Archive for Old stuff
spam spam spam
Quick fix for trackback spam on WP. Rename your wp-trackback.php to something like wp-trackback.php.txt so they can’t find it, and so it won’t run even if they do.
I’m testing some more complex fixes/blocks so I’d really appreciate getting trackbacks for testing, especially from people using blog software other than WordPress. Mail me: blogmeister at this site (you can figure it out) if your trackback doesn’t get through. Thanks much!
PS… I’m doing trackbacks to a few others who have been hit… that I’ve been helping out. You guys can delete this. I’m just doing it to be sure I haven’t killed your trackbacks or anything.
[last update, I hope] IF you understand htaccess redirects, there is a zip file here that has some tricks that should help, along with explanations. If you do NOT understand htaccess redirects, please ask someone who does know to help. If you are one of my bloghouse clients, or an ex-client with another host who has lazily left me with access, I may have already updated your htaccess file. And I will be trying to get to everyone I can. If you are using front page, I have no idea how to do anything with htaccess without blowing up FP. I’m told it’s possible but I don’t know how to do it.
If you can’t handle zip files for some reason, mail me and I’ll send it to you in text. (Trying to keep bots and spiders away from it, even though the info is available elsewhere, the longer it takes them to find out what is going on, the longer it takes them to find another way to get through. )
Update, WP users who don’t understand htacess or can’t use it because of your host, check the spampop plugin at Candy Genuis’ site. She also has modified Drupal’s comment module to do the same thing, Drupal users may want to ask for a copy of that module.
Backbone problem
Sorry about the lack of connectivity this morning. The servers were up but there was a router problem upstream of our datacenter.
The info I got was that there was a bug in the cisco IOS that their routers were using that caused a line card error, so they had to do an emergency IOS update on their routers. Now you know as much as I do.
I suspect the problem was caused by a DOS attack since that is reason for the latest IOS update. Our datacenter updated its routers’ IOS a few days after the update came out, so please excuse me while I go cuss out that upstream who should have done the same.
MT users
We’ve had a server problem and will need to reinstall some modules necessary for MT. We should be back to normal soon (I hope). Sorry!
[update] Still working on it. You haven’t been forgotten!
[update] This is caused by a (automatic) CPanel update that has messed things up. We are still working on it.
We now should be back to normal. Let me know if you have any problems!
Routers
The Cisco routers and switches to our server are being upgraded due to a security vulnerability (to DOS attack) that was found by Cisco.
More information here for the techie types.
If you’ve been unable to reach your site, this is probably the cause. The sites have not been down, just unreachable from some places.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
My e-mail program (the one I use at home) has been having a few problems. I’m pretty sure I haven’t lost any e-mails but I had some previously invisible ones suddenly show up when I fixed it.
So, just in case… if you sent me an e-mail and I haven’t replied, please send it again or leave a comment here! Thanks.
