Is www.ads-software.com blocking my webhost IP?

  • Resolved mikep

    (@mikep)


    9 years, 6 months ago

    After testing, my web host believes that www.ads-software.com is blocking my website IP (77.92.69.132 within range 77.92.69.0 – 77.92.69.255). This is a shared server.

    The block is preventing auto downloads of WordPress plugin updates which fail as follows:

    (https) SSL read: error:00000000:lib(0):func(0):reason(0), errno 104

    Testing using cURL, WGET and a browser from two other IPs (outside the above range) show that there’s no problem in downloading plugins directly.

    Testing using cURL and WGET from 77.92.69.132 nicely reproduces the problem seen in WordPress. You get the following errors (e.g. for cURL)

    (http) Connection reset by peer
    (https) SSL read: error:00000000:lib(0):func(0):reason(0), errno 104

    I have tested this thoroughly as well as the web host’s second-line tech support. We’re both satisfied that 77.92.69.132 has the problem! It looks like we can get through for initial connections, but it is then blocked. My web host therefore believes (as I do) www.ads-software.com may be blocking this IP.

    I see somebody else had an issue https://www.ads-software.com/support/topic/blocked-by-wordpressorg and the block was removed.

    So…is there somebody there (@WordPress) who could please check to see if that IP (or range) is actually blocked? I have diagnostics to send if needed (cURL, WGET output).

    Thanks.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
  • Moderator t-p

    (@t-p)

    WordPress does not block IP

    Your plugins/theme may be causing interference. To rule out issue with plugins or theme, try:

    – deactivating ALL (yes all) plugins temporarily to see if this resolves the problem (plugin functions can interfere). If this works, re-activate them individually (one-by-one) to find the problematic plugin(s).
    – If you can’t get into your admin dashboard, try resetting the plugins folder by FTP. Sometimes, an apparently inactive plugin can still cause problems. Also remember to deactivate any plugins in the mu-plugins folder (if you have created such folder). The easiest way is to rename that folder to mu-plugins-old.
    – If that does not resolve the issue, try switching to the unedited default Twenty Fifteen theme for a moment using the WP dashboard to rule out any theme-specific issue (theme functions can interfere like plugins). If you don’t have access to your admin area, use FTP or whatever file management application your host provides. Navigate to /wp-content/themes/ and switch to the default theme by renaming your current theme’s folder by adding “-old” to the end of the folder name. Alternately, you can remove other themes except the default theme. That will force your site to use it.

    Thread Starter mikep

    (@mikep)

    The problem is easily reproducible outside the WordPress environment so switching off plugins will have no effect.

    I cannot download plugins (e.g. to update) within WordPress (hosted on IP 77.92.69.132).

    Plugins cannot be downloaded directly using cURL or WGET from 77.92.69.132 (cURL and WGET being outside the WordPress environment).

    Plugins can be downloaded to other IPs (using cURL, WGET or a browser) with no problems.

    As the downloads work from other IPs, the conclusion is that 77.92.69.132 may be blocked by downloads.www.ads-software.com (66.155.40.186 – 66.155.40.189). cURL and WGET logs show initial connections, then a fail which suggested (to us) that a block may be in place. But we’re open to more suggestions!

    Thread Starter mikep

    (@mikep)

    I’ve had a request from my web host following further testing from several servers.

    They say “I believe it to be something on the WordPress end breaking the connection. If possible, can you have them search their logs for any connections from our IP address? It is 77.92.69.132. Their connection logs should show what was going on when we were connecting from our IP address.”

    The tests were run over the last week involving failed downloads of WordPress plugins outside the WordPress environment. Please post/send the log entries.

    Thread Starter mikep

    (@mikep)

    After much testing, this issue has been resolved by UK2 (who I can thoroughly recommend for its responsive support).

    During an investigation into this problem, the sys admins found the server had been attacked. This had messed up some of the connections and appeared (to me) to prevent plugin downloads over a certain size. The server has now been fixed.

    Quick recap: It initially appeared connections to www.ads-software.com from the affected server were being blocked at the WordPress end. Another possibility seemed to be an SSL issue (see error messages earlier in the thread).

    Other servers were able to download without problems. Useful tools for testing included curl and wget. This approach enabled the problem to be reproduced completely outside the WordPress software (thus ensuring other plugins were not interfering). WordPress stated that IPs are not blocked so that idea was dropped.

    Curl has good trace facilities at a command line level. PHP has a library for curl so it’s possible to write test scripts (but it’s more convenient and powerful from the command line). There are versions of curl and wget available for Windows as well.

    If this happens to you, reproduce the problem outside WordPress as a first step and go from there.

    Moderator t-p

    (@t-p)

    Glad to hear it ??

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
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