Hello!
I apologize if you think this should go in the "Upgrades" section. The reason I posted it here is that the upgrade reported no errors or problems, and based on the "READ FIRST: How to help us help you" topic, it sounded best here. Apologies if I am incorrect!I don't know where to go or what to do. Three days ago I wanted to accomplish two things:
- Move to a new, faster server I had configured
- Upgrade from 2.0 RC5 to 2.0 Final
For the move, I followed the instructions provided in the wiki (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/How_do_I_move_my_SMF_board_to_a_different_host) (just Step 1 as I wasn't moving hosts--just servers--so the database and hostname remained the same) and some common sense (as I have done many site transfers before). First, I backed up my database, and then the files were copied over with rsync. After DNS finally propagated, I could access the site to perform the upgrade. First, though, I ran repair_settings.php to ensure the file paths were correct and up to date. Everything looked good.
I then followed the Upgrading instructions (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Upgrading) and began the upgrade from 2.0 RC5 to 2.0 Final by extracting and uploading the upgrade archive. I then ran upgrade.php to upgrade the database, and no issues were encountered at any step of the process. The upgrade was successful for all I knew.
Shortly thereafter, as I was testing things to make sure nothing broke, a user complained that she couldn't log out. Every time she would, she would receive the "Session verification failed. Please try logging out and back in again, and then try again." error. Soon after I was hit with the same thing. I couldn't post, edit posts, use the admin section, logout, or do pretty anything.
I next ran some queries here, and found that this is a pretty common problem. Well, I tried all the usual fixes (clearing cache and cookies, truncating the sessions or log_online tables, and all of the other solutions I could find here on this forum. Nothing fixed the issue.
So, here we have a forum that at one point worked wonderfully for months, spontaneously stop working for no apparent reason. Sure, I suppose the upgrade could have done something, but it was accomplished with no issues whatsoever. I was truly at a loss. The forum is now unusable.
I then reloaded the old file backup (2.0 RC5 files) and restored from the database backup (prior to the move) and now my backed up, restored version was doing the same thing! I kept getting "Session verification failed. Please try logging out and back in again, and then try again." errors all over the place. I was at even more of a loss.
I then thought maybe it could be the new server. I then waited for DNS to propagate back to the original server and attempted using the old RC5 files with the database backup and still no luck.
Since then I have tried every (and I mean every) combination of backing up, restoring, upgrading, installing, and everything in between. I don't have the time or the memory capacity to tell you everything I have done in detail because I have spent three whole days working on it. At this point, users cannot log in or log out because of the error, which means the entire forum and all of its data is useless. In other words, we've lost everything since I don't know of any way to selective import the posts in one SMF forum into a new one.
And before someone mentions that mods may be the cause, I only have 10 mods that were ever installed, and all of them are 2.0 compatible. I even later verified this when I installed them on a fresh 2.0 install as I attempted to debug this terrible situation.
To be honest, I've never been more pissed off or exasperated in my entire life. The day this happened I could literally feel my blood boiling. This has been a horrid experience and I've all but given up. I don't know what to do or how to fix this.
At one point I also ran a quick test. I installed a fresh copy of 2.0 final, created a new database, and filled it with the default values (ran install.php). Of course the fresh install worked fine. Then I cleared my cache and cookies and truncated the sessions table. After that I had the same session errors my main site has experienced. I don't know if you need a clearer sign, but that sure sounds like a pretty nasty bug to me.
Anyway, I'd appreciate all the help I can get. At this point I've lost everything because it's inaccessible. I can't understand how a backed up copy can experience the same problem as the upgraded version, unless this bug exists in the core of the SMF files and therefore is in many versions.
Thanks for your help. I really do appreciate it. :)
EDIT: After continuing to tweak it over and over again, I eventually got to a point in which I, personally, can access everything fine. In other words, one of my sessions works fine with error. I can't tell you what I did that that made a difference, because I had tried it several times before. I started with a very old file backup (in this case from May 23rd) and my backed up database from just before the move. I then removed all mods, upgraded to 2.0, attempted to login, delete cookies, login again, etc. and finally it worked for that one session of mine. Whenever I login, or rather attempt to login (even on a different browser, system, etc), I get hit with the error yet again. What that means is that I can use my one successful session until I log out. At that point I'll be locked out and back to square one. Other users still cannot login or do anything.
I don't know what to do at this point. Since all of the data is apparently lost, I'm about ready to see if I can use a vBulletin converter tool to convert my forum to vBulletin format, and then convert back to SMF.
I'm open to suggestions, but nothing seems to work. I've wasted three complete days of my life getting nowhere. :( Whatever you think my work, I'm all ears.
Here are my specs as of right now on the old server:
URL: forum.spiritsoffire.com
MySQL: 5.1.39-log
PHP: 5.3.5
Server: Apache
phpinfo():
I can provide a link to those who request it.Test account:
I can make a test account if it's requested. I'm just worried that the test account will work fine since it's being created after already experiencing the issue.
There was really no need for the huge essay :P
But heres the solution to users not being able to logout:
Go into the Admin CP > Server Settings > Feature Configuration
Enable local storage of cookies - unchecked
Use database driven sessions - checked
Good Luck!
Quote from: desibees on August 07, 2011, 06:01:27 PM
There was really no need for the huge essay :P
But heres the solution to users not being able to logout:
Go into the Admin CP > Server Settings > Feature Configuration
Enable local storage of cookies - unchecked
Use database driven sessions - checked
Good Luck!
Thank you for the reply!
I've had database driven sessions enabled the whole time. I've even tried without, as some of the support staff have recommended in other topics. Either case doesn't solve the issue. :(
If that didn't work, it is most likely caused by any SEO mod you have installed.
Browse your package manager and look through any SEO mods you have installed, and try again after uninstalling them.
The list of SEO mods could be found here (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?action=search;type=14).
Quote from: desibees on August 07, 2011, 06:11:41 PM
If that didn't work, it is most likely caused by any SEO mod you have installed.
Browse your package manager and look through any SEO mods you have installed, and try again after uninstalling them.
The list of SEO mods could be found here (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?action=search;type=14).
Thank you for your reply.
Unfortunately, I don't have any SEO mods installed. And I've completely tested the forum without any mods and it still has the problem. Sorry I didn't make that clear before. The problem exists regardless of installed mods or not. And not to mention that the mods I have make hardly any changes. I'm not a big fan of lots of mods, or mods that change the code directly.
Few questions
What theme are you using?
Does it happen on all themes or just current theme.
Have you tried it on different browers?
Could you please post your URL and login/pass for us to try out.
Thanks
Quote from: desibees on August 07, 2011, 06:44:16 PM
Few questions
What theme are you using?
Does it happen on all themes or just current theme.
Have you tried it on different browers?
Could you please post your URL and login/pass for us to try out.
Thanks
Good question! I only use the Curve (default) theme and users don't have the option to switch. I've tried it on 5 browsers and different computers.
The URL is up above as well, but it's blocked because I only have a few posts. Here it is again:
forum.spiritsoffire.com
And should the account be an admin? Or just regular user?
And thank you for your help. :)
Regular is fine
U: test
P: removed for now
My quick check of the account makes it sure seem like it works fine. It's just the existing accounts that are having problems it would seem (which is what I feared would happen after creating this test account). :(
Thanks again. :)
The test account is able to post and everything just fine. So it's the existing accounts that have problems. Is there anyway to force all users to recreate a password upon logging in? I don't know if that would solve anything, but it's just a thought. :)
EE
EDIT: One quick thing about changing passwords. Users can't do it on their own because as soon as they submit their new password they are hit with the "Session verification failed" error. That's why it needs to be required on a much higher level, if that makes sense.
You sure there is nothing wrong with any permissions? Anyways, to answer your question:
Running maintenance Forum stats recount boots everybody.
However, they will just be logged in again next time they click something unless you change your cookie name settings then run maintenance. Check if this fixes it.
Quote from: desibees on August 07, 2011, 08:10:31 PM
You sure there is nothing wrong with any permissions?
Hmm...it could be...can you elaborate at all by what you mean? I haven't changed any permissions during or after the move/upgrade. :-\
Quote from: desibees on August 07, 2011, 08:10:31 PMAnyways, to answer your question:
Running maintenance Forum stats recount boots everybody.
However, they will just be logged in again next time they click something unless you change your cookie name settings then run maintenance. Check if this fixes it.
Okay, I'll give it a whirl. Thanks. :)
Let us know how it goes
Quote from: desibees on August 07, 2011, 08:46:15 PM
Let us know how it goes
I changed the name of the SMF cookie and ran the Stats Recount from the admin panel but it didn't seem to do too much. Currently we have some members that can post but many that can't. And by can't, I mean that they receive the "session verification failed" error.
Also, any time I do log in, it tells me my password is incorrect and asks for it again before actually logging me in. It does this without fail and I know I'm typing it correctly.
So, still having issues. :( And can you explain what you meant by the permissions please? Thanks. :)
file permissions or smf permissions would have no affect on this.
File permissions is what I meant but looks like it doesn't effect. Hm, Can you try it on a different theme one more time and check if it says the same thing? I'll look more into the problem my self and will see if anything is possible.
Quote from: Illori on August 08, 2011, 06:13:20 AM
file permissions or smf permissions would have no affect on this.
Okay, thanks for the reply! :) Do you have any insight into what may be occurring? Thanks!
Quote from: desibees on August 08, 2011, 02:32:10 PM
File permissions is what I meant but looks like it doesn't effect. Hm, Can you try it on a different theme one more time and check if it says the same thing? I'll look more into the problem my self and will see if anything is possible.
Well, I could try a different theme, but I'm hesitant for a few reasons:
- Using a different theme with only a portion of the mods installed for it could result in unexpected, wonky behavior and/or errors
- We've only ever used the Curve (default) theme so far
- Users can't select/change their theme (they have to use the forum default)
I would greatly appreciate it if my pending instructions/questions could be addressed. If anyone else has a suggestion, that would be great as well. Thanks again! :)
This is a pretty serious problem. Some users are being forced to log in twice and users are still experiencing session verification errors. :(
The issue most likely crept up because you switched to a different server (with different settings).
Here's a description of the problem and the solution:
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=447598.0