Feb
09
09
Internet Exchanges
This is why we care so much about TorIX and OttIX, and it's how we strive to have the best possible network we can. Our peering policy is similar to Akamai's: "YES"
Posted by: Myke |
Jan
25
25
All The Cool Kids Are Doing It
Everyone is jumping on Facebook, so 3 years after the fact, why don't we? Please become a fan of us on our Fan Page!
And don't forget our 5th Birthday party is tonight! See the previous 'blog post for details.
Server North on Facebook
And don't forget our 5th Birthday party is tonight! See the previous 'blog post for details.
Posted by: Myke |
Jan
21
21
Server North Party!
Heya! We're turning 5 years old next week! We're pretty sure this makes us a big-daddy of the internet (not Grand-Daddy tho, I think we have to be 7 for that ;)
We'd like to invite all our customers to join us for a bit of a dinner to celebrate. Nothing too fancy or wild, although there's rumours of (cup?) cake.
We'd like to invite all our customers to join us for a bit of a dinner to celebrate. Nothing too fancy or wild, although there's rumours of (cup?) cake.
When:
Monday January 25th 2010 at 1800 (6PM!)Where:
Lonestar Cafe - Baseline & FisherRSVP
SMS or Call Myke at 613-852-6953
Posted by: Myke |
Jan
21
21
Another Thunderbird 3 Interaction
Some people, (and not everyone, or all the time) are still having some problems with Thunderbird 3. Disabling 'deflate' compression is a clean workaround with no other discernible side effects.
Here's a quick screenshot I whipped up on my Mac to help guide you though disabling it. This should be comparable to Windows, you just need to get to the Preferences dialog differently.
1. Open Preferences panel
2. Go to Advanced Tab
3. Go to General Pane
4. Open Config Editor (You may get a warning, click to acknowledge)
5. Type 'deflate' into the search bar
6. Double Click 'mail.server.default.use_compress_deflate' to toggle the value to false.
7. Close & Confirm all dialogs
8. Restart Thunderbird
Here's a quick screenshot I whipped up on my Mac to help guide you though disabling it. This should be comparable to Windows, you just need to get to the Preferences dialog differently.
1. Open Preferences panel
2. Go to Advanced Tab
3. Go to General Pane
4. Open Config Editor (You may get a warning, click to acknowledge)
5. Type 'deflate' into the search bar
6. Double Click 'mail.server.default.use_compress_deflate' to toggle the value to false.
7. Close & Confirm all dialogs
8. Restart Thunderbird
Posted by: Myke |
Jan
19
19
No Pain, No Gain
Unfortunately it's been a rough couple of weeks for our main mail server, Vice.
First there was the unexpected release of Mozilla Thunderbird 3, which we know a lot of our customers use. TB3 had a couple minor bugs/interactions that would make it complain the first time you opened a folder, it also would complain the first time you tried to send a message, and then again when it copied your message to the Sent folder. Adding to the pain was that TB3 caches all of your mail on the server to your computer, which put a very heavy load on the server - for up to a few hours, depending on how many messages/attachments you had.
Secondly we've been pushing to get our proper TLS/SSL certificates in place, (it was mentioned a while back) but there were some issues with the software and the developers have been working very hard on this - they actually redeveloped the entire encryption part! In the past week there've been a few failed attempts to make this work, you probably noticed these.
Third, one of the above 'tests' outright crashed the mail server. We had to reset the entire machine. That hurt.
Fourth, a bug was found in PostgreSQL, the excellent database server that stores all the email and our business data. This caused mail to get stuck or occasionally get delayed.
Fifth, in the past 24-36 hours, Rogers has been having serious issues with 3G/EDGE and even regular GSM service, this has hit most Canadian iPhone users, and also compounded load issues. They appear to be ongoing today, but at this moment of writing are okay. At this point, if you're having issues with your E-mail on iPhone (or even iPod Touch) please reboot it.
An additional ongoing issue in some Canadian Federal Government departments (namely Parliament and HRDC - both managed by PWGSC?) have had their own issues receiving mail. This isn't anything we can do anything about, but given we have a sizable Ottawa customer base - a lot of people may have noticed this.
I (Myke) and the developers have been intensely hacking away at the server for the past 16 hours or so, and while there were some ugly bumps this morning, I think we've got all the problems licked! TB3 reports no errors. Properly CA-signed certificates are in place for SSL/TLS connections. The stuck-mail issue has 3 bugfixes in place and is being monitored. PostgreSQL extra-row bug has been mitigated.
If you're getting errors or warnings, please ensure the name of the mail server you're connecting to is Mail.ServerNorth.net and restart whatever device you're using. If you're still getting errors, do contact us and describe how/when it happens... if possible or relevant, attach a screenshot.
Also watch this space for details on our 5th Birthday Party!
First there was the unexpected release of Mozilla Thunderbird 3, which we know a lot of our customers use. TB3 had a couple minor bugs/interactions that would make it complain the first time you opened a folder, it also would complain the first time you tried to send a message, and then again when it copied your message to the Sent folder. Adding to the pain was that TB3 caches all of your mail on the server to your computer, which put a very heavy load on the server - for up to a few hours, depending on how many messages/attachments you had.
Secondly we've been pushing to get our proper TLS/SSL certificates in place, (it was mentioned a while back) but there were some issues with the software and the developers have been working very hard on this - they actually redeveloped the entire encryption part! In the past week there've been a few failed attempts to make this work, you probably noticed these.
Third, one of the above 'tests' outright crashed the mail server. We had to reset the entire machine. That hurt.
Fourth, a bug was found in PostgreSQL, the excellent database server that stores all the email and our business data. This caused mail to get stuck or occasionally get delayed.
Fifth, in the past 24-36 hours, Rogers has been having serious issues with 3G/EDGE and even regular GSM service, this has hit most Canadian iPhone users, and also compounded load issues. They appear to be ongoing today, but at this moment of writing are okay. At this point, if you're having issues with your E-mail on iPhone (or even iPod Touch) please reboot it.
An additional ongoing issue in some Canadian Federal Government departments (namely Parliament and HRDC - both managed by PWGSC?) have had their own issues receiving mail. This isn't anything we can do anything about, but given we have a sizable Ottawa customer base - a lot of people may have noticed this.
I (Myke) and the developers have been intensely hacking away at the server for the past 16 hours or so, and while there were some ugly bumps this morning, I think we've got all the problems licked! TB3 reports no errors. Properly CA-signed certificates are in place for SSL/TLS connections. The stuck-mail issue has 3 bugfixes in place and is being monitored. PostgreSQL extra-row bug has been mitigated.
If you're getting errors or warnings, please ensure the name of the mail server you're connecting to is Mail.ServerNorth.net and restart whatever device you're using. If you're still getting errors, do contact us and describe how/when it happens... if possible or relevant, attach a screenshot.
Also watch this space for details on our 5th Birthday Party!
Posted by: Myke |
Dec
10
10
Dream ISP?
ars technica recently posted an article about their dream ISPs, and cited examples of other companies doing cool stuff all over the world.
While their scope was a little different than folks like us, we're definitely taking notes. But also, I just wanted to remind you that we're a small company, we try to be flexible and give our customers the best service we can, and when we can't - at least provide options or mitigation.
Are you happy with us? Semi-Unfortunately, in our industry, a happy customer is a quiet one... but often very upset clients are also silent. Are you content with your services from us? Any problems? Something we can do better? Please do let us know, before things get bad.
And if you're really happy about us, please post a recommendation for us on AskAround? :)
While their scope was a little different than folks like us, we're definitely taking notes. But also, I just wanted to remind you that we're a small company, we try to be flexible and give our customers the best service we can, and when we can't - at least provide options or mitigation.
Are you happy with us? Semi-Unfortunately, in our industry, a happy customer is a quiet one... but often very upset clients are also silent. Are you content with your services from us? Any problems? Something we can do better? Please do let us know, before things get bad.
And if you're really happy about us, please post a recommendation for us on AskAround? :)
Posted by: Myke |
Nov
30
30
Please help make a difference
Take a look here and make a difference. It's really easy too. Really.
There's been some progress, but it's a small step, and not enough at all.
Less than 11 days to go.
Don't want to end up like this:
""If it bothers you that the China government does it, it should bother you when your cable company does it," McLaughlin said at the policy conference."
There's been some progress, but it's a small step, and not enough at all.
Less than 11 days to go.
Don't want to end up like this:
""If it bothers you that the China government does it, it should bother you when your cable company does it," McLaughlin said at the policy conference."
Posted by: Myke |
Nov
23
23
We're on OttIX!
Since we had such a dull weekend, we decided to increase our peering presence - in our own hometown! We're now members of the Ottawa Internet Exchange.
While 80% of the other networks on OttIX are also on TorIX (which we've been on for almost 2 years now), there's a number of new peers we're now much more closely connected to, primarily Primus/Magma, the Federal GigaPOP, Telecom Ottawa/Atria Networks, CarletonU, QueensU, U Guelph (?), U Toronto (??) and many others.
Most customers aren't going to notice a huge difference, but it's a little more redundancy, a few shorter links, probably better access for all of 'em.
We're also working on getting our peering sessions working at the Milan IXP, and perhaps naïvely trying to get on the QIX.
Another connection for us to setup is a link between our Toronto & Montréal datacenters... we don't actually have anything direct/controllable other than transit (ie: Internet) connections between the two sites. It's not high-priority, but a nice-to-have kind of thing. Then again, we're growing quickly enough that we might actually skip a few steps and just get a hard-line (like Fiber or a PVC) instead.
While 80% of the other networks on OttIX are also on TorIX (which we've been on for almost 2 years now), there's a number of new peers we're now much more closely connected to, primarily Primus/Magma, the Federal GigaPOP, Telecom Ottawa/Atria Networks, CarletonU, QueensU, U Guelph (?), U Toronto (??) and many others.
Most customers aren't going to notice a huge difference, but it's a little more redundancy, a few shorter links, probably better access for all of 'em.
We're also working on getting our peering sessions working at the Milan IXP, and perhaps naïvely trying to get on the QIX.
Another connection for us to setup is a link between our Toronto & Montréal datacenters... we don't actually have anything direct/controllable other than transit (ie: Internet) connections between the two sites. It's not high-priority, but a nice-to-have kind of thing. Then again, we're growing quickly enough that we might actually skip a few steps and just get a hard-line (like Fiber or a PVC) instead.
Posted by: Myke |
Nov
22
22
Uneventful is good.
It was a boring day.
I woke around 0510 and saw some trucks lining the streets (good view from my hotel room.)
Shortly after 0600 the drone of generators started.
And then nothing exciting happened.
Around 1300 I went to tour the facilities and grab some stuff out of the rack I'd left on Friday night. I exited the elevator to be greeted by about 25-30 bored HVAC, Generator, Electrical and other technicians, the facilities manager and the president of the company. He took me for a quick tour, showed me all the spare/temporary HVAC units they'd brought in... it was very cool in there today - so much so that they were actively humidifying, not dehumidifying the air.
Shortly after 1400, power was restored and the generators eventually stopped.
All in all a good diesel day: Nothing happened.
As entertaining as drama can be, I like these kinds of diesel days.
I woke around 0510 and saw some trucks lining the streets (good view from my hotel room.)
Shortly after 0600 the drone of generators started.
And then nothing exciting happened.
Around 1300 I went to tour the facilities and grab some stuff out of the rack I'd left on Friday night. I exited the elevator to be greeted by about 25-30 bored HVAC, Generator, Electrical and other technicians, the facilities manager and the president of the company. He took me for a quick tour, showed me all the spare/temporary HVAC units they'd brought in... it was very cool in there today - so much so that they were actively humidifying, not dehumidifying the air.
Shortly after 1400, power was restored and the generators eventually stopped.
All in all a good diesel day: Nothing happened.
As entertaining as drama can be, I like these kinds of diesel days.
Posted by: Myke |
Nov
18
18
Mail Server Maintenance this weekend
2009-11-20 20:00 to 2009-11-22 14:00 We will be performing hardware and software upgrades to Vice, our mail/webmail/DNS3/M1-IRC server. We'll try to install the RAM (and memtest86+ it) earlier in the maintenance window so if there's any problems we can catch them before the end of the window on Sunday. We may also perform some software & OS updates that may require reboots/service restarts throughout the weekend, depending on some vendor recommendations.
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Posted by: Myke |