suddenly cannot access email--help?

LinLin · Feb 27, 2009, 15:02:49

After a year of pretty much trouble-free service, all of a sudden today I cannot access my email.

On my mail Mail, a window pops up saying,
"The POP server "pop3.idnet.com" rejected the password for user "MyName@idnet.com"

Please re-enter your password, or cancel."

None of the usual passwords I use work.

So I tried going to idnet's Webmail. I just got an error message,
"DATABASE ERROR: CONNECTION FAILED!

Unable to connect to the database!
Please contact your server-administrator."

Any ideas what might be happening and how to address it?

thanks,

LinLin

Rik · Feb 27, 2009, 15:03:37

Looks like the servers are down, I'm trying to get more information.

cavillas · Feb 27, 2009, 15:04:09

The Sun came out and caused a shock.

Lance · Feb 27, 2009, 15:04:38

Hi LinLin, please see the other two threads regarding email problems.

Thanks

LinLin · Feb 27, 2009, 15:05:17

Whoa -- that was quick. OK, will follow up reading on the other threads.

Ardua · Feb 27, 2009, 15:06:33

Rik,

I have just suggested to Support that they put out an immediate service update with an estimated time for resumption of service. I got the feeling that I was talking to myself!

Rik · Feb 27, 2009, 15:07:19

I think the problem they have is that the updates won't be accessible until they resolve the problem.

Ardua · Feb 27, 2009, 15:16:00

Did IDNet learn nothing from previous outages? Surely, there has to be a way to keep customers informed when systems go fail.

I note that I can now send but not receive email.

Rik · Feb 27, 2009, 15:18:04

Quote from: Ardua on Feb 27, 2009, 15:16:00
Did IDNet learn nothing from previous outages?

You'd have to ask them that, this seems to be a very different outage which is affecting certain types of access, unfortunately that includes all the means of communication they would normally use.

jameshurrell · Feb 27, 2009, 15:31:25

Whilst I really like the service I get from IDNET, I kind of have to agree that having a status system that relies on central systems could perhaps be improved. Even the oft-maligned dreamhost.com use another hosting company (so i believe) to host their status pages. So even someone with a mobile phone and a browser could make updates if there was no other way to do it... Anyway, this is off topic to this thread.

Rik · Feb 27, 2009, 15:41:45

As I understand it, that wouldn't help the present situation as the data for the status page is drawn from the affected server. I've suggested that in circumstances like these, it might be an idea to insert a manual newsflash on the main website.

LinLin · Feb 27, 2009, 16:06:45

That is a good idea, Rik.
It would be far better than nothing.

Rik · Feb 27, 2009, 16:07:27

Or you always have us.

LinLin · Feb 27, 2009, 16:11:39

And I a truly glad to have you all on this forum.

I went first to the main website, and when I saw no information, I came straight to the forum.

This forum and the super-helpful support was one of the reasons I switched to Idnet. And when a problem like this comes up and I can get a quick and helpful reply, well, it helps keep me with Idnet.

All that said, a direct announcement on the website would have been appreciated.

Rik · Feb 27, 2009, 16:12:32

I'll do my best nagging on the subject.

Ardua · Feb 27, 2009, 16:55:55

Rik,

As usual, IDNet owes you a vote of thanks. My downstream speed of 6514 is also the fastest that it has been for the past month.

Thanks again.

Rik · Feb 27, 2009, 17:01:11

NP, glad to help.

Odd that it's affected your speed, I wouldn't have expected that, but we'll take anything which comes our way, eh?

Colin Burns · Mar 01, 2009, 01:23:23

just makes me glad i use my own mail servers unless of course my server goes down

Rik · Mar 01, 2009, 11:11:47

If only technology was totally reliable, eh.