[Shmily]

We are having people getting kicked out of forums regularly and then cant get back in for like 20 minutes or so. We contacted our server but they say it has something to do with smilies and that we need to contact the developers of the software.

Has anyone else had this problem? Any ideas what it could be?

[ChopSuey]

Wow something to do with the smileys? ROFL. WOW just WOW.

Its your server....not vBulletin.

[Shmily]

So what do I do? Our server person is saying it's the software.

[ChopSuey]

How exactly are they getting kicked out?

[Shmily]

If I am logged in and I open a few windows I am fine. If I ever have more than 3 open for our board then it locks me out. People are getting the same when opening smileys. When this happens I cant get back in for about 20 minutes or so.

[ssslippy]

Is there an error message? What exactly is happening? You need to give more details then kicked out.

[Shmily]

Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage

What you can try:
Diagnose Connection Problems

This problem can be caused by a variety of issues, including:

•Internet connectivity has been lost.
•The website is temporarily unavailable.
•The Domain Name Server (DNS) is not reachable.
•The Domain Name Server (DNS) does not have a listing for the website's domain.
•There might be a typing error in the address.
•If this is an HTTPS (secure) address, click Tools, click Internet Options, click Advanced, and check to be sure the SSL and TLS protocols are enabled under the security section.

For offline users

You can still view subscribed feeds and some recently viewed webpages.
To view subscribed feeds

1.Click the Favorites Center button , click Feeds, and then click the feed you want to view.

To view recently visited webpages (might not work on all pages)

1.Click Tools , and then click Work Offline.
2.Click the Favorites Center button , click History, and then click the page you want to view.

Just this.

[catomite]

I'm on the same forum as Shmily. I use only firefox and have the same problem. I usually have only one window open.

I'm posting a reply, click on "more" smilies, select the one(s) I want, close the smilie window and when I try to submit my reply, I get this error:

Firefox can't establish a connection with the server.

It doesn't close the site, just leaves me stuck on my reply page. Even after several tries, it won't submit.

This has been happening for months to many of our members. I'm wondering now if we need a new host.

--------------- Added 05 Mar 2010 at 00:52 ---------------

ETA I can go back to a previous page with the Back Arrow, but can no longer access any other page on the site.

It's somehow connected to accessing the smilie page but have no idea why. Any ideas?

[ChopSuey]

You need to contact your host AGAIN and say "you liars, its not vBulletin its the cheap server im hosted on" (Don't actually say it but its your server.). You know having tabs on your forum can cause load? lol your host seems like they're sh*tty.

[Zachery]

Do you have alot of smilies?
Does your webhost have mod_doevaise or other dos protection software installed?
Does your webhost limit the number of requests per website per x?

[Marco van Herwaarden]

That is also what i am thinking. The host puts a maximum on the number of connections and the limit is too low resulting in regular visitors getting blocked on the server.

PS I think Zach made a typo and it should be mod_evasive

[Shmily]

This was the response from our server about connections.

It looks like the smilies page is causing an excessive number of connections to the server which is putting temporary bans in place. This may also be triggered by threads that are populated by a great number of different smilies. There is not a setting that can be adjusted to limit the number of connections at once, unfortunately.

--------------- Added 05 Mar 2010 at 16:08 ---------------

The email after the one above suggested we contact the software developers.

[Speysider]

Go shout and rant at them. All these problems are to do with your crap hosters, NOT vB.
This is the kind of bullshit that crap hosters say if they aren't good with vB.

[Angel-Wings]

Or before blaming your webhost - try to use Categories for Smileys as temporary work-around that maybe only 25 or 35 are loaded per page - meaning the smiley popup.

[metalguy639]

Personally I would switch my web host. It sounds like to me that they only offer very low end hosting and you obviously need hosting that is better. there are some great cheap web hosts out there such as godaddy, bluehost, hostgator, and webair that you will not have these problems with.