System emails from August - not working

Following some discussions on why the site's email alerts and contact requests was so quiet in August, we discovered why.

The system didn't send any emails during August alerting users to new comments, new forum replies, new news items etc. Also the Contact form went down so we did not receive any messages via the contact form.

The software running the site was working fine but the webserver/mailserver configuration wasn't working following our webhost very kindly upgrading us to a faster webserver in response to feedback saying the site was too slow (read more about our energy use on the web in this blog post) 

So, the site was running faster which is absolutely fantastic, and we didn't receive any system messages saying there was a problem. This issue 'slipped between stools' as they say, and we didn't spot it.

And most of us watching the site were variously on holiday walking, camping, canoeing, going to Sunrise Off-Grid festival, singing to our vegetables, admiring our bicycles, riding our bicycles, doing some DIY, and other excellent and sometimes very rainy activities.

Doubtlessly those using the service did notice however, and I expect were rather frustrated. I have lost my temper on websites many times, so I know how it feels.

(from the most excellent Lolcats)

We are VERY, VERY SORRY.

It's embarrassing, and really not cool. It is now resolved and working again, and we will endeavour to not let it happen again.

OK then. Onward and upward. September is full of website launches - the pattern directory, events directory, and much more, so we're moving on..

About the author

Ed is the 'Web: projects and strategy' person for Transition Network. This means that he works on strategic and special projects work for Transition Network about linking up all the Transition Initiative websites without them having to come to the main site all the time for updates and news. He lives in Bristol, likes digging and climbing, growing vegetables and reading, bicycles and books, swimming, camping and generally being outdoors.