Since I had my trawl through the services running on the NAS, I’ve noticed that the unit is not working as hard as it used to, whilst doing the same amount of tasks.
Or is it since I updated the Linux kernel (which was at the same time)?
Either way, the CPU activity is waaaay lower than it used to be.
And you can see how hard the NAS is working, routing incoming traffic, as per the router stats I shared earlier.
Anyway, CPU activity here:
I think, to summarise, there are/have been three issues here:
To mitigate these problems:
Also today:
I’m betting with myself that both WordPress and Mantra realised that the previous versions of their products achieved less than 100% on a quality measure.
I could be wrong, but I get very technosceptic when I see suppliers rush out a new version so soon after the previous issue.
As to the NAS issue, I may have been at fault in not cold-restarting the NAS after I applied the RAID controller patch.
And this error may have indirectly caused the NAS to get its knickers in a knot.
But, it has had a positive effect. I have conducted a review of the services I had running on the NAS.
I have stopped and removed some, and altered others. I was probably a bit keen, when I set the NAS up, and just ticked lots of boxes in a “Yeah, I’ll have that, that, that, that, that, that, and that running!” kind of way.
I have, for the sake of clarity, not touched either Server A or Server B*, as neither of those pieces of hardware (nor their hard disks, nor their operating systems) have shown any sign of a problem.
I have also, and just for good measure, checked the status of the internet router, that sits in front of the NAS.
It too was solid, and doing a very good job very thoroughly. Here’s a snippet from the router log. It’s very interesting reading!
[LAN access from remote] from 98.168.210.166:23654 to 192.168.1.2:20589 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:26:14
[LAN access from remote] from 123.125.71.50:20181 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:26:14
[LAN access from remote] from 157.56.92.156:33247 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:26:00
[LAN access from remote] from 86.140.85.43:51338 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:24:08
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:57286 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:23:29
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.93.63:38064 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:23:16
[LAN access from remote] from 61.188.38.249:6000 to 192.168.1.9:1433 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:21:07
[LAN access from remote] from 208.79.209.50:56611 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:20:59
[LAN access from remote] from 72.14.199.237:58709 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:20:23
[LAN access from remote] from 94.14.36.33:51511 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:20:18
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:54834 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:20:10
[LAN access from remote] from 213.238.175.37:37014 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:19:41
[LAN access from remote] from 74.125.176.145:51362 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:19:10
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:53920 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:18:58
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.63:58917 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:18:40
[LAN access from remote] from 220.181.108.95:1704 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:18:39
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:53303 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:18:15
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:53276 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:18:13
[LAN access from remote] from 109.74.1.174:56869 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:18:05
[LAN access from remote] from 157.55.34.93:57458 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:17:12
[LAN access from remote] from 184.0.57.174:20574 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:17:08
[LAN access from remote] from 2.131.9.105:35937 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:17:07
[LAN access from remote] from 2.131.9.105:35936 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:17:07
[LAN access from remote] from 202.68.229.118:1116 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:16:54
[LAN access from remote] from 192.99.11.146:57104 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:16:24
[LAN access from remote] from 5.10.83.82:53564 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:16:22
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.199:63671 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:16:18
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:51461 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:16:07
[LAN access from remote] from 94.228.34.209:50891 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:16:01
[LAN access from remote] from 90.202.18.165:61822 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:15:23
[LAN access from remote] from 90.202.18.165:61821 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:15:23
[LAN access from remote] from 142.166.3.122:5553 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:15:04
[LAN access from remote] from 142.166.3.122:15784 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:15:03
[LAN access from remote] from 157.55.33.29:18535 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:14:12
[LAN access from remote] from 194.63.133.92:56368 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:13:49
[LAN access from remote] from 46.161.41.24:34086 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:13:32
[LAN access from remote] from 86.132.98.19:1166 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:13:20
[LAN access from remote] from 157.55.34.93:48748 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:12:44
[LAN access from remote] from 86.133.231.63:56821 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:12:17
[LAN access from remote] from 77.22.75.71:3504 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:11:10
[LAN access from remote] from 77.22.75.71:3501 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:11:10
[LAN access from remote] from 199.30.16.7:57584 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:11:05
[LAN access from remote] from 199.30.16.7:57435 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:11:05
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:48449 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:11:02
[LAN access from remote] from 5.10.83.35:48968 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:10:52
[LAN access from remote] from 77.101.154.220:52664 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:10:32
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.63:55225 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:10:07
[LAN access from remote] from 157.55.34.93:17919 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:09:25
[LAN access from remote] from 157.55.34.93:15429 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:09:20
[LAN access from remote] from 93.194.78.106:55707 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:09:15
[LAN access from remote] from 65.55.24.244:37211 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:09:15
[LAN access from remote] from 5.104.241.171:38125 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:08:19
[LAN access from remote] from 77.22.75.71:2964 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:07:57
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:45578 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:07:14
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.88:44209 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:07:12
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.88:52955 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:07:07
[LAN access from remote] from 86.140.10.44:53068 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:06:49
[LAN access from remote] from 184.22.136.143:54333 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:06:23
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.66.30:49501 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:06:17
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.63:55837 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:05:26
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:44164 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:05:21
[LAN access from remote] from 187.187.232.237:53227 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:05:05
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.63:57329 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:05:02
[LAN access from remote] from 5.104.241.171:54148 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:04:52
[LAN access from remote] from 157.55.32.86:52030 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:04:14
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:43134 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:04:07
[LAN access from remote] from 5.10.83.89:41478 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:03:48
[LAN access from remote] from 5.10.83.88:35276 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:03:36
[LAN access from remote] from 5.10.83.43:50614 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:03:30
[LAN access from remote] from 112.5.234.98:7009 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:03:12
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:42164 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:02:59
[LAN access from remote] from 27.159.219.220:55082 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:02:47
[LAN access from remote] from 94.228.34.212:59695 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:02:46
[LAN access from remote] from 5.10.83.65:48724 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:02:34
[LAN access from remote] from 5.10.83.55:33933 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:02:30
[LAN access from remote] from 173.192.238.41:39428 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:02:14
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.63:35745 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:02:07
[LAN access from remote] from 212.159.26.160:55871 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:02:07
[LAN access from remote] from 65.19.138.33:57037 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:02:04
[LAN access from remote] from 174.36.228.156:55005 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:01:51
[LAN access from remote] from 174.36.228.156:54836 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:01:51
[LAN access from remote] from 94.228.34.209:53243 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:01:47
[LAN access from remote] from 5.10.83.22:55594 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:01:44
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.63:56090 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:01:35
[LAN access from remote] from 93.152.185.46:50033 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:01:26
[LAN access from remote] from 93.152.185.46:50032 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:01:26
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:40454 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:00:57
[LAN access from remote] from 50.73.18.69:63704 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:00:55
[LAN access from remote] from 65.55.24.244:38947 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:00:31
[LAN access from remote] from 178.210.208.72:58800 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:00:09
[LAN access from remote] from 178.210.208.72:58799 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 19:00:09
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.126:33910 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:59:28
[LAN access from remote] from 74.125.176.145:58240 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:59:20
[LAN access from remote] from 89.240.53.210:54456 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:59:17
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.126:56759 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:59:13
[LAN access from remote] from 81.225.80.13:56294 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:58:58
[LAN access from remote] from 213.238.175.38:52297 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:58:21
[LAN access from remote] from 157.55.33.41:60313 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:56:31
[LAN access from remote] from 88.190.37.12:50089 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:55:58
[LAN access from remote] from 88.190.37.12:50088 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:55:58
[LAN access from remote] from 88.190.37.12:50087 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:55:58
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:37478 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:55:56
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.31:41725 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:54:09
[LAN access from remote] from 199.30.16.26:3926 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:53:55
[LAN access from remote] from 199.30.16.26:3809 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:53:54
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.63:40616 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:53:02
[LAN access from remote] from 94.228.34.209:51132 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:51:58
[LAN access from remote] from 175.44.28.117:13601 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:51:47
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:34398 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:51:46
[LAN access from remote] from 119.63.193.196:17000 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:51:46
[LAN access from remote] from 202.46.62.30:44828 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:51:31
[LAN access from remote] from 178.210.208.72:58279 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:51:20
[LAN access from remote] from 178.210.208.72:58280 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:51:20
[LAN access from remote] from 93.72.24.153:1214 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:51:03
[LAN access from remote] from 80.1.186.39:61976 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:51:00
[LAN access from remote] from 69.171.242.118:34830 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:50:45
[LAN access from remote] from 157.56.92.156:64338 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:50:29
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:33318 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:50:21
[LAN access from remote] from 74.125.40.23:58091 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:49:38
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:32487 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:49:15
[LAN access from remote] from 199.16.185.50:19201 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:49:08
[LAN access from remote] from 204.11.32.242:55659 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:48:50
[LAN access from remote] from 77.160.175.196:57151 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:48:50
[LAN access from remote] from 77.160.175.196:57150 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:48:50
[LAN access from remote] from 72.14.199.237:43811 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:48:11
[LAN access from remote] from 5.10.83.43:47035 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:47:56
[LAN access from remote] from 5.10.83.55:37976 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:47:34
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.93.63:37803 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:46:05
[LAN access from remote] from 98.168.210.166:23654 to 192.168.1.2:20589 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:45:56
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:29272 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:45:45
[LAN access from remote] from 178.210.208.72:57898 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:44:39
[LAN access from remote] from 178.210.208.72:57896 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:44:39
[LAN access from remote] from 178.210.208.72:57897 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:44:39
[LAN access from remote] from 157.55.33.214:33286 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:44:33
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.63:49793 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:44:20
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.63:64090 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:43:45
[LAN access from remote] from 157.56.92.156:32581 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:43:43
[LAN access from remote] from 37.140.141.11:11635 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:43:31
[LAN access from remote] from 64.91.229.52:55904 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:42:14
[LAN access from remote] from 98.168.210.166:5356 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:52
[LAN access from remote] from 98.168.210.166:5355 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:52
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:43049 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:41
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:58790 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:39
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:38858 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:38
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:44442 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:36
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:36246 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:35
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:34049 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:33
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:59814 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:32
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:41183 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:31
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:44796 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:30
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:47848 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:27
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:44318 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:25
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:43005 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:24
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:54383 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:23
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:34529 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:22
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:53456 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:21
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:55812 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:19
[LAN access from remote] from 94.23.233.204:54619 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:18
[LAN access from remote] from 190.145.33.250:43547 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:15
[LAN access from remote] from 190.145.33.250:43463 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:12
[LAN access from remote] from 157.55.34.93:59670 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:41:12
[LAN access from remote] from 5.10.83.79:45816 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:40:54
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:26060 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:40:35
[LAN access from remote] from 199.30.20.23:1828 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:40:28
[LAN access from remote] from 199.30.20.23:1732 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:40:27
[LAN access from remote] from 213.44.143.90:62100 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:40:25
[LAN access from remote] from 131.253.24.58:8400 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:39:40
[LAN access from remote] from 131.253.24.58:8411 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:39:40
[LAN access from remote] from 70.70.144.13:61206 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:39:40
[LAN access from remote] from 131.253.24.58:6090 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:39:29
[LAN access from remote] from 131.253.24.58:5627 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:39:26
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:25084 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:39:24
[LAN access from remote] from 5.10.83.51:43835 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:38:08
[LAN access from remote] from 54.205.105.168:45440 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:37:04
[LAN access from remote] from 54.205.105.168:45417 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:37:03
[LAN access from remote] from 54.224.5.73:60053 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:37:01
[LAN access from remote] from 23.20.236.174:58739 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:36:59
[LAN access from remote] from 174.129.122.186:60422 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:36:57
[LAN access from remote] from 118.161.79.71:6000 to 192.168.1.9:25 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:36:40
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:22822 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:36:39
[LAN access from remote] from 5.10.83.43:35187 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:36:31
[LAN access from remote] from 109.120.157.179:64408 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:35:47
[LAN access from remote] from 109.120.157.179:64265 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:35:46
[LAN access from remote] from 66.249.78.63:45982 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:35:44
[LAN access from remote] from 208.115.113.87:54041 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:35:30
[LAN access from remote] from 65.55.24.244:47813 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:35:23
[LAN access from remote] from 117.25.106.132:51622 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:35:19
[LAN access from remote] from 184.168.193.182:21595 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:35:12
[LAN access from remote] from 69.143.254.170:4532 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:34:13
[LAN access from remote] from 65.55.24.244:52649 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:34:06
[LAN access from remote] from 162.243.45.13:43820 to 192.168.1.9:80 Sunday, Dec 15,2013 18:33:54
* I really need to get a better naming convention 🙂
(reminder: this post relates to unexplained issues I’ve been having with the main blog, not this website)
Pretty much as you’d expect, I removed Mantra and performed a clean installation.
I didn’t just disable the theme, I FTPd on to the website and deleted every Mantra-related entry in the directory structure, then fired up the database adin panel and removed by SQL all Mantra-related entries in the MySQL.
Then I downloaded the latest version (couldn’t help noticing that it was a version increase over the product I had just removed), and performed an installation.
And it works fine and looks normal.
I just need to test out the feed generation…
*moments pass*
Yep, both feed generations method pass validation.
Yay!
So what was the problem?
Idno.
*shrug*
Unknown to me the primary blog has been down all day because of a Mantra theme problem in WordPress.
When I got in from my roadtrip, around 5ish, I checked the NAS and the servers; every component was up and running and looking good.
I validated the webservices by checking the geekblog and it looked and responded normally.
I checked my main blog and was surprised to see a blank page. Nothing. Just a big slab of visual white noise.
I checked the MySQL database and it looked good and responded to a dummy query normally.
I checked the WordPress admin page and it came back straight away. But as well as the usual admin things, it displayed an error message I hadn’t seen before:
So something, somewhere, was telling the database to pull a theme (or, importantly, a part of a theme) from a directory that didn’t exist (and no theme directory has ever been located in ‘(‘ as far as I’m aware).
So I switched to the current view (had to knock up a header with text, based on the old header I made for Mantra).
Now I could just reinstall Mantra (and I may well end up doing that), but I’m a bit fed up with the issues I’ve been having with the blog theme.
I’ve just upgraded WordPress from 3.7.1 to 3.8.
Then, mindful of the last bunch of errors, I ran a feed validation against the blog’s self-generating RSS feed and the Feedburner RSS feed.
Both passed (with the same YouTube-related minors).
Very curious.
I need to think about this.
In the meantime I’m going to leave the design on the temporary version, while I ponder.
When I got in this morning the NAS was overloaded again.
2am – having been up since 5am the previous day – is not the ideal time to start fiddling so I just recycled the NASs power.
Before I crashed out at 2.30am, I upgraded the NAS operating system.
I’ve just disabled some NAS services that I enabled at the start of the week – we’ll see what effect that has, if any.
I’ll look in greater, more methodical depth, later today after my road trip.
I applied a patch to the RAID controller on the NAS a few days ago.
Twelve hours later. part way through a volume sync, the RAID controller got its knickers in a right knot.
As a result of its panic-fest, the RAID controller gobbled up 100% of the available RAM and then assumed 100% of the CPU.
These unplanned events effectively locked up everything behind my router/primary firewall.
The NAS squeaked out an email to me that it was in trouble.
I remote-accessed the NAS, intending to kill the rogue processes, but although I could authenticate on to it, the device had insufficient processing power/CPU to allow me to step in and intervene.
When I got home, I powered off the NAS and booted the device back up, which restored everything once more.
After another volume sync (I have the NAS set up as a RAIDed device), I performed a controlled shutdown and restart.
This brought everything back up correctly, after the previous power-off/start up.
With hindsight (I have 20/20 hindsight sometimes), I should have performed a controlled shutdown/restart after applying the patch to the RAID controller.
But I didn’t.
Oh well, I’m learning.
If you’re interested in the architecture, this is how things currently look:
Hardware:
The NAS has 2x 1Tb discs.
Server #1 has 4x 2Tb discs
Server #2 has 4x 2Tb discs
What did you do lunchtime today?
I converted a spreadsheet from a 24.8Mb monstrosity, to a 72Kb pussycat.
And I debugged the entire WordPress .php application, and the Mantra theme.
I started out debugging just the Mantra theme (let’s not talk about the spreadsheet, that’s a work thing).
But when I’d finished I kept thinking ‘Is that it? Really? That’s it? There isn’t more?’
So I began working my way through the WordPress .php stack.
Actually, I found hundreds of .php files with blank lines outside the begin/end .php markers.
(blank lines outside the <?php – ?> switches are usually the causes of feed failures)
I could have been clever.
Or lazy.
Same thing, really.
I could have opened the feed-related files in the includes folder and put this code in:
$out = ob_get_contents();
$out = str_replace(array(“\n”, “\r”, “\t”, ” “), “”, $input);
ob_end_clean();
But I didn’t want to do that, because it wouldn’t have answered the unasked question.
Coding my way out of the issue wouldn’t have actually told me how many instances of the issue there were.
And now I know.
Because I fixed them.
Fixed them all.
By hand.
Because I am a geek.
Because Young Mister Masher started me thinking about the main blog’s RSS feeds…
And also because Young Mister Punctuation added further fuel to my thoughts…
I have been thinking.
Yeah I know.
Dangerous.
Anyway.
The main blog generates a direct and an indirect feed.
The direct feed is the generic /blog/?feed=rss2. The indirect feed is a Feedburner product.
What happens with the indirect feed is that Feedburner sucks in the direct feed address (and all traffic on it) and spits it out via an indirect address of http://feeds.feedburner.com/.
I ran the blog’s direct RSS feed through Feed Validator and it passed, but with two minors.
Then I ran the blog’s indirect RSS feed through Feed Validator and it failed.
Stone dead.
What the?
How?
I scratched my head.
How is it possible that a website feed can generate an acceptable RSS content, but when that feed is parsed through Feedburner it generates a fail?
Anyway, I stopped scratching my head, fired up an FTP session and renamed the plugin folder, then ran the Feed Validator sessions again.
The results for the direct feed came back with a pass and one minor.
The results for the indirect feed came back with a big fat ‘F’ again.
I reconnected the plugins folder and inspected the .php for each one, looking for rogue spaces outside the < and >.
None found.
Then I checked theme-functions.php looking for the same thing.
None found.
Then I checked theme-functions.php in the child theme I have running.
None found.
I switched themes to a native WordPress template and revalidated the RSS through Feed Validator.
The directly generated theme came back with a big green tick and one minor.
I pinged the indirectly generated theme through Feedburner, made myself a mug of hot chocolate and then revalidated the RSS for that one.
This too came back with a big green tick and one minor.
A theme problem, then?
Seems likely.
I changed the theme to a low-impact design I used for a year or so, checked the four plugins I use were good to go and revalidated the directly generated feed.
Green. One minor.
I pinged Feedburner and revalidated the indirectly generated feed.
Green. One minor.
(At this point I had a thought: I bet these changes will make Mister Masher’s Yahoo feed reader’s cup overfloweth)
Anyway.
I downloaded the current version of the Mantra theme (the one I use as my default design template), unzipped it, and uploaded it to the server.
Then I switched the theme back to Mantra and ran the feed validations again.
Both failed.
This is pretty conclusive evidence that there’s a .php problem somewhere in the Mantra product.
Although the problem doesn’t stop RSS publication through the direct feed, somehow it becomes a bigger issue when the direct feed is parsed through Feedburner – and stops the indirect feed from working.
So when Young Mister Punctuation said his feeds had not been disrupted during the last server change, this was (probably) because he is subscribed to the directly generated feed. I need to check this.
And when Young Mister Masher declared feed issues, the last time I did a server swap, it was (probably) because he was subscribed to the Feedburner feed. I need to check on this too.
So, to wrap this up for now: I have switched the theme away from Mantra, to the one I validated both feeds successfully against about half an hour ago.
I have switched the four plugins on.
I have just run a final feed revalidation against both feeds and they both passed (with the same minor).
I will start to debug the Mantra theme tomorrow.
Oh, and I’m unconcerned with the minor that shows up.
It’s the same one every time, and it is related to YouTube’s encoding of embedded content.
So a big fat ‘meh’ to that one.
Tomorrow I’ll debug.
Tonight I’ll drink hot chocolate and watch an episode of Outnumbered.
This evening I resolved the unexplained driver issue that the studio laptop Device Manager has been shouting about.
Apparently it was a Conexant D330,HDA,MDC,v.92 Modem Driver, for a…
Yep…
For a 56k modem.
Anyway, I was clearing boxes out of the studio (not sure why, when I’m probably going to move house again, in the next four months), when I came across my box of drivers.
The sixth disc of drivers that I tried reinstalled the troublesome rogue and Device Manager has now stopped shouting at me and settled down.
So, the studio laptop seems to have stopped getting BSODs (because I removed 90% of its content).
And I’ve resolved the drivers error.
Yay!
I have also just patched CentOS, so now I have to perform a restart on web and email services.
But you won’t notice this, because I’m being cunning.
🙂
I’m trying to make musical decisions; I suppose this is a bit like being a teenager all over again.
I’m trying to build my ultimate playlist of driving tunes (that is, tunes that inspire me when I’m driving).
Easy?
No, it’s not.
Just one wrong choice and the whole list is buggered.
Devalued.
Not worth the temporary disc-space it’s written on.
Anyway, here’s my current driving playlist.
Always looking for good suggestions.
