Skype trouble

[cmpm]

Anyone having problems signing into Skype recently?
I know it's not my computers, none of them will sign in and stay signed in.
Unplugged and replugged the modem and router.
Ran various fix programs.
Still the prob remains.
Can't even get Skype's help webpage.
I suppose it's on their end but not sure.

Anyone having the same probs?

Or are there other programs as good as Skype?

[wr975]

Skype login problems

Some of you may be having problems logging into Skype.  Our engineering team has determined that it’s a software issue.  We expect this to be resolved within 12 to 24 hours.  Meanwhile, you can simply leave your Skype client running and as soon as the issue is resolved, you will be logged in. We apologise for the inconvenience.

http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2007/08/skype_login_problems.html

[cmpm]

Thanks wr975,

Glad it's just not me...sort of...

[tonsofpcs]

I have an older version installed and it has been working.  2.5.0.151

[cmpm]

It just came back on now.
But still in and out a bit.
It's version 3.5.0.202

Won't hold the connection.
May have to revert to an older version if needed.
Thanks tonsofpcs.

[app103]

Here is some more information about the Skype problem: 
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/08/16/Bug-hits-Skype_1.html

[cmpm]

hmmm....thanks app,
I'm in the US, and it's been more then 24 hours so far.
A bigger problem then they are saying I think, or they just don't know yet.
Switching to Google Talk for now. But still letting Skype try to log in.

Also I found this-

http://www.sightspeed.com/

Installed it but haven't used it yet.
Any internet link goes directly to ie7 and my default browser is Firefox.
Interesting, don't know why it does that, perhaps it's built on msm messenger, don't know.

[a94213]

http://www.sightspeed.com/

Installed it but haven't used it yet.

SightSpeed is based on SIP and, according to the CEO's blog, is offering offering 30 days of their PRO service for free to users having issues with Skype.
http://digitalmediaupdate.blogspot.com/2007/08/all-peer-to-peer-models-are-not-created.html

To get it just click on the "Welcome Skype Users" at the bottom of the SightSpeed homepage (http://www.sightspeed.com).

[cmpm]

Skype is back up and running normal.

a94213, what is SIP?

I'm interested in SightSpeed, but careful also.

[PhilB66]

SIP = Session Initiation Protocol

List of SIP Software

You should check out Comparison of VoIP Software for freeware alternatives.

[cmpm]

Hey, thanks PhilB66.
I think a9 is just spreading the word on sightspeed, forum jumping.
But that's some good info there.
I didn't realize there were so many.

[app103]

The Skype outage is being blamed on Windows Update and a previously unknown bug within their network resource allocation algorithm.

Too many people installed updates from Microsoft at the same time and then rebooted. That resulted in them all trying to sign back into Skype at the same time. It put a huge strain on the network and it couldn't handle it.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/08/20/Skype-crash-followed-Windows-update_1.html

[Lashiec]

Yeah, I read that yesterday in Ars Technica, but it seems like a pretty stupid explanation to me, because the same time I saw that line I asked myself: "How about the other Patch Tuesdays?". They didn't give an explanation to that.

EDIT: Ok, the Skype guys revealed more things regarding the incident. It still makes less sense than before, oh well...

[PhilB66]

Here's what Microsoft had to say on Skype's outage...

Microsoft'a response to Skype's Outage

[cmpm]

Well for the record all of my machines did the ms updates at the same time and rebooted themselves. I haven't ever seen all my machines run the same updates at the same time-ever. Which would make the ones with Skype log in at about the same time.

That ms article does not say if the updates happened all at the same time or not. That issue is not addressed. It only says it was administered like the rest of the updates. Which leaves out the deployment timing completely, avoiding any discussion of it's deployment software upgrades or patterns.

True Skype had a bug though and it was good that it was found. When I use Skype there is usually 5 to 6 million users actively online. That's quite a bit of logging on at the same time and the servers got it unexpectingly.

Overall it was a good experience for Skype to learn by. And not surprised at all by ms's reply in denying it's impact of rebooting millions of computers at the same time, since it automatically rebooted after the updates.

[PhilB66]

The saga continues... Skype apologizes to paying customers with contract extensions