Desperate for help - MySQL database problem

[Carter]

Hi guys, I am hoping you can help me with something - because the support department here apparently has no clue as to what could be causing this.

I host a phpbb bulletin board on the Hedwig server. On Saturday, Hedwig went down for a short time, and it went down again today for a short time. Both times this has happened, I have re-logged into my forum to find the SQL database "rolled back" to a previous date - meaning the current, up-to-date database has been overwritten with a previous copy.

The first time this happened on Saturday, the database was overwritten with an old copy of the database from August 10. The second time it happened today (exactly around the time Hedwig went down and was then restored) - and it was written over with an old copy from Saturday, September 8th.

The technicians have told me a half dozen times they didn't do anything to cause this - but what else could it be? After it happened the first time, I did whatever a good webmaster does - I changed all my passwords, checked my server logs (nothing), checked FTP logs (nothing). Then it happened again. My phpbb is current, as is the gallery app on my server space as well.

Support told me to check for hackers - but if a hacker had that kind of access to be able to download and then upload a copy of an old database (right at the exact moment when the server goes down?) they wouldn't do just that. They would deface and brag to their friends.

I just know that when the server is coming back online that something is corrupting my database and the server is automatically overwriting the current copy with one of the backups the server automatically makes - but I can't prove it and I don't know what to ask support to have them check and figure out exactly what it causing this. Until I can figure out what's causing it, there's no way I can stop it from happening again!

It's confusing my users and seriously aggravating me - can someone give me some insight as to this problem? Has anyone heard anything like this before?

Help!

[Vin DSL]

When servers are re-started, if the techs are wise, they'll let them %$#& themselves...

What you end up with is anybody's guess!

Maintain your own set of backups and you can bypass all this B.S.

However, the trick is deciding what your level of comfort is...

How often do YOU backup your site?

[Gwaihir]

Sounds like for some reason it indeed rolls back. Do you use transactions (InnoDB tables), or temporary tables & persistent connections, or anything else different from the default (MyISAM) stuff most phpBB installs run on?

[poring]

I have the exact same problem, also on Hedwig! I am so relieved to see I'm not the only one.

Everything you said applies to me. (Same dates and everything)! I just sent a ticket about this and await a reply.

[Carter]

I have the exact same problem, also on Hedwig! I am so relieved to see I'm not the only one.

Everything you said applies to me. (Same dates and everything)! I just sent a ticket about this and await a reply.

Dude - thank you for reporting this to Support! They've been giving me the run around saying that no other clients on Hedwig are reporting the same issue! I KNEW I wasn't crazy!

How often do YOU backup your site?

I backup my site every night, as I don't generally trust the admins for servers I've hosted on in the past, since I've been burnt before. So we haven't lost much - but it's disconcerting for users to come in and find some posts missing - and it's a pain in the ass to have to reupload my database every time.

Do you use transactions (InnoDB tables), or temporary tables & persistent connections, or anything else different from the default (MyISAM) stuff most phpBB installs run on?

Regular default stuff - I haven't tweaked it much. This is the first time I've ever run into a problem like this, and now I know it's a server issue and not some attack by the world's most ridiculous hacker.

They said they'll get a senior admin on this, but I'm going to report this thread to them to be SURE they know I'm not the only one going through with this.

[Vin DSL]

I backup my site every night, as I don't generally trust the admins for servers I've hosted on in the past, since I've been burnt before. So we haven't lost much - but it's disconcerting for users to come in and find some posts missing - and it's a pain in the ass to have to reupload my database every time...

I see!

And, how do you *feel* about this?

Do you want to hurt yourself or others?

[Vin DSL]

I have the exact same problem, also on Hedwig! I am so relieved to see I'm not the only one.

Everything you said applies to me. (Same dates and everything)! I just sent a ticket about this and await a reply.

Are you "Desperate for help" too?!?!?!?!

[Carter]

Are you "Desperate for help" too?!?!?!?!

Wiseguy...

[Vin DSL]

Heh!

Did you guys this straightened out?

[Carter]

Heh!

Did you guys this straightened out?

Support is working on it, I haven't heard much else other than that. I'm glad I posted since it brought it to the attention of others on Hedwig who could back up my case.