January 27, 2010
Technical Difficulties
My heart sank last night, when I started to get emails like this one:
"Been trying to get on all night ... and can't get on the site for some reason, just keep getting Database Not Found as per attached."
And this one:
"As no doubt you are aware PTS website is broken..."
Logged on to my webspace Control Panel, and found that the PTS database status was "closed". All my other databases were OK. hmmm.
Sent this email:
"To: support
From: Phil Oddy
I have had a number of emails from my users tonight to tell me that my site at http:\\predictthescore.net is offline. On checking I have found that it's displaying a "Database not found." message.
Checking via the control panel, it says that the MySQL database status (host xxxx database xxxx) is "closed".
What does this mean? How has this happened? Why wasn't I warned? Please can you reverse it?
Many Thanks,
Phil"
Got this response:
"To: Phil Oddy
From: support
Thank you for contacting us.
We believe that it is due to the email sent to you by our Abuse Team department*. All you need to do is to response to their email for your database to be unlocked. You may send them an email at xxxx**.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Technical Support"
To which there is only one response:
"To: support, abuse-team
From: Phil Oddy
I have not received an email from your Abuse Team.
Regards,
Phil"
Actually, there is another response, sent after I'd not heard anything for 5 hours.
"To: support, abuse-team
From: Phil Oddy
My site is still down and I still have no idea why.
I have checked my spam folder and my 1&1 control panel for a message from the abuse team - I haven't had one.
Please could someone tell me why my database is unavailable, and what I need to do to rectify this?
Regards,
Phil"
This isn't the first time I've had to engage "Technical Suppport" (who have a fondness for the keystrokes Ctrl-C > Ctrl-V). I have a nasty feeling this one could run and run. In case you're wondering, the web host you need to avoid is 1and1...
* Abuse Team department? A department responsible for the Abuse Team?
** I've taken out the email address there, they weren't sending me kisses...
philoddy.com
Stuff and nonsense
Stuff and nonsense
