Moodle

Chat slow, daemon error

Details

  • Type: Sub-task Sub-task
  • Status: Closed Closed
  • Priority: Major Major
  • Resolution: Fixed
  • Affects Version/s: 1.8.2
  • Fix Version/s: 1.8.6, 1.9.1
  • Component/s: Chat
  • Labels:
    None
  • Environment:
  • URL:
    ilearn.ufs.ac.za
  • Affected Branches:
    MOODLE_18_STABLE
  • Fixed Branches:
    MOODLE_18_STABLE, MOODLE_19_STABLE

Description

Chat on the normal method has proven too slow because of the http refresh. We tried the Chat Daemon. Daemon seems to fail after a few minutes. get message:
[2007-08-21 20:13:06] CRITICAL [php] Undefined property: stdClass::$years on line 955
[2007-08-21 20:13:08] CRITICAL [php] Undefined property: stdClass::$years on line 955
[2007-08-21 20:13:08] CRITICAL [php] Undefined property: stdClass::$years on line 955
[2007-08-21 20:13:19] CRITICAL [php] Undefined property: stdClass::$years on line 955
[2007-08-21 20:13:19] CRITICAL [php] Undefined property: stdClass::$years on line 955
[2007-08-21 20:13:23] CRITICAL [php] Undefined property: stdClass::$years on line 955
[2007-08-21 20:13:23] CRITICAL [php] Undefined property: stdClass::$years on line 955
[2007-08-21 20:13:29] CRITICAL [php] Undefined property: stdClass::$years on line 955
[2007-08-21 20:13:29] CRITICAL [php] Undefined property: stdClass::$years on line 955
[2007-08-21 20:13:40] CRITICAL [php] Undefined property: stdClass::$years on line 955
[2007-08-21 20:13:40] CRITICAL [php] Undefined property: stdClass::$years on line 955

Steps taken:

Upgraded to 1.8.2 (had problem on 1.7.x as well)
Upgraded PHP
Moved server onto ADSL line to avoid University bandwidth issues
Put new default firewall in place

We are loosing clients by the day at the moment, management questioning the move from WebCT to Moodle. Please suggest help! We will pay.

Issue Links

Activity

Hide
Martin Dougiamas added a comment -

Exactly what settings for the chat daemon are you using? How does it "fail"? Does it work at all or just fail after a while?

Show
Martin Dougiamas added a comment - Exactly what settings for the chat daemon are you using? How does it "fail"? Does it work at all or just fail after a while?
Hide
Anton Pienaar added a comment -

Hi Martin,

Really appreciate your reply, will thank you properly in Milton Keynes at the Moot.

Chat method: Chat server Daemon
chat_refresh_userlist: 8
chat_old_ping: 25

chat_serverhost: eswot.uovs.ac.za
chat_serverip: 146.182.9.189
chat_serverport:9111
chat_servermax:100

The chat works for a while +- 20 min, then fails. The chat screen show a white blank screen. IT guy says he cannot restart the chat daemon unless he stops the processes first, and the cron therefore will not restart the daemon because there are still sockets open on the chat. We must use the daemon for the speed of chat, the normal method is not fast enough. We have clients connecting from dialup through to broadband.

IT guy: Louis Marais maraisl.rd@mail.uovs.ac.za please CC him on mails as well.

Show
Anton Pienaar added a comment - Hi Martin, Really appreciate your reply, will thank you properly in Milton Keynes at the Moot. Chat method: Chat server Daemon chat_refresh_userlist: 8 chat_old_ping: 25 chat_serverhost: eswot.uovs.ac.za chat_serverip: 146.182.9.189 chat_serverport:9111 chat_servermax:100 The chat works for a while +- 20 min, then fails. The chat screen show a white blank screen. IT guy says he cannot restart the chat daemon unless he stops the processes first, and the cron therefore will not restart the daemon because there are still sockets open on the chat. We must use the daemon for the speed of chat, the normal method is not fast enough. We have clients connecting from dialup through to broadband. IT guy: Louis Marais maraisl.rd@mail.uovs.ac.za please CC him on mails as well.
Hide
Anton Pienaar added a comment -

MORE INFO:

The IPtables on this server is not enabled

Linux eswot.uovs.ac.za 2.6.9-11.ELsmp #1 SMP Fri May 20 18:26:27 EDT 2005 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS release 4 (Nahant Update 1)

PHP 5.2.2 (cli) (built: Aug 21 2007 16:52:37)
Copyright (c) 1997-2007 The PHP Group
Zend Engine v2.2.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2007 Zend Technologies

mysql Ver 14.12 Distrib 5.0.15, for pc-linux-gnu (i686) using readline 5.0

[root@eswot bin]# httpd -v
Server version: Apache/2.2.0
Server built: Jun 22 2006 11:56:18

Show
Anton Pienaar added a comment - MORE INFO: The IPtables on this server is not enabled Linux eswot.uovs.ac.za 2.6.9-11.ELsmp #1 SMP Fri May 20 18:26:27 EDT 2005 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS release 4 (Nahant Update 1) PHP 5.2.2 (cli) (built: Aug 21 2007 16:52:37) Copyright (c) 1997-2007 The PHP Group Zend Engine v2.2.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2007 Zend Technologies mysql Ver 14.12 Distrib 5.0.15, for pc-linux-gnu (i686) using readline 5.0 [root@eswot bin]# httpd -v Server version: Apache/2.2.0 Server built: Jun 22 2006 11:56:18
Hide
Marlon Brandon Van der Linde added a comment -

Morning

Please post any further findings on this issue, as I am interested in a resolution myself.

Show
Marlon Brandon Van der Linde added a comment - Morning Please post any further findings on this issue, as I am interested in a resolution myself.
Hide
Anton Pienaar added a comment - - edited

Changed the OS to the GEN 2 Linux version, started daemon, works for longer periods now without many users connected. Stress tested 80 users, 20 arrived in the chat, daemon stopped after 15 min.

Changes made to the tcp stack of the operating system last night:

tcp_tw_recycle set to true - Enable fast recycling TIME-WAIT sockets.
tcp_tw_reuse set to true - Allow to reuse TIME-WAIT sockets for new connections when it is safe from protocol viewpoint.
tcp_low_latency set to true - If set, the TCP stack makes decisions that prefer lower latency as opposed to higher throughput.

Still the socket issue remains as unresolved?

We are now attempting to downgrade the chat to the first release 1.6.x to see if this helps.

Show
Anton Pienaar added a comment - - edited Changed the OS to the GEN 2 Linux version, started daemon, works for longer periods now without many users connected. Stress tested 80 users, 20 arrived in the chat, daemon stopped after 15 min. Changes made to the tcp stack of the operating system last night: tcp_tw_recycle set to true - Enable fast recycling TIME-WAIT sockets. tcp_tw_reuse set to true - Allow to reuse TIME-WAIT sockets for new connections when it is safe from protocol viewpoint. tcp_low_latency set to true - If set, the TCP stack makes decisions that prefer lower latency as opposed to higher throughput. Still the socket issue remains as unresolved? We are now attempting to downgrade the chat to the first release 1.6.x to see if this helps.
Hide
Anton Pienaar added a comment -

See attached log file from the OS exactly where the daemon fails and the SOCKET issue arises.

Show
Anton Pienaar added a comment - See attached log file from the OS exactly where the daemon fails and the SOCKET issue arises.
Hide
Anton Pienaar added a comment -

Getting no joy from the Daemon, have given up the battle (unsolvable). Going back to the NORMAL method, but with many changes to the code in order to speed up the refresh rate, within the chat. Tested this and speed great with no effect on the bandwidth. Will post code changes later. Will also look at the covcell.org chat development.

Show
Anton Pienaar added a comment - Getting no joy from the Daemon, have given up the battle (unsolvable). Going back to the NORMAL method, but with many changes to the code in order to speed up the refresh rate, within the chat. Tested this and speed great with no effect on the bandwidth. Will post code changes later. Will also look at the covcell.org chat development.
Hide
Koen Roggemans added a comment -

I found this in my apache logs when trying to use the daemon (on 1.8.3). Might help

[Sun Nov 04 22:56:50 2007] [error] [client 84.197.106.238] script '/var/www/elo/mod/chat/gui_sockets/empty.php' not found or unable to stat, referer: http://orion.ritacollege.be/elo/mod/chat/gui_socke$
[

Show
Koen Roggemans added a comment - I found this in my apache logs when trying to use the daemon (on 1.8.3). Might help [Sun Nov 04 22:56:50 2007] [error] [client 84.197.106.238] script '/var/www/elo/mod/chat/gui_sockets/empty.php' not found or unable to stat, referer: http://orion.ritacollege.be/elo/mod/chat/gui_socke$ [
Hide
Dongsheng Cai added a comment -

Fixed "undefined" notices in 1.8, 1.9 and HEAD. I will explore why it became slow later, see MDL-14631, feel free to talk about issues concerning chatd.php in MDL-14631, Thanks.

Show
Dongsheng Cai added a comment - Fixed "undefined" notices in 1.8, 1.9 and HEAD. I will explore why it became slow later, see MDL-14631, feel free to talk about issues concerning chatd.php in MDL-14631, Thanks.
Hide
Eloy Lafuente (stronk7) added a comment -

Fix confirmed. closing. Thanks!

Show
Eloy Lafuente (stronk7) added a comment - Fix confirmed. closing. Thanks!
Hide
Petr Škoda (skodak) added a comment -

reopening in order to remove security flag

Show
Petr Škoda (skodak) added a comment - reopening in order to remove security flag
Hide
Petr Škoda (skodak) added a comment -

reclosing, the security flag is in parent bug - sorry for the noise

Show
Petr Škoda (skodak) added a comment - reclosing, the security flag is in parent bug - sorry for the noise

Dates

  • Created:
    Updated:
    Resolved: