Important - Dns Change Coming - Flush Instructions

[anthony]

A technical announcement to limit user impact -- I am now satisfied via extensive testing that integrating CloudFare into MyPTSD is the single best way forward to provide the required CDN, caching and performance improvements needed for what is a dynamically generated website.

This requires a DNS change. Don't worry about all that, except that when a website changes its DNS it can cause browser caches to hold onto that old information and make it look as though the website is offline.

The simplest way is to drop your browsers cache. This will likely fix the problem when I create it.

If that does not work, as some computers can be stubborn and still hold onto old site data, you may have to flush your systems DNS (only desktops / notebooks) to grab the latest data. Instructions: https://www.whatsmydns.net/flush-dns.html

At present the new DNS is propogating around the world, which will be left for 48hrs just to make sure the downtime is nothing more than a few minutes during the change over.

So... that answers that question -- a few minutes downtime is all that should be expected. If you can't access the site for 10 minutes, you have a caching problem on your system.

 

[Fadeaway]

Thank you so much for that information and warning.

 

[Sandstone]

1. I suspect worryingly few people look at announcements. Would it be a good idea to link to this in Discussions or stick a notice on the forums page. I know you could say, well that's their hard luck, but it would be better to keep them active than loose them, and would be kind.

2. The for a Mac say Open the Command Terminal. I have idea what or where that is, and it looks as though I would be doing something to the workings of my machine. If it goes wrong, I'd have no idea how to put it right, and might be stuck with some problem. I've bookmarked the page in readiness.

3 I don't recognise any of the names as being my OS. If I go to About this Mac, it just says OSX 10.8.5, no animal name. Does the .8 mean it is Mountain Lion?

 

[anthony]

Hi, the link tells you the version number, which you can find under the apple icon, top left > about this mac. Match your number to the name.

If people do not read announcements, that is their problem. Discussion? What does this topic have to do with PTSD? What about supporters? Where do they read? Where does the madness stop? Announcements, is where. The right forum to announce important information that is a users responsibility to read.

Do not panic. This information is purely to help anyone who possibly may have an issue. All things going well, it will be a smooth transition with no issues. Again... a user here or there may have local machine issues, which this guide will help them from mass panic.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Thank you @anthony.

 

[ShodokanJenn]

Thanks for the heads up @anthony . It's good to be prepared. Thanks for working hard to make this site the best it can be.

 

[joeylittle]

@Sandstone - I also have been directing members via a link to important announcements (like this one) by putting information in the top bar of the chat box. While not everyone checks chat, it is a sort of common hang-out area.

 

[anthony]

This is complete. Like I said... you shouldn't even see any change, other than speed performance. Hopefully nobody endures DNS issues.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

This requires a DNS change.

I know this is sorta old but i was bored so was going thru the admin area & saw this. Obviously I dump cache daily (and dont know if open DNS can be used on a phone) but i have open DNS set on the PC. Not that im ever on the PC but since its a set DNS, if i go on the site on the PC (havent since you posted this), do you forsee an issue or if I have an issue should i take it off, dump cache, put it back on?

Actually i think i just answered my own question. Ignore me...well not really, just ignore the post lol

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Does the .8 mean it is Mountain Lion?

Yes.