I've heard from probably 5-10 users in the past two weeks that every once in a while, they get an error saying www.pocket-monkey.com is "unknown" or can't be resolved, that sort of thing; I've also had it happen to me. (In fact, it's been happening to me for about four weeks, but as it coincided with my getting a new internet connection at home, I had thought it was related to that.)
The short version: I'm pursuing this with the company that I think is the problem.
The slightly-longer version: As you may know, to talk to a web site, your browser needs to know the "IP address" of the web site, which is a number like "204.10.37.220". To do that, the browser looks up "www.pocket-monkey.com" in a directory of sorts called DNS (the Domain Name Service) to find out its IP address, just like you might look up "John Smith" in the phonebook to get his phone number. It's more complicated than that, but you get the idea. This is called "name resolution".
This "unknown" or "unresolvable" error happens when, for whatever reason, the name resolution fails and your browser can't get the IP address for www.pocket-monkey.com from the DNS system. I've been looking into it, and it appears that sometimes, one of the servers responsible for the directory containing www.pocket-monkey.com is not responding, which could cause this to happen. (There are usually at least two if not three servers handling a given domain's name, just in case one of them dies and to spread the load, but when one of them is up but sometimes non-responsive, it can cause trouble.)
I've taken it up with the company that is supposed to handle the name resolution for www.pocket-monkey.com and I'm hoping to resolve the problem soon.
Update later: If this is constantly causing you trouble, rather than just every once in a while, you can temporarily use this link to log in: http://204.10.37.220. But don't get in the habit of using that link, it will work for now but not necessarily into the future.
Sorry for the hassle, -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
Just remembered, another way your browser might put it is that pocket-monkey couldn't be "found".
-- T.J. :-)
Re: Pocket-Monkey "unknown"
Message #4236 Replies: 1
posted by spock (Leonard Shatner) on 11/20 at 12:59
I am getting the "unknown" routine too. But usually just clicking the button again goes to the site anyway. This also happens to me at It's Your Turn and Bug Cafe so I think this is a more widespread thing. This only started happening a few days ago.
A friend of mine who uses the same DNS provider Pocket-Monkey does checked his site, and it was also having trouble -- no great surprise, although the specific problem was different. (Neither IYT nor BugCafe uses the same company, though, so if they're having trouble it would probably not be for the same reason.)
-- T.J. :-)
Re: Pocket-Monkey "unknown"
Message #4238 Replies: 1
posted by blazer0126 (Blazing Tigress) on 11/20 at 14:00
Is there a possible chance that if one had the problem, but tried to put int he IP address instead of the website URL it would work a tad bit better? I used the IP in class, and find it works a bit better than when you just type in "pocket-monkey.com" Just curious. I'm trying to learn as much I can about internet, and comps.
Yes, using the IP address would completely bypass the problem -- but it's not a good idea, because we might change our IP address without warning. Granted, we've only changed it four times or so in four years, but still...
-- T.J. :-)
Re: Pocket-Monkey "unknown"
Message #4250 Replies: 0
posted by blazer0126 (Blazing Tigress) on 11/20 at 23:29
Well its not hard to get the new IP, I learned last yr. But I understand the warning isn't always there so you never know when it might change. Sometimes altering IPs would be a good idea.
just wanted to let you know... i've had it happen too, over the past couple days.... so far only here for me not at IYT, but i dont play there but once a day. all i did was refresh or retype pocket-monkey back into the address bar and it came right up.... thanks for looking into it and letting us know TJ... at least now we will know that it isnt our computers causing the problem.... keep up the great work with this site... i'm totally addicted now
I was just wondering if the page not loading fully is part of the same problem. Both the "unknown" message and the page not loading fully started at the same time. They only happen at home on msn tv. When I was at the library using their computer, there was not one incident (after taking many turns in the course of an hour or so).
Yes, it's possible that the MSNTV box decided it needed to re-check the IP address when loading the pieces, or that it cached the fact that something didn't seem to exist from a previous attempt. Doing a refresh should fix that.
I took many turns on MSNTV today and the very first one was the only problematic one (it didn't load fully, but after I refreshed it everything ran smoothly.) Thanks for whatever was done!
I am on webtv and all the game sites are experiencing the same problem, Brainking, IYT and GoldToken. BrainKing thinks it's WEBTV/MSN (they are upgrading MSN) and they give a link for you to let WEBTV know that you are having problems. I did that last night, no word yet...It is very frustrating to play with getting an "unknown" pop-up everytime you hit your return key, but I am doing it :)
I wonder if there are two problems occurring, then, because I'm getting a lot more reports of trouble from WebTV/MNSTV players than from other players, which suggests a WebTV/MSNTV problem -- but I'm also getting problem reports from computer players as well, which obviously can't be a WebTV/MSNTV problem. :-)
Ah, well, it's the fun of the 'net. -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
I am using the new IE 7 and until today had no problems pulling you site up. Tried all day, said no page so finally about 5 minutes ago decided to try this http address = http://pocket-monkey.com instead of the newer one that I have in my link which I believe is = new-pocket-monkey.com. Anyway I am in here now so I will check into my link but if still not showing up I will do this again. Hope that is ok? Also hope that some of this made send to you too! LOL Not a techy person here! :-)) Pat aka BssLdy :-))
Hello!! It seems that the problems are worked out now. I just played about 10 games straight without a problem. :-) THANKS TJ for working on getting the problems worked out. THANKS for always interacting with the meembers on whats going on with the site. :-)
posted by goofball38 (goofball38) on 11/21 at 05:15
I haven't had this problem at all but the site is very very slow at times. And sometimes the front page takes 10 minutes to load. Don't know if that is related to the "unknown" problem or not. I keep pocket monkey bookmarked in favorites so I'm never typing it in. I don't know if that is why I don't have the problem.
We're not having speed issues, so I think this is something to pursue with your ISP, it sounds like there's a problem somewhere between them and us. There's a tool called traceroute which should help you (or them) figure out where the problem is; usually they can then either deal with it directly or contact the intermediary who's causing the problem. I wouldn't expect the name resolution problem to have this effect, so this would be something different. -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
I've been going back-and-forth with the company involved in this name resolution problem. Initially they said they'd had a problem and that it was fixed, and I wrote back saying I didn't think it was -- and then they admitted that there was still an ongoing problem but they think it's more minor than I do. ;-)
Interestingly, far and away I'm hearing more from MSNTV users than computer users, although there is the occasional computer user having trouble as well. This could mean that there are two separate problems, this name resolution problem and then an unrelated problem that MSNTV is having (see the message above about trouble accessing brainking, etc., who don't use the same name resolution company we do); or it could just be that computers handle the name resolution problem better than MSNTV does (by trying again using the other server, for instance, which would normally work) and the other trouble accessing Brainking and such was just normal 'net weirdness and coincidental.
I'm continuing to work with the company involved in the name resolution problem. If MSNTV is having their own separate problem, there's not much I can do on that. But again, we don't know whether that's the case, and I'm hoping it isn't. -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
Here is the link addy that I have been using to get into pocket for some time but as you know now it is not working.
http://new.pocket-monkey.com/current.jsp
I am a computer user not webtv. Here is how I am coming into pocket now!
http://pocket-monkey.com/current.jsp
Hope this helps TJ! Not sure if you need it but what the heck eh! :-)) Pat
P.S. Oh yeah, someone was wondering if having the addy in your favourites would make any difference. Well I always did have it in my favourites, both addys are now, and it did make a difference to me! My games seem to be playing fine too and quick so right now anyway haven't noticed that happening. Ok I think that is all! Pat
That first one, new.pocket-monkey.com, hasn't been valid for months. That was a temporary address I gave out as we switched from one server to another in May; I finally retired that name a few days ago.
Although "http://pocket-monkey.com" will work at the moment, please don't use it as it may not work down-the-line. -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
I never have a problem getting on to Pocket-Monkey, unless you have the site down for some reason.. I just can't play when I get here..lol.. the pop-ups happen once you try to play..but the addy is fine :) so I think it's not Pocket-Monkey, it's MSN.. whatever is going on with them right now..prior to this problem, this site has been fantastic..you just have to keep hitting the return til the pop-up goes away, just aggravating, I hope it gets fixed soon.. :)
oh wow sorry I guess I just put it as my link then and forgot all about it. Then the other day when you did retire it, I thought there was a problem! So sorry for the mass confusion! I will now delete and put that other one in as my link! thank you! Pat :-))
The company responsible for name resolution for Pocket-Monkey swears the problem is resolved. So I'm closing this thread in favor of a new one where we try to separate the WebTV/MSNTV problem (if there is one) from the problem affecting computer users as well (if there is one). -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
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