User talk:Andrew F

Django media
Hello Andrew, I've been trying to convert my existing Django sites over to Passenger since I read about it in the newsletter. I have the site running but I can't get the media working. Every request for http://site/media/whatever is caught by Django as an error since those urls don't match any patterns in urls.py. In the past with FCGI we would use mod_rewrite rules in an htaccess file to host media on the same domain as Django, but that doesn't seem to be working with an htaccess in the public directory using Passenger. Do you have any advice? Jdanks 00:29, 18 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Put your static media in the "public" directory. Anything that exists there will get served up directly instead of being served through Django. In your case, for instance, you'd create a public/media directory and stuff all your media into it. Andrew F 00:30, 18 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Thanks, a combination of not being able to browse directories under public from a web browser and some files in the wrong place from a typo made me think it wasn't working correctly. Would you mind if I added some instructions to the Django page for migrating existing FCGI sites to Passenger? Jdanks 02:31, 18 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Please do! If you can get it to handle existing installs with a Django SVN checkout in ~/django_src and projects in ~/django_projects (as I've seen a lot of customers doing), that'd be great -- huge props if you can get it to make those work seamlessly. :) Andrew F 17:55, 18 November 2009 (UTC)

Loss of session data errors
I seem to be having trouble performing edits, with many being rejected with a "loss of session data" error. I remember this happening a couple of years ago, but I don't remember what was done to fix it. The error can usually be cleared by repeating the edit a couple more times, but it is most inconvenient. Robert Parker might remember the problem too. -- Scjessey 12:35, 7 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Yep, I'm having the same problem myself. I'm probably going to be moving the wiki to a PS (like I recently did with discussion), though, which should solve the problem. (Right now the wiki is on a load-balanced cluster, which makes session handling difficult.) Andrew F 22:03, 7 June 2010 (UTC)


 * So it's not running on that spare XT5 then? -- Scjessey 22:09, 7 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Sadly, no. ;) Andrew F 22:15, 7 June 2010 (UTC)

Spamtard
Also, in light of the recent vandalism by "Fike" et al, I recommend configuring the wiki to restrict moves to sysops/admins/bureaucrats and the like. The weird thing is, I could've sworn it was already set that way before. -- Scjessey 21:34, 7 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Good idea. Done! Andrew F 21:39, 7 June 2010 (UTC)

Changes to sign up process
As I have indicated here, I know that changes to the sign up process may have made parts of that page obsolete. Could you edit the page to reflect the changes? --Seanthegeek 19:00, 6 August 2010 (UTC)


 * The changes are pretty minimal, and the new signup actually makes transfers a lot easier. Done. Andrew F 19:04, 6 August 2010 (UTC)


 * What about those who already have a domain registered in a TLD in which DH is not a registrar? Is there an option to not set up a domain or hosting automatically? --Seanthegeek 19:10, 6 August 2010 (UTC)


 * It'll still set up hosting, it just won't offer to transfer the domain in. Andrew F 19:11, 6 August 2010 (UTC)

MongoDB --auth
Andrew F,

Your poetic wiki comment of "this is completely wrong, wff?" was not only itself not correct but also not helpful. I have twice now had to apply the changes to the stock DH install of MongoDB that are detailed here:

http://wiki.dreamhost.com/index.php?title=MongoDB&oldid=25903

When using both the Perl driver and, most recently, the latest PHP driver, basic queries against MongoDB will fail. In PHP the error is:

Fatal error: Uncaught exception 'MongoCursorException' with message 'unauthorized for db [nameberry_devel] lock type: 1 ' in /home/nameberry_devel/dev.nameberry.com/themes/wordpress/nameberry/functions.php:8 Stack trace: #0 /home/nameberry_devel/dev.nameberry.com/themes/wordpress/nameberry/functions.php(8): MongoCollection->findOne(Array) #1 /home/nameberry_devel/dev.nameberry.com/wordpress/wp-settings.php(264): include('/home/nameberry...') #2 /home/nameberry_devel/dev.nameberry.com/config/wordpress/wp-config.php(31): require_once('/home/nameberry...') #3 /home/nameberry_devel/dev.nameberry.com/wordpress/wp-load.php(30): require_once('/home/nameberry...') #4 /home/nameberry_devel/dev.nameberry.com/wordpress/wp-blog-header.php(12): require_once('/home/nameberry...') #5 /home/nameberry_devel/dev.nameberry.com/wordpress/index.php(17): require('/home/nameberry...') #6 {main} thrown in /home/nameberry_devel/dev.nameberry.com/themes/wordpress/nameberry/functions.php on line 8

It would seem that you either need to create a user before adding the --auth option to the mongod startup script or create one from the mongo cli if you want to run with the --auth option.

It appears as though there is a "root" user created by default. Do you happen to know the default password for this user?

--Hugh


 * The email you received when you set up MongoDB includes the root password. We strongly discourage disabling authentication, as doing so opens up your database for anybody on the Internet to mess with. Andrew F 19:18, 26 August 2010 (UTC)


 * That would explain it. I activated MongoDB very early on and it required a sysadmin to intervene to complete the initial setup so I never received that email.  Thanks for the reply. --Hhunter 19:36, 13 September 2010 (UTC)

Rock crusher spam
ROFL! That's got to be the funniest spam we've ever had on this wiki. -- Scjessey 13:13, 13 October 2010 (UTC)


 * One of my coworkers gets tons of email spam about forklifts. We're lucky; we get the rock crushers. :) Andrew F 17:04, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
 * I've always been able to lift my fork unassisted. I know Robert Parker sometimes needs a guiding hand though! -- Scjessey 19:58, 13 October 2010 (UTC)

Please rename me!
Hello, my name is Dwayne and I edit Wikipedia. I noticed that you are a Bureaucrat here on this wiki, So I know that you have the permissions to rename a user. Is it anyway you can rename me to Dwayne instead of Duhwayne? If you can, I would very much appreciate it. Thanks, Duhwayne 13:10, 25 December 2010 (PST)
 * There's a MediaWiki extension to help with this, Andrew. -- Scjessey 13:29, 25 December 2010 (PST)


 * I want to remove my account, or at least change my username. There is no way to change usernames nor delete accounts. Please provide this option! Also, login is over HTTP, which is insecure. Please fix this.

Thanks for deleting How a client side script can connect to MySQL - Ex. Java Applet
I thought it was a bad idea too. --Club Penguin Player 18:36, 18 February 2011 (PST)

InstallCpanModules
Hey, I simplified the docs to the bare essentials. Feedback appreciated -- User:Krishnan


 * Awesome job. Thanks. Andrew F 15:50, 9 March 2011 (PST)

crat
Can I become a bureaucrat here? I have much experience to offer in mediawiki wikis. Eglinton 09:57, 26 March 2011 (PDT)


 * No. Andrew F 10:04, 28 March 2011 (PDT)

Awesome spam
"I saw your profile contact during my search for good partnership in gold business buyer today and I decided to contact you. I Madam Marian Louis,I have 250kg of 22.7 carat Aluvial Gold Dust of 94.6% purity, Guinea origin for sale." has to be the best spam page title ever! -- Scjessey 18:39, 15 August 2011 (PDT)
 * Not quite as good, but we can now add piano air conditioning repair to the WTF list. -- Scjessey 12:42, 16 August 2011 (PDT)
 * I, for one, am happy to know that I can now find a reliable repairman for my piano air conditioner. Andrew F 12:59, 16 August 2011 (PDT)

Spam problem
About 99% of all activity on the wiki is now related to spam. Got any ideas? -- Scjessey 07:53, 28 October 2011 (PDT)
 * Nothing offhand, besides "convince more people to make non-spam edits". Andrew F 14:54, 28 October 2011 (PDT)
 * LOL. I've noticed that many of the spammers create account with usernames of a similar pattern. Examples are:
 * Arthur394Gagnon
 * AEverette258Hart
 * KJacquiline645Coffey
 * Do you know if it is possible to automatically block accounts based on some REGEX trickery? -- Scjessey 15:07, 28 October 2011 (PDT)
 * It is, and I've done so - see MediaWiki:Titleblacklist. Andrew F 15:18, 28 October 2011 (PDT)
 * Nicely done. -- Scjessey 09:12, 29 October 2011 (PDT)
 * Can you fix it so that new users cannot create new pages until they've performed a certain number of edits? The "List of Groups" section of this page describes how you can set this so that only "autoconfirmed" users can create pages. I'd think about setting it to at least 5. That should more or less eliminate new page spam at a stroke. I'm going to be out of the country for a couple of weeks from Dec 14, so I won't be able to perform my usual spam patrol duties. -- Scjessey 06:48, 5 December 2011 (PST)
 * Any chance we can move on this? I came back from vacation to find quite a lot of spam to eradicate. -- Scjessey 06:03, 31 December 2011 (PST)
 * Please consider doing this as soon as possible. Spam has become a nightmare lately. -- Scjessey 07:29, 30 January 2012 (PST)
 * Still hoping you can set permissions as described above. 99% of all edits are page creation spam that would be eradicated if this is implemented. -- Scjessey 12:41, 23 February 2012 (PST)

Somewhat belatedly: I've added some tweaks to disallow users from creating their own talk pages, since that seems to be a common spam vector. Andrew F (talk) 17:12, 25 June 2012 (PDT)
 * Thank you, Andrew. It will be interesting to see if this will help. -- Scjessey (talk) 17:36, 25 June 2012 (PDT)
 * Yes,thanks! It seems a shame do have to do that, as creating your own user talk page is such a normal part of wiki life, but I'm for anything to discourage these tards. I hope it just doesn't drive them to more widely edit other pages. - Rlparker (talk) 17:58, 25 June 2012 (PDT)

Unable to confirm email
I would like to add a wiki email link to my page, but I'm not sure how to do that. Also, the confirmation email doesn't appear to be sent from the 'my preferences' page. TIA! Akroplax 16:20, 9 April 2012 (PDT)


 * These two things are related - the "E-mail this user" link doesn't show up until you have a validated email address. As far as that goes, check your spam filter I guess? I received a notification email pretty much immediately when you added this comment, so I don't think there's anything systemic holding up emails. Andrew F 16:24, 9 April 2012 (PDT)


 * Thanks for the reply. The email address belongs to a catch-all domain, which you're probably aware doesn't allow for spam filtering.  I checked my Junk Mail folder in my webmail and confirmed that there is nothing with today's date present.  I copied and pasted the address I used in "my preferences" to send a test email to myself and got it right away.  I also haven't received any email notifications (probably because my address hasn't been confirmed yet).  Could you possibly please take a few minutes to log out and create a new user and confirm your email?  I suspect this may have something to do with the settings that limit the functionality of new members until they reach a certain number of edits.  Akroplax 22:16, 9 April 2012 (PDT)


 * I just now saw the email arrive in my inbox. It was time stamped as being sent when I originally requested it.  My email itself wasn't slow as I've had many emails since the initial request and my test email came in immediately.  Getting an email with an old date stamp makes it easy to not see.  I saw the notification and had to scroll back to find it.  Anyway, I'm set right now - but I hope you're able to reproduce and fix the issue.  Akroplax 09:57, 10 April 2012 (PDT)


 * That sounds like there might have just been a mail clog somewhere between the wiki machine and your mailbox. There's no extra queuing on the wiki side. Andrew F 10:13, 10 April 2012 (PDT)

Email can send but not receive emails?
Hey Andrew. I've set up a squirrelmail account, linked it to Mail on my mac but every time I try to email it, I am told it doesn't exist. I was able to successfully send mail from it though. Any thoughts? Thanks! ZHastings89 12:33 PM, 11 March, 2013 (EST)


 * Please . Andrew F (talk) 09:56, 11 March 2013 (PDT)
 * Whoops, I misunderstood. I thought you were tech support. My mistake. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

link to page that actually exists
Dear Andrew,

Today I saw that the page "htaccess file overview" had a big redlink to

"KB / Account Control Panel / Goodies :: Htaccess / WebDAV".

My understanding is that you can see things I can't see -- in this case, the contents of that deleted page. Would you mind looking at those contents, and then replying to the question on talk: htaccess file overview

with something like "Hey, I looked at what the contents of that page were before it was deleted, and everything useful has now been transferred to the wiki page".

Thank you. --DavidCary (talk) 09:14, 3 June 2014 (PDT)


 * You're not missing much. I've emailed you the contents of that page; most of it was already covered in one or the other of the pages we have about htaccess files. Andrew F (talk) 10:58, 3 June 2014 (PDT)


 * Thank you. That email answered all my questions about the missing page.
 * --DavidCary (talk) 20:24, 15 June 2014 (PDT)