This will Solve Login Problem

I along with many others have experienced login dificulties for the on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29th July 07.

A DNS Fault was reported mainly by German users. (THIS IS NOT AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF GERMANY)

The following Details will assist German SL'ers, this is T-Online General DNS number that is used when local DNS servers crash. To connect a manual installation of the DNS numbeer is required, after changing your settings please make note that these setting should be restored as soon as the issue is resolved.

I can now log in and here's how.

1) Goto Control Panel
2)Open Network Connections
3) Right Click your icon that connects to internet
4) Highlight the TCP/ICP in the list then click properties (This is also where the DNS should be clicked to Automatic after the probelms is resolved to return to normal settings)
5) Click Advanced /
6) Open the DNS Folder at top of Menu
7) On the top box, click add and type the following 194.25.2.129
then repeat this process with 194.25.2.130
9) click okay then restart computer

This has worked on 2 of my computers 1 with Vista the other with XP and I am now back in SL.

Good Luck hope this helps and resolves your problems

By using this connection method will be at your own risk!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are not familiar with the computer settings then I suggest you ask an adult.

DNS stands for Dynamic Name Servers, these vary with ISPs, they register IPs through domain names, such as Google.com, that is a IP with an easier to remember name attached on top of it. This shouldnt work with many people not on your ISP, since their nameservers are different, if it does work then I would be very suprized. Try this on another ISP and find out XP I was taught that it wont work, but never attempted

Surprisingly it worked for me... was sceptical to that... but i entered the IP's and it worked

I have just read another post and someone has used my example and it worked for them.

But I do agree with Wolf, it may not work for all.

It worked for me too, wonderfull, thank you, though I'm a bit suprised myself ..
Anyway, one should not complain I guess, thank you very much ^^

Just to mention I am in Germany so I don't know if the DNS numbers will work for all.

The problem seems to lie with the Festnetz or fixed lines of T-Com and others providers.

Don't forget that 1&1 (if your from Germany) use rent or lease T-Com's line so the problem is more likely with T-Com not with LL.

Wow, worked for me, thank you very much

great!!!

works propper!

thanks so much*****

...just don't forget to set the DNS servers back to automatic after a while-what you will effectively been using with these addresses I had dug up are German DNS servers belonging to 1&1.

DNS problems like these usually mean something has changed (at LL) and the DNS servers of some ISPs are too slow to catch up. Not really LL's fault this time.

If you need it, just do a search for DNS servers and maybe your ISP name too, there are loads more that should workif one set doesn't. They don't have to be your ISP's servers though, I had those of other ISPs work for me, too. It's just a server that resolves IPs into addresses, nothing else.

This worked. Of course I have no money and no TP and no llDialog, but this works

Thank you Larrie, you are an angel. It worked for me too. But I must mention that I am from Germany too. After 3 days no SL, I'm greatfull this worked.
B.t.w., I have also send a support ticket yesterday, and I got an answer. They are aware off the issue that there are DNS issues based in Germany that they have received a lot of reports about.
But obviously it is not only Germany. I hope you all will get in soon. I know it is hard waiting.

Greetz,

Leilani

DO NOT FOLLOW THIS SUGGESTION.

What you're doing if you follow this is to make use of a DNS server that is run by someone else. While they should have locked their server down to only accept requests from their customers, that's no excuse for everyone across the net to use them. What you're doing, in essence, is stealing server resources from the people that run this DNS server... you're using an ISP that you're not paying for service from.

This is also by no means a catch-all solution, as this DNS server is in Germany. Right now, there's a problem with some people who are using a certain ISP in germany that are unable to resolve login.agni.lindenlab.com, which results in the "DNS could not resolve" login error message. Anyone elsewhere in the world should most definitely not follow these directions, as all of their DNS resolutions for anything they do online would have to go through Germany, which would likely make things incredibly slow for them.

Finally, there are SECURITY RISKS associated with using a DNS server that you don't trust. A malicious DNS server could manipulate the web pages and other internet content that you see, sending you viruses and spyware.

I can't say this enough: DO NOT FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS. I don't care if they work, they're a bad idea. If you're getting DNS problems, talk to your ISP's support and LL's support.

...and finally, if you ignore me, make SURE, after this German DNS problem is solved, that you switch your DNS settings back to their original values!

Lex, talking to that particular ISP...is not working. I've had this issue time and again, we're talking about the German Telecom here, and if you thought LL's customer service was crap you should try German Telecom. They're just completely ineffective and incompetent. Unfortunatley they own almost all DSL lines, so that even though I am with a different ISP, their backbone is via Telecom, and they rent their lines from them (the only alternative that has its own lines isn't available here) - so switching ISPs is NOT an option and we have to put up with crap service....

Btw, the DNS addresses that I used as an alternative actually DO belong to my ISP-they're just not the ones automatically assigned at the moment.

Comcast, US cable company and one of the biggest ISPs in the country, ranks *worse* than our IRS for service.

That German ISP may be bad but ranking worse than the internal revenue service is quite a feet. You almost have to go out of your way and try to be bad to achieve this.

I agree with Lex!

There is alternative, though. You may manually enter IP address of login.agni.lindenlab.com in your hosts file, BUT REMEMBER TO REMOVE IT LATER ON because the address can change.

You may agree with Lex thats your choice.

As I had already pointed out to Lex in another post his header was to strong " DO NOT FOLLOW THIS SUGGESTION" and now you agree.

To set the record straight if you have not read this thread or other threads, both myself and Alyx Sands have mentioned the numbers given are alternate numbers from a German Telecom company where a lot of the connection problems had arisen yesterday. (Sunday)

Which is how 99% of Germans use 1 way or the other to get on the Internet, so exactly where is this unsafe, they are using the same supplier.

Normally the computer will automatically detect the DNS Gateway through your ISP but in this case it did not work so the lucky few who knew the alternate for other reasons where able to offer help to the less knowledgable.

So, to make another point, and this is one reason I don't post on the forums as much as others is because too many people are too bloody big headed and think they f...k..g no it all.

Rather than ask a simple question, which nameserver or host/ISP is this DNS number going through, is this safe? How do I know?

We end up with negative comments and postings from so called think they no it all computer buffs that say something else, well, as I mentioned in another thread, either say something that is constructive, ask the right questions and think before you speak.

Some of us here are here to help and not to hinder and guide people in the wrong direction and or mislead them.........

Even so.... when giving technical advice to people that are likely NOT technical, extreme caution should be used.

At the very least, did you have permission from Deutch-telecom(or whomever) to advertise their service address for use by people that are not their customers?

Yes it works, for the moment, perhaps they're getting DNS updates less frequently than other DNS servers and still have old data that works, or maybe they update more frequently and had new data earlier.

How many people do you think will remember to change their settings BACK to the defaults after the root cause of the problem is resolved? Likely some of these non-technical people that followed this helpful fix will suddenly not be able to resolve anything when Deutch-telecom(or whomever) blocks requests from outside their service area... and they won't even be able to log in anywhere to ask for help.

It's noble that you tried to help... but fixes like this often result in more problems sooner or later.

Please don't get so tizzy on me! I actually do know what I am talking about. I don't want to boast my credentials, but I definitely know unix (20+ years) and ISP's are my business, including customer facing networks, backend provisioning systems, authetication systems, secuirty, firewalls, SMTP and definitely DNS.

Bind is broken and with the latest Bind vulnerability CVE-2007-2926 for which there is yet no fix nor workaround, any DNS server is vulnerable to DNS cache poisoning which Lex was probably inferring to.

The 2 IP address you gave will only work for some clients, they appear not to allow recusion to all addresses out there.

You should rephrase your suggestion to state that if you are in Germany, then this may help. If somebody in Canada is having problems and try this suggestion, it probably will not work.

Regardless of the technical details, I think it would have been better for the OP to put a note at the top of the first post warning that people not in Germany should probably not do this.

Apart from Arcor, which is the only ISP that actually HAS its own lines, ALL lines belong to German Telecom and are only rented by the respective ISPs, and at least my ISP actually advertises several IP addresses for DNS servers if something isn't working, I sure don't have to ask their permission for that. Oh, and German Telecom's support is SO crappy you could spend hours waiting on the phone only to speak to someone who doesn't know how to SPELL DNS, let alone know what it IS I'm complaining about. Been there, done that.

And as far as I know, all the posts stated repeatedly that we're talking about GERMAN DNS servers, and that it's only a TEMPORARY measure. We're not sending millions of people off to try a DoS attack on poor German Telecom's servers, or making everyone switch off their firewall or something....Larrie and I DID try to help.

We DID advise people to be cautious. I wasn't trying to sell some kind of computer problem panacaea.

Dytska

I am not getting tizzy with you, I was just making a point as to the non constructive comments that quite often follow when threads are created. My point was more so directed at Lex when what he may of been referring to could of been better worded and perhaps more constructive.

With regards your question though, about Germany and Canada, I followed up on my original post to say that I was in Germany and this may not work for all.

Shortly followed was a post from Alyx Sands to remind people that they should revert back after a day or 2.

With regards to permission, if you know where to look on the net it is publicly and freely available which list of DNS numbers people can use either for their local DNS Server or alternates in the event of failure.

The first number I gave which was 194.25.2.129 is the number of the general DNS server of T-Online It offers itself to register those as a last DNS address or Forwarder if the local servers are not attainable, but to achieve this in most cases you will have to manually input the number as instructed. DSL connections as I understand (But don't quote me) regardless of supplier all go through T-Online.

Because we all use computers and I suggested away to gain access to SL, that does not make me an expert on giving technical advice.

Example, If I told you to put the oven on to 200 Celsius and stick your head in it, that doesn't make me a chef. Secondly you wouldn't put your head in it either.

Each and every one of us are solely responsible for the actions and decisions that we make, I accept no responsibility for errors caused or incurred through any user following my instructions as to the details posted in this thread. Anyone using the instructions can do so at their own risk.

Just to add, I really appreciatted all those new friends I made an IM's I received in the last 24 hrs from those that were grateful and got into SL.

BS - those of us who needed it in Germany are their customers. All of us are using their network, even if you use a secondary provider, unless it's Arcor as was stated. I knew it was belonging to T-Com, no worries on my end. I was more concerned with my home network as it's set up a little weird in some ways, but that was not an issue thankfully.

My question is what the heck caused this problem in the first place. I'm thankful for this thread, because it was the only freaking help some of us got on the issue - reporting it to support got the usual answer.null.

Hypatia

I will give you what could be the reason as I read something recently.

The DNS servers as I understand in Germany are slowley using a new format "T-IP's" and changing over from the old to new ones, therefore new DNS numbers are required for some areas, I think in February there were 7 regions renewed and 13 in May.

It may of been this past weekend that changes were taking place.

Anyway, as pointed out in my last post, I am no techy nor a chef so don't quote me.

ok good to know... I'll ask around. I wish I knew if this one is a new one or an old one - but I only have one computer using it and its easy enough to switch it back to automatic.

I actually have 1&1 but they're going over Telekom as well, as you said.

As tech-savvy people, we are in a position of trust in the community. When we give advice, we need to be sure that our advice is not taken or used incorrectly, and that our advice is technically, legally, and morally correct. Just like legal or medical advice, we need to be sure that our advice doesn't cause more harm than it heals.

Despite how many caveats you post here that this is only for german users from a specific ISP and that these settings should be reverted after a few days, not every novice computer user will follow that. This post will be here forever, and people years down the road and from all across the world might try following these suggested steps when they're clearly not appropriate to their situation. Furthermore, not every novice computer user who reads this will know enough to weigh the pros and cons of following your directions; they don't know enough about the security risks involved in changing your DNS servers to untrusted IPs and the potential legal ramifications. They don't have enough information to evaluate whether this is a good solution for them.

I tried to provide enough information that they could do so. Failing that, I tried to temper your "this will fix everything" statement with a "this may break everything" sentiment. Users versed enough in computers will know enough to ignore my warning. Those who could stand to be harmed the worst and who don't have the expertise to properly evaluate this decision might be scared off by my post, which is a good thing. I'm not trying to ruin anyone's fun, I just think that people need to be made aware that this suggested solution has some pitfalls. Otherwise, they'd never know.


I suppose I may as well add my technical qualifications here: I'm a linux/unix sysadmin for 8+ years, with several years in computer network security.