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Hi. As Iain has noted as a comment to the ip2nation documentation, installing 2.52 deletes any current ip2nation database. I only discovered it because I noted my database sql backup had suddenly shrunk by 3-400KB, and diffed to investigate.

So, I tried the button to update, in the ip2nation module. Actually, there are two buttons.

- The upper right medium grey one, labelled Update IP Database, appears to do nothing - even if I monitor the ip2nation cache.

- The lower left red button, Update, gives screen progress action, saying it’s downloading, and then unpacking the data. However, then nothing happens, and there are no more notifications. The EE ip2nation table remains empty.

Since I noticed that the files then present in the ip2nation cache looked very small (under 1Kb) I tried manually downloading the GeoIPCountryCSV.zip and GeoIPv6.csv.gz files, which were healthily each over 500KB, and then ftping them to the website ip2nation cache, with following results:

- refresh ip2nation module page. Nothing happened.
- tried Update IP Database button. Nothing happened.
- tried red Update button. My uploaded files were replaced with under-1kb files, as before.

I had saved downloads of these small zip/gzip files, and looking in them with a text editor, found they had html which summarized, says 403 forbidden, rate limit exceeded, please try again in 24 hours.

Summary:

- apparently my host location has used the ip2nation service too often; not a surprise as it’s an active shared hosting for EE.
- there doesn’t seem to be a manual workaround, though some previous support conversations have seemed to hint that there’s a way to proceed by downloading your own files as I did.

This isn’t critical to me, but I imagine it is to others. What do you propose as a way to proceed manually?

Obviously the ‘wait 24 hours’ is potentially much looser than that, while ip2nation evidently could fail at a critical moment for a site, when someone just tries to update the database, and loses their data.

Regards,
Clive

Hi Clive,

I confirmed the update wipe-out experience. What I’m not sure on is if that’s intentional? I say that because with 2.5 the IP2Nation update brings IPv6 compatibility.

To replicate, I installed ExpressionEngine 2.4 with IP2Nation installed. Took note of the database and then updated to 2.5.2 As you noticed, the IP2Nation tables were cleared.

I then attempted both means of updating the database. Automatically in the Control Panel and manually by supplying the files - that’s where I ran into some problems.

I’m going to investigate further and in the meantime if you can keep trying so that you can let me know the outcome of that experience?

Thanks!

Hi Dan,

Fair enough, and thanks that you are going into this.

Not sure what you mean by keep trying - the only thing I can try on is button-updating.

I think you are verifying that there is supposed to be a manual procedure, from having ftp’d the files into the ip2nation cache, and that you are having trouble with that the same.

Will be happy to learn the manual procedure, and when you find out what’s what with it - thanks.

Best,
Clive

p.s. the wipeout - yes, it will have been for some reason, and very likely what you suppose, to bring ipv6 on board here, at least seems so here.

Hi Clive,

I think it would be a good idea to get in for a look at this. Be on the lookout for an email from EllisLab!

Cheers,

Hi Dan,

Thanks for offering so. The site is actually about to be moved to another cluster at EngineHosting, so it may not be a best time to do this kind of troubleshooting.

What I’m doing, which I think you asked, is to post the data files which wouldn’t seem to update when I ftp’d them up manually, after downloading direct from the source site. They’re here:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2904697/GeoIPCountryCSV.zip
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2904697/GeoIPv6.csv.gz

I still don’t find any instructions for actually doing the manual update. I’ve realized the ‘grey’ button is just left over from having pushed it to get to the page with the red button. The red button can’t be used to manually update, because it does the maxmind.com download. Can you advise?

Hmm. I just tried the red button, it being 72 hours + since original try, and a Monday. Sure enough, new zip/gz files downloaded, according to ftp. It’s at least 20 minutes, and I’m still waiting for the ‘Downloaded IP Database. Unpacking ...’ to clear, as it never did before either.

I would think cache permissions not a problem, as ip2nation created its folder and downloaded files already in the cache. I’m using a system-above-public_html arrangement, but that shouldn’t matter either, should it?

There is that tickling in the back of mind, after several problems recently about EE having changed something about how it knows where the system or site files actually are—that business of a failed 2.5 update over this in particular, which I bug reported.

I had finally to put all except system in the root public_html folder to allow that upgrade, and ended up just leaving everything there for 2.5.2, which is how things are at the moment. I’d much prefer to have been able to leave the site in its own subdirectory, as I run subsites - this was an element of package decay.

Half an hour - don’t think it’s going to complete.

Thanks and regards,
Clive

Here’s the bug report for the earlier 2.5 install problem, to do with EE losing track of locations if they’re not in the expected place. It also mentions the problems with debug logging, another reason I haven’t tried to fight so much with the present problem myself.

https://support.ellislab.com/bugs/detail/17969

Dan, I’m relenting on this so we can work it out where you’ve responded, as EngineHosting is putting me on a list for the cluster move, and that doesn’t seem to be happening rapidly—fine.

I’ve got a request in to them for a temporary extra sftp access—can’t do that myself on the shared hosting.

I’ve got all other arrangements set and your form filled out save for that, will send it in as soon as I have that temporary access. Looks like that may be tomorrow mid-morning, perhaps, California time.

Thanks for going after this completeness item for 2.5.2 - appreciated. Am sure it will be easier to track down where you can work with the problem actually happening.

Regards,
Clive

Ok, form with details is in your hands.

Early due to fine EngineHosting service.

The notes are few, and should cover everything.

Regards,
Clive

Just posting a note here to let onlookers know that we’re working with Clive privately on this for the time being. I’ll post an update back here once we have something to share!

Pascal and I worked this out - it boils down to a lack of zip support on your install of PHP.

That will need to be taken to EngineHosting for an explanation. However, we worked through the update and you are all set!

A side effect is that you shouldn’t update the database until the zip support is on the server. Otherwise it will evaporate the current database and we’ll be back to square one.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I’d be interested in what EH has to say about the zip extension.

~

Ok, well spotted, as the British would say, and you guys get the Ghostbusters(tm) award for this one.

What you found fits the facts as I saw them; just didn’t occur to me the problem would be in the PHP engine. Especially at EngineHosting, who I’d trust much over any ten more usual hosters 😉 , But anyone can make a config error, or possibly with a purpose.

This site has been on a kind of legacy cluster, whose version of PHP lacks JSON for example. I think they’ve kept it going for those who run old EE1.x sites, maybe particularly old ones, and possibly I’ve been on it because I used to keep such an install on top level so I could use it to recreate some family things stored there.

Anyway, I’ll let EngineHosting know, and as you are aware, I’ve already got a cluster swap coming with them to a normally fresh one.

Thanks for going after this, Pascal and Dan, and I think such shows the real intent on the part of EllisLab, for a great ongoing ExpressionEngine experience.

Regards,
Clive

Thank you very much. We really do appreciate the kind words.

As always, it is my pleasure to help!

You know, the drill - if you need anything else, please let me know.

Cheers,