Cumulus Support

Hi Steve.

Sorry to here your hosts are being a pain, and not working with you on this issue.

I was wondering if you could clarify what happens if the site goes down. Will you look for a new host or call it a day?

Since time is of the essence (you quoted 4 days I think) and there is valuable information here, would we all need to help out in some way?

Just being curious as usual.

It seems a very disproportionate response by the server owners to threaten to take down the whole forum and numerous hosted websites. Does our previous good reputation count for nothing?

As toxic17 has said there is a lot of valuable info here and it would be a crying shame were it to be lost. I’m pretty certain my website is not generating any spam and I’m sure the same is true of all the other sites Steve hosts.

I wish there was some way I could help but my knowledge in this area is zero. I sincerely hope there is one good person who has the resources to come to our aid.

I don’t think I could face moving to another server.

Hopefully if they do block access, there will still be a way to download the databases containing the forum and wiki contents.

This has not come at a good time, I am on holiday on a boat on a French canal.

If Steve’s server that hosts everything is known by a single IP Address how much effort would be required by Hetzner to replicate that server’s data on one with a different IP address?

If the spam messages continued with no break it would suggest they are sourced from the Cumulus environment but if there was a definite cessation for whatever period then that would point to what Steve suggests, someone using our IP address to spoof them. How quickly could they find our new IP address? Even a few hours of no spam would prove we are not the guilty party.

They don’t seem to want to put much effort in to identify the culprit. Don’t they realise how much damage they will cause by taking our server down? Apart from the loss of data there is also the loss of our community and personal weather websites which are highly valued by our visitors.

Asking them to make these changes doesn’t seem to be asking too much. If nothing else, it suggests we are all taking this very seriously and want to prove we are not the guilty party.

Yep the wiki database and forum database would need exporting.

Steve, if you can at least get the hosts to suspend you site rather than just pull the plug. if we can get the DB's then you/we are in a better position.

I guess we all also need to have a backup plan of where to communicate.

I suggest just in case the site dissappears, we all still keep in touch via wxforum

https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?board=105.0

I'm curious as to why the email functionality on the site can't just be disabled, and that the hosting company want to terminate the hosting service?

It depends on exactly how the supposed spam is being sent. I assume there are devious methods other than simply using sendmail or the PHP mail function? How do you selectively disable just the ways that spam might be sent?

I don’t think the Hetzner abuse department are really interested in being helpful and putting any effort in. It is much simpler for them just to pass on the spam reports (from SpamCop and Microsoft) and then flick the big switch. Perhaps they won’t actually do this.

I’m really really pissed off that this is affecting my holiday, apart from anything else.

Steve

Steve,

Given you’ve been with this company for many years it does seem a very hard-faced attitude they’re taking. Perhaps explaining this will affect an awful lot of people both with the loss of the forum as well as many hosted weather sites when there’s only one bad apple (not even one of us) will make them rethink.

I did google that info you supplied and it appears to have a religious basis. How their mind works is a mystery to me.

Fingers crossed it’s just a warning and they won’t pull the plug. When are you back home? Sorry it’s affected your holiday. Lousy timing by the hosting company.

If anyone wants to keep in touch with me should the worst happen I can be contacted at rayproudfoot@btinternet.com

I’m back home towards the end of the month.

If the plug does get pulled, steve@sandaysoft.com will also stop working, but I have made alternative arrangements for steve@nybbles.co.uk so that will be unaffected.

i just fell sorry for Steve in all this

same as overs if u need me

email me weatherworthing@gmail.com

or contact me frome my website

http://www.davisworthing.co.uk/contact.php

It might not be possible to change their minds but

https://www.hetzner.com/support-form
and/or
https://twitter.com/Hetzner_Online

???
PS
@Steve
I guess that you can't change the server settings?
https://blog.rimuhosting.com/2012/09/20 ... ur-server/

I’m already using those PHP mail settings.

I would suggest that everyone sends a message to them via this form https://www.hetzner.com/support-form

You do not have to be a user to do so and it might make them think again.

Hello Steve,

I think it would be possible to totally block email communication. Just disable inbound ports 25, 587, 465, and communicate out
to ports 25, 587, 465. Your server would not send mail anymore, but it's less painful than shutting it down completely.

Isn't it possible?

Good luck
Zdenek

I’ve sent them a message pleading for them not to close the service and to work with Steve in resolving the problem. Fingers crossed.