Update on connection issues

[electra225]

I have tried to be as transparent with you guys as I could since the day this forum went online in 2021. I remember when Vintage went down, how helpless everyone felt that not only could they not fix it, they didn't even know what the problem was. I have experienced that same feeling during the past two and a half months since the forum migration. Random members have experienced connection issues, sometimes more than once. I got kicked off the forum last Friday and Saturday four or five times. Both of the moderators have had connection issues.

The good side of the forum migration is that we have the server and our technical advisor in one building. He is the same person, Mark. Mark has worked diligently trying to find the source of our connection issues. We weren't his only client experiencing these issues. They were server wide. Since the migration, we have had increased traffic, we have gained 15 new, non-spambot members some of whom have actually posted. The ratio is commonly for every 20 members you get, one will post. The ratio for new members who post frequently is even smaller than that. Internet forums like ours are competing with social media for participation. The advantage to forums is that we can control the flamebaiting and keep the "hate and discontent" to a minimum, or eliminate it altogether. There are thousands of forums still going so there must be enough people who enjoy the more laid-back atmosphere on forums versus social media.

The downside to the migration and the resultant connection issues is that we have lost at least two active members. Guys who know all about the situation, how to fix it, yet set on their hands and don't offer to help. I call that the George Marshall syndrome, a tale best left for another day. When you volunteer, be ready to have all your character faults exposed. There will always be someone willing to oblige you. To your credit, the rest of you guys have been obliging, patient and understanding. We worked together to fix individual issues and I thank you all for that.

Our new server uses four security firewalls. There are bad actors who constantly work to penetrate firewalls so they can wreak havoc on something someone has worked hard to develop. There are also security programs who work just as tirelessly trying to head off these bad actors. These four firewalls are designed so they "play nice" with each other. It was found that a setting, one of THOUSANDS, was set wrong. This caused the security system to be overly-sensitive. The security system looks at IP addresses checking them for potential security breaches. Every time you are on the Internet, your browser collects information on your browsing history. If a bad actor has planted something bad on somewhere you have been, the security system finds that, then blocks your IP address so you don't bring the insecure or harmful information onto the server and pollute the whole thing and all the websites connected to it.

Going forward, what we need to do is this. Mark has asked for our input if we have concerns of any kind, both good and bad. His email address is "mark@1radpc.com". Make a note of this. Reach out to a moderator if you have questions, but know that Mark is available if we can't help you. If you can't get on the forum, it will be kinda hard or impossible to click on "contact the administrator". You will have Mark as a backup. Identify yourself as a member of the Classis Hifi Care forum then respectfully give him your input. I don't want you guys to feel like you are "stuck" if you have an issue with connections or whatever concerning the operation of the forum. Know also that, due to the advance security measures we have to employ to keep the forum and its members safe, connection issues may happen from time to time. We will do our very best to work with you to fix it ASAP. Sometimes the remedy is not immediate, they may not be due to a fault in the forum, so keep that in mind. I thank you guys for working with me during the transition. I believe the forum will offer a better experience than with our former server, but it hasn't been without growing pains. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Thank you all for your participation on the forum.