Downloading Timing Out Issue

Hope someone out there has the fix or an idea of what the cause is. I have been researching this for awhile and everything I try has come to a dead end.

When I download a file it runs for the same amount of time each time and then stops downloading. Instead the screen of the download still appears but it isn't downloading anymore, sorta like its timing out. I am using a windows server and had set my php ini file to hold a 20k max exec time along with a bunch of other increases like a 512 memory limit.

My host (godaddy) said they do not have limitations on download time or size. I can direct download (without using the script) entire files without any issue, but when I go through the script it limits me each time to somewhere around 100 seconds I believe.

I went into the admin area and set the max exec time in there to match my php file. Though there is the option of breaking this into multiple downloads I have it set up already with large files and would love to figure this fix out rather than delete and start over. Does anyone have a clue?

Also if you have a website that works fine with downloading files the size of around 200-300mb without timing out if you could give me your host and type of server I may change if it is a godaddy issue.

I wouldn't trust what GoDaddy says any further than I can throw Mount Rushmore.

Time-out is almost always a server issue.

Problem with GoDaddy is heavily over-loaded servers, antiquated technology, and a general inability to host sophisticated systems like eCommerce.

GoDaddy is okay if you are hosting 5 small HTML pages showing pictures of your pet budgie... but they are useless for just about everything else.

Ok, so how far can you throw mount rushmore so I can have an idea of what we are talking here.

I am honestly beginning to see that when it comes to go daddy. I contacted them yesterday and told them I had done everything I can on my end and it had to be their end. Though they didn't seem to want to admit that, they did put there IT guys to work to see if they can fix the situation. If this issue isn't fixed however, I need some good suggestions for web hosting for the website.

Does anyone offer large downloads without issue on their website?

Thanks for your help

Onion:

Ok, so how far can you throw mount rushmore so I can have an idea of what we are talking here.

... less than a hundred-trillionth of a nanometre..

Onion:

I am honestly beginning to see that when it comes to go daddy. I contacted them yesterday and told them I had done everything I can on my end and it had to be their end. Though they didn't seem to want to admit that, they did put there IT guys to work to see if they can fix the situation. If this issue isn't fixed however, I need some good suggestions for web hosting for the website.

Does anyone offer large downloads without issue on their website?

Thanks for your help

See the certified hosts link. Perhaps you can talk to Tony at Camelot. He know's ZC inside out and I believe he can throw Mount Rushmore a lot further that I can. :D

Does anyone offer large downloads without issue on their website?
Most will have fees comensurate with the amount of space you consume with downloadable files at 300MB each
Total up your required space required for what you have to sell and purchase accordlingly

I didnt mean that actually, I meant does anyone run a website through a host that you can actually download a large file without the script timing out after 80 seconds or so. The php ini didnt seem to do the trick on the godaddy server. I am looking for a good alternative.

Have you tried the alternate download delivery options? https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=292

Yeah and the weird thing is if I turn off the redirect (since its windows) and I turn off streaming to make it a direct download it still looks as if it is downloading as a streaming file because it still covers it up. Streaming and no streaming still get the pause after about 100 seconds on the second.

If this issue isn't fixed however, I need some good suggestions for web hosting for the website.

Does anyone offer large downloads without issue on their website?
My guess is that you are going to have issues with any shared host plan you can find....
Using CPU resources to transfer 300MB - say to a dialup customer is going to take hours and exceed most any hosts TOS for resource usage.
Additionally, I suspect that you have many?? of these LARGE files available to be downloaded - - Say 1,000 at 300MB each will require 300GB of disk storage - - So those hosts that claim "Unlimited" will balk at the time you are using resources to deliver as will most hosts.
Fast hosts will not normally allow "Unlimited" disk storage
If your endeavour is to be a lucrative one, you might be looking at a dedicated server right off where you have control of the all the settings.
JMO

Direct download works great, only when downloading through the cart does it cause issues. I can download a 130 meg in about 3 minutes but it stops and timeouts in 2.

Onion:

Direct download works great, only when downloading through the cart does it cause issues. I can download a 130 meg in about 3 minutes but it stops and timeouts in 2.
So, then you have 2 options:

1. Use download-by-redirect on a server that supports redirects (PHP on Windoze doesn't support symlinks prior to 5.3.something, so Linux might be better)
2. Use direct downloading by leaving redirect and streaming off. This has the unfortunate side effect of defeating all security protections for your download files because the download links can be shared for use by friends without any validation or control by your site. (redirect and streaming give you anti-theft control).

I think I may try the linux and see what happens, but as for the direct download version. It is strange if I turn them both off to use direct download it still appears like its being streamed.

v1.3.9 has a number of download improvements

Thanks for responding. Actually I called Godaddy and had them change me to a linux server and that solved the issue easily. The windows server has something about it that was causing the problem, but linux seemed to run great. Thanks for your help.

Windows servers do have many limitations when it comes to web hosting.