Database Problems and the "fix"

[Hescominsoon]

For about a month or so now I have been noticing performance issues with the forums. It started with me noticing large cpu spikes on an hourly basis. After weeks of troubleshoting i found out it was one certain query. This query goes thorugh and deletes deleted pm's. See when you delete a pm in vbull it's not actually deleted..it's just marked as such. the garbage cleaning script comes through every hour and removes the deleted entries. However this query has been hanging the server for long periods(about 10 minutes) while not producing any errors or results. I then got vbulletin support involved. after them telling me it was our server being messed i then proceeded to prove them wrong by copying the database, loading into another server, and running the same query. It produced the exact same results. I finally had to file a bug report and it turns out it's a known design flaw.

So how do we fix it? I have to shutdown the pm system, manually clear all the pm tables of all data(this erases them) and then bring the pm system bakc online. There is a way to backup your pm's:

go into your pm area.
select all the messages in whatever folder you want to backup
then at the bottom right you can delete them, or save them as xml, csv or txt.

I will be clearing hte affected database tables on sept 26/27. When i start this process i will turn off the pm system. It will remain off until the cleanup is completed. The rest of the forums will remain active.

 

[Tek7]

So how do we fix it? I have to shutdown the pm system, manually clear all the pm tables of all data(this erases them) and then bring the pm system bakc online.

/cry

I know this is the only way to fix the problem (believe me, I think I asked Hescominsoon if there was another way about four times), but MAN I don't like it.

Ironically, I'm the one who had to approve the measures and I'm probably the one who's going to grumble about it the most.

 

[the_great_eskimo_pie]

I'll back up my Pms today so I dont forget. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[janc]

Thanks for the warning. Here's hoping the working goes smoothly.

The unenviable (but appreciated) job of forum admin.

 

[Genesis1315]

Mine are backed up and deleted.

 

[Zeena]

Thanks for the heads up, Godspeed!

 

[Tek7]

This thread still makes me sad. I know we have to clear out the PMs to fix the forums, but...

;_;

 

[Hescominsoon]

Here is a link that links everywhere..but the post from Andy Huang says it all.
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/project.php?issueid=29365

 

[Hescominsoon]

PM Wipe Completed

Everyone should have zero pm's now.

 

[Tek7]

Everyone should have zero pm's now.

I will go sulk in a corner now.

And yes, I backed up my PMs.

EDIT: But I am glad to see the situation resolved.

 

[Hescominsoon]

that's until they either fix the design flaw or it crops up again..

 

[Hescominsoon]

Also everyone the pm system is working again.. just having to start from scratch on the pm's.

 

[Blackbeard]

I recieved the Email about the PM wipe today, I go to the link, read, click to backup my pm's and it is too late, but thanks for the email

 

[Hescominsoon]

sorry BB i sent out a blast over a week ago as well. I apologize if you did not receive it.