I'm starting a new thread as we've made some changes to the way chat runs on our server (more on that in a moment) and we're looking for more feedback from all of you.
The good news is, in a couple of our most difficult test cases, these changes at our end have got chat working for members who previously have never been able to access it. If you haven't been able to access RYL chat so far therefore, please read on!
First though, a little techy info on exactly what we've changed at our end...
We've moved the chat server so that it runs on a different 'port' number. Generally speaking, your web browser will try to connect to web sites and services on port 80, unless you specifically tell it otherwise. Port 80 normally carries only 'web' traffic and some internet providers take specialist measures to 'cache' or otherwise manipulate this traffic for their customers in an effort to improve security, speed up access to commonly visited web sites, or reduce their own bandwidth bills. After a huge amount of investigation on our part, as well as that of the developer of the chat software, it appears some of these measures taken by some ISPs cause problems and prevent members from connecting with our chat server.
There is an additional bug previously mentioned in my last thread concerning the Web Shield module in the Avast antivirus software product and the way it scans traffic which is not strictly conformant with HTTP protocols.
Whilst there is nothing theoretically incorrect about hosting any kind of internet service on any arbitrary port number (including 80), by moving our chat service to a different port, we hope to bypass some of the less 'compatible' traffic manipulations performed by some antivirus software and/or ISPs.
It should be noted however that the chat software company recommends port 80 as a usable port for their chat server software and this issue, while most frustrating, has only effected a very small percentage of members utilising very specific ISPs and/or antivirus software. Since we did not develop the software, I cannot speculate over whether the underlying problem lies with the chat server code or with the antivirus product(s) effected or even certain ISP(s) - there are simply too many variables.
So, long story short, there is now a VERY good chance that chat will work for you where it did not previously! If you use Avast antivirus software and you have previously (as per my last thread) disabled the Web Shield module in this product, please RE-ENABLE it for best security and let me know in *this* thread whether you are still able to access RYL chat. One of our successful test case fixes was a Mac user, so again, if you have a Mac and you have been unable to use chat, please try again and let me know how it goes!
Before I wrap up this (long!) post, I just want to say a huge personal thank you to Harley and also all the members who have so kindly and patiently been providing feedback on this issue over the past few weeks. Harley especially has had a pretty awful time of things - he tends to get the most flak from the community as a whole when stuff breaks around here and he's an absolute star for taking it all as well as does on top of everything he is constantly dealing with for RYL anyway.
Finally, please note that I am locking all previous chat threads relating to the above mentioned issues in order that we can gather ALL new chat feedback here, in this thread.
Thanks everyone, and fingers VERY hard crossed that you'll all be chatting happily soonest!!
Well never mind thanking me - I think I, the community and the few members who decided to speak out of their backsides owe you a huge thank you.
For someone who by day runs so many high powered server systems and businesses IT, to have someone of your calibre working on RYL is something that the community, nor me will ever be able to really put a value to.
I know how much you earn an hour, and I know how many dozens of hours you have given, without question to help all these members make a product you did not build work better... quite aside from the hundreds I have seen you do before now.
I know there have been many times in the last couple of weeks when we, and I have questioned if we were going mad - and certainly questioned whether we were right to continually defend our end as if nothing was wrong.
In the face of pretty much no information or assistance from the chat company, you have basically found and solved half a dozen major faults with their software, and other peoples - and that it was not your job or even your role on RYL to fix.
And to do that while some people tell you that they think they know better, and that you shouldnt call youself a sys admin? I know it hasn't been an easy week or so for you - but all I can say, however I might make it seem while we are stressed, is how grateful I am to have you, and so many wonderful people behind me.
Without them, my achievements if any at RYL would be nothing right now, and that counts for a lot
Course this is only if we have now finally found the solution! Early indicators look good, but we shall see, let us know!
So glad it's working for you now! Just received your username change request and approved that for you, so now there's nothing between you and RYL chat! ;)
AHHHHH.
IT'S ALL SHINY AND NEW.
THANK YOU :D
Sorry for being a spazm.
BUTOMGZ.NEWCHAT =D
Thankk youu x infinity for making it work & spending all that time on it.
Harley I did not say that James should not call himself a systems administrator, what I said was if he calls himself a system administrator then he should know better than to give out some of the advice he was giving.
Also after reading James first post in this thread I feel totally vindicated in the comments I made.
And just for the record I am also a systems administrator for a rather large organisation, so no, I was not talking out of my backside as you so eloquently put it and I don't think I know better that anyone and I never said that I knew better than anyone, I was simply giving my opinion based on my experience gained from the work that I do.
Also if you had bothered to ask me then I would have been more than willing to talk with James and offer any help or assistance I could, instead you chose to try an belittle me with your replies to the posts I did make.
Anyway I am glad you seem to have reached a resolution for the chat issue.
I still can't get in. When I click on the "Enter Chat" I get a blue window, with the words "Authentication Failed" in it.
I'm not on a Mac, nor do I have Avast, just FYI.
Well it breaks my heart to see you this way,
The beauty in life, where's it gone?
And somebody told me you were doing okay,
Somehow I guess they were wrong.
Oh, and I can get into chat under a different name with no ~s in it, on the same computer.
Well it breaks my heart to see you this way,
The beauty in life, where's it gone?
And somebody told me you were doing okay,
Somehow I guess they were wrong.
Verizon here used to block port 80 and then they stopped. Wish I understood it all better. A few weeks ago almost every forum I went to was choppy and broken. I was reading about large scale hacks and cracks going on around the web (and social sites especially). I knew something was going on but couldn't get the whole story. The same week as those things the cables were also getting broken and cut around the globe (the FALCON network ). I should have had a different major lol. Thanks for all (I still link your compression software in forums)
still not working for me too :/
i still get he blue box and when i close the blue box it still closes all my internet windows down.
used to work back when you click chat and chat was in the same window instead of clicking enter chat and a new window appears. but i doubt thats the problem : /
And then enter any random username at all. You should see a message which reads "Connecting..." followed by a further message "Authentication failed.". Alternatively, you may see the message "Connect failed."
Could you both post back here and let me know which one of those you receive?
Thanks so much :)
EDIT: Platinum, what's your system spec? (version of Windows, antivirus software etc.)
Thanks for letting me know. Sadly this means that the change is not a complete fix for everyone (not that I expected it would be). We'll pass this information back to the chat software company and see if we can come up with any more ideas.
There are many possibilities here - really anything that may otherwise effect your connection from you to us.
I still can't get in. When I click on the "Enter Chat" I get a blue window, with the words "Authentication Failed" in it. 
