Topic: Problems connecting to NintendoLife have been more frequent recently.

Error 503 Backend fetch failed
Backend fetch failed

Guru Meditation:
XID: 306216987

Varnish cache server

Above is the page I have been seeing with increased regularity when I go to visit the site recently. It's been happening on several devices including my desktop PC, my work laptop, and my android phone and tablet. The only thing consistent across all of those is that I use Google Chrome. Though I do feel the need to point out that I have not seen this error when attempting to view any other website.

It's gotten to the point that I feel like I am rolling the dice every time I click the bookmark. Will NL load? Who knows? Refreshing seems to do nothing. Usually if I go do something else and come back after a while NL will be back just like normal. But I wanted to share this anyway. So just in case you guys weren't aware, but it seems like something might be up with the site.

Oh and sometimes I get that error while viewing the site, I'll leave a comment or click an article, and then it'll crash and go to this error.

@Heavyarms55 is that happening at any particular time of day? or randomly throughout the day? I've just restarted some services, so let me know if it continues to happen. Cheers!

@antdickens Hmm, I haven't actually kept track of the time it happens, but it has felt random. Though I am in Japan, so when I am checking in the afternoon and evening here, it would be about late night/early morning for you folks, right?

@Heavyarms55 backups can cause this, it would be around 5.15pm-5.30pm JPN time (+9 GMT). If that rallies then that’s probably the issue. It’s something I’m looking to solve when we move servers.

@antdickens I have run into it earlier and later in the day. I haven't kept track of exactly when, but if I continue to experience it, I will make note of the times.

@Heavyarms55 has this happened over the last few days for you? Cheers

@antdickens No actually. What the issue was, it seems to have stopped. Perhaps it was some 3rd party connection issue.

@Heavyarms55 nah, the error you were getting was definitely from our server, however restarting some of the services (turning it off an on again) seems to have resolved it for you. Do let me know if it happens again though!

I get that every now and then, but just leave it for about half an hour and then try again, normally sorts itself out. (I'm in Guernsey kinda UK)

I have the same problem, but I think it has to do with maintenance or something. It happens early in the morning, just for a while, and doesn't happen again.

@antdickens Can do. I imagine it's quite the job maintaining servers for a website like this. Do you actually handle it yourself? Or do you go through some 3rd party service?

@Heavyarms55 they are managed by me - but we use supplier for the actual servers it's not a huge job, but with the sites being ~10-15 years old now there is a lot of data. I need to try and restructure things to remove some of the issues we're now facing. Never expected it to get so big when it was first created

@antdickens Oh goodness, 10+ years worth of archived article... yeah, I imagine it is pretty big at this point. Best of luck to you sir! I don't know anything about how to handle that stuff. lol

@antdickens Got this a few minutes ago, not sure if it's of any help:

Error 503 Backend fetch failed
Backend fetch failed

Guru Meditation:
XID: 428539916

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Varnish cache server

@Octane yeah that's because of the backups running in the last 10 mins thanks tho.

@antdickens Ant, this may or may not be related to the backend changes; Since the 23rd I've noticed that there's no difference in forum topics displayed when choosing "All Topics" or "New Topics". Am I just confused?

I wonder if some of these issues also explain why I sometimes simply go to the first comment in a forum thread, when I click on its most recent comment, on the front page, @antdickens?

@JackEatsSparrows No, you aren't confused. It has also happen to me. Perhaps it's some miscalculation of the servers.

Just about 10 to 15 minutes ago this has happen to me too.

Error 503 Backend fetch failed

Backend fetch failed

Guru Meditation:

XID: 805896205

Varnish cache server

@ThanosReXXX hmm, can you better explain when/how this is happening? The widget on the homepage (right hand side panel) links to the most recent comment/reply on a thread. When is this not happening?