Sporadically unable to load various websites

net91 · Mar 20, 2011, 06:16:31

For the past week I've been unable to load various websites. This happens very sporadically, and not always with the same website. After roughly 5 minutes I am always able to connect to the site again.

This has been occurring on a computer that has only just had its hard drive formatted and the OS reinstalled, so I'm not sure if I'm right in thinking this rules out the cache needing to be cleared? I'm going to try rebooting my router and all connected computers.

Has anyone been having/had similar issues? Maybe this is down to BT issues?

Thanks,
Dan

Niall · Mar 20, 2011, 09:32:54

Since BT had a bit of a wobble around this area a couple of months ago, I see a page that wont load. Normally refreshing the page sorts it, but I didn't have that problem ever until BT issues. I'd wondered if it was a DNS issue, which would make sense if you can't see a site that you know is there.

For example, last night when I logged into Flickr, the login screen wouldn't load and instantly popped up with an error, rather than taking ages to load. On refresh (as usual) the page loaded. I initially thought it was the new router (have just bought a new router, and new motherboard/hard drive/ram/OS, etc) so I checked all the logs and nothing was being blocked, and IP/DNS is set to auto. I've put this PC in the DMZ too, just to make sure. Firewalls, etc aren't blocking anything either, so I'm leaning towards a DNS quirk.

Rik · Mar 20, 2011, 10:32:18

If you want to post the URL, others can try it for you. You might also like to switch to Norton or Open DNS, to see if it's an issue with the IDNet nameservers.

David · Mar 20, 2011, 10:34:58

No issues here in my area London

Gary · Mar 20, 2011, 10:36:00

I found changing to an alternate DNS service sorted the issue for me over the last few months, others mileage may vary.

Glenn · Mar 20, 2011, 11:21:30

Quote from: Rik on Mar 20, 2011, 10:32:18
If you want to post the URL, others can try it for you. You might also like to switch to Norton or Open DNS, to see if it's an issue with the IDNet nameservers.

I switched to Norton servers 2 weeks ago to fix a similar issue.

Gary · Mar 20, 2011, 11:40:13

Quote from: Glenn on Mar 20, 2011, 11:21:30
I switched to Norton servers 2 weeks ago to fix a similar issue.

I find the norton servers very fast Glenn, also now you can have a control panel it gives you more control Dyn DNS who run the servres are very well respected, since changing I have had no issues with sites saying 'server not found' sporadically and for only a few minutes at that, it was driving me mad when you were logged into a site and suddenly the site could not be found.

Niall · Mar 20, 2011, 15:40:36

I just had a server not found, when loading these forums. I didn't note the time, but it was in the last hour. A refresh cleared it

net91 · Mar 20, 2011, 18:08:41

I've only had this issue a couple of times today. I'm leaning towards it being a DNS issue.

I'm going to give it a few days, if the problem doesn't clear up I'll change over to Norton/Open DNS servers to help find where the problem is.

Quote from: Rik on Mar 20, 2011, 10:32:18
If you want to post the URL, others can try it for you.

The problem has mainly been with Google / Google Mail, although it has occurred with other sites. (I visit Google frequently, so I'm assuming that's why I had the problem with that site most often.)

Down For Everyone Or Just Me has always reported it's just me.

Thanks everyone,
Dan

Rik · Mar 20, 2011, 18:12:31

No problems here with Google...

net91 · Mar 20, 2011, 18:20:45

I'm not really sure how this works, would a DNS issue affect all IDNET users the same?

Rik · Mar 20, 2011, 18:21:55

It should. Do you obtain the DNS automatically, or enter it manually?

net91 · Mar 20, 2011, 18:23:16

My router is set to obtain it automatically.

Rik · Mar 20, 2011, 18:28:05

You're on a Mac, aren't you? I'm unable to tell you how to do it manually on Macs, but IDNet have suggested reversing the order of the primary and secondary servers by manually assigning them.

Alternatively, switch to one of the other providers and see if that helps:

Open DNS

208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

Norton

198.153.192.1
198.153.194.1

Google

8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4

lozcart · Mar 20, 2011, 20:05:50

On your Mac go to System Preferences>Network. Choose your connection in the left hand panel and then click "advanced" then click the DNS tab. Click the + button under DNS servers and enter the value Rik has detailed, do the same for the second value and click "ok", then click "apply"

Niall · Mar 20, 2011, 22:16:00

I'm seeing a lot of problems with flickr. For example if I look on photography forums, half the links won't load. If I go to my own account, some photos haven't loaded. I would have thought that it was just flickr being busy (their front page is showing just under 10,000 photos being uploaded per minute, currently), although I have the server not found message occasionally here too.

I'll leave it until tomorrow, as I have a need for shreddies and a cuppa before bed

Gary · Mar 21, 2011, 08:54:58

I just do it at the router, then all my machines are covered by the same umbrella tbh.