Re: [Savannah-hackers-public] Re: CVS server clogged up

[Bob Proulx]

Steve White wrote:
> Karl Berry wrote:
> > FWIW, I have had similar problems with CVS servers (including but not
> >  limited to savannah) in the past, even though the server is running
> >  fine.  It was due to network hobgoblins between me and the server.
>
> I don't deny that explanation, but it needs confirmation.  Otherwise,
> it would sound "convenient" for the sysadmin.

I have also experienced asymmetrical connection issues with systems on
the network in general and not necessarily the gnu.org machines in
particular.  Network issues can be very frustrating.  In my case I
have logins on a few other machines and can test connectivity from
different backbone locations to help isolate the problem.  It always
"feels" strange to be able to ping a machine from one location but not
another but it does make sense under some failure conditions.

I suggest that you try 'ping' when it is working and get a feel for
the normal latency between you and Savannah.  Then when you are
experiencing the problem run 'ping' again.  One potential problem is
that it is connected but the network latency between will be too high
to be practically functional for use with cvs over ssh.  This could be
confirmed by the data from ping.

Secondly I would try a snapshot of the public anonymous read-only cvs
repository.  You can prepare it at any time and leave it around ready
for testing when you need it.  When you are experiencing this cvs
problem jump over to the read-only pserver cvs repository and test
whether it is functional.  Since it uses a different service protocol
it might provide a different data point.

> A day down is very inconvenient to a busy developer.

This is a blatant plug for the distributed version control systems
such as Git.  The Internet is a wonderful magical machine that
connects the world together[*].  But it is susceptible to the
practical problems of WANs across geographically separated sites.  By
using a distributed VCS most of the problems can be ameliorated.  The
number of projects using Git on Savannah has been growing at a rapid
rate and can be viewed here:

  http://git.sv.gnu.org/gitweb/

Bob

-- 
[*] ... One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.