Banner Manager Logs me Out

[crankytech]

Apologies if i am grasping at straws, but i have just noticed in my webhost configuration:

Timeouts Connection: 120 - Keep-Alive: 4

is it possible that when more than 4 people are viewing the site that my session gets dropped? or am i way WAY off target here?

[DrByte]

I doubt the timeout is an issue.

What are the rest of your PHP settings for Sessions ? (from the admin php-info you quoted from earlier)

[crankytech]

I doubt the timeout is an issue.

What are the rest of your PHP settings for Sessions ? (from the admin php-info you quoted from earlier)

I hope this is the info you are after?

session.auto_startOffOff
session.bug_compat_42OnOn
session.bug_compat_warnOnOn
session.cache_expire180180
session.cache_limiternocachenocache
session.cookie_domainwww.pcsuperstore.com.auno value
session.cookie_lifetime00
session.cookie_path//
session.cookie_secureOffOff
session.entropy_fileno valueno value
session.entropy_length00
session.gc_divisor2100
session.gc_maxlifetime36001440
session.gc_probability10
session.namezenAdminIDPHPSESSID
session.referer_checkno valueno value
session.save_handleruserfiles
session.save_path/home/pcsupers/public_html/cache/home/php/
session.serialize_handlerphpphp
session.use_cookiesOnOn
session.use_only_cookiesOffOff
session.use_trans_sidOffOn

[DrByte]

Hmmm ... that looks fine for "local" values, which is the important part.

An alternative approach ... can you install a fresh copy of Zen Cart into another folder+database, and check whether the problem still happens there ?

[DrByte]

I had the symptoms you describe happening chronically on one site a couple years ago. It turned out it was my surfing-protection settings in ZoneAlarm ... it was blocking the site's session cookies amongst other things. Turning off that setting in ZoneAlarm resolved the problem instantly. The quick way to find out if it's related is to turn off all personal firewall or privacy-protection software and test.

[crankytech]

OK so i re-installed a clean copy of zencart to a test folder on the same webserver, using the same database and i immediately was presented with the same problem.

I assume this means that the problem lies in 1 of 2 areas:
1. either the database is bollocksed.
2. a setting with our webhost is bollocksed.

If i am correct in these assumptions, does anyone have a suggestion on where to go from here? I'm not a crybaby by nature but this problem is now so extreme that i cannot use the admin section at all without feeling the urge to drive my fist through the monitor every 5 seconds as i get logged out!

Once again, thanks to everyone who has offered so much advice.

Cheers!

[DrByte]

You could try changing this setting to blank ... just remove the letters: db

define('STORE_SESSIONS', '');

That will force it to do session-storage to the filesystem instead of the database. This is less versatile and somewhat less secure, but might reveal something if symptoms change.

What version of PHP is on your server?

You might try asking your host what PHP components have been changed on the server since it was last working properly for you.

Who is your host?

Do you have access to another webserver anywhere to use as a test ... to rule out your own equipment?

[crankytech]

I removed the letters "db" from both files but the problem still remains.

I have emailed our hosting company with the problem however i am incredibly pessimistic that they will be of any assistance given their track record...

This issue is driving me to drink...