Feeling sorry for Sitemeter -- Updated

Posted Jan 21
Updated Jan 28

It took a few days but I finally got an explanation for Site Meter is behind. Also found out that there is an official Sitemeter blog.

There are 3 servers in particular that have been consistently displaying excessive lag, sm5, s24, and s27. If you are on one of these servers you have probably noticed that your stats have been delayed by an hour or more.

The problem has arisen as a result of our current server configuration and a handful of sites and blogs that have exceeded typical traffic loads. We are in the process of restructuring our server configuration so that the entire network will be load balanced and lag will no longer be an issue. Unfortunately this is not a quick fix and it will take a few months to complete.

In an effort to create a more short term solution we are choosing to enforce our “No Pornographic or Illegal Content” policy. If you have a site or blog that contains Pornographic or Illegal material on any of these servers your site may be removed at our discretion from our data tracking program. It is our hope that by doing so we can reduce the delay for those sites abiding by our policy.

Alternatively, you can, if you so choose, create a new account which will move you to our newest server where lag and delays are not an issue. This will of course require that you replace your existing code with new code. Your stats will begin again but you will have access to your old data for 6 months using your old account login. If you are a paid account on one of these three servers and you decide to move please let us know what your old account is so that we can stop billing your old account.

Whew! That was close. I guess I got past the anti-porn rules. Happy me! Still in the system.
I'm only 1884 minutes behind at this writing and everything will be cleared up in just "a few months." I guess you get what you pay for, which in this case is nothing. Back on track by summer, maybe.

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Another update: (Last one, we hope...)
This morning, January 29, Sitemeter has caught up.
Neato! Thanx, ya'll!
Much better than the fallback positions I had tried. Found Execupundit among the referrals. Very impressed with that site. Even more impressed with 'lil old me that such an erudite reader slipped Hoot's Place on the blogroll. Thanks to Execupundit, too.

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SiteMeter is way behind.
Poor thing.
It has bitten off more than it can chew.

"The statistics for visitors from the last 960 minutes are not yet available."

This has been going on for several days now. It has been a good experience for me. Shows me how addicted one can become to senseless behaviors (such as reading the referrals more than the content of better places). After all, when you drive an automobile you are much safer when you only glance at the rear-view mirrors occasionally. Much better to pay attention to the road and traffic ahead.

Later...almost 3pm...

The statistics for visitors from the last 1215 minutes are not yet available.

Looks like it's getting worse. That's almost a day's stats.
Anybody know a good hit counter?

Ya know, I was just checking around last week about how much more I could get if I upgraded to a paid service with Site Meter. They have some really impressive resources. But this bit of limping is making me hesitant.

Who knows? Maybe they have the freeloaders like me on the back burners because they have so much paid business the equipment can't handle it. That's not a crazy idea. I would do the same thing if it were me. In fact, I've done something like that in the food business. There are subtle ways to encourage poor customers to leave when you need their tables for others. Why do you think the air conditioning sometimes gets so cold that hanging meat wouldn't spoil? Or some disagreeable, loud-talking patron gets seated at the next booth?