Internet Service Providers Blocking a5w pages?

[kingcarol]

I've had some of my customers that call because when they put my web address in their browser address line, the address is not found. My IP/server technician just told me that he is having to have them call their internet service providers to get them not to block the .a5w extensions. He said one of my customers was told 'tough luck' by his provider. Has anyone else encountered this issue and is there something I can do in Alpha to avoid this issue?

[mikeallenbrown]

Re: Internet Service Providers Blocking a5w pages?

Yikes ...that's a little alarming! I sure hope this is just an anomaly.

[bea2701]

Re: Internet Service Providers Blocking a5w pages?

I've had some of my customers that call because when they put my web address in their browser address line, the address is not found. My IP/server technician just told me that he is having to have them call their internet service providers to get them not to block the .a5w extensions. He said one of my customers was told 'tough luck' by his provider. Has anyone else encountered this issue and is there something I can do in Alpha to avoid this issue?

..

There is the option to change the A5 page extensions to php [] even any name you like, after that your have to recompile your complete apps and publish.

Hope that helps

[kingcarol]

Re: Internet Service Providers Blocking a5w pages?

Ok, Eric, so I see where you can change the page extensions on the server settings. I'm assuming you would have to do that both on development machine and application server. But forgive me for being a dummy, what does 'recompile' consist of ? And how much potential havoc can doing something like this to my project cause?

[bea2701]

Re: Internet Service Providers Blocking a5w pages?

The only diff. is that the WAS needs to know what to look for [xxx.a5w] becomes [xxx.php] "recomplie" is nothing more a safety eq. if you re-publish A5 will do that for you. tgest it very well on your development machine create a copy of your webapp folder and test it again.
<<And how much potential havoc can doing something like this to my project cause? >> Ther is no change to the content of grid and pages.
I have never done or tried that your the first !

[kingcarol]

Re: Internet Service Providers Blocking a5w pages?

I have a feeling it might cause a nightmare to change the extension for the pages because I have hundreds of components that might refer to pages...

[bea2701]

Re: Internet Service Providers Blocking a5w pages?

I forgot of course perhaps you have to change/adapt your code anywhere where you call an include file or a response redirect to an A5w page it needs to know what the new page name is.

[bea2701]

Re: Internet Service Providers Blocking a5w pages?

I forgot of course perhaps you have to change/adapt your code anywhere where you call an include file or a response redirect to an A5w page it needs to know what the new page name is.

The alternative u send him < Mr. Smartk ISP > a urgent email and officially complain about the situation your losing business and money without argument, he should unblock within 24 hours.
Use the Alphasoftware reference list, yeeh even State Hospitals and State Government use A5.

[Clipper87]

Re: Internet Service Providers Blocking a5w pages?

Carol,

Are they getting a 404 error ? Did those customers disable their internet security software on their PC ? It would be interesting to know what a tracert result would be for a "blocked" page. Have you talked to Lenny about this ?

[bea2701]

Re: Internet Service Providers Blocking a5w pages?

Carol,

Are they getting a 404 error ? Did those customers disable their internet security software on their PC ? It would be interesting to know what a tracert result would be for a "blocked" page. Have you talked to Lenny about this ?

Frank's idea could be correct perhaps it's one or two customers having that issue for that you have to modify your app structure extensions that would lead to complete madness tomorrow there something else.
An extra check is that you re-ask the ISP that is actually might be blocking for what reason and don't agree with the answer you received earlier.

I hope for your sake Frank is correct and contact Lenny if needed.

[Lenny Forziati]

Re: Internet Service Providers Blocking a5w pages?

Carol, I have never seen anything like this in practice for any specific page type. It would be helpful to get more information from your customers' ISPs. Specifically, what exactly is being blocked, are they using whitelisting or blacklisting, and why is it being done? While technically possible with some filtering devices, filtering based on a resources file extension is counter-productive.

[kingcarol]

Re: Internet Service Providers Blocking a5w pages?

I will see if my technician can get some more info and contribute to this thread.