21 November 2009
EventHorizon1984
By now you're probably seen, or perhaps we should say you haven't seen, eBay's search in action. Perhaps not coincidentally this comes on the heels of a 11/19-11/20 "Scheduled Maintenance."
Readers can find the various takes on this incident at Google News.
According to an eBay System Announcement made at 02:59 PM PST, this is a minor problem.
"Due to errors in some of our backend systems, members may be seeing different errors in Search. This could be that "We were unable to run the search results you entered. Please try again in a few minutes", or simply the browser being unable to display the page."
And, "This is also affecting the ability to access eBay Stores through search directly, and sometimes from the store URL."
Unfortunately this highlights the historical response time of eBay's technical departments.
As you can see a warning went out at 05:02 AM PST, almost 10 hours before eBay decided to notify it's users.
Looking at the technical side you might ask, what gives? eBay does say what is wrong, abet in an innocuous manner. They mention errors in the "backend systems".
Picking a random easy to understand explanation at random, this is what Linktionary has to say.
In less complex lingo, i.e. normal human terms, eBay said there is a problem with the Search software and/or hardware.
Most of the bets from the professionals here cover eBay doing a barely tested software update snafu. eBay does has a history of implementing major changes over the weekend, with spectacular results.
The fix options here are patch buggy software or back out the changes.
The hardware aspect is best put by Pete Cashmore of Mashable:
Basically if you view eBay Search (software, hardware) as a car, Search redlined. eBay managed to exceed the limits of the software and/or hardware. For example, more items loaded into the database, than the system can handle.
The fix here is removal of items from the database and/or get more robust software and hardware.
eBay's last system announcement of 03:28 PM PST is almost four hours old, and the problem is coming up on lasting fifteen hours. So we wonder if this is something as minor as eBay portrays, or something more worrisome?
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"When will you make an end?!"
Pope Julius II
"When I am finished."
Michelangelo, The Agony and the Ecstacy (1965)
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Stephanie Tilenius

There was a bit of Peace and Quiet Online
14 December 2009
EventHorizon1984
Unlike Christmas seasons past, this year we were expecting some major down time. A bit of relaxation before the rush of post-Christmas and Tax return season selling. Among other things.
< unabashed plugs follow >
Save for the Craigslist v. eBay trial, eBay INC has been unnaturally quiet. To the point that our previous blog post was November 21st. Where one of our favorite stops TheBrewsNews, has been equally dormant since November 23rd.
There was time enough at last to enjoy the Christmas posts at Grannygoodpaints Place and Red Ink Diary.
Up until last week.
< cue music > "Write about us."
Let's say it got unnaturally busy online at Amazon, the web sites, and elsewhere. And while it was expectedly dead on eBay (see first paragraph for why), John Donahoe's policies did do some unexpected good. There were some people coming from eBay, looking for us and our niche associates.
But here it is a new week, and we're back to expecting a little peace and quiet.
Like that will last.
If you're a small online business, hope this portends you're much busier than we are.
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"Wouldn't it be nice if, once in a while, everyone would just shut up and stop pestering you? Wouldn't it be great to have the time to finish a thought or spin a day dream? To think out loud without being required to explain exactly what you meant? If you had the power, would you dare to use it, even knowing that silence may have voices of its own ......
in the Twilight Zone?"
A Little Peace and Quiet (1955)
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Posted on 14 December 2009 at 15:38 in Amazon, Commentary, eBay | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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