"Looking up..." Delay

net91 · Jul 14, 2008, 16:29:01

Hi

I posted on this form a while ago about there being long delays when switching between web sites. During this delay the message on the status bar in Firefox would display "looking up... [website]". Since then I have started using a service called Open DNS, this has drastically speeded things up. Although I do still see the "looking up..." message, it is shown for about a second. (The old topic can be found here.)

I am wondering; should I be seeing this message at all, if not what could be causing it (I've seen a few BT vans around recently) and what it actually means.

Thanks for any replies,
Daniel.

(I have attached a screeshot of the message in Firefox.)

[attachment deleted by admin]

Rik · Jul 14, 2008, 16:37:07

Hi Daniel

I rarely see that message and, since the DNS problem was resolved, haven't seen it at all using iDNet's servers. It might be worth your while moving back from OpenDNS and see if it helps.

The vans shouldn't be indicative of an issue like this, it's at network, not connection, level.

net91 · Jul 14, 2008, 16:40:05

Do I need to change the DNS setting on my router or can I just change back to IDNET's on my computer to test the issue.

Thanks
Daniel

Rik · Jul 14, 2008, 16:44:52

Just change on the computer, Daniel, unless you have set OpenDNS manually on the router, in which case set that to automatic and Windows can be automatic or you can specify the IDNet servers. Note that if you do need to alter the router, it will cause a new PPP session to be negotiated.

net91 · Jul 14, 2008, 16:46:45

Ok I will see how things go with IDNET's DNS servers.

Thanks
Daniel

Rik · Jul 14, 2008, 16:48:18

Keep us posted.

net91 · Jul 14, 2008, 17:03:32

I have changed my router back to automatic settings. I am still seeing the "looking up..." message, but it only remains on screen for less then a second. Is it normal to see it at all for this short amount of time?

Thanks
Daniel

Simon · Jul 14, 2008, 17:44:21

Personally, I wouldn't consider that a worry, Daniel, as long as you're getting through to the sites in good time.

Rik · Jul 14, 2008, 18:11:52

As Simon says, unless it's causing you a problem, don't worry. For the record, though, it's rarely displayed long enough on my machine for me to actually see it.

net91 · Jul 14, 2008, 18:32:21

The delay certainly isn't long enough to bother me. I just wondered wheather I should be seeing the message at all. It is only very rarely it's pauses with that message for a longer time.

Thanks for your help
Daniel

Rik · Jul 14, 2008, 18:36:53

Any particular sites that you're aware of, Daniel? It may be that they are not cached. What happens if you re-visit shortly afterwards?

net91 · Jul 14, 2008, 18:39:35

If I re-visit shortly after I don't see the message at all.

I don't always see the message with every website, but the actual websites it seems to affect seem to change and be quite random.

Simon · Jul 14, 2008, 18:42:36

Have you set Firefox to clear all your data when you close it, Dan? It could just be looking up images if the cache is cleared each time.

net91 · Jul 14, 2008, 18:48:46

Quote from: Simon on Jul 14, 2008, 18:42:36
Have you set Firefox to clear all your data when you close it, Dan? It could just be looking up images if the cache is cleared each time.

Not that I know of. I've attached a screenshot of where I checked. I'll look anywhere else you suggest to see if this is happening.

[attachment deleted by admin]

Rik · Jul 14, 2008, 18:50:49

That looks fine, Daniel. All I can suggest is that you note the affected sites and let IDNet have a list to check out. If you can ping them, and send those in too, it will help.

net91 · Jul 14, 2008, 18:53:36

Do I use Terminal (MAC OS X 10.5) to ping the site, if so what command?

Rik · Jul 14, 2008, 19:03:10

Sorry, I don't 'do' Macs, but if no-one here can answer you, support will be able to tell you what to use.

net91 · Jul 14, 2008, 19:05:10

I'll try to find out, if not I'll phone support tomorrow.

Thanks
Daniel

Rik · Jul 14, 2008, 19:06:41

Look out for Tacitus, he's a Mac-user. I'm sure that there are others, but his name springs to mind.

net91 · Jul 14, 2008, 19:11:37

I've found this, which I'll try following.

Rik · Jul 14, 2008, 19:12:45

That seems to be what you need - or you could ping from the router.

net91 · Jul 14, 2008, 19:19:42

I pinged IDNET's website just to try it out, I have attached a screenshot of what I see. Is this what I should send IDNET with the website that the the issue occurs with?

Thanks
Daniel

[attachment deleted by admin]

Rik · Jul 14, 2008, 19:26:40

If you can cut and paste, so much the better, but that's the data.

Is your line interleaved?

net91 · Jul 14, 2008, 19:31:14

Not that I know of. How would I check?

Rik · Jul 14, 2008, 19:32:29

Have a look at your router's stats. If there are references to FEC it's interleaved. If, otoh, there's a reference to fast path, it's not.