Help: Seeking Help: Network Error (dns_server_failure)

Farnsworth

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
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Des Moines, IA
When at work, I get the following error whenever trying to visit the forums. There is no rhyme or reason, it just happens periodically for hours at a time. I can always get to the main page, it only displays when accessing the forums. Anyone have any insight? I know it's probably not a site thing, just looking for someone who might know why it only happens when going to the forums.

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Network Error (dns_server_failure)
Your request could not be processed because an error occurred contacting the DNS server.
The DNS server may be temporarily unavailable, or there could be a network problem.


For assistance, contact your IM Support Representative. This message is from the proxy server.
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And flushing the dns via command prompt doesn't help. Also this only happens at work, so many firewall related? (yes i know I could just work).
 
Just a guess, but it sounds to me like they are blocking the site on your end, but may only be blocking it when you arrive there a certain way.

Yes, it sounds like "cyclonefanatic.com/forum" is blocked at your firewall. That would allow the home page to work but nothing in the forums to work.
 
Which browser do you use?

Chrome or IE. When it doesn't work, it doesn't work in either.

Contact your IM Support Representative.

If I lost CF at work I'd be a very sad boy.

That's IT telling you to get back to work.

Just a guess, but it sounds to me like they are blocking the site on your end, but may only be blocking it when you arrive there a certain way.

Ya that's what I'm trying to figure out, however I always open it from opening a new tab and then using my bookmark.

My guess is that your company's proxy server is down or not configured correctly. Are you an admin on your machine?

so maybe the proxy goes up and down? I can't tell if I'm considered an admin on my machine. I have free range to anything (change any settings, install programs myself, etc), but who knows.

Yes, it sounds like "cyclonefanatic.com/forum" is blocked at your firewall. That would allow the home page to work but nothing in the forums to work.

That's what i was thinking as well, however it's up more than it's down. Probably up 70% time, down 30%.
 
We were having lots of problems with google at times with just timing out or getting the DNS error. I ended up setting the DNS server to OpenDNS instead of automatic and that greatly improved the performance.
 
We were having lots of problems with google at times with just timing out or getting the DNS error. I ended up setting the DNS server to OpenDNS instead of automatic and that greatly improved the performance.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. There is a possibility that you won't be able to access any intranet sites though.
 
Here is a pic of what worked for us. This was on a Windows 7 machine.
attachment.php
 

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Here is a pic of what worked for us. This was on a Windows 7 machine.
attachment.php

Should be noted that those settings might change your ability to access internal sites if it is a work computer. Also, if your IT department was smart, you wouldn't be able to change them. But using OpenDNS addresses can slow down your internet traffic as well depending on your ISP.

Using OpenDNS servers is not a magic bullet but I was going to suggest the same thing, at least as an initial test.
 
Just a guess, but it sounds to me like they are blocking the site on your end, but may only be blocking it when you arrive there a certain way.

Get a bookmark so you get into the site at a deeper point. Avoid the front door.
 
Chrome or IE. When it doesn't work, it doesn't work in either.



If I lost CF at work I'd be a very sad boy.





Ya that's what I'm trying to figure out, however I always open it from opening a new tab and then using my bookmark.



so maybe the proxy goes up and down? I can't tell if I'm considered an admin on my machine. I have free range to anything (change any settings, install programs myself, etc), but who knows.



That's what i was thinking as well, however it's up more than it's down. Probably up 70% time, down 30%.

Without getting super technical, this tells me your company has DNS load balancing issues and the backup DNS is not configured properly. If you're a non-IT worker, nothing you can really do. If you do tell IT about it, they'll tell you to **** off. Most IT guys don't like being told they configured it wrong by a non-IT person.
 
I remember trying what was listed in the screenshot above before but something bad happened, like the internet totally stopped working. I'll give it a go again though the next time I receive the error.
 
I am my own IT department as a unpaid side job so I'm certainly not an expert.
 
I remember trying what was listed in the screenshot above before but something bad happened, like the internet totally stopped working. I'll give it a go again though the next time I receive the error.

This further leads me to believe they screwed up the backup DNS in some fashion since your machine was (presumably) set up correctly. When you have the error pop up at CF, does it pop up anywhere else?
 

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