503 Service unavailable error message.

[Colin]

Yesterday I tried to post a message that had 6 photos embedded in it. These photos were externally hosted (on my own hosting space) and linked rather than uploaded to the forum software. When I tried to submit the post I got the 503 error message.

I tried again about 20 minutes later with a new message and got the same error.

I tried a third time and again the same error message. I then created a new post with just the first 2 photos in it and it posted fine. I then tried a new message with the 4 remaining posts in it and that again failed with the 503 error message. I pressed the browser back button and removed 2 photos from the message and this time it submitted fine. I created a third message with the last 2 photos and that posted fine too.

It seems as though there is some sort of server limitation on posting with linked rather than uploaded photos that you may want to look in to.

This is just FYI and may be good for a sticky post in case someone else has the same problem.

[Robert Scott]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

Unfortunately, the 503 message can refer to a range of different problems. It does seem odd that a message which only contains links to photos, rather than the actual photos, should be affected. Feedback from an expert in this area would be welcome.

[MX5]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

Normally this server side error means the server (i.e. this one) isn't available. It maybe that the server was just very busy or there was a glitch. I have noticed a few problems elsewhere (though not here) in past few days.

But the behaviour you describe is rather strange suggesting a client side (or Internet) problem ... but reporting a server side error number. Curious.

[Colin]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

I have just tried to post the same message again. It is 7am UK time (8am European time) and there are only 346 on-line. See attached screenshot.

users.jpg

[MX5]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

Colin - given no one else has noticed this I'm thinking it may be something between Spain and whereever this site is hosted (I thought it was in Germany). But it's odd its a server error... unless the Spanish route to the server farm is different from the UK/Holland route? I'm assuming a) that the post didn't appear and b) that even though you click on the Image icon to drop in a URL to your photo store ... that is also okay c) only occurs when try to post a message.

Let us know if the problem goes away

[Colin]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

It seems to be the number of photos linked in the post. Two is fine and posts OK but if I go to 3 or more then I get the 503 error message. I have tried with other photos just to ensure that it is nothing unique with them. I have another web server in Holland and will try to repeat the exercise from with photos from there later.

[MX5]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

I'm looking for patterns in the bahaviour ... So two links to images and all well ... and is it always the third and beyond that fails? Just humour me ... lets assume you are putting Image1, Image2 in one post and that is okay. But Image1, Image2, Image3 in another isn't. What if you try and create Image3,Image1 ... does that work.

I'm assuming all the links to your image store are viable ... but if some aren't then that may be the root cause.

I don't work on a help desk ... so pardon my ad hoc approach (but I do understand the technologies).

[briansquibb]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

3 pictures for me worked

http://www.eos-magazine-forum.com/showthread.php?7309-Macro-shot-Coupling-lens-focus-stacking-and-other-experiments

[Colin]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

I'm looking for patterns in the bahaviour ... So two links to images and all well ... and is it always the third and beyond that fails? Just humour me ... lets assume you are putting Image1, Image2 in one post and that is okay. But Image1, Image2, Image3 in another isn't. What if you try and create Image3,Image1 ... does that work.

I'm assuming all the links to your image store are viable ... but if some aren't then that may be the root cause.

I don't work on a help desk ... so pardon my ad hoc approach (but I do understand the technologies).

To answer your questions.

Yes I did try different images in different order without success.

The image store is viable because all 6 images are displayed as 2 images per post over 3 posts.

I have just tried again using my server in Holland and it has posted 6 photos in one post fine. Most are repeats of the ones that I had problems with when trying to load them from the US server. See this post http://www.eos-magazine-forum.com/sh...8174#post58174 whereas my previous Moors & Christians photos I had to split into three in the same forum.

It therefore seems to me as though it is a latency issue between the forum server and the location of the server hosting the images. If I want to put several images in a post then I will use my Dutch based server.

[Colin]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

Brian, That post of yours has the images split over different messages I was trying to put 6 photos in one message.

[MX5]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

Colin - has the problem gone away?

I regularly put 4, 5 or 6 images in a post. Just this morning I posted this John Peel Country without incident.

[Colin]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

Yes it has providing I post from a server based in Holland if I try from my server based in the US I still get the 503 error message.

[MX5]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

That's pointing towards a US Server issue me thinks. But given (if I understand) you can access this server and see your repsoitory and also the links are viable I'm currently at a loss to explain. Although I think its fair to say it isn't Roberts server(s).

The way that now doesn't work (posting >=3 images) has I assume previously worked?

The change from working to not working didn't involve the latest Microsoft Updates by any chance (I ask because I've experienced a few (not 503's) issues on a variety of kit).

[Colin]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

As I said in my earlier post I suspect it is a latency issue. If I want to post 2 images I can use the US server if I want to post more in a single thread I must use my Dutch server. I am slowly but surely moving all my sites to the Dutch server so the problem will eventually go away.

This post may be useful to someone else if they experience the same issue.

[MX5]

Re: 503 Service unavailable error message.

It could be latency (although I suspect Spain is well connected to the US) but equally it could be the web page that loads is trying to get too much from the US server especioaly when it requests 3 or more pages and is just too busy to action the request so the US server appears unavailable as the web page tries to load. Actually it could be over zealous denial of service protection ... 3 or more requests from the same IP address in <10ms ... then the server pretends it's unavailable (I've come across that before).

Anyway you have a resolution. Care to name the US service?