Problems?

[Dr Peter Young]

Mail send (but not fetch) and connection to the news server
(broadband) have been coming and going today. ATM Hermes' mail send
reports:

[01 Jun 2006 17:41:16] Connected to smtp.orpheusnet.co.uk
[01 Jun 2006 17:41:16] Lost connection to smtp.orpheusnet.co.ukand
this has happened several times since about midday.

Any idea of what is going on? It seems to resolve given patience,
which I notoriously lack :-)

With best wishes,

Peter.

[Paul Vigay]

Any idea of what is going on? It seems to resolve given patience, which
I notoriously lack :-)

We had a spam attack about 11am this morning, which slowed the mail server
down until about 11.30am when I logged in and dealt with it. I've been
monitoring ever since, and everything should be working ok.

[Dr Peter Young]

Post by Paul Vigay

Any idea of what is going on? It seems to resolve given patience, which
I notoriously lack :-)

We had a spam attack about 11am this morning, which slowed the mail server
down until about 11.30am when I logged in and dealt with it. I've been
monitoring ever since, and everything should be working ok.

Thanks; it is now, and my fingers are crossed!

With best wishes,

Peter.

[Paul Vigay]

Post by Dr Peter Young
Thanks; it is now, and my fingers are crossed!

We're currently under quite a high load, due to the volume of spam coming
in, which all needs to be scanned and dealt with.

My sysadmin is going to be doing some more updates (non customer facing) on
Monday, which will complete the move to the new hosting facility. We will
then monitor the load to see if any of the machines need replacing with
more powerful ones - and getting a load more customers to pay for them. :-)

There will probably be around 15 minutes of downtime on Monday lunchtime,
whilst he switches the routers around, but no servers will be affected and
normal service should continue.

Paul

[Bill (Adopt)]

[..]

Post by Paul Vigay
We're currently under quite a high load, due to the volume of
spam coming
in, which all needs to be scanned and dealt with.

..not connected with the move, though..?

Post by Paul Vigay
then monitor the load to see if any of the machines need replacing with
more powerful ones - and getting a load more customers to pay for them. :-)

<advert in PC World>..?

new development of a hardened OS..
secured facilities...
attention to detail..
service with your very own personal representative..
technical and operating professional advice 365/24/7..
virus and attack protected files in /your/ machine..
the latest leap in PC technology..

Go on ..take the risc ..you will never look back..!

</advert in PC World>

Post by Paul Vigay
There will probably be around 15 minutes of downtime on Monday lunchtime,
whilst he switches the routers around, but no servers will be affected and
normal service should continue.

Some of us ..perhaps most of us here around here
..were, once upon a time, well used to days of
occasional downtime.. ;))

Minutes ..you say? Wow! :))

Bill ZFC

[Paul Vigay]

In article <***@billsimpson.com>,
Bill (Adopt) <***@billsimpson.com> wrote:
[Snip]

Post by Bill (Adopt)
</advert in PC World>

Do you know how much an advert in mainstream magazines costs? :-(
I think I'd need about 1000 x the current number of customers to pay for
mainstream advertising. :-(

Post by Bill (Adopt)
Some of us ..perhaps most of us here around here ..were, once upon a
time, well used to days of occasional downtime.. ;))

When you're sad like me and sit in front of the computer for 22 hours a
day, even 30 seconds of downtime is inconvenient - hence my primary vow for
Orpheus to make it infinitely more reliable than Argonet ever was. ;-)

Post by Bill (Adopt)
Minutes ..you say? Wow! :))

This time, I'm fairly confident of being accurate - it's literally a case
of switching a router across. No need for any actual server moves or
switching off etc. :-)

Paul

[Bill (Adopt)]

Post by Paul Vigay
[Snip]

Post by Bill (Adopt)
</advert in PC World>

Do you know how much an advert in mainstream magazines costs? :-(
I think I'd need about 1000 x the current number of customers to pay for
mainstream advertising. :-(

OK.. how about (any PC World box shifting store)...

A few (hundred) nicely produced adverts for RISC OS,
any variety. Plenty of colour - type/piccy similar
to PC World's 'adverts'. No need to name suppliers
Perhaps the odd innocuous web reference, placed in a
prime leaflet position, mentioning Orpheus - or a
review of Orpheus...

"..as seen in PC World!!!" ;'))

Place said leaflets in one of the advertising tray
boxes at the entrance of all PC World stores - (or
Curry's et al)

(Place at exit as well, for that matter. Once the
Clones have made their 'kill', they rapidly lose
interest ...within less than two or three metres).

I wonder how many customers will pick up a leaflet
before the Clones notice ..indeed, if they ever
notice!

<vbg>

Post by Paul Vigay

Post by Bill (Adopt)
Some of us ..perhaps most of us here around here ..were, once upon a
time, well used to days of occasional downtime.. ;))

When you're sad like me and sit in front of the computer for 22 hours a
day, even 30 seconds of downtime is inconvenient - hence my primary vow for
Orpheus to make it infinitely more reliable than Argonet ever was. ;-)

Oh! Now that /is/ sad. You mean you allow yourself
time for a meal and loo break? ..no drip fed pizza?

Post by Paul Vigay

Post by Bill (Adopt)
Minutes ..you say? Wow! :))

This time, I'm fairly confident of being accurate

[..]

..we believe it! :))

Bill ZFC

[Mr C Price]

Is it me or has there been a significant increase in spam??

Over the last few days I've noticed a large number of unwanted emails.

Chris.

[Dr Peter Young]

Post by Mr C Price
Is it me or has there been a significant increase in spam??
Over the last few days I've noticed a large number of unwanted emails.

Still a few here, but I don't think more than usual. Are the new
filters active yet?

With best wishes,

Peter.

[Bill (Adopt)]

Post by Dr Peter Young

Post by Mr C Price
Is it me or has there been a significant increase in spam??
Over the last few days I've noticed a large number of unwanted emails.

Still a few here, but I don't think more than usual. Are the new
filters active yet?

We've probably all received Paul's note, by now - or
will shortly.. We've been under attack from another
deadbeat or two. He and his SysAdmin are checking all
the filters etc etc etc.

Bit like fish in bowl, aren't we! ;))

Haven't noticed any extra spam, though, apart from the
usual minor trickle...

?:))

Bill ZFC

[Paul Vigay]

Still a few here, but I don't think more than usual. Are the new filters
active yet?

Not yet. We're just monitoring things and letting things settle down after
last weeks move. We're still on a half-duplex router until next Monday
(when it will be switched over). Then we can start looking at improvements
and tweaks to things. :-)

[Dr Peter Young]

Post by Paul Vigay

Still a few here, but I don't think more than usual. Are the new filters
active yet?

Not yet. We're just monitoring things and letting things settle down after
last weeks move. We're still on a half-duplex router until next Monday
(when it will be switched over). Then we can start looking at improvements
and tweaks to things. :-)

Excellent, and I'll look forward to getting even less spam when we
come back from holiday in two-and-a-bit weeks. Not that there's a lot
now.

With best wishes,

Peter.