The March 2022 Forum Problems Technical Post

[digitaltoast]

Apologies to the people who are having problems staying logged in since the new updates.

As far as I can see, the only difference with the new server and versions of php etc, is that it enforces a slightly more secure version of https and cookies. From looking at similar posts, the only thing I can think of right now is:

1: Out of date browser (or PC) or
2: Browser settings causing cookie problems.

I'm not saying this is definitely the case, but so that I can exclude or confirm this, then if you have a moment, would you mind replying in this thread with the following details, and whether or not you are having problems staying logged in.

https://www.whatsmybrowser.org/ - don't worry, it hides your IP address when you share it, so you can safely post it here if you want.
For example, here's my report: https://www.whatsmybrowser.org/b/J2N8P

If you want to share something more detailed, then try this: https://browseraudit.com/
It takes a few minutes to run, and again the result can be shared when it's finished but if you share this one, it'll share your current IP address (so PM me if you want to share it with me). DO NOT worry if there are a couple of "critical" items - if there's more than about 20 critical, then that might be problematic!

If it turns out that there's a few forum users on older browsers which can't be updated, then there is a way to turn the security back down a couple of notches to accommodate everyone, and it won't make the forum "unsafe", but I'd rather leave things as they should be!

For the geeks or anyone that's interested, here's what the recent change was:

I'd been keeping the actual forum software (phpbb) up to date, while the underlying server uses something called Bitnami, which provides a secure and reliable "platform" on which the phpbb software runs. Because of the way bitnami works, I can't just update things like the version of php etc, and it was getting close to the time where phpbb needed a newer version of php than the current server provides. So the only way is to "migrate" the board to a new underlying server and then point the IP address to that. In theory, easy. In reality... well, here we are!

[chris_j_wood]

Apart from having to login the first time I accessed the site after the upgrade, I'm not having a problem. Actually it was the first two times, because I forgot to tick the 'keep me logged in' box the first time. Here are my details for a process of elimination:

https://www.whatsmybrowser.org/b/UXNHR

[mikejee]

I'm the same asChris.No problems . Had to log in once after changes. I log in onto active topics
Details are as at
https://www.whatsmybrowser.org/b/YSSMM

[digitaltoast]

OK, so you're both on Chrome 98 and without problems - same as me.

I've just gone ahead and done a couple of tweaks anyway - are things still OK for you? (Might have to login once more)

[chris_j_wood]

I've just gone ahead and done a couple of tweaks anyway - are things still OK for you? (Might have to login once more)

All ok. Didn't have to logon again.

[piwacket]

I've just gone ahead and done a couple of tweaks anyway - are things still OK for you? (Might have to login once more)

All ok. Didn't have to logon again.

Nor me.

[Voiceoftreason?]

I’m on safari 12 coming ff an iPad. Had to log on to get acces just now, but when trying to post I had to continually log on but it wouldn’t let me post. It seemed to have got itself in a loop.

[Voiceoftreason?]

Well blow me if I can post normally now

[D5equj5]

Ah, like VoT, I too am "normal"

[D5equj5]

Thank you digitaltoast

[Voiceoftreason?]

Nope, had to log in again.

[D5equj5]

FYI test results link link

nar nee nar nee nar nar VoT's not normal

[piwacket]

Ah, like VoT, I too am "normal"

You’re both’ normal

[Voiceoftreason?]

Well thank,our, Lady Pi

Back to struggling to log on again

[lizwing]

I am the new normal

[BOY RACER]

I would like to consider myself normal but it took me 6 attempts to log in

[Mayfield]

https://www.whatsmybrowser.org/b/JYZ7R

I had dreadful problems staying logged in in the early hours….I’d log in, write a post and press submit, and I’d be logged out…took several attempts

But this evening I found I was still logged in - fingers crossed

[maggieaitch]

I use Google Chrome and haven't had to log in since the first day the problems occurred. All seems good to me, thanks.

[Pooneil]

I'm fine on desktop,laptop and mobile phone (Windows 10 and latest Firefox on the PCs, Android and latest Firefox on the phone).

[Voiceoftreason?]

Got on ok, needed to log on again to post

[OLDMAN]

TBH I’ve only had one ‘glitch’ and that was for a few days on/off about a week or so ago – and not done it since

Basically: I would click on the Forum via a favourite bar link, but it was then frozen and as I ran the cursor over nothing changed (normally section ‘highlight’) and couldn’t ‘click’ on and link as if all dead
After ‘refreshing’ maybe 1-3 times it all worked okay

Only time I’ve had to log-on was eth other day after you had played with it

And no problems at all on the phone

My check - https://www.whatsmybrowser.org/b/Z7KVL

[Bam]

Still no problems at all on my Samsung android phone. It must be a Windows 10 incompatibility.

Most things seem to work better on phones these days and easy updates only once or twice a year. I only use the pc for its large screen and my enormous archive.

[windrush]

I have had no problems at all (yet!) but I did have to log on t'other morning for the first time in months and haven't logged out since. Running Windows 10 and Firefox.

Pete.

[Souwester]

I'm on Firefox, currently v97.0.1. In the first few days I had to log in each time I visited the forum, but it's been fine since then.

[Fed-up]

One thing I have noticed is that the new forum is at https://reading-forum.co.uk/... but the old forum was at https://reading-forum.co.uk/forum/... so the old bookmarks don't work.

[Voiceoftreason?]

Just will not stay logged in!

[Voiceoftreason?]

Is fabric warehouse in Woodley still going, I want to get some foam for dining chairs.

[windrush]

One thing I have noticed is that the new forum is at https://reading-forum.co.uk/... but the old forum was at https://reading-forum.co.uk/forum/... so the old bookmarks don't work.

Well they do for me, am I in a parallel universe up here?

Pete.

[OLDMAN]

Is fabric warehouse in Woodley still going, I want to get some foam for dining chairs.

-----------Long gone though

[Voiceoftreason?]

Is fabric warehouse in Woodley still going, I want to get some foam for dining chairs.

-----------Long gone though

Ooo, rats sorry - wrong page. My bad,

[piwacket]

One thing I have noticed is that the new forum is at https://reading-forum.co.uk/... but the old forum was at https://reading-forum.co.uk/forum/... so the old bookmarks don't work.

Well they do for me, am I in a parallel universe up here?
Pete.

You and me both then Pete!

[Fed-up]

https://reading-forum.co.uk/forum/searc ... d=newposts used to take me to new posts but now it is https://reading-forum.co.uk/search.php? ... d=newposts

If I use the old link then I get a page saying "The requested page could not be found".

[windrush]

https://reading-forum.co.uk/forum/searc ... d=newposts used to take me to new posts but now it is https://reading-forum.co.uk/search.php? ... d=newposts

If I use the old link then I get a page saying "The requested page could not be found".

Ah, I never specifically look for new posts so maybe that's why I don't have a problem.

Pete.

[Where's the Bullring]

I am on Opera 84 with Windows 10. I do have to log in on occasions, but as I have my user name and password saved, it is easy enough to log in. It is a case of will I be logged in this time, or not ,when I access this website.

[windrush]

Having to log on each day now but I can live with that as everything else appears to be functioning.

Pete.