Help!

Ok I have no idea what is going on but it really starting to get quite frustrating and makes me almost not want to come here. I love this forum but this is getting out of control. It happens all the time and its completely random. Its not happening when I do something or in the same forum or anything, its just random. This is the error I get.
Forbidden
You don't have permission to access /forumdisplay.php on this server.

Apache Server at forums.aliensoup.com Port 80Then there are times when I get this as a page instead if the forum. Ill click a topic, or a new thread or click to respond or click a profile..whatever…and Ill get this instead.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Test Page
This page is used to test the proper operation of the Apache HTTP server after it has been installed. If you can read this page, it means that the Apache HTTP server installed at this site is working properly.

If you are a member of the general public:
The fact that you are seeing this page indicates that the website you just visited is either experiencing problems, or is undergoing routine maintenance.
If you would like to let the administrators of this website know that you've seen this page instead of the page you expected, you should send them e-mail. In general, mail sent to the name "webmaster" and directed to the website's domain should reach the appropriate person.
For example, if you experienced problems while visiting www.example.com, you should send e-mail to "[email protected]".
For information on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, please visit the Red Hat, Inc. website. The documentation for Red Hat Enterprise Linux is available on the Red Hat, Inc. website.

If you are the website administrator:
You may now add content to the directory /var/www/html/. Note that until you do so, people visiting your website will see this page, and not your content. To prevent this page from ever being used, follow the instructions in the file /etc/httpd/conf.d/welcome.conf.
You are free to use the images below on an Apache and Red Hat powered HTTP server. Thanks for using Apache and Red Hat Enterprise Linux!

Please help I have no idea what is going on. At first I thought it was me and let the prob go but now its constant to the point where I can enjoy the forum and don’t look forward to getting on. Can you please find out whats going on? I know it sounds weird but I swear I am not lying.

 

It took me 6 tries to get this even posted!

 

Well the gallery link is still down so naturally we all get the forbidden message. In regards to getting other messages while posting, if you're like me and are taking forever to type out message, upload pictures etc. etc. you're considered idling so aliensoup to protect you from leaving you logged in so nobody else takes your place resets (like if you're using a public computer at library and forget to sign off). Then of course you're not logged in then and get the messages that are intended for non-members. Happens to me in arcade once in awhile if I play too long, so you're not alone. You just have to log back in. If you're getting them at random within lets say seconds than you have browser problems and you are needing to check your settings. Well that's what I think.

 

Alien will definitely be able to field this question better than I can, as he's more familiar with the server config, as well as the forum software config. I'll be sure to bring this thread to his attention.

That said, are you blocking cookies? If so, that might prevent the forum from remembering your login, and if you're trying to access a page that requires you to be a logged-in user (as psi mentioned), that could certainly account for what you're experiencing.
I'm guessing that's why you'd be getting the Forbidden message.

Some more details might help. What browser are you using? Any specific changes you might have made to the configuration? Any other software on your system designed to "protect you" that could be blocking components of the site from being set correctly on your local PC?

 

Its not that I am taking forever to post. Like I said Ill click on a link to a thread and get blasted with that message. I am not blocking cookies. There is nothing consistant with is really making it hard. I can go to a thread, click out of it, try imediately to click back in and I get the message. The if I try to log back in or hit the back button I get it over and over. Sometimes even if I close the window and start all over. Like I said, one min probs the next none. Its random. I am not trying to access pages I cant access. It could be a page I just looked at.

I am using internet explorer with absolutely NO changes and even if I did, how would that effect one min ok the next no? Nothing else on here that could be blocking it. I am pretty sure its nothing here but I donno. If it was, wouldnt it happen all the time? I donno. I hope alien can help some more. Thanks for the info.

 

Boy, you're running into all sorts of problems littleshortyluv. I'm so sorry to hear it. I wish I could have responded sooner.

Let's see what we can do about these problems. First, since we haven't had any similiar reports on this site (or others I run on the server as well) may i ask you lots of silly questions?

First, have you performed any upgrades recently such as an upgrade to a service pack of Windows, or whatever? Installed any software firewalls or security related software? Have you also attempted to clear your cache/internet files/cookies, close all browser windows, reopen browser and try to look around the site again? Btw, what version of Windows are you running exactly?

As for your comment on things 'sometimes happening, and sometimes no' I've seen things happen just like that before so it's not altogether abnormal in fact. It will take a bit to sort this stuff out and isolate everything but we'll get to the bottom of it..

In the meantime, I'm double checking all permission on my end and anything attached to your account to make sure everything is dandy!

 

One other thing you can try, is downloading a copy of the latest Firefox (1.02 as of this writing) and see if you experience any of the same issues over a period of a couple days to see if the exact same things occur on your end so we can isolate if it's the browser being bunked in some way...

 

Ok I was just going to post that everything has been ok so far today but just as I was thinking it...BAM...it happened again. Any other suggestions? I dont use firefox so I didnt get that new version. Oh and I tried the site from a diff computer and Im getting the same error there too. This is so frustrating cause I really like this site and this makes me not want to come here. Any other settings or controls I should check?

 

Things look quite good on our end software wise hmm, however while I'm typing this I just got another idea so I will try to increase some timeout settings on the server and see what happens.. Most times you are getting the linux test page problem right? You're not completely crazy! We actually had one report on another site I run on the server and 1 person got it out of several hundred visitors that day so it's indeed very odd that it keeps happening to you and one other person lol.. We got gremlins!

I'll keep at it! Appreciate your patience.

 

Thanks so much for validating my insanity. I was begining to think it was just me. So far so good today but I havent been on long so well see. Thank you also for looking into it. I really appreciate it. Like I said, I enjoy the site and dont want to have the agrivation turn me off.

 

Nothing wrong with insanity!!
I could go crazy at any time!!

 

So....*knocks on wood*.....I donno what you guys did, but it seems to be better...*crosses fingers*

PS thanks for maknig me seem less crazy to myself! lol

 

My pleasure. I think?

<cartman>I love you guys..</cartman>

 

I guess that means that you didnt do anything?? lol Ok well whatever, I dont look a gift horse in the mouth!

 

lol

Actually we configured quite a few settings as our traffic on the server has increased quite a bit, especially due to another site running on it so mucho tweako now!