What's up with Parked.com?

[Chuckles2]

Parked has had problems all weekend.

Not only is it impossible to log in, you can't even view their default home page. (Try it. www.Parked.com.)

As I see it, if it was just a bad server, they'd have a backup. Clearly, the problem must be software. But I'm a little worried about how this may affect me as a customer.

I've been very happy with them until this weekend.

Anyone happen to know (in more specifics than I see on the page) what issues they're having?

 

[Focus]

old news, they are repairing a server and upgrading it...just sit tight, we will be compensated for the downtime according to Donny..

 

[Chuckles2]

Respectfully, I'm not sure how "old news" it could be if it started on Friday, but anyway...

I'm sure I'm like many of those who read this, in that I'm an I.T. kinda guy... A programmer who makes software, and configures databases and servers all the time.

Servers should be redundant, backed up, and it should be possible to do upgrades using offline hardware, then simply throw the switch. Unless their budget is miniscule, to me that's "Server Administration 101".

Of course, the exception is when software problems (bugs) are discovered on live systems, which appears to be the case here. I can forgive if that's what occurred -- I've been there, and I've even been "at fault" for expensive downtime. I'd just like to know what the issue is, that's all.

 

[Focus]

Respectfully, I'm not sure how "old news" it could be if it started on Friday, but anyway...

That makes it 3 days old now...actually k:

 

[Chuckles2]

Ok. It'll be 3 days in 7 minutes here in Calif.

Regardless of age, this is the only thread I see on the subject since then. I looked before I posted, or did I miss it?

 

[Focus]

I'd like to add...we are all in this together...I am certain they are doing their best to get the control panel back up and it seems imo they have grown so exponentially recently due to their great service and payouts I think maybe they are having some capacity issues and remember they have been constantly adding new features at our requests here on the forum to make everything better than anywhere else..the least we can do in return for the awesome customized service is just be patient and trust that Donny & his team know what they are doing. Thankfully they keep in contact with us all and let us know whats going on...unlike many of the "others" out there. Without knowing their system and backend firsthand it is impossible to assume that "this should still work" or "this should be anyways" etc..I have checked all of my domains daily and they ALL have resolved perfect..so there should be no worries about any revenue or traffic loss. Thus, we just have to go without stats for a weekend. We will all be ok. :smile:

yes, there is another thread in the parked.com subforum =

http://www.dnforum.com/showthread.php?t=248475&highlight=parked.com

 

[Chuckles2]

Sounds like I should get to know this "Donny" person.

To me, it's always been an organization of undetermined size, with no face to the name. This is a good thing -- It shows I've had no problems.

Thanks for the link to that thread. Indeed even to that subforum.

 

[Focus]

Yes, Donny is VERY good people...always active here on the forum

 

[Chuckles2]

Lemme tell you a story: I once wrote a bug... a bad bug... a data corrupting bug. The bug had been active for several days, corrupting the data in ways we didn't initially notice. Rolling back the old version wouldn't work because it was incompatible with the corrupted data.

Well, we had redundant data and transaction logs so we were able to recover the data easily. But everyone had to wait for me to figure out what the hell went wrong, and to fix the bug. Mind you, we're talking about 14,000 users, who paid good money for the privilege to use the system.

Wanna know what we told them? We said, and I quote: "There's a problem with the server."

Yes, that short little phrase, which is pretty much meaningless, we served up like an army cook serves corned beef hash. (Splat!) Surprisingly, the phrase made everyone happy. Nobody, not even senior management, asked another question.

Meanwhile, I was sweating bullets.! I had no idea what the problem was, or IF I could even fix it. Eventually I did, but so it goes sometimes. ;-)

 

[Focus]

I once squashed a bug..well alot of times actually

 

[melmunch]

Parked is the only site I use and the most frustrating thing is not being able to park new sites...

 

[Theo]

I've been checking my Sedo stats all weekend to compensate for the Parked withdrawal effect

 

[dmyre]

I sure hope this gets resolved today. I'm a new customer, and can't optimize some of my names. Additionally, I'm eager to check the stats for the ones that auto-optimized to compare them with Sedo...

 

[maroulis]

I sure hope this gets resolved today. I'm a new customer, and can't optimize some of my names. Additionally, I'm eager to check the stats for the ones that auto-optimized to compare them with Sedo...

I feel for you, couple of years ago when ND launched I moved all of my domains and got caught in the 48h downtime.. They promised compensation based on historical averages - guess what I got "compensated" LOL

 

[Provider]

I agree with chuckles2, there are much bigger problems probably with parked.com than you all think. Anybody who has the slightest idea about network administration knows that there are always onsite and offsite backups exist in serious organizations.
I will speculate that something might be wrong with the algorithm that determines payouts, somebody I think was overpaid during long period of time and there a need for a fix, and that’s why even backup versions can’t be loaded. Another reason might be security threat, the site could be hacked. These are the only reasons I see at this point. If it were something else you could enjoy now your stats and technicians could work on their software upgrades on the server offline.
It is kind of naive to believe that the major parking site shut down for few days to upgrade a software. Don’t underestimate this problem.

 

[Focus]

Is this the case Don? (above?) :worried:

 

[Chuckles2]

He has stated that there are thirty servers hosting our parked pages. (good)

He has also stated that there is only 1 server handling the stats... Presumably the only one that runs any sort of substantial algorithm. Respectfully, and noting that I LOVE the service of Parked, I still say: "tisk tisk".

http://www.dnforum.com/showthread.php?t=248475

That said, last I heard it should be up this evening. It's not about checking stats... I have domains I'd like to set up and optimize. Since they're unoptimized, they're losing money.

 

[copper]

I have domains I'd like to set up and optimize. Since they're unoptimized, they're losing money.

Not only that, I already changed NS to parked.com for some domains
assuming it'll back up within few hours.
I haven't had chance to even put them into my acct and I guess I will lose
those few pennies until parked.com come back online.

 

[jdk]

Seems they will be up tonight hopefully

 

[Chuckles2]

Actually I believe they said "back end" server, not "backup".

I received two emails so far. My stats for Friday were great. Although the stats suck for Thurs, they're not outside what I've seen in the past. (And better than I would have gotten with any other service.)

I'm not too worried. I think chances are this will be a learning experience and this isn't likely to occur again.

It's working again. Traffic Analysis isn't functional at the moment, but as far as I can see all else works fine.