ATTENTION: ATS Bloggers!!!

We had a serious corruption of the main blog database that caused several problems with posting comments today.

We were not able to repair the database, and had to revert to the most recent backup, which ran early this morning. As a result, we lost about 18 hours of your posts and comments.

The problem appears to be related to MovableType's inability to properly deal with comment spammers... over 78,000 spam comments were clogging this up, and causing the problem.

BIG THANKS TO ZEDD for spending lots of time researching the problem and trying to find an alternative fix... but in the end... we lost some data.

Well done Zedd!

Thanks SO.

Thanks for the update SO, (and thanks Zedd for trying to help.) I've tried Zedd's suggestion as in this entry Comment Problems, and created a TypeKey account, but I still get the same error, whether I'm logged into TypeKey or not.

Additionally when I try to post a comment in one of Zedd's latest entries I get a "No such entry '3807'" error. I take it that is related to the data loss...?

Thanks for the heads up SO! And many thanks to Zed for trying to get things taken care of.

Sadly, it appears that all comments, from when I started my blog to now, have been wiped out. When I log in to my movable type account, its reported that there are no comments at all. Any chance that comments older than 18 hours will be recoverable?

[edit on 5/18/2007 by DCFusion]

yeah, I lost my comments too.

I think I might have also lost an entry or two but even I don't read my blog so I could be wrong.

OK, I know I'm gonna get flamed for this, but I'm serious - what's a blog?

We're still having database-related problems with MovableType. The short story: it doesn't look good.

We have backups but it appears there are issues with the *size* of our database and the core MovableType code. I'm still working on it, but it may take some time.

Thanks for the update SO, I'll be watching this closely. One quick question though...


When you say "The short story: it doesn't look good", are you saying that it doesn't look good that you will be able to restore the lost comments (which all in all isn't that bad. Or are you saying that we better start making a back-up of our stylesheet code and entries because it doesn't look good that the database issue will be able to be resolved?

EDIT: for clarification

[edit on 5/18/2007 by DCFusion]

Nah, maybe just toasted a little.

Blog.....shortened version of 'web log'. Web space provided to a person who can then maintain a diary of sorts. Also allows for comments about entries to be inserted by other persons; the creator can determine if any anonymous user can add a comment, or can specify only certain persons. Generally provided in a pre-designed format with very little knowledge of the underlying technology needed. Maybe that's why they are so popular with journalists....Hah!....just kidding.

Make backups.

As we search on solutions for our current problem among MovableType users with similar problems, the most popular solution is to trash MovableType, and get another solution. However, this is typically for one person with a very large blog, not a blogging community with several blogs... so it makes that solution much harder for us to consider.

Cool! Thanks for the info. How do you start a blog? Where? That's exactly what I'm looking for. 3/4 of the posts I make are just an attack of keyboard diarhea that I need to release spontaneously.

Lombozo - You can buy a blog for 1,000 points in the ATS Store

Lombozo.....you buy one with your points! Talk to Zedd, I hear he's most helpful with blogs. I can see it now....You're doing some thinking Have you never read any of the ATS Blogs??

Edit* to add

[edit on 5/18/2007 by jensouth31]

Nope, I've never read a blog. I didn't even know they existed until about an hour ago. Where do you read them?
And you bet I would be doin' some thinkin' on that blog! Can anyone read them, or just ATS members?

Go on the far left side of the page. You'll see the active topics, featured, surveys and keep going and you'll see this...

with links to blogs under it.

And then you can click and read the blogs.

edit: And yes, non members can read blogs. If you aren't logged in you will see this button on the top toolbar.



[edit on 18/5/2007 by enjoies05]

*sigh* Not what I was wanting to hear....

Oh well, at least we have a chance to back our stuff up.

I hope ATS keeps the Blogs (whether with movable type, wordpress - whatever) because I am truly enjoying the blogging thing! And once again, mega huge thanks to SO and Zedd for working on trying to save the blogs!!

Anyone can read the blogs. Anyone! I usually look on the main ATS page, far left about half way down in red print, side column to see which blogs have been updated each day. I have a selected few that I read, but I promise to read your blog if you should purchase one

Backup your blog posts!

Here's how.

1) Log into your blog
2) On the left side look for the Import/Export buttun under utilities
3) Click the Export Entries tab
4) Click the link and it should ask if you want to save the file (you might have to right-click save as depending on your browser)

This will save a text file and it's very fast. I have over 700 entries and it takes seconds.


Now, be assured we are definately trying to resolve the issue with our current system, but we might not be able to. Nobody here has invested more time in the blogs then myself, so if SkepticOverlord says it's way too corrupt...then it's the truth.

We'll do the very best we can. And a big thanks to SkepicOverlord who put in a lot of time yesterday on the database.

Oh you bet I'm going to get one! I've been contemplating writing a book as of late - in fact I've pretty much decided that I'm going to do it. A blog sounds great, little snippets like a work in progress. Plus it'll give me a chance to post some horror.

Hi Zedd. I don't have that option. And if I am not mistaken, you need to have admin rights to have that option (or at least turn that option on). That would be a big help if you could turn that option on for us.