Random 503 HTTP error codes

[realwx]

Hi, I have been having an issue where at random times the forum will be giving me a "503 Service Unavailable" error, and only on the forum itself. All other files in the SMF directory seem to work just fine (SSI, etc.) as well as other parts of the site that aren't in the SMF forum directory. Is there any way to figure out what is causing SMF to randomly give a 503 error? Thanks.

[karlbenson]

Version of smf?
Mods?

[Cruiser57]

Hello,

I got the same Problem...   BUT...  it does'nt come randomly...
it's exactly always, when we use LINKS  with or without  the "[ url ]" tag...
If you remove the link, the post works fine without the HTTP 503 (So the Server is not really busy).
The same problem occurs, when you edit a Post.

If you got a Hyperlink in the Post... you'll get:
Service Temporarily Unavailable
The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to maintenance downtime or capacity problems. Please try again later.

Board is SMF 1.1.12  and has following mods:
Mod Name    Mod Version    
1.    Display Age and Location next to posts    1.0    
2.    SMF Gallery Lite    2.1    
3.    Todays Birthday    1.2    
4.    Fix Session Verification for Polls    1.0    
5.    Simple Imageshack Upload Box    1.0    
6.    SMF 1.0.16 / 1.1.8 Update    1.0    
7.    SMF 1.0.17 / 1.1.9 / 2.0 RC1 Update    1.0    
8.    SMF 1.0.18 / 1.1.10 / 2.0 RC1-2 Update    1.1
9.    SMF 1.0.19 / 1.1.11 Update    1.0    
10.    Ultimate Profile    0.9    
11.    reCAPTCHA for SMF    0.9.8    
12.    SMF Gallery Pro    3.0.3    
13.    SMF 1.0.20 / 1.1.12 Update    1.0    
14.    SMF Gallery Pro    3.0.8    
15.    Social Bookmarks    1.1

Thanks for any Help
Tom

[Cruiser57]

Funny thing... 

Today it seems only "hitting" me...  other Users can Post with a Link...

If   >>I<< 'm  going to edit this Post...  and just click on SAVE,  I'll get the HTTP 503 again.

If I edit a Post without Link...  everything is fine...

If OTHERS  edit or post a Thread with a Hyperlink, everything seems to be Fine, too.

Last week it was different.  Others reportet that "Problem".   but it doesn't happen to me, when I testet last week.

No idea, where to seach.   PHP seems to be fine...  Webserver seems to be fine...

A Port-Problem on the ISP

[JimM]

Kind of an old topic but...

Take a look at this link >>> http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findbyerrormessage/a/503error.htm

According to that link you might want to open a support ticket with your host. 

[Cruiser57]

Well, Thanks for the Hint...
But...

I opened a Ticket first, before asking here...  Strato Hosting answered, to Fix-Up and Compress the MySQL-Database.

The Main-Problem seems to be, that THIS only happens on a special PC, and if you use Hyperlinks.
If I remove the Hyperlink from my Post, the post saves and works fine.
When I edit the Post, and add a Link, I get the 503 Error... if I remove the Link again, I can safe the post.
(I tried this a few Times, and always the Same:  Link in Post brings Error 503,  remove the Link, post works fine)

I don't belive, that is depending on the Hoster's Server-Performance...
I would think, it's some kind of DNS-Problem, but I don't know, if or where SMF resolves the Links...
a Port-Problem to the MySQL-DB (but why only with Hyperlinks)
Or maybe the module, changing the "Text-Input"  beginning with "http:"  to a Hyperlink ?

And:  during I tested this Problem,  others postet new Threads or posts, even with Hyperlinks...
So I had the Idea, to use another PC,  and there I could edit and post with Hyperlink, too.

I wouldn't think about this, if this happens only to me, and my PC...  but this happens to others Users, too.
And after a while, it Works fine again...

Very strange thing...   

Thanks for any Hint,

Tom

[Cruiser57]

No Ideas ?!?!? 

Well, after Testing again today,  I found out something new:
I postet a Thread yesterday at Home,  with the Url of this Topic...  but without  [ url ]  and it came automatically as a Hyperlink...

Today I edited this post,  did nothing,  and pressed SAVE...   it saved without the 503,  but the Hyperlink was only Text now...
So I edited it again, and put the [ url ]  Tags  around the adress, and saved it, it's now a Hyperlink again..

I'm not sure, but I belive, this behavior came up first time, after the Last Update zu 1.1.12 ?

I don't understand, why a Text is on one PC a Hyperlink, and on the other not... 


Greetings
Tom

[JimM]

I postet a Thread yesterday at Home,  with the Url of this Topic...  but without  [ url ]  and it came automatically as a Hyperlink...

That's most likely because you have this setting checked in Admin > Forum > Posts and Topics > Bulletin Board Code > Automatically link posted URLs:

Both PCs using the same browser?  Have you tried to consistently duplicate the issue with different browsers?

[Cruiser57]

Well,   I  use  mostly  Firefox on both PC's...  but as it happend,  I tried also the Internet-Explorer 8 with the same problem.

At Home it worked fine...  with both Browsers,  and the next day it worked also fine on the first PC causing the trouble.

The Checkbox for  "Automatically link posted URLs:"  was never modified...  so it should be the same at all times / PC's / tries.

And I also use the same account...

This problem was reported by other Members with the same behavior.  But it seems, that the Problem is for a limited time only...
(This brings me back to the toughts:  Is it the Webserver ?  But why can other post without a problem at the same time ??)

Thank you...

Tom

[xiphirx]

It's your webhost, contact their support.

[JimM]

The 503 Service Unavailable error is an HTTP status code that means the web site's server is simply not available at the moment. This is usually due to a temporary overloading or maintenance of the server.

That would explain why it comes and goes.

The 503 Service Unavailable error is a "server-side" error, meaning the problem is not with your PC or Internet connection but instead is a problem with the web site's server.

Both of those statements are from the document that I linked to in Reply#4.

[Cruiser57]

Well, OK, I understand that...

But I don't understand, why this only happens, when we got a Hyperlink in a Post...  remove the Link, the Server works fine... edit and add a Link, the problem 503 occurs.

I can't belive, that this behavior is only depending on the Load of the hoster's server, except, there a call on any module, if you use a Hyperlink, and the module won't work due overload.

Well...  I'll have an eye on this...  if I find out something new...  I'll post it...

Thanks for your help

Tom

[JimM]

I would think that your host would be interested in solving this error as well.