ozpost shipping module

[RodG]

Is Australia Post Server down again?

Sadly, yes. the servers have been down for 9hours now (our worst outage ever)

I'm using Ozpost Module. The page goes blank when clicking "check out". Also, nothing appears or returns on postage estimator page.

Theory dictates that when the server is down the module *should* be supplying the predefined 'flat rate' fee. I've no explanation as to why it isn't behaving as it should this time around.

Does anyone know what is really going on? Will the problem be fixed itself? Or is there anything I can do now?

Alas, there is nothing any of us can do other than wait until our hosting company rectifies the problem.

We've sent them emails, we've left messages for them on their "support" page, and we've even phoned them (they said they'd phone us back). This was 6 hours ago. Still not a word from them.

I guess the fact that it is now 2am Sunday morning where the servers are located isn't really helping matters either.

At the moment we don't even know for sure *why* the servers are down. I *think* it is due to a disconnection as a result of our Free DNS server being abused by spammers, but we've had no prior warning of any impending disconnection, and with no response from the ISP this is more speculation than anything else.

There was a time when I very pleased with this hosting company (ServerPronto, for anyone that is interested). It wasn't unusual for us to have constant uptimes of well over 300 days at a time, and timely responses to any issues we had (we've been with them for almost 6 years now) , but over the last 8 months they have turned to sh*t. Reboots and connectivity problems appear to be monthly occurrences.

Methinks it is about time we started looking for a more reliable host

9 hours downtime with no response is totally unacceptable in my opinion. Pity though, because their pricing is exceptionally good value.

Cheers
Rod

[remoteone]

Thinking,
What if ozpost mod' was to store postage costs for selected methods in a temporary file. If the server is down, the "last known" values could be used instead? Ratter than the Flat rate.

[RodG]

Thinking,
What if ozpost mod' was to store postage costs for selected methods in a temporary file. If the server is down, the "last known" values could be used instead? Ratter than the Flat rate.

It already kinda does that by caching the responses received (for any given client), but if the destination, product quantity or product weights change (eg, by adding or removing items from the cart) then the cached results are invalidated (and rightfully so).

It isn't really possible to store 'selected methods in a temporary file' because there really are too many variables involved. It'd be more practical to simply move the data tables from the server to the client, but that would mean that every user would be responsible for keeping their own data tables updated (or waiting for me to update the tables, and then making a new distribution package available with the new rates that people would need to download and install. If the server connectivity problems were an ongoing issue this would probably be a good way of doing things, but all things considered, the servers have been pretty reliable for several years.

There is still no sign of life from the ozpost servers (over 15hrs now) and the ISP is being far less than helpful. They haven't even confirmed or acknowledged the reasons *why* the server is inaccessible.

Meanwhile, we've just signed up with another host and as soon as the DNS redelegations are complete we'll be able to start migrating our servers away from the current host.

Alas, we host over 50 different domains on our servers so the migration process is going to take a few days (at least) ... The question now is which is going to occur first, our migration efforts, or the resurrection of our current server? Your guess is as good as mine. :-(

Cheers
Rod

[jettrue]

It already kinda does that by caching the responses received (for any given client), but if the destination, product quantity or product weights change (eg, by adding or removing items from the cart) then the cached results are invalidated (and rightfully so).

It isn't really possible to store 'selected methods in a temporary file' because there really are too many variables involved. It'd be more practical to simply move the data tables from the server to the client, but that would mean that every user would be responsible for keeping their own data tables updated (or waiting for me to update the tables, and then making a new distribution package available with the new rates that people would need to download and install. If the server connectivity problems were an ongoing issue this would probably be a good way of doing things, but all things considered, the servers have been pretty reliable for several years.

There is still no sign of life from the ozpost servers (over 15hrs now) and the ISP is being far less than helpful. They haven't even confirmed or acknowledged the reasons *why* the server is inaccessible.

Meanwhile, we've just signed up with another host and as soon as the DNS redelegations are complete we'll be able to start migrating our servers away from the current host.

Alas, we host over 50 different domains on our servers so the migration process is going to take a few days (at least) ... The question now is which is going to occur first, our migration efforts, or the resurrection of our current server? Your guess is as good as mine. :-(

Cheers
Rod

Hi Rod,

I just installed this mod, and I'm not getting any sign of ozpost quotes on the shopping cart or checkout page. I'm not getting any errors or anything, I'm just getting the option for "Store Pickup" which is the only other shipping method I have installed.

Is this because of the error you've posted above? Once things are back to normal, will i see ozpost rates?

[Mike_Dean]

Fingers crossed, either way it's sooner than later.

But your support and resolution efforts are very much appreciated..

Pity your host does not show the same concerns.

Mike