Timestamp Issue - Just noticed Something...

[CraigSca]

In the Baseball Mogul thread, I just sent a reply (at 1:52pm) and noticed when the screen cam eback up showing my reply, there was already a new posting by Skydog at 1:55pm.

Now, there is no way it took 3 mins to make my post - the reply came right back after I pressed it. I DID notice, however, that the timestamp on my post was directly from my computer clock - 1:52pm. Therefore, is the time stamp bug an issue because the posts use OUR PC to get the current time of day for a posting as opposed to the server clock? From a software point of view, this makes absolutely no sense. However, I see no other explanation for two postings that occur at almost exactly the same time having a 3 minute timestamp difference.

[henry296]

I then replied to the in the after SkyDog's response to Craig and showed up before SkyDog. My clock says 1:58 right now.

[henry296]

I posted my first message after hhiipp

[hhiipp]

Test

[Buzzbee]

I believe it is because there are two different servers that handle our posts. The clocks on the servers are a few minutes apart. So, if I post on Server 1 which has a time of 1:55 and you post on Sever 2 which has a time of 1:52 a minute later, your post will show up "ahead" of mine, even though you made it after I did.

[JeeberD]

I also have a three/four minute difference from my computer clock, but it wasn't like that when the issue first came about...

[hhiipp]

Dola

I changed my PC clock to 1:54 to post this message at approx 1:57.. but now the timestamp on my post shows 2:01? I just don't get it.

[Subby]

Test
hmmm

[gottimd]

For Time Travel purposes only. That way another forum member can tell us about something that is going to happen in 5 minutes, travel back in time and forewarn us.

EDIT: this is in reply to hhiipps question on post #15.

[CraigSca]

Ok...then why can't these servers all share the same external clocking device? Sigh...

[Buzzbee]

Why the world is it timestamping stuff for almost 5minutes in the future?
See. I'm on a different server and can consistently post ahead of hhiipp.

[Subby]

hmmm
CraigSca's hypothesis holds up for me...

[Subby]

Ack - or not

[Subby]

I really think it has to with the server you are on

[hhiipp]

Why the world is it timestamping stuff for almost 5minutes in the future?

[Buzzbee]

Ok...then why can't these servers all share the same external clocking device? Sigh...
I'm guessing that would be a question for Ryan S to ask GameSpy, if he hasn't already.

[MIJB#19]

My laptop is always 10 mins ahead of time, so the local pc theory can't be valid.

[Buzzbee]

My assumption is that if you notice you are being quoted before you actually post anything, you are on the "later" server. One thing to try would be to close your browser and see if the next time you connect you are connected to the "early" server. Just a thought.

[Ben E Lou]

dynamic6

[Ben E Lou]

Holy cow. That's the problem. Dynamic6 is way ahead of the others.

[Ben E Lou]

I posted on 2, then 5, then 2, then 6. 6 is at least three minutes ahead of 2.

How the heck does anyone get on a server other than 2 unintentionally? Is it when 2 is full?

[Castlerock]

You can see this for yourself. Right now I am on dynamic2.gamespy.com
and at the bottom of the page, it lists the time
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:22 PM.
Now edit the address in your browser. Just change dynamic2.gamespy.com... to dynamic3.gamespy.com...
and at the bottom of the page, it now lists the time as
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:21 PM.

[Ben E Lou]

Does it tell you what server you're by the URL in your browser? My URL always (I think) starts with dynamic2.

[Ben E Lou]

Moved quickly to dynamic 5 to post this...

[Ben E Lou]

Back to dynamic2

[Ben E Lou]

Just confirmed that Dynamic6 is between 3 and 5 minutes ahead of Dynamic 2. Time went from 2:31 to 2:27 when I changed servers just then. Sounds like if we stay on Dynamic2, we'll be fine...

[rkmsuf]

and around and around we go, woo-hoo!

[JeeberD]

I'm always on dynamic2. I have no idea how someone would get on one of the other servers...

[gottimd]

I'm on dynamic549827

[Ben E Lou]

I am on just dynamic with no number. It says 2:35, but my Computer clock says 2:32

ToddThat's just plain weird. I'm posting from dynamic now, and it says 2:33.

[henry296]

I am on just dynamic with no number. It says 2:35, but my Computer clock says 2:32

Todd

[Ben E Lou]

Ok. Just looked at them all. 2 and 5 are close, if not exactly to the same time.
3, 4 and 6 are a few minutes ahead of 2 and 5, and pretty much the same as one another.

I know that Ryan has written Gamespy about this. This should give him something specific to pass along. Thanks, guys.

[Subby]

Time synchronization is one of the most basic functionalities for a networked group of servers. It's fairly ridiculous that this is even an issue...

[Castlerock]

Gamespy is a bunch of idiots if they cannot fix this problem.

[Buzzbee]

I don't know too much about web servers, but if they are on a load balanced farm, then connections are balanced between servers. So, if Server #2 is being heavily utilized while Sever #3 is sitting there with it's memory chip up its ass, then any new connections will go to Server #3 until the load is balanced.

I'm not sure if this applies for different URL's, such as typing in dynamic2 or dynamic3. I think it would only apply if you had multiple servers supporing one URL. My guess is that they have one server per URL. Just a guess though. As I said I know just enough to be dangerous.

[QuikSand]

I think we're closing in on a winner...

[MIJB#19]

On a related note:
When I changed to dynamic (no number) I have to log on again, but when I returned to dynamic2, without logging in I was again logged in at dynamic2...

[MikeVic]

I'm always on dynamic2 also.

[stevew]

Stay on 2, like last time we had this problem

[SackAttack]

I've always been on Dynamic2. I can't remember a time when I logged in and it ever put me on another server, even during the height of activity, such as when Jim announces a new game.

[Franklinnoble]

Time synchronization is one of the most basic functionalities for a networked group of servers. It's fairly ridiculous that this is even an issue...

What he said. If I had this problem on my servers at work and couldn't fix it in under a day (at most), it would be, shall we say, career limiting.

[Ryan S]

There are 6 different dynamic servers.

I have told them to find a permanent solution this time.

[Franklinnoble]

There are 6 different dynamic servers.

I have told them to find a permanent solution this time.

Glad to see we're all happy with substandard service, so long as the forum isn't completely offline.

[stevew]

Dynamic 3 is in the future by 6-7 mins, four and five are synchronized with dynamic, 2 is 3-4 mins ahead of one, four, five.