Lots of database errors
 

I have been running VB4.2P2 on GoDaddy hosting for a few months. I also use vb Bad Behaviour and GlowHost Spam-o-matic and it seems to do a good job so these might be related to that security in place. But i just wanted to check because I keep getting this error message:

the XXXX_0.MYI has been one of 2 numbers.
The IP Addresses are always different
The Usernames are always ones that are not registered.

So is this just automated spammer activity I am seeing, and their attempts to post something without having registered is causing a database error e-mail to be generated?

This is not the only recurring error I am getting, but it is the dominant one. So I'll just leave it at this one for now. Thanks

--------------- Added [DATE]1363637302[/DATE] at [TIME]1363637302[/TIME] ---------------

Correction I'm running PL3

also I'm running GlowHost SOM 2.0.2

You need to run a repair if you don't know how ask ur host to do it

I've logged into my php admin and repaired all the tables with overhead values many times, this error keeps coming back no matter what. No one is complaining that they cannot register, and whenever I register a dummy/test account, it works just fine.

--------------- Added [DATE]1363639054[/DATE] at [TIME]1363639054[/TIME] ---------------

Looking at my Bad Behavior logs also shows that some of the IP addresses match as well.

Thats a tmp table, it could of been created for a few reasons, basically if there are no crashed or unusable tables in the db, that file can be removed from the server.

The overheaded tables shouldnt be repaired either, they should be optimized.

Did you run a repair on the USER table?

Have not repaired USER table to my knowledge.

I read somewhere to 'repair' overheaded tables. Will 'optimize' from now on.

Ran check tables on all files. Only the .session and .cpsession tables said anything but OK.

Run a repair on the user table, not a check.

Are you on a shared server there or do you have your own vps/dedicated box?

Snakes, I ran a repair on all tables actually before you said to optimize. Is there any harm done in repairing vs optimizing?

borbole, I believe it is a shared server. I'm not big enough for a dedicated server or vps (I'm guessing that means virtual private server). I have read that running vb on a shared server can cause issues with temporary tables created during queries, could that be what is going on? I need to have them bump up my allowable table size or shared space?

I also heard godaddy is a PITA for this stuff.

There really is no harm, but there is no need to repair a table that isnt broke/crashed.

If the tables have overhead, a simple optimize will do.

If you ran a repair & your still getting those emails, then yes the shared how could be the cause, as those can be created for numerous reasons as i said previously, some can be from large joins or large order by, which you can run into both in the case of vb.

Large user table & piss poor resource settings by the host on a over sold virtual server with hundreds of accounts on it.

It may be time for your site to get on a vps & yes, godaddy sucks pitas....

Sometimes you need to run repair a few times as once is not enough. If the problem is still there after you have I would get your host to look into it.

Indeed, hence why I asked about your hosting plan. If the table keep crashing repeatedly then it would be best to contact your host. If they will not be able to fix it then maybe it is time to start looking for a new host.

My site is not that active. I have less than 100 users, and I do have people register successfully, just not that often, only a couple a month.

So it seems to me that someone is trying to 'ping' the database or something. Maybe someone can explain to me what actually causes the error. Because to me it does not make sense that I get this error message

for Usernames that are not registered!! Like these, all received in the last 24 hours

So it's not like someone is trying to register and failing. They are trying to do SOMETHING that seems to set off this error. It seems like bot or spammer activity or something.

This error doesnt mean the table crashed.

MySQL Error : Incorrect key file for table '/tmp/mysqltmp/#sql_XXXX_0.MYI'; try to repair it

Ok...so what is going on here? I get this error message randomly throughout the day. It always has a Username listed that is not registered.

As i posted before, it can be triggered a few different ways, this is a issue with the low resource over sold server your on.

If the query is triggered & sql reaches a timeout or if it by chance crashes, that tmp file will be created, then marked invalid, as the key is no longer valid.

That could come from a simple large join query/order by, tat your site is running, i doubt your going to get away from it.

Do you get any other error fro msql, like the server has gone away?

Yes, I do occasionally get the 'server has gone away' error, and yesterday the site was down for a period of time.

Help me out here. What is a 'large join query' or 'order by'?

Also I still don't understand why this error keeps happening and flags a username that does not exist.

--------------- Added [DATE]1363715363[/DATE] at [TIME]1363715363[/TIME] ---------------

From yesterday, while the forum was down (like a server was unplugged!!)
another one from a few days ago

Again, a user that does not exist

Another that I have seen once or twice

I think you have 420 on the brain, i said JOIN :D

It doesnt matter what the username is, its the query thats being called that is most likely the culprit.

As ive already explained what im thinking it is, this is a server issue & i dont believe your gonna be able to get them to correct it, as its a over sold poopie vhost server.

Ok I understand your position on GoDaddy.

I am still trying to understand something here. When a query is called, does it have to have a username attached to it? So obviously SOMEthing is calling the query. Whatever is calling the query is choosing a username. What kind of program does this sort of thing?

Is it POSSIBLE that people are trying to register, and are not being successful? Or is this likely Bot and/or spammer activity?

I have an announcement on my site stating to contact me via the contact us link if anyone is having a problem registering. So far, no one has. That only happened once, a while back, and the error message I received included their e-mail address.

Its hard to say what is causing it as i dont have access to the server logs.

I didnt specify godaddy, i was talking about the server itself, which many hosts like them do just that, over sell a server & severly limit resource usage, especially for a db driven site.

If your getting both those errors error 28 & 2006, id get off that server.

--------------- Added [DATE]1363716457[/DATE] at [TIME]1363716457[/TIME] ---------------

Im guessing there is going to be a gone away error here with a time stamp earlier than the following tmp error.

Time stamp from the original post for the tmp error:
Request Date : Wednesday, March 13th 2013 @ 09:19:55 AM
Error Date : Wednesday, March 13th 2013 @ 09:20:05 AM

Gone away error:
Request Date : Wednesday, March 13th 2013 @ 09:26:00 AM
Error Date : Wednesday, March 13th 2013 @ 09:27:30 AM

I haven't received the ^ error recently... but here is a new one,

Tagged to a recently registered user whom I have communicated with, so I don't think he's a bot. What's this one?

Also I did call GoDaddy and I'm on a shared server with a database size limit of 2GB. Even though my current database is not even 200MB I have a feeling that will not be enough space, and soon.