Discussion about bugs and backups :)

[Kinsey6]

Manager (mgr) [inside joke],

Please slap me around for a while.

Earlier in this calendar year when we had a server crash (before I was a GloMod), I quickly became aware of the problem.  Now many months later, we are finishing up the last many pieces of this fall-out.

We are soon to downgrade torrent ADD PICS from 5 SBP to 1 SBP (I think that is appropriate).

We are still working towards "missing torrents" being replaced.  Members have helped SO MUCH and a few Staff members are keeping this wonderfully moving forward.

My QUESTION is – ...

A major crash like this is dependent upon back-ups.

At this time, are site back-ups being accomplished to avoid this in the future.

Those back-ups are VERY PLURAL:

1. the MySQL database
2. the server directory for torrents
3. the server directory for torrent pictures
4. the server area for other locations that escape me now
5. a detail of mods and detailed site-changes that are available to re-install as needed

I am just concerned that after our recent crash being resolved many months later without clarity about back-up procedures being done -- maybe they are, but not acknowledged.

Even NEW options (forum downloads, forum "save drafts") are being added WITHOUT US (as members) knowing if these add-ons are being backed up.

Sorry for posting this publicly, but I am TRULY concerned.

{{{{{ mgr }}}}}

[blackdid]

@mgr:

As a first thing: thanks for your observance (although this topic is in fact not a forum bug but a bug in the site scripts ) But as well:

Hi mgr  
Thx for your explanation, these little bugs are not urgent to fix.
I guessed it wasn't a Forum bug, that's why I PM raphjd and asked him before, where I had to post it.

This is what I asked raphjd :
…
"I would like to inform mgr about this annoying situation, but i'm not sure how to do it :

• Should i post a reply in your thread named "Please report any forum bugs and missing features here" (even if the bug doesn't concern the Forum ?)
• Or PM mgr directly ?
• Or maybe create a new topic somewhere  ?
  Before I do this, please tell me if there is a problem if I reply in your topic named "Please report any forum bugs and missing features here"

This is what raphjd answered me :
"There are 3 groups that can hide their profiles; staff, donors and power users.  If they are not part of what you are talking about, then make post in the forum bug thread."

That's why you see this question in the Forum's bug thread  
This brings a new question : should we create (or does it exist) a thread concerning non-Forum bugs ?

[Kinsey6]

Thank you, mgr, for a well-explained response.

I had only asked this once in private … now in public.  Your response is extremely thorough and I hope that each and every member gives respect to this arduous task.

[blackdid]

@Kinsey6:

Thank you, mgr, for a well-explained response.
I had only asked this once in private … now in public.  Your response is extremely thorough and I hope that each and every member gives respect to this arduous task.

Yes mgr, great respect to your arduous backup task (among other daily tasks)  :clap2:
In french we'd say "Chapeau bas"
In english I dont know how to translate it, maybe "Hats off" ? (like Led Zeppelin's song "Hats off to Roy Harper"…maybe)

[blackdid]

@uwsguy102:

blackdid…Your security settings don't allow me to see what videos you have....

[Thx to raphjd who created this topic concerning bugs unrelated to the Forum]

Hi all  
A few days ago, uwsguy102 wrote something very important in the above quoted line, when he said "he couldn't access my profile due to my security settings"

As I didn't have any security settings at the time (I just became Power User a few hours ago), it showed the well-know bug, confirmed by Uwe then Mgr, when a new account can be created "hidden" to all other users (only the staff members can see it) and this is a real issue.

Now that I am power user, here is what i notice : you'll find in the attached pic a "Privacy level" that just appeared at the very end end of my "Profile settings"
(btw, Uwe, I confirm you this "Privacy level" just appeared right now, because you PM me on September 4th, writing "You should see that option already: Profile > Profile Settings > at the very bottom" : no, it doesn't appear until you're Power User, I confirm it)

The question is : why does this privacy level appear unchecked in the pic ?
Shouldn't it be checked on "Normal" or "Low" or "Strong" ?

It's the 1st time that I see this kind of "radio button" unchecked in a form : usually, a radio button must have one of its options checked (on the contrary, it's normal for a "check button" like the new "DVD-R" button to appear normally unchecked when it's shown for the 1st time)

Couldn't this unchecked button ("Privacy Level") be related to the known bug of new account created and hidden because they are mysteriously created with a checked "Strong Privacy Level" (3rd option in the pic), according to Uwe's words in PM : " As said, Alien X account got affected by a bug, setting the account privacy already at creation to strong (he even can't change, because he isn't Power User)."

uwsguy102, in case you read this, I've forced my unchecked "Privacy Level" to Normal : could you please confirm that my Profile is visible now ?
tia  

[uwsguy102]

@blackdid:

uwsguy102, in case you read this, I've forced my unchecked "Privacy Level" to Normal : could you please confirm that my Profile is visible now ?
tia  

I just checked your profile, and it was completely….................. VISIBLE!!!!!!!

Cheers!

[blackdid]

@uwsguy102, thx a lot for your prompt answer

I got another question for the staff : is the following a bug or not ?
The Search torrent window returns sometimes non expected results.
Before uploading a new torrent, I search the following, including dead torrents :
Alex Slater menover30

It returns one result, but there is not a single "Alex" in the result, in fact there are 4 "Alexander" (including the opened 66 files list) :
http://tracker.gaytor.rent/details.php?id=52684

If the search is based on whole words only (and not on prefix, or words within words), then this torrent shouldn't appear in results, do we agree ?

[alienx]

Anybody called my name?!? >:D :cool2:

3. User Alienx posted something a few days ago in the Forum, here :
   http://community.gaytor.rent/index.php?topic=6325

In the left column of his post, under his name, there's written "Uploaded: 36.28 GB"

But his profile can't be seen : "alienx's security settings doesn't allow to show you the Profile!"

In explanatation by "mgr" is this declared as a bug. So, thanks to a bug, I have reached security intended for Power user without being a PU actually. My question is: Why should any user get better security than other, just because he is a beginner? There should be set maximal security by default for all users without an exception, and if somebody sees no need for this better security, then he might be able to set it to lower level.

ax

PS. Sorry for my english, it's not my native language. I hope my opinion is nevertheless understandable.

[blackdid]

Hi Mgr 
Do you have any idea why the 3 links in the attached pic look so dark (black link on dark grey background, then greyed when hovering the link)

In case you need to see the original description, it's here :
http://tracker.gaytor.rent/details.php?id=86845

It's very different on the Forum where :

• black link on light grey background is much more visible
• hovering turns the link to yellow
  tia

[blackdid]

@mgr:

Thanks again (honestly) to make my to-do lists for the site longer :lovp:

hahaha i like that, thx Mgr !
If I make your to-do list longer, they'll never fire you from the site because you'll always be busy

Unfortunately I guess I just found another little problem, described at the very end of this post :
http://community.gaytor.rent/index.php?topic=1818.msg53573#msg53573

To make it short, there were 7 pics attached at the end of the message (I saw them clearly after I posted the message 1st time, and opened them) . But as soon as I edited the message to correct some typos, pics 6 & 7 disappeared and I couldn't attach them again, no matter how many times I tried (I hope it's not because there are small pics that are "hidden" by the sentence "« Last Edit: Today at 05:47:46 pm by blackdid »)

[Kinsey6]

@blackdid:

… there were 7 pics attached at the end of the message (I saw them clearly after I posted the message 1st time, and opened them) . But as soon as I edited the message to correct some typos, pics 6 & 7 disappeared and I couldn't attach them again, no matter how many times I tried

This is a known-to-Staff bug in the SMF forum software and has been reported to SMF technical gurus.  We are still awaiting action on their end.

[blackdid]

Thx Tim 

[alienx]

So so :cool2:

still no response? http://community.gaytor.rent/index.php?topic=12409.msg52360#msg52360 ::)

ax

[blackdid]

@alienx:

Anybody called my name?!? >:D :cool2:
In explanatation by "mgr" is this declared as a bug. So, thanks to a bug, I have reached security intended for Power user without being a PU actually. My question is: Why should any user get better security than other, just because he is a beginner? There should be set maximal security by default for all users without an exception, and if somebody sees no need for this better security, then he might be able to set it to lower level.
ax

Hey alienx is back  
Well…it's certainly not me who may bring a good answer, especially after what I wrote here :
http://community.gaytor.rent/index.php?topic=1818.msg53621#msg53621

Imho, there's absolutely nothing important to hide in a profile, for people who choosed the "low privacy level"
It hides your uploaded torrents (is it so important that others don't see what you uploaded ?), your ratio and other minor things.

In fact it brings a major problem concerning the PM button, which isn't reachable easily, compared to the "normal privacy level" . I'm just losing time now trying to thank people who gave me major SBP for my posts (new and old), browsing endlessly through dozens of "snatched pages" at the end of my posts, trying to find their user names and PM button in the snatched display, just because they have a "low privacy level" but no PM button under the message found in the attached pic

Gladly I just found one of them and he accepted PM (or I would have lost time for nothing), though he selected "low privacy level". Now I'm still searching for another one, because it's important for me to thank people (also THEY may find you impolite not sending them a little word, we all see things differently)

There's a big contradiction in the site : how can someone select "low privacy level" and at same time be able to "accept all PM" when there is no PM button under the message "user xxx security settings doesn't allow you to show the profile", as shown in the attached pic ?

Imho, that's a bug : selecting "low privacy level" should have been programmed this way :

1. Either you allow the user to select "accept all PM", then you add him a PM button under the attached pic
2. Either GT deactivates the option "accept all PM" for this type of users ("low privacy level") and no need of PM button to contact them.

In fact, there's no need to have 3 categories of "privacy level" when 2 would have been enough :

1. Normal one : with PM button everywhere and your profile shown
2. Maximum security : all is hidden, no PM button anywhere

Which means no "low security level" at all, this level I just don't understand its use, except it brings a lot of complications with its missing PM button !

Well, it's just my opinion...which is certainly not shared by the majority lol

=====
PS: of course, what worked with user #1 didn't work with user #2

• user #1 : I finally PM him and the message sent normally
• user #2 : I finally PM him and it ended with "This user does not accept PMs" : just another waste of time with this "low privacy level" :crazy2:

[NeoStrada]

@mgr:

As to the noted links in torrent definitions: It looks like there is a typo in the class definition for those links so the correct hover definition is not applied but another one

an "off the top of my head" here. it looks like missing quotation in the template rather than something a typo would produce. The generated html is

[http://tracker.gaytor.rent/details.php?id=86606](http://tracker.gaytor.rent/details.php?id=86606)

where it should have been

[http://tracker.gaytor.rent/details.php?id=86606](http://tracker.gaytor.rent/details.php?id=86606)

causing unpredictable behaviour depending on the browser. it might even have looked 'all well' to the template coder.

somewhere in the bulk template for that section there'll be a line that goes something like: (just guessing at the var names)

"[$msg]($url)"

which should be

"[$msg](\"$url\")"

or something to the same effect.

so, I'm bit of a code geek, can't help myself when there's a problem I can stick my nose in.

[blackdid]

@CableguyLive:

…I'll open my profile, I didn't know it was hidden.  How do I unhide it??  I'll look for the settings and fix it ASAP...

Hi CableguyLive  
It's a bug in GT and you shouldn't be able to unhide it (your profile is sometimes created hidden and you can't do anything about it to unhide it, until you become a Power User)

Please have a look at the attached pic, you'll notice how your profile appears hidden to all users

If you read my post in the preceding page, you'll see how this situation is complicated :
http://community.gaytor.rent/index.php?topic=12409.msg50787#msg50787

So I guess your profile will stay hidden until you become a Power User (i.e. be a member for at least 4 weeks, upload 40GB, ratio > 1.05) . Me and many others were in the same situation until we became power users.

As I'll never know what torrents you already uploaded, please PM a link of the last one (or indicate it here in your answer, if any) so I can thank you there with 20SBP , as you were the 1st one who found the good answer in the Hairy Chest topic game :
http://community.gaytor.rent/index.php?topic=13070.msg56513#msg56513

[CableguyLive]

I've read the discussion and your right, it's out of my hands. I'm screwed because I have not up loaded anything.  I'm looking for an easy software for copying the DVD's to an AVI format but I haven't mastered the process yet.  I'm new to the torrent sharing system but I'm learning. I like this group of people, everyone is very friendly and more then willing to help. Thank you.
Please feel free to call me by name.

Peace
Rich

[blackdid]

@mgr:

Why bother to reduce the quality of a DVD by converting the DVD to an AVI file? Does only the size bother you and not the quality of the resulting video ???

Hi Mgr 
Imho, Rich's (CableguyLive) upload speed is also an important point to consider, before he decides or not to upload a DVD (4.37GB) . What we see in the left column, under his avatar is : "Avg ULSpeed: Ø18.28 kB"

We know this "avg upload speed" can be discussed : for example, mine shows now  "Ø12.66 kB" but I assure you that all my uploads (in new torrents, when I'm the only uploader +++) start at 28KB/s and end at 28KB/s (due to ISP)
So this "avg upload speed" seen under our avatars probably is…the average of :

1. our upload speed while seeding a new torrent (being the only seeder)
2. our upload speed while seeding  other torrents (when there are other seeders)

Several weeks ago, I asked a Mod the following question (was Uwe the Mod ? not sure, though I could find the PM) :
"Hello Mod, what should be the maximum torrent size I could upload, when my maximum upload speed is 28KB/s, so leechers won't have to wait endlessly before they grab my torrent ?"

Mod's answer was (if I remember well) : "I think 1GB should be ok"

Though there is not a rule for that, I'll never upload a whole DVD (4.37GB) because it would take me nearly 2 days to upload the whole DVD content ! Are leechers ready for that and is it acceptable ?

Now back to Rich 
He tells us "he never uploaded anything", so we don't know at all what will be his maximum upload speed when he will seed a new torrent. Rich, imho you should start your 1st upload with a smaller torrent (200-300MB) so you can analyze exactly what happens, as in the attached pics :

Let's see pic1 only : it's an upload made by our friend MrMazda a few days ago and pic 1 was taken while MrMazda was still the only seeder (it changed 3 minutes after in pic 2, but let's focus on pic 1 now).  Important points in this pic 1 are :

• Size (of the torrent) : 918.55MB
• Added : 2010-11-05  18h52
• Leechers : Column "Completed" : 99.24% for the 1st leecher . Column "Checked" : 4h53 (10 hours after torrent was added +++)
• Seeders : MrMazda : Upload speed 28.35KB/s (hey, just like in my torrents !)

With these infos, you are able to calculate why it took 10 hours for the 1st leecher to download 918.55MB
As MrMazda upload speed is 28Kb/s, this is equal to (approx) 100MB/h, which equals 1GB/10h

Now if MrMazda's torrent was a full DVD (4.37GB), and as his upload speed is 28KB/s (1GB/10h), it would require him 40h of uploading for 4GB, add the .37 and you're about 44-45h, nearly 2 days, which is hardly acceptable for leechers.

Just for info, pic 2 shows his torrent situation 3 min after : MrMazda is no more the only seeder at 4h56 : there are...59 seeders now ! All of them waited for MrMazda to upload the last parts of his torrent.

Rich, hope this will help you to understand better how this torrent thing works. You're writing " I'm new to the torrent sharing system but I'm learning", well let me assure you I was a total newbie too on july 31th 2010 when I joined GT, but with the help of all Mods, Admins, and some very kind and patient users, I was able to upload my torrents and understand (a little) torrent things I never heard about before.

Just be patient, read all you can in the Forum, rules and FAQ (not in that particular order lol) and never be afraid to ask ANY question, even if you find it silly, there will always someone who will be happy to help you 

[CableguyLive]

Thank you Blackdid, That helps a lot. MGR, what's really best?  The truth is, I don't know. I thought a balance of picture quality and file size was the answer. Do I have it wrong?

Blackdid, I'm quick and I'll get up and running soon. Just to confirm; File size is 200 to 900 megs. Send a photo, ok I have uploaded 3 to my profile. Is that what your talking about? and as for the best picture ??? I can do any formatting you like. I have installed a nice bit of software. It'll handle the situation nicely. You should know, I'll push buttons first and ask questions later.:spank2:   I'll ask plenty of questions from now on. :th:   It's much easier this way.   :thx: :thx: :thx:

[blackdid]

@CableguyLive:

Send a photo, ok I have uploaded 3 to my profile. Is that what your talking about?

Hello Rich  
Not sure I understand your "send a photo"
Only thing I asked from you was a link of your last uploaded torrent so I could thank you with 20 SBP in your torrent description page (it's the only place where I can send you Seed Bonus Points)
But you answered that you never uploaded anything until yet, so I'll just wait your 1st upload, then thank you with 20 SBP in your torrent description page, ok ?

Mgr will certainly answer tomorrow concerning this DVD possible issue, in case your upload speed is as low as mine.
But as you're talking about "200-900Mb" this should be ok, even if your upload speed is 30 KB/s

Could you please explain what you mean with this "send a photo" thing ?
Or were you talking about a part of the uploading process in the menu , when you're asked to "add pic to your description page" ?

And by the way, what client program do you use to manage your torrents ? utorrent or another one ?
Mods will certainly ask you the question sooner or later