.