Using Megaupload in Photopost

[Fortissimo]

Here is one Chuck...

Tonight our site crashed due to the max number of SQL connections being met.

Now.. there were issues with the server configuration, which we have fixed.. and that isn't the issue I'm posting about. The issue is the WHAT that caused us to realize that we need to rethink our configuration.

One of our users was using a download accelerator called Megaupload while browsing the gallery. Here is what we got from tech support.

It looks like the user causing the mess before was using the gallery and an upload application called megaupload. They had over 50 connections to the mysql server (as it takes 60 seconds to timeout a connection) your connection count got full....

It appears the user was just using a mass downloading or uploading tool to automate browsing. Somewhere along the lines of 20-50 pictures a minute. If each TCP connection takes 60 seconds to time out, and the max was set at 100 it would only take that one user 3-5 minutes to hog up most of the connections.

So my question is this.. is there a way to block individuals from going through our gallery with these types of programs?

[Chuck S]

well the question is how does your host know what program it was or the exact cause. Megaupload appears to be some file sending program to send files to other people via email so I am a bit confused on what this has to do with users viewing your site.

If your site has a limit of 100 active connections how many people does that limit your site to be viewing your site. Seems to me personally you might want to find a less restrictive host.

I see no connection between the program they are referring to and viewing photos in photopost.

[Fortissimo]

well the question is how does your host know what program it was or the exact cause. Megaupload appears to be some file sending program to send files to other people via email so I am a bit confused on what this has to do with users viewing your site.

Because they spent several hours investigating and going over the logs.

If your site has a limit of 100 active connections how many people does that limit your site to be viewing your site. Seems to me personally you might want to find a less restrictive host.

As I stated in my original post

Now.. there were issues with the server configuration, which we have fixed.. and that isn't the issue I'm posting about. The issue is the WHAT that caused us to realize that we need to rethink our configuration.

So if we could focus on the issue I asked your help with, I would really appreciate it.

MegaUpload can speed up how fast images load in the browser. It's an accelerator. I have downloaded it myself and tested it and it's pretty clear cut on what it does.

So I will ask again. How can we prevent individuals from using such things in our gallery?

[Chuck S]

well there is nothing we can do if thats what your asking us. You would need to take that up with your webhost. This really seems like a support question between your webhost and megaupload program itself and has nothing to do with Photopost product support. Users can use megaupload anywhere over the net and if it causes weird stuff with your server hosting environment and mysql timeouts they would need to come up with a way to block such a program if indeed there is a way.