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I don't actually understand how to find my host file. I use windows but where do I put the index file thingie??

For Ubuntu, Ubuntu/Deb based Linux distribution (Mint, Pinguy etc) :

- open /etc/hosts for example, by entering in console :
sudo gedit /etc/hosts
- enter your root password
- add new information ofr example under line with "localhost" word
- save,exit, restart machine

How does one edit the hosts file?

Non-dumbed-down tech support for the epick delight and approval.

... this didn't do anything for me running Linux. Neither did shutting down and restarting my browser, powering my router on and off, or blowing the cache ...

Well, if its predicted to only last a few days more... I can afford to wait and take fewer turns a day.. I'll try that host file thing if it really persists, I guess.

Running Windows XP and tried with several browsers and clearing the cache.

Didn't work for me, I'm afraid.

"Lady".

Ask on your distribution oficial forum how to manage host lists. As i stated, my solution works on Ubuntu or Ubuntu/Debian based distros. Also "restart machine" means restarting computer, not browser or router.

One of the three authorative nameservers for failbettergames.com doesn't reply with that host, see:

regn [~/tmp]$ host -t ns failbettergames.com.
failbettergames.com name server ns2.gradwell.net.
failbettergames.com name server ns1.gradwell.net.
failbettergames.com name server ns0.gradwell.com.

But:

regn [~/tmp]$ host -t a echobazaar.failbettergames.com. ns0.gradwell.com.
Using domain server:
Name: ns0.gradwell.com.
Address: 193.111.200.7#53
Aliases:

echobazaar.failbettergames.com is an alias for ebz-2-1147703023.eu-west-1.elb.amazonaws.com.
regn [~/tmp]$ host -t a echobazaar.failbettergames.com. ns1.gradwell.net.
Using domain server:
Name: ns1.gradwell.net.
Address: 193.84.87.10#53
Aliases:

echobazaar.failbettergames.com is an alias for ebz-883181887.eu-west-1.elb.amazonaws.com.
regn [~/tmp]$ host -t a echobazaar.failbettergames.com. ns2.gradwell.net.
Using domain server:
Name: ns2.gradwell.net.
Address: 216.218.244.58#53
Aliases:

echobazaar.failbettergames.com is an alias for ebz-2-1147703023.eu-west-1.elb.amazonaws.com.
regn [~/tmp]$

What that is saying is that ns1.gradwell.net gives a different output. Please cut and paste to the appropriate nameserver operators?

I copy pasted that thing into the host file and it worked for a while, then I couldn't gain access again. I tried removing the line from the file and tried adding it back again to no avail.

Hmm... My only problem is that when I click to AUTH my account with Twitter ( http://echobazaar.failbettergames.com/Home/Auth ), it says this:

"Woah there!

This page is no longer valid. It looks like someone already used the token information you provided. Please return to the site that sent you to this page and try again … it was probably an honest mistake."

I sometimes got this message after I left the tab open for more than 5 minutes, but now I get it instantly, no matter what. I'll try refreshing and cleaning my cache of course, but still the same problem. I hadn't this problem yesterday night, just today this afternoon (after I came from work). I have the same timezone as Fallen London, just in case.

These instructions may help Windows users. I'm trying to assume almost no experience with computers.

Of course, you should try just restarting your computer before you get into a mess with these technical files.


In your Start Menu, go to: Programs -> Accessories -> Notepad

Choose "open file", this should be in the file menu at the top left.

Once you have that open, you will be browsing the files on your computer.

You may need to select "Computer" on the left side there.

You should see an option for "Local Disk (C: )", or something like that, you will want to choose that.

You should then be able to choose "Windows", then "System32", "drivers", and finally "etc".

You probably won't see any options here, so you will need to find the drop-down that says "Text Documents (*.txt)", you will want to choose "All Files" from that drop-down.

You SHOULD see a file there called "hosts". Choose this and select "open".

I'm not sure what will already be in this file for you(I have made changes to this previously on my own computer), but you should go to the end of the last line, press enter to start a new line, and paste in the addresses Alice originally posted:

"EBZ-2-1147703023.eu-west-1.elb.amazonaws.com echobazaar.failbettergames.com"
(DO NOT include the quotation marks)

Now, also as Alice already stated, you will want to be sure you remove this one line you have added after a few days. Although there are several factors involved, three days should be plenty.

Also, make sure you restart your computer after making changes like this.


For the more advanced users:
Personally, I just switched to Google's DNS servers. It's something I meant to do a while back anyway. If you don't know what I'm talking about here, this option probably isn't for you, but you could do a search online for information on that.

Oh, and a DNS flush COULD also help in stead. You would want to try this before trying to modify your "hosts" file.

Windows Vista or newer:

In your Start Menu, type "cmd" into the search.


You should see, in the "Programs" section, the option "cmd".

Right click that and choose "Run as administrator"

If you don't have that option, or if it asks for a password you don't know... Sorry, but you'll have to either contact the administrator of that computer or try another option.

After you have given cmd permission to run, it should come up with a black box that says something like:
"C:\Windows\system32>" with a blinking thing.

type: "ipconfig /flushdns" (no quotation marks) and press enter.

Then restart your computer and try again.


Windows versions OLDER than Vista (XP):

Same as above, but choose "run", since you don't have a search option there.

in the "run" dialog, you will type "cmd" and choose "run". You probably won't have to do anything with an administrator password.


If the options in these instructions aren't there, sorry... I can't account for all the variables.

Thanks very much, folks, for these helpful and detailed instructions. I left the old servers runnning until long after the DNS info should have propagated, and I've been mystified about why people are suffering.

maswan: much appreciated. I've mailed an appropriate support request to our providers. With luck they'll be on it.

And thanks all for your patience. We're as keen to see this sorted as you are!

At work I can get Echobazaar, but I cannot reach it all from home, no matter how often I've rebooted my computer or what browser I use, and have not been able to do so for days.

Today, the issue traveled to our break stations at work, and while I was able to go back and login through twitter, apparently it simply can't access the facebook login here.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but it's sure annoying.

Two more things, since double posting wasn't bad enough.

You probably have to right click and "Run as administrator" for Notepad as well.

Also... I just did a bit of research and experimentation and I don't think you can define hostname to hostname on the hosts file. It doesn't work like a cname where it just references the IP...

I think you have to do {IP_ADDRESS} echobazaar.failbettergames.com

Which currently appears to be 46.137.114.234
So, the correct line may be:

"46.137.114.234 echobazaar.failbettergames.com"

Not that it matters at this very moment (Bazaar is down for maintenance)

Google Chrome Users.  After an evening of difficulty and a morning of impossibility trying to connect with dear old Fallen London, I opened an "Incognito Window" (click the wrench upper right) and have had little difficulty since.

Mac user here. I've tried Safari, Firefox, and Chrome--yes, even with an Incognito window, DustyCouture--and got nothing. Also cleared my cache and flushed DNS.

It wasn't working yesterday afternoon, and it's not working now, but worked fine last night. Seems to be coming and going. :/

@DustyCoutureDotCom

Oh, that's fantastic! Finally a use for the incognito window!

Daeldra - you may be right. It worked for me earlier in the week, but possibly I just caught up with DNS at exactly the right time. I'll experiment.

I'm afraid you can't rely on the IP, though. Amazon recommend CNAMEs because they can change load balancer IP mappings for their own inscrutable reasons at any time.

I'm still waiting to hear back from our provider...

I still can't access fallen London. (sigh) Even with this fix.

So depressing.

echobazaar.failbettergames.com/.../Load is returning a 503 "Service Unavailable" error right now?

I just got an error 503-"Service unavailable."  I hope that means that the team at Failbetter is trying something else to fix the problem, because it's been really slow here (Malvern, PA, USA) this evening, and I had cleaned out my cache.

It never rains but it pours. We had another, completely unrelated problem last night that I was up late fixing. The site should now be back to its smoother self. Sorry, chaps. Some good news off the back of this soon.