NewMars On phpBB3

For SpaceNut ...
Just FYI... I cleared the unanswered topics list and the unread posts list
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RobertDyck asked about long range plans.
I found a backup of the FluxBB data base from 2 years ago, when we were planning the software upgrade that was completed in 2024, and running in 2025. That copy is running on my development PC.
You can download that copy and the FluxBB software, if you can set up a Linux box at your site.
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We might be able to obtain a copy of the backup of the FluxBB database from Mars Society at some point. I don't think now is a good time to ask. They are in the midst of planning for the upcoming convention.
(th)

For SpaceNut ....

This post is about the little round icon that I just noticed in the lower right corner of saved posts.

Hover above that icon and it says "top"

Click it and you are transported magically to the top of the view where the top level menu is available.

There are probably hundreds of little shortcuts built into this phpBB3 package. We never ** did ** learn all there was to learn about FluxBB, and we had 20+ years to learn it.

(th)

This post is about long range planning for NewMars forum.

In a recent post, RobertDyck inquired about long range planning.

My immediate reply was that we are in survival mode, but as each day passes and the Azure/Cloudfare backup seems to be holding, I am more willing to think about how we might proceed from here.

One alternative is that Mars Society may restore the FluxBB site. We have heard nothing from Mars Society.

That tells me that higher priority concerns are in play at the Mars Society. For one thing, planning for the next annual Convention is already under way. That planning is likely taking every spare moment of everyone in the staff.

We are fortunate to have a backup of the FluxBB forum as of March 18, 2024, and we have the updated software saved. Any member of the Admin team is welcome to build a Linux box, and install the system there.

There is a possibility that at some point we might be able to obtain a backup of the forum data as of the last day before the current outage.

In the mean time, thanks to the hard work SpaceNut put in in 2024, we are operating in a structure that is remarkably similar to the structure we had in place in FluxBB.

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So let's talk about backups.

I took a full system backup when Microsoft began a transition to new systems in 2025. However, I have NOT taken a database backup, and if we move to this forum on a permanent basis, performing backups would be a ** good ** idea.

(th)

For SpaceNut re post about spinning icon using IP address...

just checked the old http://40.75.112.55/phpBB3/ at home and it now just spins and can not be reached. I could not remember it for the at work check but I have it on the todo check tomorrow as the new site spins on the government computer which is what we wanted or gives the cloud error to keep hackers out

Could your IP address have changed at home? I don't want to post your IP address here. Do you still have the email you sent me to set up the rule in Azure?

If Cloudflare is working, then perhaps you want me to delete the rule for direct IP?

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Question for you ... is it possible the email from newmarsmember went into the spam filters of our members? I got no bounceback from anyone except Calliban. I got a nice note from Calliban's Internet Provider saying they would not be willing to contact him on our behalf. I can understand that. After all, he ** pays ** them to keep hackers at bay, and from their perspective, I look like any other hacker.

*** Afterthought ... It occurs to me (in hindsight) that we should have tested the email connection to our members before the outage. Their email providers may well have blocked traffic form newmarsmember. The only reason our Admins are connected is that we had prior email contact, along with GW Johnson.

(th)

just checked the old http://40.75.112.55/phpBB3/ at home and it now just spins and can not be reached. I could not remember it for the at work check but I have it on the todo check tomorrow as the new site spins on the government computer which is what we wanted or gives the cloud error to keep hackers out

I was able to connect to the new-mars.org/phpbb3 with no issues

For SpaceNut re possble hiccup involving dual access.

It is possible folks with direct IP address capability may run into a hiccup if they log in with new-mars via the Cloudflare link.

When we log in we are assigned a Session ID that is a long set of bits. My guess is that the Session ID is passed back and forth between the workstation and the server.

Today I attempted to create a topic while logged in using new-mars, but when I attempted to submit I was refused permission because the server thought I was no tlogged in.

I am posting right now using the direct link (40), and expect no problems.

What I'd appreciate is someone who does NOT have a direct link helping with problem diagnosis. We have extended invitations to Terraformer, Oldfart1939 and RGClark. If any of you folks see this message, and are holding back on registering, please Register and attempt a post.

It might turn out that we are better off without the direct IP connection, ** if ** the Cloudflare link is working properly, as appears to be the case.

(th)

For SpaceNut .... I just ran into a problem trying to use the new-mars.org/phpBB3/ link to create a topic.

The system required me to log in even though I was already logged in. My guess is that the Session ID is not being sent from my workstation to the server correctly.

The URL has to pass through the Cloudflare service without change, and if a single bit gets changed the Session ID won't be recognized.

That would be frustrating.

The direct connection method seems to work, and I tested on another computer today and was able to post.

We may have a bit more shake-out to do before this service is as reliable as it needs to be.

I was on Chromebook at the time this happened.

(th)

Well! I just "signed" a non-disclosure agreement with Cloudflare. This came about because I wrote them about my mistake in not entering the IP addresses in full, when I set up our connection to their service. I suggested they provide a service for the site administrator to test the full suite of IP addresses against the target site, and they popped up an invitation to provide more information. It appears that I can't say anything about what happens from here, nor will they ever say anything regardless of whether they adopt the idea or not.

I suppose it is a boilerplate non-disclosure agreement.

In any case, I will have to be generic in reporting on this initiative.

the agreement period is one year.

All members are invited to test the new-mars.org/phpBB3/ site to see if performance has improved.

Please give the system a chance to settle.

My experience with the first test system was 4 (four) seconds for the first query, and sub-second responses after that.

Your reports will inform ** my ** reports to Cloudflare, assuming they actually contact me.

(th)

All 15 IP addresses for Cloudflare were added to the Azure rules today, and performance improved.

Please test new-mars.org/phpBB3/ and let us know if you see an improvement.

I'll wait a day for feedback before writing our members again using email.

I got four seconds the first time I tried the connection on one of the machines here, and then got sub-second responses after that.

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Cloudflare wrote to ask about our experience with their service, and I'll take the opportunity to request a connection test.

That would be a service that would test all the IP addresses that Cloudflare uses and report any timeout events.

Such a service would (presumably) only apply to site administrators, but it sure would have helped me!

(th)