Update Oct 30th: This is now fixed, see this thread for details. There is no need to do the setup below anymore.
The Gorilla is taking a holiday. (E.g., game timeouts are turned off.)
Java users are having trouble accessing their games because the security certificate we use to sign the Java applet expired. I did renew it before it expired, but they seem to be taking their time processing that renewal, I should have done it earlier so we had a bigger margin in case they were slow, I'm used to things happening at the speed of the internet now. :-)
You can still run our Java applet:
Open Control Panel
Open the Java entry
Go to the Security tab
Click Edit Site List
Click Add
Add either http://pocket-monkey.com or http://www.pocket-monkey.com (e.g., with or without the "www."), whichever you use to access the site. Or add both, that's fine too.
Click OK
The Java control panel will warn you that http is "considered a security risk." Click Continue
...or of course, use the non-Java games instead.
Now you can play your games. Java will warn you of a security risk when you do.
Presumably they'll finish processing the certificate renewal in the next couple of days. Apologies for the hassle.
-- T.J.
Re: Java applet certificate - status and workaround
Message #23799 Replies: 2
posted by froggy2 (Marie Frog :O)) on 10/27 at 14:47
TJ why don't you just come out and be honest. You are too busy for this site and you have stated just that. So instead of blaming every one and every thing, just come out and say the site is done. I am a very long time player. Thanks for many good years, but time for you to say good bye to us.
Re: Java applet certificate - status and workaround
Message #23800 Replies: 1
posted by stephenkca (Stephen K CA) on 10/27 at 15:42
To be fair to TJ, the site works fine with some relatively small known issues, and for the price (a voluntary contribution) I'm happy to put up with those. In fact, if TJ decided to crowdsource funds for fixing the issues (e.g. improving the HTML5 version) I'd happily contribute.
I don't see TJ's post as "blaming everyone and everything". The certificate expired. It will renew in short order. There are multiple workarounds. This isn't a big deal.
Re: Java applet certificate - status and workaround
I've tried the workaround on three separate machines (two different versions of Windows and one of Linux). It worked on all of them. Maybe you have someone who can walk you through it?
In any case, as I said above and as gopats kindly repeated, no, you won't time out in your games.
-- T.J.
Re: Java applet certificate - status and workaround
Marie, there's no need to be offensive. I've been very honest. Maybe there was a part of "I should have done it earlier" that was unclear? Or was "I am completely overloaded with other commitments" vague in some way?
The alternative to doing what I'm doing now (paying to keep the server running, making sure backups and tourneys are maintained, dealing with the occasional hassle of code-signing certificates, etc.) is to shut down the site, cutting several hundred people off from their games. That's not something I want to do.
You've made a habit, over a period of years, of giving me a hard time about things you do not understand, both in the forums and via email. Please stop. It's not useful, and frankly, I'm sick of it. These are things you do not understand. That's fine; I'm sure there are things you understand that I do not (the sheer number of topics that I'm not au fait with is staggering). What's not fine is repeatedly having a go at me based on your misunderstandings. Enough now.
-- T.J.
Re: Java applet certificate - status and workaround
Message #23807 Replies: 1
posted by RedBaron (Will C. Crowder) on 10/27 at 19:13
Hear hear!
Re: Java applet certificate - status and workaround
You obviously do all you can to keep Pocket Monkey running smoothly and available to everyone...and are always quick to help when something unexpected DOES go wrong. Criticism doesn't help and I doubt most of us would even think of doing it. Just know we appreciate the site, the games and everything you do to keep it up and running. You da' man!
Re: Java applet certificate - status and workaround
Also, it appears that the donations page stopped working, which is just as well. The last sucessful donation was in May of this year (unsurprisingly, it was from you). Since then, many people have tried to donate (thank you, folks!) but it hasn't worked. I didn't realize that, and have now disabled the donation page entirely. It's kind of perfect: Until/unless I have time to spend on the site, we can't accept donations, because I have to fix the donations page! (And it won't be the first thing I do, if I get time.)
I'll keep the site running as long as people are playing here. And there is some small possibility that in a few months, my workload will ease up a bit. Some.
Best,
-- T.J. :-)
Re: Java applet certificate - status and workaround
Message #23821 Replies: 1
posted by stephenkca (Stephen K CA) on 10/28 at 14:17
It's kind of not perfect, T.J. You're still paying for the server, the existing code is still working, and you still have to give the site a bit of attention every now and again.
That's certainly charitable of you, but it would be terrific to have the chance to give you a metaphorical pat on the back.
Re: Java applet certificate - status and workaround
Thanks Stephen. :-) First priority is getting the applet fixed. I'm also really curious why the donation page stopped working, but of all the things on PM that I want to spend time on, the donation page isn't high on that list. Don't worry, servers aren't expensive anymore.
Thanks again,
-- T.J. :-)
Re: Java applet certificate - status and workaround
Folks, you're all very kind, thanks. This is my fault. I knew the certificate was going to expire, I just got buried in multiple projects coming to a head at the same time.
I'll get things updated as soon as I can, so you can go back to using the applet without special config.
-- T.J. :-)
Re: Java applet certificate - status and workaround
Message #23825 Replies: 1
posted by Dr Feelgood (Dr Feelgood) on 10/29 at 11:58
T.J. please no more apologies to people who are too short sighted or ignorant to understand that sometimes, stuff happens. Personally, I see the positive that it brought you into the forum! I've missed your frequent comments here!! Good to see you, hope all is going well in your life, and THANKS for keeping this awesome site going for us. I appreciate you!
Re: Java applet certificate - status and workaround
This is an awesome site, and glad you are keeping it going T.J i play everyday. and find no problems with the little adjustment we have to make , now and than, I would rather that than play anywhere else. Been around many sights before i found this one, but sticking with this site to the End and may the end never never come. Thank you TJ
Re: Java applet certificate - status and workaround
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