mysql06 (now running MySQL V5) - merged threads

[YvetteKuhns]

When will mysql06 be upgraded? (Okay, we won't get an answer to this yet.)

Should we wait to change the mysql host name from mysql06.powweb.com to username.powwebmysql.com? Or are we supposed to do that now?

It appears that Lisa's e-commerce site and Paul's databases are both on mysql06. I may have others. I have to go through each one and check. After the migration, some were moved, so I just don't remember.

[JamieLee2k]

I have just noticed in the annoucements in my OPS that MySQL 1-8 (excluding 6) have been updated, so why has 6 not been updated already?

[HalfaBee]

So people who had mysql5 issues had a server to run mysql4

[YvetteKuhns]

We have discussed this in another thread since I have at least two clients on mysql06 and Doc is also on it. They plan to upgrade it soon. I certainly hope they didn't transfer old scripts to that server. Maybe that was why we had slowness last week.

[lborgman]

Is not the MySQL servers upgraded? I can not see any performance enhancement, but PowWeb says on the page

http://ops.powweb.com/info/systemnotice.bml?id=3741

that they have been upgraded. But loading simple WordPress admin pages still takes several minutes a good portion of the time.

[Crius]

I'm also waiting for the mysql06 to be upgraded. How long does it take to do an upgrade? (Asking more by curiosity than complaining).

The hostname can be changed now if you want to, I did it and it works (I'm also on 06).

[YvetteKuhns]

The hostname can be changed now if you want to, I did it and it works (I'm also on 06).

Okay, I wanted to be sure BEFORE I did it. ;)

How long does it take to do an upgrade?

It takes an hour, more or less. We had most of them updated without really noticing much aside from frantically worried forum members checking phpmyadmin at one time. That caused it to be slower than usual.

[lborgman]

Does someone know anything about the list I gave a link to above? At the top there is a list of servers that are completed. At the bottom there are some other servers mentioned. The bottom list includes number 10, but it still seems to have problem so I wonder if it has been upgraded.

[phlembol]

I wonder if it has been upgraded.

You can tell what version SQL is running on your server by going to Administer, select the database in the left pane, then look in the main pane header. Not too paneful.

[lborgman]

You can tell what version SQL is running on your server by going to Administer, select the database in the left pane, then look in the main pane header. Not too paneful.

Oh, thanks, you are right. It was not too painful and I am still alive.

Unfortunately mysql10 is running MySQL 5.0.45. And I still have problems. This mean I have to start logging again.

I just started to finish my logging scripts. I will put up a link to them on

http://awebhostguide.wordpress.com/

Sorry I have not had time to do that before.

[Doc C]

I've been incommunicado since Tuesday morning (w/o Internet access) and just checked my sites, Yvette and they all seem to be running OK. I don't know if they were upgraded or not so I don't know if this helps. :)

[YvetteKuhns]

I just logged into OPS and phpmyadmin for one of the sites on mysql06 and it still says MySQL4 is in use.

[Crius]

Yep, still MySQL 4 on 06 :(

By the way, does anyone know if curl will be available with MySQL 5?

[YvetteKuhns]

As of yesterday, I was told that mysql06 had not been upgraded, but I was unable to access PowWeb sites due to ISP blacklisting to see for myself. I can access PowWeb today, but I am unable to log into OPS.

Lisa's site was slow this morning, so maybe they are upgrading or maybe they cannot upgrade, because there is another problem. It was working, but slow. I hadn't updated the mysql server name for this website yet.

Wow, OPS is SLOW. Okay, I finally got to see for myself that MySQL4 is still there. It has NOT been upgraded to MySQL5 yet. I expected them to be done by the end of August, but I guess that didn't happen.

[ANewDepth]

Is the upgrade causing the bloating on mysql06? My pages that access the database are taking almost a minute to load. I've noticed the same problem in phpMyAdmin.

[ANewDepth]

When will mysql06 be upgraded? (Okay, we won't get an answer to this yet.)

Should we wait to change the mysql host name from mysql06.powweb.com to username.powwebmysql.com? Or are we supposed to do that now?

It appears that Lisa's e-commerce site and Paul's databases are both on mysql06. I may have others. I have to go through each one and check. After the migration, some were moved, so I just don't remember.

I made the change yesterday and had no problem.

[YvetteKuhns]

I called support since one of the websites on mysql06 was slow earlier and down for 15 minutes between 3:00 and 3:15 pm EST. It is now working again, but it was down when support checked it.

[YvetteKuhns]

I didn't bother making the change while the server is up and down like a yo-yo. If it settles down, I will change it.

[IanS]

Is the upgrade causing the bloating on mysql06? My pages that access the database are taking almost a minute to load. I've noticed the same problem in phpMyAdmin.Not if it hasn't been upgraded!
Have you been sent an e-mail telling you it has been upgraded?

[YvetteKuhns]

I did not receive an email yet to say mysql06 is going to be upgraded as I did for the others. Of course, that would go to my clients. I log into OPS, then phpmyadmin and see that it has not been upgraded.

[IanS]

Thank you for the information Yvette. Keep us posted and let us know when that one is updated and if you do get the e-mail, let us know that as well if you could please.)

[YvetteKuhns]

I got an email from support just now:

Hello,


I am writing in response to ticket #3123993 and the issues with load speeds and MySQL. Over the past couple days we were under a denial of service attack, which was causing terrible load speed problems on our servers. We have since resolved this issue and you can read the details at http://www.powweb.com/info/systemnotice.bml?id=3864. As for the dates of further MySQL upgrades. We do not have any exact date as of yet but continue to check at powweb.com for updates.


If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us back either by replying to this email or calling us at: 1.866-476-9932.

Thanks,
<name removed>
Technical Specialist

So, today's problems were solved before today? Or there are no problems today and any problems that happened before, during and after are my imagination? :confused:

No dates for mysql06 upgrades. That I believe. ;)

[IanS]

So, today's problems were solved before today? Or there are no problems today and any problems that happened before, during and after are my imagination? :confused:

No dates for mysql06 upgrades. That I believe. ;)
New system for support - if you repeatedly deny something never happened often enough then it never happened!then it never happened! then it never happened! then it never happened! then it never happened! then it never happened! then it never happened!then it never happened! then it never happened!then it never happened!then it never happened!then it never happened! ;)

[YvetteKuhns]

I am waiting for a reply, before commenting on that. Of course, I was thinking that, but I shouldn't actually post things like that. ;)

[IanS]

I am waiting for a reply, before commenting on that. Of course, I was thinking that, but I shouldn't actually post things like that. ;)Neither should I :eek:

[ANewDepth]

Well, hopefully this upgrade will happen soon. With my luck, it will fry my forum, and I won't be around to fix it when it happens.

[Crius]

Man, why do I have to be on the last server to upgrade :(

Do you know if powweb ever let people change mysql servers? I need mysql 5 for some software I'm getting soon.

[YvetteKuhns]

You can backup your databases now and remove them. If you remove ALL of them, you can create a new database on your randomly chosen mysql server. You might get lucky. Then you can import your data in a new database.

[entrecon]

Does this server change trick work with the new naming convention?

[ANewDepth]

You can backup your databases now and remove them. If you remove ALL of them, you can create a new database on your randomly chosen mysql server. You might get lucky. Then you can import your data in a new database.
I tried to download a backup, but after supposedly converting everything, it downloaded as 0 bytes. I was able to export it from phpMyAdmin fortunately, but I've had databases exported that way which didn't port from 3.x to 4.x.

[YvetteKuhns]

I tried to download a backup, but after supposedly converting everything, it downloaded as 0 bytes.

You can download one table at a time. The PowWeb backups don't work well for larger databases. Or you can try BigDump.

I was able to export it from phpMyAdmin fortunately, but I've had databases exported that way which didn't port from 3.x to 4.x.

That was a while ago. Watch as MySQL5 works better with UTF instead of just the Latin default for characters. A reason to call it an upgrade for those who use special characters such as umlauts.

[Petra]

All the upgrades in nice order but mysql06 is missing.
I wonder why.
My Forum is very very slow and often my Members have to wait up to 3 and more minutes to load a page.

I hope they do upgrade mysql06 pretty soon, I have Members and paying customers that are already fed up and do not bother to come back and that is not right.

I have nothing really to tell them, heck, I do not even know what is going on, I am a novice and depended on help, hence choosing powweb because the Customer support has been WONDERFUL.

I have send a mail to Tech. support now and asked some questions and hope I do get a reply so that I can tell my Members what is going on.

Petra

[Petra]

I am on mysql06 , slow loading pages, lots of error messages.. sighhh
Hope they do the upgrade soon, have Members and customers running away.

Now as for the change of the mysql hostename, how do I change it.
I am a novice and I need a bit of help.

Petra

[ANewDepth]

The change depends upon which forum software you are using.

[YvetteKuhns]

I have just checked Lisa's shopping cart website on mysql06. It was loading slowly, then I checked all of the other websites I manage hosted on PowWeb. All of the others are fast. I checked Lisa's again and it is currently fast.

Every weekday at 9 am EST and 10 am EST, I have noticed extremely slow or inaccessible loads for her site. I continue to report this. I am extremely disappointed that this server still hasn't been upgraded AND the problem sites have been relocated here.

Her php pages load fast unless they are pulling info from the database. They messed up paths now like they did to Judy's website on mysql07 during upgrades. Are they upgrading mysql06 now? Or is this another problem?

The pagination has recently been messed up on these websites. I see it is related to the paths which have been renamed to be search engine friendly URLs. It is difficult to troubleshoot problems when the site is slow, inaccessible and giving server errors.

Now as for the change of the mysql hostename, how do I change it.

Search your config files (any files that use mysql06.powweb.com) and replace that with username.powwebmysql.com.

[Petra]

The change depends upon which forum software you are using.

I am using vBulettin Forum Software.

I am so new to all this, where would I find the config. file to change the hostname. sighh

Truly sorry for being such a pain:o

Petra

P.S my Domain is at www.photoimpactgraphics.com

[YvetteKuhns]

Edit vBulletin configuration file (http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/)

$config['MasterServer']['servername']

To edit the config.php file, you will need to open the file in a text editor such as Windows® WordPad. (Note that we do not recommend that you use Windows® Notepad to edit config.php, as Notepad has problems displaying the line breaks in some file types.)

Hmm... I have used Notepad without problems as well as WordPad for what was too big for Notepad. Well, use some plain text editor. ;)

[YvetteKuhns]

Petra, I visited www.photoimpactgraphics.com and saw that your link to FlashChat is now giving a 404 page not found error. Most of the pages loaded quickly for me. Some loaded slowly. The Sadmood picture fits for many people here right now. ;)

[Petra]

Thank you so much for your help, I will look into it this week.
The funny thing is, I am on MySQL06, I wrote to the support today, they looked into it and told me that my server was already upgraded?
I checked via Admin in the Database but it is has NOT been upgraded.
Mailed them back asap but not heard anything yet.

Thank you so so much for helping me , I am such an Idiot when it comes to those things, I am always scared I muddle it all up.:eek:

Petra

[YvetteKuhns]

The funny thing is, I am on MySQL06, I wrote to the support today, they looked into it and told me that my server was already upgraded?
I checked via Admin in the Database but it is has NOT been upgraded.

Mysql06 has not been upgraded yet.

Thank you so so much for helping me , I am such an Idiot when it comes to those things, I am always scared I muddle it all up.

Make a copy of it and don't touch it. Make another copy of the file that you can edit. If you make a mistake, you can always go back to the original copy. Don't be afraid to experiment. Only .htaccess and cron jobs should make you worry if you make a mistake. ;)

[Petra]

Thank you again for all your help Yvette, I really appreciate it.

Just got mail back from powweb that MySQL06 has not been upgraded. pfffft
First yes, then no, dumdidum

I will be very very careful when doing the hostname thing and make copies of EVERYTHING so that I do not mess up * to much*

You are a STAR and a God send for a dummy like me.
Petra

[spamjim]

The funny thing is, I am on MySQL06, I wrote to the support today, they looked into it and told me that my server was already upgraded

I'm on server 15 and I just got the following reply to a tech support question:
Thank you for contacting us.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. We have already upgraded MySQL to version 5. If you still experience any issue with the MySQL, please let us know.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are available 24x7.

I cannot understand how tech support is so oblivious to the MySQL issues. Powweb service has certainly become a joke but I find it hard to laugh.

[YvetteKuhns]

If you can't give a specific problem for support to address, they will give you that generic, outdated reply. I was getting initial replies like that, but I describe specific issues and get them to replicate those issues.

Simply saying my site is slow or inaccessible will get you We have already upgraded MySQL to version 5. If you still experience any issue with the MySQL, please let us know. for a response.

If you can say when the problems started and what changes you made to your site before, during and after these problems started, that would help. Give as many details as possible.

Tell them if you are able to log into phpmyadmin and optimize tables. Tell them if you updated .htaccess, php.ini or something. Tell them if there are any CGI errors reported in OPS. Tell them if you have something unusual in your access logs. Tell them anything that proves that you have done what you can on your end and that they need to investigate on your end.

[spamjim]

I posed a very specific problem. There is no excuse for their stupidity.

Subject: Can I switch from MySQL server #15 to one that has been upgraded to MySQL 5?

Body: I have been a Powweb customer for several years. I recall when MySQL was not such a problem. Why am I paying the same price for a service that you have acknowledged is problematic while others have access to MySQL 5? Can my account be moved to a MySQL server that has been upgraded?

[spamjim]

...outdated reply...

How is that an outdated reply?

[YvetteKuhns]

Subject: Can I switch from MySQL server #15 to one that has been upgraded to MySQL 5?


That sounds like a request and not a specific problem. The problem is a general one, mysql15 has not been updated and it has poor performance.

I have a few clients on mysql06 which has not been upgraded. Their websites worked fine UNTIL PowWeb moved the old sites that won't work on MySQL5 to it. The load time was slower and not blazingly fast like before. We aren't getting CGI errors, just lesser performance thanks to the outdated CMS sites that are probably being spammed or hacked.

I didn't even think to ask if PowWeb would move OUR sites. I would prefer it if they moved the OTHER sites to another server. They need to update their sites anyway. Why should I have more work over this?

Anyway, back to YOUR email request. These kind of requests are classified as rants, complaints or requests and not reports of specific problems. They may be ignored for lack of detailed information to support your specific problems.

Try this:

Subject: Website, OPS, phpmyadmin slow or inaccessible
Body:

Since (insert date here), I have been experiencing problems connecting to my website, database on (database server name), OPS and phpmyadmin. The load time is slow or inaccessible, particularly weekdays between 9 am and 5 pm EST. At 9 am and 10 am, I get a 500 internal server error.

I have optimized my database tables and noticed some overhead in table (insert name), but since the optimization and/or repairs, I see no improvement. I have read my access logs and do not see any increase in activity, abuse of scripts or unusual activity that would show a problem I could fix from my side.

I am running the latest version of (insert CMS script name, if applicable) which worked fine here from (insert date) to (insert date). Our webstats show a decrease in visits since our website has been inaccessible. I have installed anti-spam and query caching techniques (if applicable) and done whatever I could.

The problems with my account are believed to be related to the recent upgrades on PowWeb servers. Please check into my problem and fix it ASAP. Please do not send a general "wait, we are working on it" reply. I would like my site to work on the current server or another. I just want it to work. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

PowWeb Customer

This is a more detailed example of a request.

[spamjim]

There is no need to have phrased my question in any other way. I still have other open requests dating back months that specify my MySQL issues. Another open support ticket details MySQL queries that take an average of 2.5 seconds on a site that has less than a dozen visitors. I did not want to quote my entire support ticket history in this thread since I am not on MySQL server #6. I do not really belong in this thread. I was just noting that Powweb support is generally clueless, regardless of the resource pool. Petra should not feel like an idiot.

Whether my support issue was read as a rant or not, there is no reason why support should be saying that the servers are upgraded. It is just a clear sign that Powweb is not 'the perfect hosting solution'.

[spamjim]

Perhaps by posting our boilerplate replies from support, other forum users can recognize when they are being ignored.

[YvetteKuhns]

I was just noting that Powweb support is generally clueless, regardless of the resource pool. Petra should not feel like an idiot.

No customer should feel like an idiot. Support should ask the right questions to get the best information to resolve the problems. They should provide helpful answers and not just repeat "Sorry for your inconvenience, but we are STILL having problems with MySQL." like a bunch of parrots.

There is no need to have phrased my question in any other way. I still have other open requests dating back months that specify my MySQL issues.

Okay. I just think that the example you posted would NOT get a reply that would satisfy you. I repeat things in my communications, knowing a different person reads and replies to it. I hope that one person will have a light bulb over the head and give a useful reply.

[spamjim]

I don't see why I could not get a useful reply. It seems that if they can selectively hold some customers back on MySQL 4 on special request because those customers need to reconfigure their sites to work with MySQL 5, there should be equally little issue with moving a customer stuck on MySQL servers #6 and #15 to another upgraded server.

The competent tech support person could have said 'yes' or 'no' to a very straightforward question. It only takes an idiot to reply with a canned message that makes no sense.

[YvetteKuhns]

It seems that if they can selectively hold some customers back on MySQL 4 on special request because those customers need to reconfigure their sites to work with MySQL 5, there should be equally little issue with moving a customer stuck on MySQL servers #6 and #15 to another upgraded server.


Yeah! I want my clients to be upgraded, too! It doesn't seem fair that everyone else was upgraded. That is like giving cookies to ALMOST everyone in the room! :eek:

The competent tech support person could have said 'yes' or 'no' to a very straightforward question. It only takes an idiot to reply with a canned message that makes no sense.

I know I made numerous posts on this forum about the terrible email responses. Powweb actually had a meeting about this after reading so many rants on the forum. Yet the stupid replies continue. I forward stupid replies to Powweb until the replies improve! :D

[spamjim]

I would suspect that the canned messages are the product of quotas imposed on tech support staff. Management probably cans those that respond to the least issues in a day. If a support staffer can knock out more issues by replying with canned messages, they hold on to their position longer.

Unfortunately, some customers are confused by silly tech responses and needlessly apologize for 'being such a pain' as Petra did. How screwed up is this place when customers start apologizing for Powweb's own problems?

[YvetteKuhns]

I would suspect that the canned messages are the product of quotas imposed on tech support staff. Management probably cans those that respond to the least issues in a day. If a support staffer can knock out more issues by replying with canned messages, they hold on to their position longer.


Quotas for support replies? And I thought they searched for words like email, form, mysql, cgi and FrontPage and copied a response based on keywords without even reading the emails.

How about a reply within 24 hours? I used to work in a pharmacy where you had to answer the phone within 3 rings while running the cash register and stocking shelves. We didn't have portable phones and I used to jump over the counter to answer the phone while the pharmacist stood there with his thumb us his a$$.

Maybe PowWeb has a time limit to reply to emails. Ha ha. Yeah, just like those support tickets that sit there for a week or even since 1969. :D

[Petra]

Oh my, reading this makes me feel a bit better cos I am not the only one with those problems.

My husband is a Telecommunication Support Engineer for an American Company, I showed him the replies I got from Customer and Tech Support of Powweb, he could not believe it, he said, he would have gotten in big big trouble if he would send out mails to the customers like Powweb does.

I am quite sad because I remember a time where Powweb was fantastic with Support , Customer Support as well as Tech Support, specially for dummies like me that NEEDS the help.
I think it all went down hill when the migrated the Sites to other platforms and after that it was never the same.

I am so glad that we have Yvette here, she understands to explain in to me in a way that I actually understand what she is saying and that is wonderful.

I was even asked why I run a Forum software when I have no clue, the thing is, I know my Forum Software but have no clue about MySql, PHP and all the rest of it, that was why I decided to sign up with Powweb as everyone told me how great they are and the really have been until it all went pea shaped.

Petra

[YvetteKuhns]

he could not believe it, he said, he would have gotten in big big trouble if he would send out mails to the customers like Powweb does.


Believe it or not, Powweb didn't know how bad the email replies were until we posted here and I forwarded copies to them. Imagine having a lot of employees and not actually seeing what each person types in email. You learn of it after customers complain.

The support people who sent the lousy emails are hurting business for everyone. They should make a better effort to understand the problems as well as resolve them. I really don't think that the admins (technicians, repair people) send emails. There are customer support people who send emails.

I said this somewhere else on this forum: The techs work on/with computers. The customer support people answer phones and emails but do not work on computers aside from seeing if your website or FTP is accessible. We don't expect them to have all of the answers, but we want an honest, helpful answer after the problem is forwarded to the right people. That is not too much to ask or expect. It is what we deserve as paying customers.

[Petra]

yes that is right, I did not really think about it this way.

It is just very sad how the standard of a good Host like Powweb can get dragged down by their own * Customer Support *

Not so long ago I would have recommended Powweb to everyone, now I think twice.
Yes, they are compared to other hosts much cheaper BUT I still pay for a Service which should be GOOD.

Without this Forum I would be so lost.
Petra

[YvetteKuhns]

Without this Forum I would be so lost.

I am glad that they kept the Powweb forum. Many of us tried to convince them that the forum is a great promotional tool and resource. It is more up to date than the knowledge base or customer support!

I actually got thanks from several members of PowWeb phone support for my participation in the forum. Meanwhile, there are probably a few people from email support that wish I would get lost. :D

[IanS]

It is a great promotional tool and resource, but only when things are going well.

It's still a great resource but if things aren't going well it also is a very good display of why to choose someone else. It can give a very misleading impression. In the past when Service issues were fully reported and solved quickly it was an excellent showcase of how to have good relations with customers. Now........

[YvetteKuhns]

Yeah, I know what you mean. All the rants and complaints can be misleading. But with any business, there will be satisfied customers and there will be customers with problems.

My dad bought a Dodge van around 1980 that was around the time that Dodge had TV commercials that showed vans being dropped from the sky. My mom thought my dad's van must have been one from the commercial, because it had so many problems! We never had another Dodge since.

For many years, we all drove Chevy vehicles and I still do. I have four of them in my driveway now, Safari van, Venture van, Lumina and Malibu. My mom traded her Chevy Corsica for a 2007 Chevy Equinox. She still has a 1986 Chevy Celebrity stationwagon (for sale, if interested) and my dad has a Chevy Astro van.

My first car was my mom's Chevy Nova. I had another Chevy Nova after I was married. We have always been happy with Chevrolet. For some unknown reason, my dad bought that ugly red and beige custom Dodge van that shorted out the electricity when he used the cigarette lighter. He should have quit smoking sooner to avoid that problem, I guess.

Anyway, people will get an opinion and stay with it. We love Chevrolet and will probably not buy another Dodge. First impressions are especially important. We had several good years with PowWeb. A few bumps but still hanging around here.

Meanwhile, there are other hosts with which I have to work that made terrible impressions on me. They were inferior from the start and I wouldn't choose them for hosting. They could have the SAME problems, but I don't have a good past with them to allow forgiveness. The "new" Powweb was lucky to have happy, loyal PowWeb customers. We probably wouldn't have tolerated as much from a "new" host.

Ironically, Powweb IS a new host. We just don't feel like moving so many websites. If they lost this forum, PowWeb would lose the only thing left that reminds us of the good times, even if there currently are some complaints. You will see that on any forum.

Any forum is helpful and shows additional effort for support. Some web hosts don't have good forums or any forums and may lack other methods of support. I don't want to deal with web hosts that can't offer fast customer support. This forum still is a good tool, no matter what.

Well, if there are too many rants and not enough helpful posts, that would be different. But the mods can help with that. ;)

[Petra]

OMG, I got mail tonight from Powweb and they do the upgrade of MySql06 on the 17th!
I can hardly believe it.
Maybe the finally realized what they were doing to themselves by not listening to their paying customers.
They also said that they are re upgrading MySql15 again.

Now that is good news.
Very happy right now.

Yvette you are such a great help and I am sure you will see me here more often lol.
Petra

[YvetteKuhns]

PowWeb had to stop abusers and give some people time to update their outdated CMS websites before upgrading. Some people should be grateful for the extra time, because they needed it. Let's hope this upgrade goes as smoothly as the others did (for me). ;)

OMG, I got mail tonight from Powweb and they do the upgrade of MySql06 on the 17th!

Thank you to all who post here as my clients have not yet received or forwarded this information to me. Thanks to spamjim who was first to pass the good news to me. I was going to whine to PowWeb again, but I will wait until Monday. :D