Data File Pack Problem

[cgbonner]

I am running V4.22 and I am having problems when I try to pack data files. I put the store in Maintenance mode, delete expired baskets and try to pack files. After a short while, I get a screen that says "Cannot find server".

I also have truxoft MmUBAT. When I try to pack files with it, I cannot get the message "data files packed" and the pop up window to display the "close window" link. The popup window just says "packing data files" and the window message in the lower left corner will say "done".

Any ideas?

Curtis
http://cbracing.biz

[ILoveHostasaurus]

The problem is your pack is taking longer than the web server's connection timeout. For example, the default maximum run time for Merchant is 90 seconds. Assuming that is still the case for your store, then the web server has been configured by your host to not allow a connection to remain open for longer than a value of less than 90 seconds. So what happens is the pack starts, Merchant is still cruising along while your browser holds the connection open waiting for it to say it's done, but then the web server kills the connection. You'll want to have your host raise that connection time to be at least one second more than they have your Merchant timeout set to so that you can see a completion message, a timeout message or an error message.

[cgbonner]

Thanks for the quick response. I will contact my host.

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

We also see this when a host sets limits on the resources your store uses. If the processor time or memory is restricted, you can also run into this problem.

Trouble is, MIVA Merchant by default - tries to use as much processor and memory as it can when it runs. It also attempts to pack as many of the databases as it can in one pass. This can cause a poorly configured server or one with user resources limited - to throw a fit and terminate the processes.

OpenUI's OpenMaintenance handles this more efficiently by packing one database at a time. Puts less stress on the server.

However, if your host isnt configured well to run MIVA Merchant, OpenUI could potentially cause your store to run slower than it already is.

[ILoveHostasaurus]

We also see this when a host sets limits on the resources your store uses. If the processor time or memory is restricted, you can also run into this problem.

That will produce an internal server error message rather than the connection being closed.

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

We've seen "Page cannot be displayed" & "Cannot find Server" messages from Windows servers in these cases too.

[Miss Kate]

I'm getting the internal server error while trying to pack store data files. I have been adding an enormous amount of products along with attributes and uploaded them with multiple text files. Until today I was able to pack the files now I can't. I am still able to delete expired shopping baskets (even though I occasionally get error message with this as a timeout). I host with ValueWeb. What do I need to ask them to solve this internal server error problem. It is a larger problem than the timeout issue and the closing of the server, isn't it? I use Miva Merchant 4.23 and they have never offered to upgrade higher. Could I do this on my own? I would just like to upgrade to 4.24.

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

Upgrading to 4.24 is not going to solve the internal server error. The problem is your host is limiting your use of the server's resources, which is causing the error.

It is highly unlikely that your host will be willing to change those restrictions.

You can upgrade to v4.24, ask your host to provide you with the v4.24 distribution files. Also ask them to remove the resource restrictions while you're at it. Doesn't hurt to ask. :)

[Miss Kate]

If I can't get the resource allotment changed, and I can't pack my store data files, at some point in time will my store crash? I had upgraded my storage space with them over a year ago and I'm only using a little over 1% of my storage space. Could they have that great a restriction on memory to cause this problem? I'm really frustrated right now.

[dotCOM_host]

Yes, they can have a memory restriction on your account, or CPU restriction, or both, or the server is simply overloaded and doesn't have enough power to process the packing requests quickly enough. Extending the timeout in your miva.conf (or mivavm.conf) may help, if you can let us run for several minutes at a time to see if the server packs your databases all the way through. If you haven't packed in a while, it's not uncommon to have rather large databases which even with pretty long timeouts may take several attempts to pack. Just keep trying - every time you initiate the process, it should get a little bit further, until eventually (hopefully) completing the process. If you can't get it to pack after 10 times, with extended timeout settings, I think it's pretty safe to say, though, that the server is just incapable of performing database packing quickly enough and you may need to either download your databases and pack them off-line (with a good DBF editor), or ask your host to move your site to a better/faster server, or.... if they are not very MIVA-centric and you don't have any particular ties to them - maybe even move your site elsewhere. There are some hosts out there, present company included, that specialize in high-speed MIVA Merchant hosting, where issues like this are pretty rare and even if they do happen, we address them on our clients' behalf, rather than leaving you to do the job you may not be completely qualified for or comfortable doing yourself.

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

The store won't crash per se, but it could operate VERY sluggishly and produce database errors like duplicated records and things like having order details mixed up.

While it may not be immediately noticeable, not packing WILL eventually lead to critical damage to the databases if not packed...and over time will result in slower and slower performance.

Memory and processor limitations are fairly common at non-MIVA centric large hosts who's primary customers are static websites where memory and processor restrictions rarely cause an impact. However, with MIVA Merchant, this is very important as Empresa (the server side MIVA Engine) uses the maximum amount of processor time and memory as it can to quickly handle transactions.

This is unrelated to disk space. Otherwise you'd be seeing a different error like "Over quota" messages.

[Miss Kate]

Thank you for your extensive answer. I haven't tried multiple repeated packing today (as the problem just started today). I've tried several times in a row and then thought I better start asking questions of those that have more Miva programming knowledge.:)

[ILoveHostasaurus]

Depending on what it's doing when it dies, there is a small possibility that you'll end up corrupting something by running the pack and getting the error. You don't want to go without packing though because that removes deleted records, rebuilds the database indexes and keeps things consistent. I'd definitely get with your host and see if they can help you resolve that.

[Miss Kate]

I've contacted ValueWeb this morning and they've opened a problem ticket to look into the problem. If they can't resolve the problem to my satisfaction then I've already decided which of the 3 hosting responders to my inquiries will be getting my website. I've looked at all 3 of your companies and have based my decision on a variety of factors.:):):)