Silk Road forums

Discussion => Silk Road discussion => Topic started by: Dread Pirate Roberts on November 02, 2012, 12:51 am

Title: explosive growth
Post by: Dread Pirate Roberts on November 02, 2012, 12:51 am
Hey gang,

Just want to keep everyone in the loop.  We are in uncharted territory in terms of the number of users accessing Silk Road.  Most of the time we've been able to keep up with the demand, but we ARE behind the curve right now.  Being the largest hidden service ever to exist and having limited options for expanding infrastructure due to the need for security means we may stay behind the curve until we can find a way to accommodate the demand.  There are several paths we are currently pursuing and we hope to be back on track very soon.  Please be patient and try using the site during off-peak times.

Cheers,
DPR


UPDATE:
Another solution has been applied and so far seems to be working.  We will continue to monitor the situation and work through this.  New registrations are temporarily disabled.

I know this has been a frustrating experience for everyone.  We aim for 100% accessibility and uptime, but have not met that goal these past few days.  I want to reiterate that we are in UNCHARTED waters.  Silk Road has gone through many phases and we have grown stronger each time.  This won't be the last time we are challenged I can assure you.  This much I can say:  we will overcome this obstacle and any other set before us.

Also, for the time being, you may have to update your bookmarks by adding index.php after .onion, so silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/messages becomes silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/index.php/messages
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: queryox on November 02, 2012, 01:00 am
Yeah its been slow of late, but other times just as fast as ever. Dont jeopardize the safety of SR though for numbers or ($$) which im sure you wont, im happy with a slow website as long as its a up and running website. Keep it up !  ;D Good thing your doing, I think everyone is realizing what a great place this is, word of mouth spreads fast.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: jsmithy123 on November 02, 2012, 01:14 am
if overload is easily detected server-side you might want to think about instituting a rolling redirection to a "site too busy" page that is triggered by login session modulo some number.
Just like a rolling blackout copes when demand is 110% of supply, it would preserve the experience for the many and temporarily black out the few, for a few hours at a time. This would be better because the site is used in multi-step transactions and it is very frustrating to get half way through something and then see site unavailable after a long pause. Did the form submit? did it not? etc.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: GiveUsSome on November 02, 2012, 01:21 am
can you tell us when the off peak times are?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: danknugsdun on November 02, 2012, 01:40 am
It hurts when you got customers waiting for their orders to be sent and messages to be answered but....

expanding the network infrastructure to handle bigger loads over security is a definate no no so I'm more than happy for SR to be intermittently down and up!

Dank
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: UK GROW TEK on November 02, 2012, 02:00 am
 Dread Pirate Roberts your cool as fuc.

Keep the ship a float!

Much Love.


UKGT.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: jpinkman on November 02, 2012, 02:03 am
I say deny new signups until you get the expanded infrastructure and security requirements under control.

It's been torturous the last 3 days or so.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: farmer1 on November 02, 2012, 02:08 am
I think this is what you call one of those 'good problems'.  :)

Thank you for all the hard work.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: anex45 on November 02, 2012, 02:28 am
Hey gang,

Just want to keep everyone in the loop.  We are in uncharted territory in terms of the number of users accessing Silk Road.  Most of the time we've been able to keep up with the demand, but we ARE behind the curve right now.  Being the largest hidden service ever to exist and having limited options for expanding infrastructure due to the need for security means we may stay behind the curve until we can find a way to accommodate the demand.  There are several paths we are currently pursuing and we hope to be back on track very soon.  Please be patient and try using the site during off-peak times.

Cheers,
DPR

Just wanted to say thank you for all the work you have put in to The Silk Road....I wish SR had been around when I was a teen so I had a safe place to purchase my drugs from but I'm enjoying it right now and I hope SR is around for years to come! This is such a unique experience and even though I have been using it for 2 months now...I'm still amazed that this place exists!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: DrTrance on November 02, 2012, 02:37 am
Anyone know how many members their are on SR?  8)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: GiveUsSome on November 02, 2012, 02:42 am
^^ this may interest you:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/08/06/black-market-drug-site-silk-road-booming-22-million-in-annual-mostly-illegal-sales/

has DPR made the forbes list? :)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: technopium on November 02, 2012, 03:10 am
I can get into and use the forums just fine, but the SR website- not so much.  It seems as the issue has only been over the last 3 days as prior to that, I would have issues with logging on every other day or so for about an hour (during peak times only) but now it appears that I can't even log on to the site at all.  I have been trying on off-peak times (for the past 48 hours) and feel that others have also and that is why it is still difficult getting on even then.  I can't imagine what some of the vendors are going through.

That was just my experience as I listed above and is NO WAY meant to downplay the importance of ALL THE STAFF and their hard work on this site.  Like DPR said, this is unchartered territory and I trust in him and the site as it has been around this long and helps many people in many ways.  I am sure LE want to sink this ship asap and any way to keep that from happening is OK with me.

A BIG THANK YOU to all!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: HardHustle on November 02, 2012, 03:14 am
I say deny new signups until you get the expanded infrastructure and security requirements under control.

This. Have a notification on the front page that new signups are nil until you get the server problems dealt with. It will just make the people who aren't in want to get in even more so when you reopen registration you'll get a ton of growth so the site can keep expanding.

It's very difficult to run a business as the site is right now.

Thank you for your service DPR.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: johnwholesome on November 02, 2012, 03:16 am
Anyone know how many members their are on SR?  8)

I can't believe you have shamelessly stolen my avatar. Please submit real name and address for copyright violation service...

/offtopic
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Ace on November 02, 2012, 03:36 am
Happy to know Im not the only one. There should be a post about this under technical support. I wonder why there hasnt already. The first couple days I had to reload ten or fifteen times to access the site. Today however I keep getting "connected" even "waiting" almost.. almost... "page did not load" though. :(  I believe I have $600 sitting there and need to convert before bitcoin prices drop.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: smokeweed420 on November 02, 2012, 03:48 am
Happy to know Im not the only one. There should be a post about this under technical support. I wonder why there hasnt already. The first couple days I had to reload ten or fifteen times to access the site. Today however I keep getting "connected" even "waiting" almost.. almost... "page did not load" though. :(  I believe I have $600 sitting there and need to convert before bitcoin prices drop.

I have 2300$ sitting on there  :( hopefully the site is on soon! Im sure the problem will be resolved soon, there are always lots of resources available for money.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: divinechemicals on November 02, 2012, 03:51 am
Thanks for checking in and letting us know what's up DPR. Obviously you've done an amazing job running this site, and the explosive traffic should tell you just how fantastic the site is. It's revolutionizing everything. I know you'll fix it up soon enough, you always have.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: DaMan on November 02, 2012, 03:56 am
I have 2300$ sitting on there  :( hopefully the site is on soon! Im sure the problem will be resolved soon, there are always lots of resources available for money.

No there isn't. If you go flashing money up and down someone will find it suspicious and all it takes is a snitch to put the whole operation at stake. I'd already see the most out-of-sense suggestions such as cloud computing, hosting it somewhere... well, I'm programming a market myself and the biggest issue is where to put it to work or how. You can't simply host it somewhere, with such amount of bitcoins the host may well pick it up and run or may trace your onion traffic or get suspicious, etc. This is a REALLY complicated operation to keep, believe me.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: MeanwhileinAustralia on November 02, 2012, 04:39 am
Would it be possible to give vendor accounts login priority in the future?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: GiveUsSome on November 02, 2012, 04:45 am
Would it be possible to give vendor accounts login priority in the future?

this is actually a good idea. I would support that :)

problem is u would have to set a limit to number of people logging in, where now it just lets as many people as possible log in til the bandwidht cant handle it anymore
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: onepostchump on November 02, 2012, 04:53 am
suggestion: roll back the bandwidth intensive changes you implemented back a few months ago, because a more streamlined site that is more reliable is better than a pretty site that is hard to access

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: divinechemicals on November 02, 2012, 04:53 am
I know nothing about computers, so this may be an incredibly technologically ignorant post, so I apologize in advance. But what about a waiting list of some kind? The server only allows a certain number of people to be logged in at one time. If you try to log in and the server is full, you're on a waiting list. If your browser is inactive for an hour, you're automatically logged out so as not to clog the server needlessly. You can always log back in anyways, so no big deal. I don't know, just a thought. It might be a temporary solution as you try to increase server size or whatever.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: GiveUsSome on November 02, 2012, 04:57 am
I know nothing about computers, so this may be an incredibly technologically ignorant post, so I apologize in advance. But what about a waiting list of some kind? The server only allows a certain number of people to be logged in at one time. If you try to log in and the server is full, you're on a waiting list. If your browser is inactive for an hour, you're automatically logged out so as not to clog the server needlessly. You can always log back in anyways, so no big deal. I don't know, just a thought. It might be a temporary solution as you try to increase server size or whatever.

your temporary solution would involve a shitload of programming ;)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Cali4niaLove on November 02, 2012, 05:01 am
Would it be possible to give vendor accounts login priority in the future?

Seconded!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Nellion on November 02, 2012, 05:04 am
I've noticed a lot of spam on the forums as of late. You think there's a possibility of excessive bots accessing SR causing the slow speeds? I realize there's an influx of new members but it seems some spammers are without any morals whatsoever...
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: GiveUsSome on November 02, 2012, 05:07 am
I've noticed a lot of spam on the forums as of late. You think there's a possibility of excessive bots accessing SR causing the slow speeds? I realize there's an influx of new members but it seems some spammers are without any morals whatsoever...

the forum and the main site must not share bandwidth. otherwise we wouldnt be able to access the forums when SR is being hit.

the bots have no reason to access the main site..

Its just the inflow of new users.. Everybody needs to remember the first rule of fightclub! :)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: DaMan on November 02, 2012, 05:11 am
You're reading this as if this was at open web. The major issue with Tor isn't bandwidth, but hashrate. Pretty often you may have bw to spare but CPU load to be 8 or 10, making everything to fail.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: divinechemicals on November 02, 2012, 05:11 am
I know nothing about computers, so this may be an incredibly technologically ignorant post, so I apologize in advance. But what about a waiting list of some kind? The server only allows a certain number of people to be logged in at one time. If you try to log in and the server is full, you're on a waiting list. If your browser is inactive for an hour, you're automatically logged out so as not to clog the server needlessly. You can always log back in anyways, so no big deal. I don't know, just a thought. It might be a temporary solution as you try to increase server size or whatever.

your temporary solution would involve a shitload of programming ;)

Yep, as I figured, I'm an idiot. I'll leave this thread to the computer geniuses.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: RetinaBlast on November 02, 2012, 05:12 am
Would it be possible to give vendor accounts login priority in the future?

FOURTHED!!!!!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: GiveUsSome on November 02, 2012, 05:27 am
a Temporary solution that may help would be turn off all images.

it would actually be very easy to implement, just put everybody in inconginto mode.

could be done in one command. Assuming the database is SQL Server (which it would be ;) )
it would be something like:

Code: [Select]
update users set inconginto_mode=1

done!

that may free up a bit of bandwidth
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Phos4Loxy on November 02, 2012, 05:39 am
I agree with all of the suggestions on this thread. First and foremost, cut off new user registration first for sure until you get some stuff handled. Roll back to a more simple listing scheme like what SR used to look like. We don't need this to look pretty, just work:) Possibly make the pictures smaller on the listings, or yes, totally get rid of them for a bit. That would be cool if vendors had a higher priority for access, but that would also suck for all of the people that are wanting to buy from us. Thanks so much DPR. You're a fucking legend man:)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: shimbabwe on November 02, 2012, 05:40 am
would more people running TOR relays help at all or am I misunderstanding how that works?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: onepostchump on November 02, 2012, 05:50 am
an influx of new users increases the user base creating increased demand which would leads to increased prices - basic supply and demand economics
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: GiveUsSome on November 02, 2012, 05:59 am
an influx of new users increases the user base creating increased demand which would leads to increased prices - basic supply and demand economics

one would hope that with an increased user base, there would also be an increase Vendor base..
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: onepostchump on November 02, 2012, 06:04 am
hope in one hand and shit in the other then tell me which one fills up faster

vendors arent sitting in a lobby waiting for their number to be called they come and they go and we take what we can get
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: GiveUsSome on November 02, 2012, 06:06 am
hope in one hand and shit in the other then tell me which one fills up faster

vendors arent sitting in a lobby waiting for their number to be called they come and they go and we take what we can get

well I can tell you that since i have been here, there has been a big increase in the number of vendors
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: MarijuanaIsMyMuse on November 02, 2012, 06:08 am
This site serves a global market, supports users who are connecting from many different time zones and no one really knows where the majority of the active connections are coming from, it's hard to know when exactly peak demand is. Could the peak hour time be posted in UTC in this thread or stickied somewhere so users know when peak demand is a when connections will be slow. This would allow people to better plan their time when they could connect and place an order, or process them whatever the case may be. If there is a concern giving out this information, perhaps it could be shared in the vendor forum so at least those that do need to get on and get orders out can plan their time when they can connect. Would it be possible to release that information?

MJMuse
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: blowdrobro on November 02, 2012, 06:16 am
I've noticed SR has been pretty slow of late but right now I can't even log in >.>. I'm just trying to get an order out so I can go to bed and I cant get past "connecting..."
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: rise_against on November 02, 2012, 06:23 am
yea, seems like servers being overloaded or DoSed. sux, i gotta lotta orders  i need to process, and i cant even login... the customers are going to let me hear it.  :(
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: FirstClassFix on November 02, 2012, 06:42 am
wow I cant log on at all.. Ive been trying for the last 5-6 hours..  Thank god i didnt quit my day job. 
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: drganja on November 02, 2012, 06:44 am
3300$ order is hours away from auto finalizing in escrow  :( lot of money
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: HardHustle on November 02, 2012, 06:52 am
Would it be possible to give vendor accounts login priority in the future?

I would definitely like to see this. I've  been trying all night and still no luck. If this is how it's going to be from now on, I can't see any real vending going on. There needs to be full access to the site for at the very least 6-8 hours a day to go through messages, orders, and deal with funds. Like I said, as it is right now, I can't fulfill my duties as a vendor. Buyers won't be able to buy, sellers won't be able to sell. Imo this is a serious problem that could put the whole marketplace at risk if it continues.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: xx138xx on November 02, 2012, 06:58 am
The problem with this explanation is it doesn't fit the symptoms. If the site had indeed outgrown it's server, I wouldn't be getting almost instant loading of the login page+ captcha, both of which require available cpu resources to serve up.

This basically shows the problem isn't an overloaded cpu due to hashing.
The login page and captcha both load so quickly that it's obvious the bandwidth isn't an issue.
If the server was out of ram and swapping memory pages to disk, I wouldn't be get fast page loads either as retrieving items from disk is much slower than from RAM.

What I do see is an inability to actually log in to my account once i submit my login and an excuse given that doesn't match what I am seeing on my end. Until proven otherwise I am considering the main site compromised. Even if it is still secure, if it's not functioning correctly it is useless to me. The timing of these issues worry me as it coincides with the hurricane that swept through the NYC area and knocked out a bunch of datacenters in the area. I'm hoping that is only coincidence and not a sign for LE to home in on.

The only other time I've ever experienced timeouts that took this long to actually error out was when I was personally trying  to find out if I could code a website that could run a timing attack vs someone else using tor when we were trying to figure out if it was safe to use. I was not successful but I did only give it an afternoon or two then said the hell with it when another project caught my eye.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: drganja on November 02, 2012, 07:05 am
Would it be possible to give vendor accounts login priority in the future?

I would definitely like to see this. I've  been trying all night and still no luck. If this is how it's going to be from now on, I can't see any real vending going on. There needs to be full access to the site for at the very least 6-8 hours a day to go through messages, orders, and deal with funds. Like I said, as it is right now, I can't fulfill my duties as a vendor. Buyers won't be able to buy, sellers won't be able to sell. Imo this is a serious problem that could put the whole marketplace at risk if it continues.

Agreed 100%. there is no way for any business to concur how it is now
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: edgeoftruth on November 02, 2012, 07:08 am
I'm not even getting the login screen (though Vidalia succeeds in opening a connection to SR)
Personally I don't think the site is compromised, what would be the point of stealing a username/password if nobody can log in?

If nothing else (and this is a bad idea, kind of like the draft :<) SR could assign user accounts designated times of day (and probably stop new signups for now). People would be able to pick times that suit their time zone as long as there aren't too many accounts on the same time interval. First come, first serve.

I hope DPR and the admins can get some more infrastructure soon though.

(If it's DoS, to hell with whoever's doing it, though in general it seems to me that would be widely detectable in bandwidth patterns on the Tor network. The etiquette is not to DoS through Tor anyway, though if there were a way I could see the government doing it. I hope it's not DoS)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Anon0123456 on November 02, 2012, 07:15 am
I think it's to do with the massive power outages on the coast somehow. I hope it gets fixed...
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: blowdrobro on November 02, 2012, 07:24 am
How about a queue'ing system like they had on WOW.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: h1n1z2 on November 02, 2012, 07:26 am
3300$ order is hours away from auto finalizing in escrow  :( lot of money

This, and the inability to vend, make this a disaster financial situation, there must be $100,000's locked up in there at least if not millions
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: anex45 on November 02, 2012, 07:30 am
Well SR was really slow for me all day but at least I could login and make orders...but now like everyone else I'm only making it as far as the login screen, hopefully it's fixed soon.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Shroomeister on November 02, 2012, 07:32 am
I do not know what the answer is. I would like to say deny new registrations until bandwidth is increased, but I know this goes against any thing SR stand for.

All I know is I rather have 10 people reliably viewing my listings, then 10,000 that cant even log on.

While denying new registrations could work short term, I think it would just become a flood gate of sorts. As soon as DPR were to feel like "ok, we are good...open regs" ...then the system would quickly become over loaded again.

It is sad to say, but I have grown "comfortable" with the fact that I need 2 hours to process orders, instead of the 20 minutes it would take me to get all the info I need off the site.

While the site is completely down and out at the moment (and that is no good at all) I recommend to other buyers/vendors that you simply plan accordingly when the site is up.

I have a "SR Rhythm" where ... i click a link....then move to another page..do some other stuff....come back.....copy the info....click a SR link.....go to another tab....etc.

Its sad, but that is how its been working for me for quite sometime now.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: johnwholesome on November 02, 2012, 07:34 am
Sometimes I get paranoid when it loads too fast :P
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: jpinkman on November 02, 2012, 07:37 am
a Temporary solution that may help would be turn off all images.

Actually this option already exists. If you go to Accounts->Settings you'll see you can turn off images. This is key for those that pretty much already know what they want since images are only good for spec'ing out and scrutinizing new vendors for a purchase. It does help and I recommend everyone here do it if you can bear get through to the settings page.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/08/06/black-market-drug-site-silk-road-booming-22-million-in-annual-mostly-illegal-sales/

Thanks for that link GiveUsSome. My surprise is that it's only 22 million since that just shows how young this market still is as literally the sky's the limit. Based on IRL demand there's no reason that figure can't be in the billions. Although I would imagine if DPR were to keep up with the exponential natural growth rate and turned SR into a  multi-billion dollar empire he would hit infamy on the Forbes richest criminals list next to all those cartel heads and would easily make the FBI's 10 most wanted. He might even become public enemy #1 because of his ability to hide in plain sight compared to those transient cartel bosses who are constantly on the move in order to survive. :(
 
At any rate, if he wanted to avoid that type of heat he'd have to hit the brakes at some point ... since there's a ceiling where further expansion would just increase marginal exposure and cost would outweigh benefit. I'd also imagine that if SR were to expand into the billions there would definitely be new markets springing up to try and grab a piece of that action and they would have to offer some sort of competitive advantage to make them worth using so it could be a win-win. Black Market Reloaded has a leg up now since even though it sucks ... it still exists as the only legit SR alternative.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: namuld on November 02, 2012, 07:44 am
The problem with this explanation is it doesn't fit the symptoms. If the site had indeed outgrown it's server, I wouldn't be getting almost instant loading of the login page+ captcha, both of which require available cpu resources to serve up.

The login screen probably is cached by your browser, if not it still is only 3.44KB and a captcha would take a miniscule amount of processing power to be generated.

You can also view the horribly slow speed using Vidalia's bandwidth graph. Slowdowns are occurring on all SR pages.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: justsayinbro on November 02, 2012, 07:53 am
The problem with this explanation is it doesn't fit the symptoms. If the site had indeed outgrown it's server, I wouldn't be getting almost instant loading of the login page+ captcha, both of which require available cpu resources to serve up.

The login screen probably is cached by your browser, if not it still is only 3.44KB and a captcha would take a miniscule amount of processing power to be generated.


TorBrowser doesn't keep the cache when you close and restart it.

I'm getting a weird feeling about this situation. The site isn't just incredibly slow, it's completely and suddenly stopped for everyone and in a weird way.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: anex45 on November 02, 2012, 08:01 am
Fuck it, I'm getting some sleep and hoping I can login when I wake up.  8) 'night all.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SuperFocus on November 02, 2012, 08:02 am
Would it be possible to give vendor accounts login priority in the future?

LOVE THIS IDEA  :)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: drganja on November 02, 2012, 08:08 am
The problem with this explanation is it doesn't fit the symptoms. If the site had indeed outgrown it's server, I wouldn't be getting almost instant loading of the login page+ captcha, both of which require available cpu resources to serve up.

The login screen probably is cached by your browser, if not it still is only 3.44KB and a captcha would take a miniscule amount of processing power to be generated.


TorBrowser doesn't keep the cache when you close and restart it.

I'm getting a weird feeling about this situation. The site isn't just incredibly slow, it's completely and suddenly stopped for everyone and in a weird way.

stop spreading paranoia..... but on a serious note: could this be a government tactic to stop Silk road use? simply make a ton of accounts and overload the servers so nobody can get on?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: anex45 on November 02, 2012, 08:08 am
HOLY SHIT, SUCCESS! Just made it to the welcome screen!!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: afterdark989 on November 02, 2012, 08:10 am
I was just able to log in. I guess that's a good sign. It's still extremely slow though, pages take 5-10 minutes to load, if at all.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 02, 2012, 08:11 am
I think it's to do with the massive power outages on the coast somehow. I hope it gets fixed...
I wonder where you're from... The world doesn't rotate around America my friend.

Hopefully it gets sorted soon, everybody seems to be full of accusations or demands like there's an alternative here. There's no point pushing it before it's ready, if we all want this to continue patience will be a virtue.

Spoken like a true aussie
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: smokeweed420 on November 02, 2012, 08:20 am
DPR you should level with the peeps here...

Whats really going on?

If there were explosive growth you would just throttle the number of available logins...
why let us sit there all day for nothing?

If you needed to load balance servers just buy a new twin bed and throw one under it across from the old one, lol

At any rate your Awesome, world changing site is useless now.....

I logged on just to give you negative karma...... be patient, and Silk road isnt just letting us "sit here all day"...you are doing that to yourself
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: anex45 on November 02, 2012, 08:23 am
I was just able to log in. I guess that's a good sign. It's still extremely slow though, pages take 5-10 minutes to load, if at all.

Yeah, once every few hours of trying, I can get past the login screen ... but then before I can even reply to a single message, it kicks me again.

Made it a hell of a stressful rush today!  lol.  Hopefully something will improve for all of us soon!

Shit I just opened up everything in new tabs just incase...so if it went back down I could at least stare at the welcome screen and pretend I was logged in   8)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: beaner on November 02, 2012, 08:24 am
omg I made it finally to SR after thw whole day.
Would it be possible to give vendor accounts login priority in the future?

LOVE THIS IDEA  :)

I like this idea too, and to customers who have the best stats! not new users.
Could we cap the amount of new users?
 It's getting allot of unwanted attention, I saw it in another magazine.

It's ridiculus.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: xx138xx on November 02, 2012, 08:25 am
The problem with this explanation is it doesn't fit the symptoms. If the site had indeed outgrown it's server, I wouldn't be getting almost instant loading of the login page+ captcha, both of which require available cpu resources to serve up.

The login screen probably is cached by your browser, if not it still is only 3.44KB and a captcha would take a miniscule amount of processing power to be generated.

You can also view the horribly slow speed using Vidalia's bandwidth graph. Slowdowns are occurring on all SR pages.

The browser isn't caching anything and an overloaded server node is overloaded. There's no magic 0.0001% cpu power left over to server up anything if the cpu is pegged to its limit which is obviously isn't. The cpu has to handle the database queries, network traffic, the server software itself, the encryption hashes involved in using the tor network, etc. If its overloaded everything would be at a standstill. 

Quote

stop spreading paranoia..... but on a serious note: could this be a government tactic to stop Silk road use? simply make a ton of accounts and overload the servers so nobody can get on?

This thought occurred to me as the first possibility but i was hesitant to say it publicly due to not wanting to give LE any ideas. It better fits the symptoms because you can overload a database easier than you can overload an entire server usually (most servers are set up to limit the amount of resources the database can use so it doesn't go overboard and force the actual server software to start using disk pages for memory or eat up all the cpu time).
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: smokeweed420 on November 02, 2012, 08:29 am
The problem with this explanation is it doesn't fit the symptoms. If the site had indeed outgrown it's server, I wouldn't be getting almost instant loading of the login page+ captcha, both of which require available cpu resources to serve up.

The login screen probably is cached by your browser, if not it still is only 3.44KB and a captcha would take a miniscule amount of processing power to be generated.

You can also view the horribly slow speed using Vidalia's bandwidth graph. Slowdowns are occurring on all SR pages.

The browser isn't caching anything and an overloaded server node is overloaded. There's no magic 0.0001% cpu power left over to server up anything if the cpu is pegged to its limit which is obviously isn't. The cpu has to handle the database queries, network traffic, the server software itself, the encryption hashes involved in using the tor network, etc. If its overloaded everything would be at a standstill. 

Quote

stop spreading paranoia..... but on a serious note: could this be a government tactic to stop Silk road use? simply make a ton of accounts and overload the servers so nobody can get on?

This thought occurred to me as the first possibility but i was hesitant to say it publicly due to not wanting to give LE any ideas. It better fits the symptoms because you can overload a database easier than you can overload an entire server usually (most servers are set up to limit the amount of resources the database can use so it doesn't go overboard and force the actual server software to start using disk pages for memory or eat up all the cpu time).

This is also my thoughts exactly
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: HeadacheHealer on November 02, 2012, 08:34 am
Would it be possible to give vendor accounts login priority in the future?

LOVE THIS IDEA  :)

Or times of the hour perhaps... e.g. ONLY vendors could login and navigate for the first 5 minutes of every hour.  I've been unable to ship ontime from spending literally a few hours trying to login and see an order (as many of us have).  If load is the problem, I like the limit new users idea--this would make SR fade back into the BG and the hype die down for a bit (wouldn't let more LEO sign up either ;)).

Has anyone else noticed that accessing silkroad via onion.to DOES work? I'm too scared to log into my vendor account with it, but it loads every time and all the pages work instantly, etc.  That makes me think we're running out of (exit?) nodes(?) for TOR to this hidden onion server.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Anon0123456 on November 02, 2012, 09:08 am
I think it's to do with the massive power outages on the coast somehow. I hope it gets fixed...
I wonder where you're from... The world doesn't rotate around America my friend.

Hopefully it gets sorted soon, everybody seems to be full of accusations or demands like there's an alternative here. There's no point pushing it before it's ready, if we all want this to continue patience will be a virtue.

Oh ok. I figured maybe it could be related to the 44 million people without power. My mistake obviously.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: beaner on November 02, 2012, 09:13 am
Too much coverage and too many new users creating problems. All we need is a 15yr old buying shit and od'ing and then it will be in the spotlight even more. I say no to new users for a period of time, i dunno but just a suggestion.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 02, 2012, 09:43 am
Too much coverage and too many new users creating problems. All we need is a 15yr old buying shit and od'ing and then it will be in the spotlight even more. I say no to new users for a period of time, i dunno but just a suggestion.

that has been said for a year now and still hasnt happened yet......surprisingly
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Dread Pirate Roberts on November 02, 2012, 09:56 am
ok, I think we're getting there people.  please answer the poll I just posted in this thread so I can see if what we are doing is working.  Hopefully we are on the right track and everyone will have the access they need.  THANK YOU everyone for your patience and faith.  Please show the same kindness to each other as you get back to business and catch up on everything.

For those skeptical about the reason for the problems (too many users, not enough resources), there is an explanation for it, but you didn't guess it and I won't be telling  :P

Also, great ideas around rationing systems.  I will definitely be looking into something like that so if we run up against a barrier again, it won't be such a mess.

PS - In writing this post, I found myself erasing cuss words and rephrasing to be more polite.  So, I just want to apologize if I come off as stiff sometimes.  I'm just trying to be responsible for the Silk Road image and not let my personality get in the way.  It's also safer to make my writing style bland so it is less identifiable.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: microRNA on November 02, 2012, 10:03 am
just recently i have noticed a significant increase in accessibility

SR just loaded quicker than the forums! :) working very well currently

thank you for your effort to handle this issue DPR
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Shroomeister on November 02, 2012, 10:05 am
PS - In writing this post, I found myself erasing cuss words and rephrasing to be more polite.  So, I just want to apologize if I come off as stiff sometimes.  I'm just trying to be responsible for the Silk Road image and not let my personality get in the way.  It's also safer to make my writing style bland so it is less identifiable.

.... now that! is all around strange for you to say DPR. Very strange indeed.

hmm.

PS - no more pgp signing when you post?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: microRNA on November 02, 2012, 10:10 am
he hardly ever signs his posts from what i can tell

even once when he made a major announcement DPR had to go back and sign it to relieve the paranoia if i remember correctly

just when he is making important, sensitive announcements - not just like saying the site should be running more smoothly again

i too find myself often while typing going back through to edit my words and remove not so courteous words when i get frustrated with some of the members to maintain a polite and respectful attitude given my positions reflection on the community
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: GiveUsSome on November 02, 2012, 11:22 am
For those skeptical about the reason for the problems (too many users, not enough resources), there is an explanation for it, but you didn't guess it and I won't be telling  :P

inefficiencies in the Database?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Ktown99 on November 02, 2012, 11:36 am
Just a glitch in the matrix
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 02, 2012, 11:37 am
PS - In writing this post, I found myself erasing cuss words and rephrasing to be more polite.  So, I just want to apologize if I come off as stiff sometimes.  I'm just trying to be responsible for the Silk Road image and not let my personality get in the way.  It's also safer to make my writing style bland so it is less identifiable.

I couldnt give a flying fuck how much you fucking swear cunt your DPR cunt and as much shit comes out your motherfucking mouth the better fuck me stop being stop a bitch cunt motherfucking wanker dog we could make you an honorary Australian cunt. Fucking cocksucker infact im willing to bet by the fact you swear like a fucking motherfucker, your love of drugs and use of the word "stiff" you probably are Australian. Fuck Yeah Straya Cunt!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: microRNA on November 02, 2012, 01:10 pm
this same issue happened some time ago, and it was solved pretty quickly in a similar manner.

i do not know if the issue is the same so i dont want to claim that is the reason, but it does have to do with the amount of traffic the site is receiving

i feel you all should show more support and respect for DPR, and be grateful for all his effort to maintain the site

it was only a few days of trouble, and he is attempting to address the problem quickly - should be thankful and understanding DPR is working to resolve the connection issue

the site hasnt been working as well as it did when he first posted the message, i was having a few connection issue just recently, but it still seems improved from the past few days at least

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: inigo on November 02, 2012, 02:40 pm
I wonder how many of you conspiracy theorists are getting a little too high?  :D
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Limetless on November 02, 2012, 03:05 pm
This whole situation reminds me of the DJ Fresh track Hypercaine "I wont tire when I'm on the wire".

Well done DPR. :)
Title: <removed>
Post by: StExo on November 02, 2012, 04:03 pm
<removed>
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: eddiethegun on November 02, 2012, 04:06 pm
PS - In writing this post, I found myself erasing cuss words and rephrasing to be more polite.  So, I just want to apologize if I come off as stiff sometimes.  I'm just trying to be responsible for the Silk Road image and not let my personality get in the way.  It's also safer to make my writing style bland so it is less identifiable.

.... now that! is all around strange for you to say DPR. Very strange indeed.

hmm.

+many
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: DaMan on November 02, 2012, 04:09 pm
I wonder how many of you conspiracy theorists are getting a little too high?  :D

Or a little too low... so far I just saw up SR for 5 minutes, and now it keeps failing after switching identities for 10x+
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: eddiethegun on November 02, 2012, 04:13 pm
Just to elaborate...

You have 500+ posts on the forums (god knows how many lost on the past version of the forum), many of which are idiosyncratic musings about philosophy/agorism/etc...

and you decide after an anomalous service outage to change your writing style?

Suspicious!

Too bad the mods here are all-in with the kool aid drinking. They should be the ones best positioned to notice shit like this.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Sunray1000 on November 02, 2012, 04:39 pm
Last few days its been nearly painful at times.

Want to finalise for a vendor , all good.

Currently cant do it, the SR appears offline.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Limetless on November 02, 2012, 04:41 pm
I wonder how many of you conspiracy theorists are getting a little too high?  :D

Nothing wrong with getting too high man, I have some of my best ideas when I've overdone it on Blow. It's just the difference between getting too high and having good ideas and those that just go into the retarded box.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: xx138xx on November 02, 2012, 04:46 pm
The problem with this explanation is it doesn't fit the symptoms. If the site had indeed outgrown it's server, I wouldn't be getting almost instant loading of the login page+ captcha, both of which require available cpu resources to serve up.

This basically shows the problem isn't an overloaded cpu due to hashing.
The login page and captcha both load so quickly that it's obvious the bandwidth isn't an issue.

The login page is the most served object on the site, since it's served to everyone. Thus it's probably cached in RAM, especially if the site is using memcache or varnish. However, other things have to be encrypted and served at the time they are requested. So actually what you are experiencing is perfectly consistent with the idea that the CPU load is the limiting factor, and not the bandwidth.

Edit; the captcha has to be encrypted and served on the fly, but you'll notice that it usually takes a few more seconds to load than the rest of the page, so again consistent the hypothesis.

Anyone using varnish or memcached on a darknet site deserves to be busted because they would be caching ssl encrypted content BEFORE it gets encrypted. Caching mechanisms being used like that with ssl are totally insecure even on a site that isn't under law enforcement scrutiny. Even if full disk encryption is used, if access to the operating system is gained, you can then use the disk like normal because it's already mounted.  Do you really want your buying history, pending orders, fan list, etc stored in plain text on a server that's got a giant bulleye on it constantly?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: CrazyBart on November 02, 2012, 04:57 pm
I find it strange that i am always able to access SR on my phone, even when i cant get it loaded up on my computer.

Its always super fast on my phone too

and i know this is generally frowned upon: but it always works if you go to silkroadvb5piz3r.onion.to   ...You can access .to sites using your tor browser too, not that im recommending anyone use .to unless you absolutely have to
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Joy on November 02, 2012, 05:29 pm
Anybody else still having trouble? Was working fine earlier but it's not working again now.

Me too :-\
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: DaMan on November 02, 2012, 05:38 pm
Anybody else still having trouble? Was working fine earlier but it's not working again now.

After so many id changes now my Tor client sounds f++ed up!
This forum - opens, slightly fast
SR - doesn't open
Tordir - doesn't open
bmr - doesn't open
bmr forums - doesn't open
pedophile sites - I've no clue or will to try it.

So basically, from the acceptable Tor content other than this forum I'm just getting "Problem loading page"  :-\
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: h1n1z2 on November 02, 2012, 05:51 pm
Cant believe it's still fucking down
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: xx138xx on November 02, 2012, 05:57 pm
Anybody else still having trouble? Was working fine earlier but it's not working again now.

After so many id changes now my Tor client sounds f++ed up!
This forum - opens, slightly fast
SR - doesn't open
Tordir - doesn't open
bmr - doesn't open
bmr forums - doesn't open
pedophile sites - I've no clue or will to try it.

So basically, from the acceptable Tor content other than this forum I'm just getting "Problem loading page"  :-\

That may be a sign that some major relays are down.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: h1n1z2 on November 02, 2012, 05:59 pm
Cant believe it's still fucking down

Scratch that, I'm back in.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: microRNA on November 02, 2012, 06:03 pm
Its actually working well for me for the past half hour but earlier was not working at all

And no has yet mentioned the reason these similar connection issues happened previously irc

it was more technical then i completely understand however and like i said i dont know if its the correct reason, which is why i dont want to mention it really unless someone else brings it up first
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Shroomeister on November 02, 2012, 06:07 pm
/prays to the SR gods "please just let me in to pull my coins. I have outside deals hanging in the wind and cant move my coins!"
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: divinechemicals on November 02, 2012, 06:08 pm
It's working for me perfectly right now, if not a bit too slow. But I'll take it. Thanks for working on this DPR.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: DaMan on November 02, 2012, 06:13 pm
That may be a sign that some major relays are down.

Or in disarray, as I change id I get bmr on, bmr forums on, td on, sr off, this forums off, or this forum on, all off... but regardless sr keeps down.

Edit: all on now but SR
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Daft Phader on November 02, 2012, 06:33 pm
im a new member but ill just add my 2 cents...Im with.. marijuanaismymuse....Check the traffic and post the universal times at which its the busiest...I and many others im sure.. will make sure to use the site at off times .So everybody gets a taste of the pie.....
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: thelorax on November 02, 2012, 06:41 pm
man i really can tell a difference when i logged in this morning.

ive been able to get on all day .. sometimes it doesnt load a page and i just sign out and sign back in ...

but for the most part its a lot better.. thanks..

hopefully it stays like that!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: thelorax on November 02, 2012, 06:47 pm
oh yeah.. and i was thinking of a way maybe to speed things up

maybe have like a silk road 2

maybe have all the top notch venders on there or sumthing, with like special wholesale deals..

and keep off all the art and other stuff maybe only have drugs and downloads on there..

then maybe have it so its invite only, or maybe u have to have been a member of silk road 1 for awhile, or like have certain kind of stats
and maybe that would speed everything up.. idk let me know what u guys think..

just thinking out loud ..

might speed up the SR for smaller time guys..

and keep big time guys on there own little bandwith deal
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: newjac on November 02, 2012, 07:29 pm
There was about an hour earlier today when I got the fastest response times I've ever had from SR, but only lasted about an hour.  Noticed that my account balance is now showing in BTC's rather than in $, a change I didn't make in settings.  Went to settings, it was set to show in $, changed it to BTC's, updated, changed it back to $, updated - product prices are showing in $, but my acct balance still shows in BTC's, so something is different or has been changed.

Then had another 30 minutes or so of quick response times, several hours after the first, but that one didn't last either, now back to "Problem loading page" errors.

Question: how often does the Tor Browser Bundle show the message that there's an update available?  I've not been using it for very long, just a few months, but have been advised to update the bundle 7 or 8 times, just curious if that's what others are seeing as well.

Update: ok, just saw that others are having the same issue with account balance display currency, two other threads.  Other thing I noticed was mtgox being extremely slow today, is it possible that conversions on SR are done by polling mtgox?  Not sure if that would be secure, but the conversion number has to come from somewhere, and from my experience is pretty current most of the time.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: PhilipJFry on November 02, 2012, 07:45 pm
Accessing the sr site is painfully slow and unproductive when lucky but actually impossible for most of the day. It's frustrating.

It would be good if at least the vendors access to the site would be processed with a higher priority. After all we have to access the site daily to do our work.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: johnmtl on November 02, 2012, 07:47 pm
This is ridiculously annoying. WTF.... How are us sellers supposed to work if we cant get on???

I think we need a server just for the vendors so we can access SR when we want/need/must get on.

This is starting to bother me now!

 >:(
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: xx138xx on November 02, 2012, 07:49 pm
There was about an hour earlier today when I got the fastest response times I've ever had from SR, but only lasted about an hour.  Noticed that my account balance is now showing in BTC's rather than in $, a change I didn't make in settings.  Went to settings, it was set to show in $, changed it to BTC's, updated, changed it back to $, updated - product prices are showing in $, but my acct balance still shows in BTC's, so something is different or has been changed.

Then had another 30 minutes or so of quick response times, several hours after the first, but that one didn't last either, now back to "Problem loading page" errors.

Question: how often does the Tor Browser Bundle show the message that there's an update available?  I've not been using it for very long, just a few months, but have been advised to update the bundle 7 or 8 times, just curious if that's what others are seeing as well.

Update: ok, just saw that others are having the same issue with account balance display currency, two other threads.  Other thing I noticed was mtgox being extremely slow today, is it possible that conversions on SR are done by polling mtgox?  Not sure if that would be secure, but the conversion number has to come from somewhere, and from my experience is pretty current most of the time.

the tor browser bundle uses the ESR (extended service release) of Firefox. It's considered the "corporate stable" branch of the browser based on Firefox 10 with some backporting of security fixes and such. Every time the ESR gets updated, the browser bundle will prompt you to update the release once the browser bundle developers ensure compatibility with the browser bundle.


And food for thought, some of use run our tor clients as relays to get more speed out of tor (never as exit node!). With several million people knocked offline in New York, I'm willing to bet we have still lost a chunk of tor capacity due to network outages and people not having power. Tor will often try to use these much smaller relays if the big relays are providing a very dirty circut.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: HardHustle on November 02, 2012, 07:55 pm
Obviously something is still very wrong. I'm just going to stop trying to log in until DPR gives us the news. He's obviously busting his ass on this so I think we should all just chill and wait. The marketplace is dead until further notice. Just accept it.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: ValiantExplorer on November 02, 2012, 08:34 pm
Congratulations for the explosive growth :D. Unfortunately, yes, it does come with a few hiccups. It's a pity that I haven't come earlier to the show :). Now it's getting a bit too popular eh? :D.

Anyway, the website has been working slightly better for me yesterday & today. As in: instead of permanent errors, I get it working 1 out of 5 :D.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: xx138xx on November 02, 2012, 09:05 pm
Apparently you haven't seen the Comcast forums today. Most of the NE USA is offline on Xfinity. That's the majority of the high speed (10 MB/s+) internet connections surrounding the jumping off points for transatlantic traffic. If you look at the network map, NY is being avoided like it has the plague while the client tries shooting through Canada instead to cross the pond. There are also pages of complaints in the forums for two of the top 3 wholesale bandwidth suppliers concerning lack of connectivity on several backbones. In short, the internet has gone a bit pear shaped and diced the onion at the same time.

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: LetGoOfYourEgo on November 02, 2012, 09:10 pm
Oh man, what I tease. I was finally able to login to see I had two orders. Then "Problem Loading Page"'s ever since.

I think I'll go back to masturbating.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: InternetDealer on November 02, 2012, 09:12 pm
I haven't been able to log on even once in the past few days. Perhaps it's time close SR to the public and make it an "invite only" type site?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: whateverworks on November 02, 2012, 09:28 pm
I say deny new signups until you get the expanded infrastructure and security requirements under control.

It's been torturous the last 3 days or so.

a-fucking-men... I had to wait to sign up after the gawker article, but i got in shortly thereafter.  just stop and fix shit then let them back on.  you'll probably weed out some lame-asses anyway.  0_o
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: divinechemicals on November 02, 2012, 10:00 pm
Wasn't there a whole week where SR was down a long time ago? I mean I know this sucks but right now, but I'm confident that it will return soon. A lot of people seem to think this is the end of SR or something, and I just don't think it's that bad. Wait for the admins to make the necessary improvements. There's nothing else we can do right now unfortunately.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Phox on November 02, 2012, 10:03 pm
I say deny new signups until you get the expanded infrastructure and security requirements under control.

It's been torturous the last 3 days or so.

Seconded.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: OxyFlight on November 02, 2012, 10:07 pm
you guys are NUTS!! I LOVE DPR! he provides everyone with a GREAT way to SALE and BUY drugs EVER IN HISTORY!! I am a vendor and I am patient because this guy always come through for everyone even you fuckers that are crying and screaming. Vendors We are drug dealers and you guys should have money on you PERIOD. It shouldn't hurt your business because I am sure your customers will understand! CHILL... RELAX.... IT WILL BE OVER SOON
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: OxyFlight on November 02, 2012, 10:13 pm
If it wasnt for DPR you fucks wouldn't have any customers... bunch of whining babies :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: tommygun on November 02, 2012, 10:27 pm
Yeah this is pretty bad but, its worth being patient for a fix
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: mushitup on November 02, 2012, 10:39 pm
The nature of how the site has to be setup to keep it running is something a lot of people don't take in to account.  I'm pretty sure if this were hosted out on the clearweb someone running a site like this would have a lot more options in bumping up performance and scalability and all the options would be immediately available.

Considering the security aspect and the nature of TOR, a lot of scalability and redundancy options are probably wiped right off the table, no matter how much money you toss at the problem.

May be rough waters now but I'm sure it will get back on track at some point.  If logging on to SR is your biggest problem today, be happy.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: blowdrobro on November 02, 2012, 10:44 pm
Is anyone able to access SR right now?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 02, 2012, 10:48 pm
This is ridiculously annoying. WTF.... How are us sellers supposed to work if we cant get on???

I think we need a server just for the vendors so we can access SR when we want/need/must get on.

This is starting to bother me now!

 >:(

your couple of sales a day are affected?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: pPharm on November 02, 2012, 10:48 pm
Was able to access about 5 hours ago for 2 minutes. Can't access now (other than the occasional login page)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: lluskyy on November 02, 2012, 10:55 pm
your couple of sales a day are affected?

Better to make $20 a day then $0 a day, my friend.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: blowdrobro on November 02, 2012, 11:01 pm
I got "The Silk Road is down for maintenance. We will get the site back up asap. Thank you for your patience" now
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: johnmtl on November 02, 2012, 11:04 pm
This is ridiculously annoying. WTF.... How are us sellers supposed to work if we cant get on???

I think we need a server just for the vendors so we can access SR when we want/need/must get on.

This is starting to bother me now!

 >:(

Ben, stop riding my dick! I'm not gay and dont swing that way!

 ;)

your couple of sales a day are affected?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: akaijunkie on November 02, 2012, 11:17 pm
I got "The Silk Road is down for maintenance. We will get the site back up asap. Thank you for your patience" now

i've been trying to login all day...i got the login screen once.  i've been trying more regularly for the past two hours, and just now i got the "down for maintenance" message.  That makes me a little hopeful...if anything, it might slow some of the traffic hammering the site.  i'm sure i wasn't helping.  hah!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: JILL48567 on November 02, 2012, 11:17 pm
Seeing the scheduled maintenance message as well. Here's hoping everything is resolved soon!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: NS420 on November 02, 2012, 11:18 pm
Bro, listen, I love this site, but I can access everything, including the forums fine, but am having 0% success accessing SR.

Seriously, are you gonna do something about this? Is it just me, or does it perhaps seem that a lack of action to prevent this sort of bottle-necking from happening is now leading to service disruptions?

It's very, very seriously frustrating.  :-\
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: thelorax on November 02, 2012, 11:29 pm
yeah why would they not let us know how long its gunna be down?
like at least a vage time frame.. shitty
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: tommygun on November 02, 2012, 11:31 pm
At least we are getting a maintenance message now vs just failed attempts
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: captainfun on November 02, 2012, 11:32 pm
Whatever it takes, my friend... whatever it takes.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: The ILF on November 02, 2012, 11:37 pm
Seems like this is likely, at least in part, fall-out from the blow-up of Nicolas Christin's "study" and apparently incessant promotion of it in what are fairly "mainstream" media outlets: NPR Marketplace, Forbes, Wired, etc.

Anyone remember the X-Files on Dateline?

No one holds the magical crystal ball, but it is the opinion of the ILF that one of the worst things that can happen to us right now is mass media exposure.

Maybe it's time to consider getting deeper underground, whatever that means to the admins, roundtable, and community.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: sunnydez on November 02, 2012, 11:47 pm
Everyone should chillax now the forums are up the admins taking care of it. I understand people are pissed but this will happen to this site because its the underground of the interwebs and people wanna know whats so good about it so you get mad influx of ppls.

Steps to make silkroad secure.

1. Invite Only / No selling of invites.
2. TorCloud type of service.
3. Get rid of accounts which are not active.
4. Compress Site into a craigslist type simple format

Invite only someone that you trust & will be a regular SR member.

ALSO have a donation SR account for upgrade of server equipment etc..

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: rem0ved on November 02, 2012, 11:51 pm
has the captcha been removed from the SR login page?

i used the same bookmark i've used for the past 8 months and now the captcha will not show up
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SlyFlyToy on November 02, 2012, 11:59 pm
its still not working at all for me, havent been able to get on in days

find it pretty hard to believe this is just cause of increased traffic
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: samspade72 on November 03, 2012, 12:03 am
I find it strange that i am always able to access SR on my phone, even when i cant get it loaded up on my computer.

Its always super fast on my phone too

and i know this is generally frowned upon: but it always works if you go to silkroadvb5piz3r.onion.to   ...You can access .to sites using your tor browser too, not that im recommending anyone use .to unless you absolutely have to

Whats a .to site?
Why is it frowned upon?
It looks like a phishing ??? scheme to get your SR password.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: sethspeaks on November 03, 2012, 12:10 am
There should have been a limit placed on memberships a long time ago.
You just can't expect that offering the products this site offers without any limitations would not eventually have serious connectivity issues.
We have now perpetuated a site threatening loop - The more people - the more attention - the more attention - the more people..and on and on it goes...
There needs to be a temporary holding pattern on signing up any new members.
Once the ship is stabilized you can then start allowing a certain amount of new members each month.
It really doesn't matter how much you beef everything up - If one of the statistically major variables (member total) is constantly fluctuating and could increase exponentially on any given day thanks to a single news article then how can you ever hope to stabilize?

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: LetGoOfYourEgo on November 03, 2012, 12:16 am
ALSO have a donation SR account for upgrade of server equipment etc..

Well, it's not like they're doing this for free, so they need to rethink their fee structure if they don't make enough piles of money already to more than pay for any infrastructure needed.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: microRNA on November 03, 2012, 12:18 am
The login page will load quickly but it will not show the captcha for me either

I was pretty worried, there is no way to log in... but at least you are getting the issue as well Removed and its not just me
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: paxpax on November 03, 2012, 12:31 am
Can anyone confirm that DPR and Co changed the login screen. Would prefer not adding my password to the site, you know just in case.

/tin foil hat applied.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: snickerlover6969 on November 03, 2012, 12:34 am
I find it strange that i am always able to access SR on my phone, even when i cant get it loaded up on my computer.

Its always super fast on my phone too

and i know this is generally frowned upon: but it always works if you go to silkroadvb5piz3r.onion.to   ...You can access .to sites using your tor browser too, not that im recommending anyone use .to unless you absolutely have to

Whats a .to site?
Why is it frowned upon?
It looks like a phishing ??? scheme to get your SR password.

.to site removes your anonymity. it says that it can record your ip address but chooses not to.it's not a phishing site.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Nellion on November 03, 2012, 12:36 am
@ The ILF- I totally agree- We don't need any vendors filling orders for Chris Matthews!

I still to this day do not understand why strike chose to converse with those assholes...
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SuperFocus on November 03, 2012, 12:46 am
has the captcha been removed from the SR login page?

i used the same bookmark i've used for the past 8 months and now the captcha will not show up

Same problem here... Trying to log into my Buyer's account now......... "Connecting....." for the past 10minutes  :-\
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Shroomeister on November 03, 2012, 01:00 am
No capcha here also. Tried logging in with a "dummy" account (everyone doesn't have one of these?) and its a no go.

Explosive growth - I don't think so.

I think we should be able to hear what is really going on.

Meanwhile Im offloading all coins until the site stabilizes. Personally I recommend the same to all over you.

Keep your coins safe.

instawallet.org

bitcoin fog -

http://fogcore5n3ov3tui.onion/

....whatever. Keep your coins safe.

Not that I do not trust SR, but what good is your wallet full of cash in your car....when you are trying to pay for dinner at a restaurant.
Ya follow? :\
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: eddiethegun on November 03, 2012, 01:03 am
@ The ILF- I totally agree- We don't need any vendors filling orders for Chris Matthews!

I still to this day do not understand why strike chose to converse with those assholes...

somebee made a mistake. and paid a dear price for it.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: FastFix on November 03, 2012, 01:05 am

as working fine up until this afternoon, now to cap on login screen
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: blowdrobro on November 03, 2012, 01:09 am
well I'm gonna check out BMR while I wait--I've never even looked at their webpage.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: wetbreasts on November 03, 2012, 01:15 am
It's funny how quickly one gets used to the  status quo. Really hoping this gets sorted out sooner than later. Thank you admins for all the hard work you are doing and the best of luck to you  ;D
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Jimmy893 on November 03, 2012, 01:25 am
We are in uncharted territory in terms of the number of users accessing Silk Road.  Most of the time we've been able to keep up with the demand, but we ARE behind the curve right now. 

What if there was a system that forced new users to go to the forum to get a one time use code to sign up for a new SR account.
To get the code the user would have to create a forum account and read up about basic SR etiquette and security and then complete a quiz on these topics.
Important areas that the user would need to read about should definitely include:
-Bitcoins
-Using PGP so users don't waste time messaging vendors about PGP
-Importance of reading a vendor's rules before ordering
-Address format to cut down on lost packages and refund demands
-Escrow and FE
-Feed back etiquette
-Maintaining SECRECY about packaging details and vendor shipping location to prevent vendors from being compromised
-Forum rules including where to how to search for info, post a question, where to start a thread and forum etiquette

After a few weeks of signing up on the forum a user should have to take the quiz to ensure they have read up about these basic things. If they pass they get the one time code to create an SR account. Also maybe throw in a few questions to approximate mental age (basic psychological methods) to limit teenage substance abuse.
Hopefully we can simultaneously cut down on the explosive growth while improving the quality of SR users. I'm not an elitist but I think its a pragmatic way of cutting down on users who don't know how to follow rules and compromise vendors packaging stealth and waste time and money by submitting an incorrect address. SO this way we don't close of SR to responsible users but weed out those who make the rest suffer and also reduce the total volume of traffic.

I hope SR can take note of some of our suggestions because at the end of the day I don't think DPR and co. are in this only for the money. These guys are obviously intelligent enough to make plenty of legal money, so they're doing this for more than just a commission. SR should be faster and better but the users should also be more informed on how it works. We should all work towards a better SR.

A big thank you to DPR and co.

A big thank you to all you vendors who make this place so awesome and to you buyers for keeping this place afloat.

I love all you guys. I'm so glad that there are so many like-minded people who can come together to make the world a better and more free place. And I'm not just saying this because of the sweet cannabis I'm smoking right now ;)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: OzFreelancer on November 03, 2012, 01:27 am
I find it strange that i am always able to access SR on my phone, even when i cant get it loaded up on my computer.

Its always super fast on my phone too

and i know this is generally frowned upon: but it always works if you go to silkroadvb5piz3r.onion.to   ...You can access .to sites using your tor browser too, not that im recommending anyone use .to unless you absolutely have to

Whats a .to site?
Why is it frowned upon?
It looks like a phishing ??? scheme to get your SR password.

Adding .to to an onion address allows you to access them via your regular browser.  As I am not anonymous anyway, I often use it for the forums as it is faster and more reliable.

I'll let a security expert chime in on how sensible this is to do for anonymous posters. :)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: ramzan on November 03, 2012, 01:37 am
Is it possible to move coins from sr when u carnt get on sr.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: nabisco on November 03, 2012, 01:42 am
Is it possible to move coins from sr when u carnt get on sr.

good question, i wonder this as well. I still can't log on sr
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Jimmy893 on November 03, 2012, 01:44 am
SR should consider letting new users in with an "invite". Active members can earn invites through purchases. This would make it very difficult for LEO to get accouints on here.

-mm

Hey Hey MR. medicineman, how are you. Positive energy to you  :D Can I have some medicine?

Invites are a good idea one could argue that cutting off any route for someone without any connection to SR would go against the principles SR was built on (more freedom for drug users  :D )
I did not know anyone who used SR before I signed up and would not have anyway on joining the SR community if this had been the only way in, but you make a good suggestion.
Also people might start selling invites on ebay.

P.S. I'm sure there's plenty of LE on here scouting packaging by making purchases. Some probably do it in a private capacity to get fucked up ; )

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Jello on November 03, 2012, 01:52 am
No capcha here also. Tried logging in with a "dummy" account (everyone doesn't have one of these?) and its a no go.

Explosive growth - I don't think so.

I think we should be able to hear what is really going on.

Meanwhile Im offloading all coins until the site stabilizes. Personally I recommend the same to all over you.

Keep your coins safe.

instawallet.org

bitcoin fog -

http://fogcore5n3ov3tui.onion/

....whatever. Keep your coins safe.

Not that I do not trust SR, but what good is your wallet full of cash in your car....when you are trying to pay for dinner at a restaurant.
Ya follow? :\
If only my goddamn key would open the car door.... >:(
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: lesseroftwoweevils on November 03, 2012, 01:57 am
SR should consider letting new users in with an "invite". Active members can earn invites through purchases. This would make it very difficult for LEO to get accouints on here.

-mm

Hey Hey MR. medicineman, how are you. Positive energy to you  :D Can I have some medicine?

Invites are a good idea one could argue that cutting off any route for someone without any connection to SR would go against the principles SR was built on (more freedom for drug users  :D )
I did not know anyone who used SR before I signed up and would not have anyway on joining the SR community if this had been the only way in, but you make a good suggestion.
Also people might start selling invites on ebay.

P.S. I'm sure there's plenty of LE on here scouting packaging by making purchases. Some probably do it in a private capacity to get fucked up ; )


This ain't a private tracker, it's a fucking black market drug site! Instituting an invite system on here is a terrible idea, as it would 1) encourage people to connect with one another without the safety of anonymity, 2) create a market for invites that would probably be abused, and 3) make it easier for LE to infiltrate the site.

You didn't know anyone on SR starting off (and likely now as well) for a good reason - only a fool would publicly admit to using this site, even with like-minded friends.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: LloydsBrothers on November 03, 2012, 02:01 am
SR should consider letting new users in with an "invite". Active members can earn invites through purchases. This would make it very difficult for LEO to get accouints on here.

-mm

Hey Hey MR. medicineman, how are you. Positive energy to you  :D Can I have some medicine?

Invites are a good idea one could argue that cutting off any route for someone without any connection to SR would go against the principles SR was built on (more freedom for drug users  :D )
I did not know anyone who used SR before I signed up and would not have anyway on joining the SR community if this had been the only way in, but you make a good suggestion.
Also people might start selling invites on ebay.

P.S. I'm sure there's plenty of LE on here scouting packaging by making purchases. Some probably do it in a private capacity to get fucked up ; )


This ain't a private tracker, it's a fucking black market drug site! Instituting an invite system on here is a terrible idea, as it would 1) encourage people to connect with one another without the safety of anonymity, 2) create a market for invites that would probably be abused, and 3) make it easier for LE to infiltrate the site.

You didn't know anyone on SR starting off (and likely now as well) for a good reason - only a fool would publicly admit to using this site, even with like-minded friends.

I can only agree to that
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Virmo on November 03, 2012, 02:03 am
I really think there should be a backup server that synchronizes all the time, and syncs back when regular site is back online.
I;ve been missing orders/finalizing. Real big shit.

SR has enough money to solve this, so do it!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: whatever123 on November 03, 2012, 02:35 am
It'd be nice if we could get an actual reason for the site being offline and not some half assed excuse. The number of users grew so much in two days that things went from working most of the time to not working at all.. ever? Not likely. But I suppose the admins don't owe us any real explanation, after all we only have hundreds of thousands.. probably millions of dollars tied up in this site.. no big deal.  Fucking ridiculous.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: medicineman684 on November 03, 2012, 02:39 am
"Invites are a good idea one could argue that cutting off any route for someone without any connection to SR would go against the principles SR was built on (more freedom for drug users  :D )
I did not know anyone who used SR before I signed up and would not have anyway on joining the SR community if this had been the only way in, but you make a good suggestion."

But if the site cannot handle massive influxes of visitors, then no one will be able to get on at all so you have to do something to restrain the traffic while infrastructure is built. While some invites may be sold, I bet even more would be given to friends.

-mm
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: medicineman684 on November 03, 2012, 02:41 am
"3) make it easier for LE to infiltrate the site. "

How would this make it easier than a main page where anyone can create an account at any time??

-mm
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: microRNA on November 03, 2012, 02:42 am
I think this is going beyond heavy traffic and therefore the site being inaccessible

first no catpcha - then i was able to login without the captcha somehow, and now the pages only have the top banner but the rest is blank

i dont think growth is an explanation for these problems

and now just as i post that, the rest of the site comes back visible thankfully
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: ramzan on November 03, 2012, 02:47 am
People need to chill out especially new small buyers im sure they are trying to fix it and its happened before and the time when coins wouldnt show up in sr but were confirmed on block after deposit and everyone wants to be told whats happened and they dont they spend there time fixing it .maybe it would compromise it more if they make the problem public fuck knows its not like they wont be trying to fix it.jesus its a fuckin illegal drug site that could be being attacked from all angles but u expect it to run as smoothly as normal legal sites
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: metropolitan1815 on November 03, 2012, 02:56 am
I've also been trying to log in all day and managed to get on about 10 hours ago. First it would lag a ton and sometimes not load the login page, then it would load the login with no capcha. When I put my info and tried to enter it lags out every time. Later it said "site is down for maintenance," with the SR logo on a white page. Now it's saying "404 - Not Found." Just letting you guys know so if it's happening to you also, you know you're not the only one. Let's all be patient, I'm sure everything will be working fine very soon.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: example616 on November 03, 2012, 03:02 am
I was getting the login w/ captcha/timeouts, then I get the actual "down for scheduled (lol) maintenance" page, then I got to the login w/o captcha/timeouts, then the "down for maintenance" page again, and now it's working. Well, sorta. Everything seems to redirect me to the main page.

...

Any progress is good progress, right?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: OxyFlight on November 03, 2012, 03:06 am
 im logged on now idk about you guys LMFAO    ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: JakkTheKipper on November 03, 2012, 03:07 am
Nope, not working for me  :'(
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: modziw on November 03, 2012, 03:09 am
Slow as shit for a week. Down all day. Now it's up.

Modzi
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Dread Pirate Roberts on November 03, 2012, 03:10 am
update in the opening post
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Just Chipper on November 03, 2012, 03:11 am
Yep I'm in as well. Seems to be much more stable atm.
Title: We're BACK!
Post by: technopium on November 03, 2012, 03:11 am
Connected and surfing SR over here!  And I see there is a poll- kewl.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: example616 on November 03, 2012, 03:14 am
Everything seems to redirect me to the main page.

Err, scratch that... it seems that everything except the Orders page is working now. FOR now.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: divinechemicals on November 03, 2012, 03:15 am
I'm in! Thanks DPR! It is a bit slow right now, but I'm not gonna complain about that. Glad to be back.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: syme on November 03, 2012, 03:17 am
YES. Finally back in. Hopefully I can finally get my first order submitted \o/
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 03, 2012, 03:21 am
We are in uncharted territory in terms of the number of users accessing Silk Road.  Most of the time we've been able to keep up with the demand, but we ARE behind the curve right now. 

What if there was a system that forced new users to go to the forum to get a one time use code to sign up for a new SR account.
To get the code the user would have to create a forum account and read up about basic SR etiquette and security and then complete a quiz on these topics.
Important areas that the user would need to read about should definitely include:
-Bitcoins
-Using PGP so users don't waste time messaging vendors about PGP
-Importance of reading a vendor's rules before ordering
-Address format to cut down on lost packages and refund demands
-Escrow and FE
-Feed back etiquette
-Maintaining SECRECY about packaging details and vendor shipping location to prevent vendors from being compromised
-Forum rules including where to how to search for info, post a question, where to start a thread and forum etiquette

After a few weeks of signing up on the forum a user should have to take the quiz to ensure they have read up about these basic things. If they pass they get the one time code to create an SR account. Also maybe throw in a few questions to approximate mental age (basic psychological methods) to limit teenage substance abuse.
Hopefully we can simultaneously cut down on the explosive growth while improving the quality of SR users. I'm not an elitist but I think its a pragmatic way of cutting down on users who don't know how to follow rules and compromise vendors packaging stealth and waste time and money by submitting an incorrect address. SO this way we don't close of SR to responsible users but weed out those who make the rest suffer and also reduce the total volume of traffic.

I hope SR can take note of some of our suggestions because at the end of the day I don't think DPR and co. are in this only for the money. These guys are obviously intelligent enough to make plenty of legal money, so they're doing this for more than just a commission. SR should be faster and better but the users should also be more informed on how it works. We should all work towards a better SR.

A big thank you to DPR and co.

A big thank you to all you vendors who make this place so awesome and to you buyers for keeping this place afloat.

I love all you guys. I'm so glad that there are so many like-minded people who can come together to make the world a better and more free place. And I'm not just saying this because of the sweet cannabis I'm smoking right now ;)

Then the forums would be overblow and inaccessible. the reason why we can get on here now is because only like 5% of SR users actually come to the Forums
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Jimmy893 on November 03, 2012, 03:23 am
This ain't a private tracker, it's a fucking black market drug site! Instituting an invite system on here is a terrible idea, as it would 1) encourage people to connect with one another without the safety of anonymity, 2) create a market for invites that would probably be abused, and 3) make it easier for LE to infiltrate the site.

You didn't know anyone on SR starting off (and likely now as well) for a good reason - only a fool would publicly admit to using this site, even with like-minded friends.

Hey friend,
I actually also don't want an invite system as you can see from my post. I guess all the cannabis just makes averse to publicly disagreeing with anyone  :-\
I definitely do not advertise that I use this site. That wouldn't be smart.
Point 2 and 3 are things I mentioned in my post as well. I hadn't thought of point 1 but you're right.

I posted here earlier with some suggestions that I think could help.

http://dkn255hz262ypmii.onion/index.php?topic=64627.msg563682#msg563682

I would like to read your thoughts on those ideas.

But if the site cannot handle massive influxes of visitors, then no one will be able to get on at all so you have to do something to restrain the traffic while infrastructure is built. While some invites may be sold, I bet even more would be given to friends.

-mm

MM, do you think my suggestions in my previous post here could help reduce the massive influx?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SuperFocus on November 03, 2012, 03:24 am
Back in Business  8)

Thanks for everything Dreads  :)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 03, 2012, 03:28 am
"3) make it easier for LE to infiltrate the site. "

How would this make it easier than a main page where anyone can create an account at any time??

-mm

Because the level of distrust amongst members is lost as people become complacent meaning it could possibly only take 1 LEO to bring the whole ship down. The Farmers market did exactly this and had a member cap of 2500 and it only took one or two agents to take down that site
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: nuyt on November 03, 2012, 03:30 am
Been working well for the last ~20 mins. Thanks for the work DPR!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 03, 2012, 03:32 am
Still down for me:(

Can anyone explain why the "down for maintenance" page loads faster than anything ive ever had load in tor before?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 03, 2012, 03:33 am
update in the opening post

would probably be a good Idea if you signed at least one of these messages to dispel the paranoia
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: thelorax on November 03, 2012, 03:36 am
working fine for me..
dont know if i wanna move my bitcoins in just yet tho.. kinda scared of getting locked out again..
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: DrTrance on November 03, 2012, 03:38 am
I didn't notice that! :o if you had it first it yours... my bad
Anyone know how many members their are on SR?  8)

I can't believe you have shamelessly stolen my avatar. Please submit real name and address for copyright violation service...

/offtopic
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: dagawd on November 03, 2012, 03:42 am
Not letting me go to my cart and place order  :-\
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: HardHustle on November 03, 2012, 03:44 am
Just got in. First time in 2 days. I expected at least another few days wait.

DPR you are the fucking man.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: snickerlover6969 on November 03, 2012, 03:48 am
still cannot access the site.  :-\

the more i read, the less overcrowding makes sense.

Try silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/index.php
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: johnnyblaze on November 03, 2012, 03:55 am
strange, everything is fine on my end. Started working about a half hour ago and I have multiple tabs open right now. About a 20 sec/page load time, so its moving pretty quick I think. Appreciate the quick response to fixing this!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: lluskyy on November 03, 2012, 03:58 am
BOOM everything works for me.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: lesseroftwoweevils on November 03, 2012, 04:07 am
This ain't a private tracker, it's a fucking black market drug site! Instituting an invite system on here is a terrible idea, as it would 1) encourage people to connect with one another without the safety of anonymity, 2) create a market for invites that would probably be abused, and 3) make it easier for LE to infiltrate the site.

You didn't know anyone on SR starting off (and likely now as well) for a good reason - only a fool would publicly admit to using this site, even with like-minded friends.

Hey friend,
I actually also don't want an invite system as you can see from my post. I guess all the cannabis just makes averse to publicly disagreeing with anyone  :-\
I definitely do not advertise that I use this site. That wouldn't be smart.
Point 2 and 3 are things I mentioned in my post as well. I hadn't thought of point 1 but you're right.

I posted here earlier with some suggestions that I think could help.

http://dkn255hz262ypmii.onion/index.php?topic=64627.msg563682#msg563682

I would like to read your thoughts on those ideas.


Sorry man, that was more directed at medicineman and certainly not necessary regardless, I apologize. I like your idea (http://dkn255hz262ypmii.onion/index.php?topic=64627.msg563682#msg563682) a lot and I hope something like this does get implemented. Ultimately though, like you said, the Silk Road is a business and DPR is in the business of making money. I'm not sure of the logistics of this site and why it's being bottlenecked, but I do know that he's going to do everything in his power to keep a steady supply of customers.

Certainly worthy of DPR's attention though and I hope he reads it. It would require quite a bit of labor on his part, but with enough trial and error, it might just work.

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: rise_against on November 03, 2012, 04:11 am
i used an older version of tor package for linux and having less problems
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: example616 on November 03, 2012, 04:21 am
Everything is working fine for me (dare I say, even faster than usual) except for the Orders page; is anybody else having the same problem?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: pPharm on November 03, 2012, 04:23 am
Everything is working fine for me (dare I say, even faster than usual) except for the Orders page; is anybody else having the same problem?

I am as well, I managed to get to it once but any time I've opened it since I get redirected to the homepage.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: example616 on November 03, 2012, 04:29 am
Everything is working fine for me (dare I say, even faster than usual) except for the Orders page; is anybody else having the same problem?

I am as well, I managed to get to it once but any time I've opened it since I get redirected to the homepage.

Same here. I notice that it's redirecting me to http://silkroadvb5piz3r.onion, rather than http://silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/index.php/ (the 'real' home page address). The weird thing is, others report not being able to access Messages, but I can just fine.

I just want my 5 tabs :(. I can't even begin to imagine what those with $1k+ orders are dealing with though, so I can't really complain.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: sysco88 on November 03, 2012, 04:34 am
Humming along now.  Able to finalize my orders.  Thanks DPR.  It's just a little growing pains people don't get your panties in a wad, geesh. 
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Wazup7 on November 03, 2012, 04:52 am
I am also noticing very quick responses, but have been seeing the maintenance page on and off for an hour (convieniently when I click finalize).  But anyway, I finally got to release the funds, so I'm out for now.  Freeing up resources for others.

Which is my point--when you as a site user get a timeout or unable to connect error, you are still using resources on the Tor network, and probably the SR servers as well in most cases.  So when you hit reload, you are essentially doubling (or more) your per-user resource strain.  Keep in mind that *everyone* is likely doing the same, and "everyone" is a record number of users right now.  So my advice for the community, is if you aren't a vendor, or a buyer trying to finalize an order, just lay low and try again in half a day or tomorrow.

There's only so much the admins can do--it doesn't mean the users are entitled to continously hit reload, and ping the servers more than once, or maybe twice per request.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: daisyfields on November 03, 2012, 04:52 am
sesh its quick! I'm liking the new feel. Well done DPR & SR team!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: WinterMoon on November 03, 2012, 04:55 am
If we're still supposed to be answering DPR's poll:  Access to the site has been way worse for me over the past few days.  Took 15 hrs of trying today, finally got on but it was well after midnight in the U.S..  Thanks for everything, DPR & Co.   :-*
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: farmer1 on November 03, 2012, 05:15 am
Thank you DPR. The SR is flying now.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: kimosabe on November 03, 2012, 05:33 am
I don't know a lot about how networking and such works, but maybe make two servers, one for purchases under x amount at server 1 and purchases at server 2 are over x amount. This may be harder than it sounds to me, but I feel like that may make a pretty decent split of the flow of users. Nonetheless I really appreciate everything that you've been doing for us DPR!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: metropolitan1815 on November 03, 2012, 05:53 am
I'm able to get in, thank you DPR!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: example616 on November 03, 2012, 06:50 am
Has anybody else managed to get into Orders yet?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: shutdem on November 03, 2012, 07:20 am
DPR
          I just wanted to let you know the last 3 days it was hell getting on and i was wondering what was up. but i should have know your always on your job! +1 just for being the  best!
            I do agree with a lot of the other post about suspending the new registrations not even temp but for good. I mean the road Is a great place and i think we got alot of great very amazing vendors. Not to mention we got you running this place like amazing! anyway just wanted to let you know you and your hard work is truly appreciated and does not go un-noticed! we are all thankful to have you and your wonderful site!
just wanted to give a +! and a thanks!
take it easy or as easy as you can get it !
later
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: collapses on November 03, 2012, 07:28 am
I still cannot access the 'orders' page.  Just an FYI.  Thanks for all the hard work DPR.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: RetinaBlast on November 03, 2012, 07:33 am
I was just able to log in. I guess that's a good sign. It's still extremely slow though, pages take 5-10 minutes to load, if at all.

Yeah, once every few hours of trying, I can get past the login screen ... but then before I can even reply to a single message, it kicks me again.

Made it a hell of a stressful rush today!  lol.  Hopefully something will improve for all of us soon!

Shit I just opened up everything in new tabs just incase...so if it went back down I could at least stare at the welcome screen and pretend I was logged in   8)

HEEEHEEEHEEE!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Dread Pirate Roberts on November 03, 2012, 07:42 am
I can't reproduce the orders page problem.  can anyone confirm that they can access their orders page?  Does it help to restart your tor browser?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: example616 on November 03, 2012, 07:57 am
I can't reproduce the orders page problem.  can anyone confirm that they can access their orders page?  Does it help to restart your tor browser?

Fucking hell... restarted Tor, I can now access everything perfectly (and faster). Thanks DPR!

*sinks back into the shadows*
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: microRNA on November 03, 2012, 07:58 am
Just wanted to confirm i am having no issues access my messages or order page

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your assistance resolving this issue DPR
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: h1n1z2 on November 03, 2012, 07:59 am
I can't reproduce the orders page problem.  can anyone confirm that they can access their orders page?  Does it help to restart your tor browser?

Hi DPR,

I can access the orders page fine, directs to http://silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/index.php/orders like it's meant to be loads pretty quick.
This is a buyer account, if that makes any difference.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: collapses on November 03, 2012, 08:20 am
I restarted TOR and that fixed the problem.  I should've known better.  Everything is functional now, and fast!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: namuld on November 03, 2012, 08:55 am
All pages + login are loading at a good speed on my end. All seems to be fixed minus a small blackout maybe 20 minutes ago.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: orggangster on November 03, 2012, 09:16 am
works realy good for me now and faster then the last 18 days i have been on the road.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: tango on November 03, 2012, 01:55 pm
mines not loading anymore :(
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BlueSkyTraders on November 03, 2012, 02:47 pm
We've noticed a small improvement, but after loading a few pages, availability goes back to zero. We're not there yet.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: bigdaddy5150 on November 03, 2012, 02:52 pm
It's faster than I've ever seen it, but I haven't used this network in a long time either so it's probaby a little of both for me. Thanks for the updates, glad to be here 8)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: syme on November 03, 2012, 03:57 pm
Aaaaand, can no longer get on the site either. Took a while to get the forums to load either, but once I'm in I'm fine.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: HeartOfhumboldt on November 03, 2012, 03:59 pm
Dear Dread PR,

I love you. Truly. Thank you for everything. I hope you get to read that.

It was good for me to read this thread. I'm a brand new vendor and have been seriously stressing about accessing the site. I tried to access my orders for six hours yesterday. Finally, finally got in. Phew.

If that's what it takes, though, to do this safely, we will all deal. I just want the customers to know that us vendors are not blowing them off. I am trying as hard as I can to get the orders out, but there's not much I can do if I can't get to the orders page.

HH
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: nuyt on November 03, 2012, 04:31 pm
yep...lost access this morning as well. Was working fine last night.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Lumps on November 03, 2012, 05:07 pm
 worked fine so i could release funds, thanks DPR!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: PrincessHIGH on November 03, 2012, 06:56 pm
DPR I love you too. Thank-you for keeping us updated, I really appreciate it. I hope this is nothing more then a minor set back in the revolution, I'm confident you'll find a suitable safe solution soon, and wish you all the best finding it. I really feel for all the vendors right now, not being able to answer messages, process orders, cash out etc. I spared this thought when I couldn't login and release the funds out of escrow earlier today, fortunately I managed to do this an hour ago. Just tried to login now, and SilkRoad is down again, nevermind I'm sure your trying your best DPR, you have 100% of my support through this difficult time  :)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: miraex on November 03, 2012, 07:36 pm
i almost agree with closing new users from making accounts for a temporary period, but this in the end deters the site from its basic function.. which is freedom for all  :P
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: jpinkman on November 03, 2012, 07:49 pm
i almost agree with closing new users from making accounts for a temporary period, but this in the end deters the site from its basic function.. which is freedom for all  :P

When no one can log in and those that do can't navigate because of how colossally slow everything is ... it's more like "Freedom for None".  :'(
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: dbz4u on November 03, 2012, 08:31 pm
I think we should use my idea. of instituting a forum only account for the first few days. That handles the server load problem, forces buyers to educate themselves and just generally gives them time to acclimate. Also we could have an automated server to weed out the technically unsavvy, such as sending it a pgp/gpg message
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: microRNA on November 04, 2012, 02:04 am
i dont understand how that would reduce traffic, sure for the first week when theyre only allowed to post on the forums there will be reduced traffic from new members, but then once they jump over to the being allowed on the main site, there will still be the same constant stream as there was already

the one thing it would do is make sure there were a thousand times more newbs on the forum asking questions that have been answered a million times
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: jpinkman on November 04, 2012, 02:16 am
i dont understand how that would reduce traffic, sure for the first week when theyre only allowed to post on the forums there will be reduced traffic from new members, but then once they jump over to the being allowed on the main site, there will still be the same constant stream as there was already

Well it would allow DPR to buy time since presumably that's what he needs to add infrastructure and implement the necessary security requirements. It's not like the upgrades haven't happened yet because of a lack of funds.

Though I'm sure he's doing everything in his power to return to business as usual. He's got to be more aware than anyone of how much dough he's losing for every day the site runs sub-optimally.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: dbz4u on November 04, 2012, 02:41 am
i dont understand how that would reduce traffic, sure for the first week when theyre only allowed to post on the forums there will be reduced traffic from new members, but then once they jump over to the being allowed on the main site, there will still be the same constant stream as there was already

the one thing it would do is make sure there were a thousand times more newbs on the forum asking questions that have been answered a million times

Well it would reduce traffic by only allowing them to view text only links. While yes this would flood the forum with newbies, a simple solution would be to have a subforum specifically for these "forum only" accounts which is the only area they can post. However they would still be a allowed to view the rest of the forum, hence allowing education, while simultaneously segmenting the clueless( for the first 1-3 days) from the actual SR members. There you could have a few very very very dedicated mods. I'm assuming half of the first page on the newbie forum would be stickies. This is a sort of time delay for DPR and the rest of Silk Road. This would allow stats of the amount of incoming members, while significantly reducing the traffic from these users, allowing DPR and the rest of the SR staff to put in extra servers in the case of mass registrations
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: PaperStreetSoapCompany on November 04, 2012, 03:22 am
I just want to say thank you for providing this service. The fact that there are so many people using this service is a testament to the power of the Internet and its ability to unite a group of like-minded people despite massive efforts to infiltrate and subvert us. We will prevail, that much I am confident.

I don't have any suggestions for the influx. I'm just glad there's so much competition. It keeps prices down and it makes it less likely that LEO will come after a small fry like me.  ;D

Thank you. You are doing god's work.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: jpinkman on November 04, 2012, 03:31 am
Looks like he did what we've been asking. Registration on the site now appears to be closed.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: microRNA on November 04, 2012, 03:46 am
i still dont feel that actually solves anything still imo

all it does is delay the traffic and only temporarily for the period of time they are required to wait on the forum - and then you have a constant stream accessing SR again...  while subsequently causing many more issues.

by re-directing the traffic it would just flood the forum servers likely causing the same problem as on SR now, and also requires tons more effort and work to implement and moderate the new section - all time and effort that should be spent handling the issues on the market...

imo the best option has been implemented - temporarily disable registrations while handling the situation and being able to focus effort on the problem - not the forum

and registration has been closed for a number of days already JPM... read DPR's first post in the thread
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SpiceyT on November 04, 2012, 03:59 am
Does anyone agree that there should be a fee to join SR?

This could be a major disincentive for LE doomsayers and scammers.

As a rule abiding member i would of happily paid a fee to join.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: mdmafx on November 04, 2012, 04:41 am
If this was Ebay or Google HQ, then expanding the infrastructure would be the way to go. The problem is this isn't any of those and at some point it will be hard to hide the Silk Road service when its generating a lot of traffic even if its hidden behind the TOR network, I am sure their is a tipping point when LE can go a traffic analysis to work out exactly where the SR servers are located.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Heteroplasmy on November 04, 2012, 04:58 am
Hey gang,

Just want to keep everyone in the loop.  We are in uncharted territory in terms of the number of users accessing Silk Road.  Most of the time we've been able to keep up with the demand, but we ARE behind the curve right now.  Being the largest hidden service ever to exist and having limited options for expanding infrastructure due to the need for security means we may stay behind the curve until we can find a way to accommodate the demand.  There are several paths we are currently pursuing and we hope to be back on track very soon.  Please be patient and try using the site during off-peak times.

Cheers,
DPR

UPDATE:
Another solution has been applied and so far seems to be working.  We will continue to monitor the situation and work through this.  New registrations are temporarily disabled.

I know this has been a frustrating experience for everyone.  We aim for 100% accessibility and uptime, but have not met that goal these past few days.  I want to reiterate that we are in UNCHARTED waters.  Silk Road has gone through many phases and we have grown stronger each time.  This won't be the last time we are challenged I can assure you.  This much I can say:  we will overcome this obstacle and any other set before us.

Also, for the time being, you may have to update your bookmarks by adding index.php after .onion, so silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/messages becomes silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/index.php/messages

I don't think there needs to be anymore new members personally... Silk Road has been around for well over a year now and it has gotten more and more press... I think that the more we stay in the dark, the better... The only new memberships that should be granted are if a new vendor comes on the market... They would obviously need special permission from DPR or a SR Support; but this is the only situation in which a new member should be able to join.

There are TOO MANY Law Enforcement Officials involved in Silk Road right now. They will slowly weed out if the site stops growing.

-Heteroplasmy
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: DrTrance on November 04, 2012, 05:35 am
what about a system where a users could give codes to IRL friends... they get codes the more they use the road... or could purchase them? maybe even make is possible for anyone to purchase a code? this would help DPR gage the amount of users the admins will need to accommodate for? i understand the freedom aspect SR but Hati had to buy their freedom right!? just an idea...
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: TheProfessor on November 04, 2012, 05:56 am
I think this is one of the better ideas perhaps it was good or fate that what happened happened, but I think that closing registration will make vendors and current users appreciate SR more and perhaps take it more seriously now that the fact that once you go your gone,

Although that new users cant join this is seriously for the best, SR has gotten so much attention from obviously people of all kinds some smarter than others but there are plenty that ive seen who dont seem up to par ex people who give info of packaging / spreading the word of SR to everyone in the world online in places that shouldnt be, this small change I think people will take SR more serious, those who are here will appreciate it even more than they do now knowing the exclusiveness, I say keep it closed!!!

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: anonman88 on November 04, 2012, 06:09 am
i don't know if its because of off-hours, but the site has been working faster for me for the past 20 or so hours.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SpiceyT on November 04, 2012, 07:12 am
DPR your rich enough! Cut off any new users. We have a large enough community that things can run smoothly(and everyone can still make a shit load of money and buy a shitload of drugs)

The bigger SR gets , the more chance it will get shut down. Which would ruin my life  :(

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: thebakertrio on November 05, 2012, 12:53 am
i need to sit down and read it page one to the end. Explosive growth? try explosive topic!
*uncaps beer* well lets get this done eh?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: drganja on November 05, 2012, 01:30 am
     Please do not open up new registrations. this community is HUGE and i think it will be extremeley detrimental the more that it grows. I think that its a great idea to implement a fee for new users to join. and not make it a small one for that matter. this would do an excellent job of keeping people out who arent serious minded buyers. Hell, i have been here for well over a year and would be happy to pay a fee just to keep my account reinstated. This would also reduce buyer scammers because if they get a refund that increases there refund rate they cant simply just go make another account and start scamming buyers again.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: GiveUsSome on November 05, 2012, 01:34 am
     Please do not open up new registrations. this community is HUGE and i think it will be extremeley detrimental the more that it grows. I think that its a great idea to implement a fee for new users to join. and not make it a small one for that matter. this would do an excellent job of keeping people out who arent serious minded buyers. Hell, i have been here for well over a year and would be happy to pay a fee just to keep my account reinstated. This would also reduce buyer scammers because if they get a refund that increases there refund rate they cant simply just go make another account and start scamming buyers again.

less new users = less new vendors :(

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 05, 2012, 01:36 am
Hey gang,

Just want to keep everyone in the loop.  We are in uncharted territory in terms of the number of users accessing Silk Road.  Most of the time we've been able to keep up with the demand, but we ARE behind the curve right now.  Being the largest hidden service ever to exist and having limited options for expanding infrastructure due to the need for security means we may stay behind the curve until we can find a way to accommodate the demand.  There are several paths we are currently pursuing and we hope to be back on track very soon.  Please be patient and try using the site during off-peak times.

Cheers,
DPR

UPDATE:
Another solution has been applied and so far seems to be working.  We will continue to monitor the situation and work through this.  New registrations are temporarily disabled.

I know this has been a frustrating experience for everyone.  We aim for 100% accessibility and uptime, but have not met that goal these past few days.  I want to reiterate that we are in UNCHARTED waters.  Silk Road has gone through many phases and we have grown stronger each time.  This won't be the last time we are challenged I can assure you.  This much I can say:  we will overcome this obstacle and any other set before us.

Also, for the time being, you may have to update your bookmarks by adding index.php after .onion, so silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/messages becomes silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/index.php/messages

I don't think there needs to be anymore new members personally... Silk Road has been around for well over a year now and it has gotten more and more press... I think that the more we stay in the dark, the better... The only new memberships that should be granted are if a new vendor comes on the market... They would obviously need special permission from DPR or a SR Support; but this is the only situation in which a new member should be able to join.

There are TOO MANY Law Enforcement Officials involved in Silk Road right now. They will slowly weed out if the site stops growing.

-Heteroplasmy

It goes exactly against what SR stands for. I Dont rkn theres much LE involved in SR at all personally. there has been no proof of this and im sure they've only got limited resources to devote to the cause, which is a preety lost one, so i dont know why they would even bother personally.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: tommygun on November 05, 2012, 01:43 am
DPR your rich enough! Cut off any new users. We have a large enough community that things can run smoothly(and everyone can still make a shit load of money and buy a shitload of drugs)

The bigger SR gets , the more chance it will get shut down. Which would ruin my life  :(

I doubt that DPR is just in this for the money personally.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: lluskyy on November 05, 2012, 01:48 am
less new users = less new vendors :(

Registration could be limited to vendors only for a little bit.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: trc on November 05, 2012, 02:12 am
SR should be invite only with a small fee like $15 a year... Have it something like people with $2000+ in purchases that have been around 6 months+ can invite one member every month. This will stop people selling invites as it won't be profitable at one a month and it will be good for the community. Scams or people who scam or are not really interested will stay away keeping it on the downlow... I am a vendor and more people would just mean more profit but you need to keep a certain level on discreetness when dealing with this type of thing.

All the IRL people that have told me about SR are idiots most cant even figure out bitcoins are those the type you want to hold the greatest secret ever? Any one involved with drug production will know when anything good drug related get leaked to the public the government ruins it for everyone.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: bigdaddy5150 on November 05, 2012, 02:48 am
SR should be invite only with a small fee like $15 a year... Have it something like people with $2000+ in purchases that have been around 6 months+ can invite one member every month. This will stop people selling invites as it won't be profitable at one a month and it will be good for the community. Scams or people who scam or are not really interested will stay away keeping it on the downlow... I am a vendor and more people would just mean more profit but you need to keep a certain level on discreetness when dealing with this type of thing.

All the IRL people that have told me about SR are idiots most cant even figure out bitcoins are those the type you want to hold the greatest secret ever? Any one involved with drug production will know when anything good drug related get leaked to the public the government ruins it for everyone.

While I like the idea of an invite-only community, I don't know how well it would work due to the nature of the market. Invite-only would mean that people can only be introduced to the Road, which is a bad thing due to the taboo nature of what we do. You can't just freely talk with IRL friends about it unless you really trust them, and to me if you're just trying to introduce your friends then maybe you should just order things for them to keep traffic down. And I'm afraid that it would increase the amount of clearnet talk about SR, which is already too much. There's a /r/silkroad for Christ's sakes.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: drganja on November 05, 2012, 03:56 am
SR should be invite only with a small fee like $15 a year... Have it something like people with $2000+ in purchases that have been around 6 months+ can invite one member every month. This will stop people selling invites as it won't be profitable at one a month and it will be good for the community. Scams or people who scam or are not really interested will stay away keeping it on the downlow... I am a vendor and more people would just mean more profit but you need to keep a certain level on discreetness when dealing with this type of thing.

All the IRL people that have told me about SR are idiots most cant even figure out bitcoins are those the type you want to hold the greatest secret ever? Any one involved with drug production will know when anything good drug related get leaked to the public the government ruins it for everyone.

While I like the idea of an invite-only community, I don't know how well it would work due to the nature of the market. Invite-only would mean that people can only be introduced to the Road, which is a bad thing due to the taboo nature of what we do. You can't just freely talk with IRL friends about it unless you really trust them, and to me if you're just trying to introduce your friends then maybe you should just order things for them to keep traffic down. And I'm afraid that it would increase the amount of clearnet talk about SR, which is already too much. There's a /r/silkroad for Christ's sakes.
There couldnt possibly be any more clearnet talk about SR....... when you type in "sil" in google, silkroad is the first thing to pop up, and there are hundreds of posts about it..... if anything it would decrease the clearnet talk about it because not just anyone could join
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: lluskyy on November 05, 2012, 04:42 am
SR should be invite only with a small fee like $15 a year... Have it something like people with $2000+ in purchases that have been around 6 months+ can invite one member every month. This will stop people selling invites as it won't be profitable at one a month and it will be good for the community. Scams or people who scam or are not really interested will stay away keeping it on the downlow... I am a vendor and more people would just mean more profit but you need to keep a certain level on discreetness when dealing with this type of thing.

All the IRL people that have told me about SR are idiots most cant even figure out bitcoins are those the type you want to hold the greatest secret ever? Any one involved with drug production will know when anything good drug related get leaked to the public the government ruins it for everyone.

If I could give you karma I would.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: GiveUsSome on November 05, 2012, 05:18 am
this would be alot of programming to set it up. But SR should cost $10USD to sign up, and each account should be linked to ur forum account (you could still use different nicks so no1 knew)

but it would stop all the fukcing Shill accounts. if it cost $10 for a SR account and u only get 1 forum account, people would be more careful with their reputation
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: johnny1901 on November 05, 2012, 05:46 am
While putting in place a registration fee would probably help with decreasing growth, I think it's a little unfair. I'd assume growth means that people are becoming more relaxed with their position on drugs. Are these new registrants buying?

More poeple would make the road a larger target, but in the event of the SR being lost forever, statistically, there would be more individuals willing to devote themselves to making another one.

I suppose we are an army in a war for drugs and every new recruit helps...
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Bikerbum on November 05, 2012, 11:44 am
DPR your rich enough! Cut off any new users. We have a large enough community that things can run smoothly(and everyone can still make a shit load of money and buy a shitload of drugs)

The bigger SR gets , the more chance it will get shut down. Which would ruin my life  :(

I doubt that DPR is just in this for the money personally.


Yeah right. This is just a drug community service bro. .................................NOT!

Bikerbum
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: King Geedorah on November 05, 2012, 12:25 pm
Have not read all 18 pages so I'm sorry if this or something similar has been suggested but how about splitting Silk Road into two different sites. Maybe prescription drugs on one site and everything else on the other, that is assuming prescriptions make up about half the sales? You could pay another group to set the second site up, or you could even sell it as a franchise of sorts, which would mean extra cash and would halve your workload. Admittedly it would be inconvenient for all involved, but I don't like the slow website and the no new people alternative either. I'm from Australia and have been anticipating a boom in the number of aussies using SR so the prices and variety will improve, and I'm sure there are other members from smaller countries who have the same hopes I do.

This was thought up and written in ten minutes, I'm sure there are more things to consider, I don't even know how to setup a regular website, but you get the idea..
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: microRNA on November 05, 2012, 01:25 pm
youre suggesting sell half of SR to LE potentially
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: ukmj on November 05, 2012, 04:30 pm
I say making the site more robust beats splitting it up.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Warning! on November 05, 2012, 04:41 pm
Hey! Good job !
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: mendo on November 05, 2012, 07:09 pm
Anyone else receiving a "404 - Not Found" when accessing SR?  It seemed problems were fixed over the weekend but now I can't get the site up anymore. Just curious if it is me or another temporary outage.

To add to this thread, I think we should all just be appreciative the site exists and let SR staff figure out what is best, we do not know what problems are actually occurring or what it actually takes for SR to remain online and safe. Remember, a slow site is not good for DPR or anyone else, temporarily stopping new registrants is a good idea but also limits new vendors from coming aboard. Without competition vendors have less incentive to give good prices and services. Staff will figure out the problem but for now we just have to wait. Limiting SR registrations for the time being is a good idea but limiting it "forever" is not and hurts buyers. Just my opinion.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: microRNA on November 05, 2012, 07:42 pm
you mean like the thread right under this one that says "404 not found"

just a thought but maybe you should check there
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Ace on November 05, 2012, 08:14 pm
To the owners of SR - This may be interesting and or important: Other drug sites running on the Tor network also aren't connecting just like SR. Maybe some government or hacking group is attacking the site for the past two weeks? I know something like this is happening. It just can't be explosive growth because other drug sites aren't connecting as well.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: h1n1z2 on November 05, 2012, 08:52 pm
Cant get on the last 3 hours, constant time out

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: robust on November 05, 2012, 09:01 pm
Ive never had any problems logging into SR, no more than 2 or 3 new identities later Im on if need be

I like the word robust, if SR gets big enouff couldnt the owners just buy the internet? that would fix the problem
it would be the "ROBUST" solution
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Ace on November 05, 2012, 09:35 pm
Cant get on the last 3 hours, constant time out

Same
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Ace on November 05, 2012, 09:54 pm
The site is extremely fast now. Thank you SR.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: danknugsdun on November 05, 2012, 09:59 pm
The site was super rapid for me about 5 hours ago.

I have not been able to connect since :(

Dank
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: DayDreamer on November 05, 2012, 10:06 pm
The site is extremely fast now. Thank you SR.
I have had trouble logging in on friday, but since saturday afternoon , the site is very fast, and i have had very few connection issues, which got resolved by switching my tor identity a couple of times.

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Zulu on November 05, 2012, 11:15 pm
Keep up the damn good work DPR
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: jorg796 on November 06, 2012, 02:49 am
I don't think splitting up SR into separate "departments" would help at all. It would still have to be hosted on servers. Splitting it up wouldn't do anything except make it more complicated for buyers and sellers. It would be like shutting walmart down and re-opening 2 smaller stores. It's just going to mean buyers have to go to more effort to buy a variety of products, and in the end it doesn't accomplish anything.

I hope SR is back up very soon and stays up for for a long time!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: onefishtwofishredfishblue on November 06, 2012, 03:01 am
are there any stats and or stats to be shared with the public in terms of recent growth?  maybe ballpark numbers would suit everyone better. 
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 06, 2012, 07:31 am
DPR your rich enough! Cut off any new users. We have a large enough community that things can run smoothly(and everyone can still make a shit load of money and buy a shitload of drugs)

The bigger SR gets , the more chance it will get shut down. Which would ruin my life  :(

I doubt that DPR is just in this for the money personally.


Yeah right. This is just a drug community service bro. .................................NOT!

Bikerbum

Actually this site was originally just setup so DPR could sell his shrooms so Originally he probably wasnt in it for the money. It wasnt meant to turn into the revolutionary thing it now is.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Bikerbum on November 06, 2012, 02:17 pm
DPR your rich enough! Cut off any new users. We have a large enough community that things can run smoothly(and everyone can still make a shit load of money and buy a shitload of drugs)

The bigger SR gets , the more chance it will get shut down. Which would ruin my life  :(

I doubt that DPR is just in this for the money personally.


Yeah right. This is just a drug community service bro. .................................NOT!

Bikerbum

Actually this site was originally just setup so DPR could sell his shrooms so Originally he probably wasnt in it for the money. It wasnt meant to turn into the revolutionary thing it now is.


I agree on "ORIGINALLY". But that's been loooong gone. SR has been mentioned in Forbes that in the last year a conservative estimate in sales has reached 22 million dollars in bitcoin value.

What's 6 percent or more of that?   Plus the vendor fees. Operating cost's at this rate is negligible at best.

At appx. $6000 per DAY and that's very conservative Silkroad  will retire comfortably, as he and his friends should for this revolutionary endeavor.

 Hell, I've contributed  at least 25,000 of that $22 mil alone. Not too shabby for originally selling shrooms. Congratulations to "SilkRoad". DPR's original user name. That's capitalism at it's best and I'm all for it.

Wait for next year's estimate, it WILL floor you.

Again, Silkroad is not a Drug Community Service, it's a business as it should be.

Source:       http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/08/06/black-market-drug-site-silk-road-booming-22-million-in-annual-mostly-illegal-sales/

Bikerbum
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: DrGoNZOhear on November 06, 2012, 09:05 pm
Keep it up DPR you and your team have done wonderful things with silkroad and I am sure you guys will continue to adapt as silkroad continues to grow.  This is becoming the front lines on the war and drugs whether or not it wanted to be.  As Marc Emery sold and continues to sell millions and millions of cannabis seeds to overgrow the war on weed.. silkroad is a platform for drugs to reach millions of people that may not have had access to them before, or they did but were meeting in a alley somewhere getting some bunk drugs... So thanks once again and keep it up.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Purple_Hue000 on November 06, 2012, 09:09 pm
I think this whole operation is phenomenal, DPR most likely hasn't even cashed out yet. Though I bet he's sitting on a lot!  :o :o
It's all good though keep this good community served!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Bikerbum on November 06, 2012, 10:19 pm
It's all in BITCOIN anyway, with any transfers being off shore or in the EU in small increments with a multitude of accounts by him and his stock holders. That's right, he's not the Lone Ranger in this deal. Too much cheese involved.

I sure would like a gander inside that extra large Swiss deposit box there DPR.

Disclaimer: This is all speculation on my part. But fun to think about.

Bikerbum
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: The ILF on November 06, 2012, 10:56 pm
Site has been in awesome shape since the weekend.  We know it's been said many times, many ways, but it's worth it each time: eternal gratitude to DPR and the crew of SR.  This is amazing; it is revolutionary.

Keeping a complex online service like this afloat in the clear-net would be incredibly challenging as is.  There's all the code for the Bitcoin API, messaging system, inventory, escrow, and a host of other requirements.  And there's the need to provide a stable, scaling infrastructure.  Factoring in the added stress of the clandestine nature of this place, and wow, just wow, is all we can say.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: zerostate976 on November 06, 2012, 11:54 pm
site seems to be working well today :D
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Shroomeister on November 07, 2012, 05:14 am
Anyone agree that when it runs it runs "well"?

It almost appears to be an .onion version of a DNS time-out.

It seems that if you are able to actually contact the site even once, during a time of "outtage" then you will be ok to surf around a while.
If you leave a SR page sit it almost seems to "time-out" and have to re-resolve the "path" to the sr.onion.

....That is my take having been run some "home" - self tests
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 07, 2012, 07:52 am
DPR your rich enough! Cut off any new users. We have a large enough community that things can run smoothly(and everyone can still make a shit load of money and buy a shitload of drugs)

The bigger SR gets , the more chance it will get shut down. Which would ruin my life  :(

I doubt that DPR is just in this for the money personally.


Yeah right. This is just a drug community service bro. .................................NOT!

Bikerbum

Actually this site was originally just setup so DPR could sell his shrooms so Originally he probably wasnt in it for the money. It wasnt meant to turn into the revolutionary thing it now is.


I agree on "ORIGINALLY". But that's been loooong gone. SR has been mentioned in Forbes that in the last year a conservative estimate in sales has reached 22 million dollars in bitcoin value.

What's 6 percent or more of that?   Plus the vendor fees. Operating cost's at this rate is negligible at best.

At appx. $6000 per DAY and that's very conservative Silkroad  will retire comfortably, as he and his friends should for this revolutionary endeavor.

 Hell, I've contributed  at least 25,000 of that $22 mil alone. Not too shabby for originally selling shrooms. Congratulations to "SilkRoad". DPR's original user name. That's capitalism at it's best and I'm all for it.

Wait for next year's estimate, it WILL floor you.

Again, Silkroad is not a Drug Community Service, it's a business as it should be.

Source:       http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/08/06/black-market-drug-site-silk-road-booming-22-million-in-annual-mostly-illegal-sales/

Bikerbum

I would love to see the projections for next years earnings but i doubt it could be predicted that accurately. By the way dude with buying stats like that i wouldnt exactly be advertising them.

Shroomey ive noticed the exact same things with here and the forums. If you dont do anything for awhile then the next time you try to move a page you get a problem loading page message.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Bikerbum on November 07, 2012, 01:02 pm

Source:       http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/08/06/black-market-drug-site-silk-road-booming-22-million-in-annual-mostly-illegal-sales/


I would love to see the projections for next years earnings but i doubt it could be predicted that accurately.


By your forum registration anniversary date next June, SilkRoad's  profits will  have quadrupled.

[/quote]

 By the way dude with buying stats like that i wouldnt exactly be advertising them.

[/quote]

There are thousands of buyers with better stats than mine. This site is by far  not a nickle & dime operation.
Those of us who have been at SilkRoad since the begining are so firewalled entrenched that any mention of stats are irrelevant.
I've been posting my signature stats since joining this forum in July 2011 just to show members a gauge of growth in this business. Many members post their stats, no big whoop.
Keep in mind Silkroad and this forum are only a little over a year and a half old. Thanks for your concern, but not necessary.

Bikerbum
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: inyala on November 07, 2012, 11:20 pm
Same here damaged - been trying for a good 5 hours!! Now I'm on it's really quick.
Still can't get onto SR main site  :(
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Creamsicle on November 07, 2012, 11:25 pm
I don't understand what's going on. I've been trying to get on the forum for hours, and when I finally get on, there are only 57 users, while the forum has easily sustained 100+ before. Something tells me these connection problems aren't being caused by explosive growth or use.

Yes, I 100% agree and I am about to create a new thread about this. There was no gradual increase in site downtime, it just basically went completely offline for days and now is offline I'd say about 60%+ of the time.. This is crushing my business. Yesterday wasn't near as but still not able to get on at the moment.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SouthSquareBiz on November 07, 2012, 11:44 pm
Explosive growth or not, October killed me financially via Silk Road.

I had to wait a month on product that more than likely will not make it. That's fine, because that's the nature of the business.

The caveat is that for the last week of October and the first week of November, I could not access Silk Road past the home page. Definitely not good for business.

Now, to be honest, I am exploring all of the deep web to have a back up plan for all my bulk illicit needs.

When you have a family, a forum, and a website as revolutionary as the Road, I try hard not to get attached. However, there are vendors I have come to depend on but since I cannot access the site, I will have to siphon funds elsewhere.

I really and truly hope DPR rectifies this, or the TOR network is improved. The holiday season is normally a boon for me, but without product I am dead in the water.

Now does anyone mind PMing me alternate private seller, invitation only, whatever you call them forums to find alternative bulk situations. I would be greatly appreciative. Hell, I am surprised I am on the forum now.
I spent
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 08, 2012, 12:13 am

Source:       http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/08/06/black-market-drug-site-silk-road-booming-22-million-in-annual-mostly-illegal-sales/


I would love to see the projections for next years earnings but i doubt it could be predicted that accurately.


By your forum registration anniversary date next June, SilkRoad's  profits will  have quadrupled.


 By the way dude with buying stats like that i wouldnt exactly be advertising them.

[/quote]

There are thousands of buyers with better stats than mine. This site is by far  not a nickle & dime operation.
Those of us who have been at SilkRoad since the begining are so firewalled entrenched that any mention of stats are irrelevant.
I've been posting my signature stats since joining this forum in July 2011 just to show members a gauge of growth in this business. Many members post their stats, no big whoop.
Keep in mind Silkroad and this forum are only a little over a year and a half old. Thanks for your concern, but not necessary.

Bikerbum
[/quote]
Atill, if they were to go after buyers, you could be seen as a bulk importer
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Bikerbum on November 08, 2012, 12:28 am

Source:       http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/08/06/black-market-drug-site-silk-road-booming-22-million-in-annual-mostly-illegal-sales/


I would love to see the projections for next years earnings but i doubt it could be predicted that accurately.


By your forum registration anniversary date next June, SilkRoad's  profits will  have quadrupled.


 By the way dude with buying stats like that i wouldnt exactly be advertising them.


There are thousands of buyers with better stats than mine. This site is by far  not a nickle & dime operation.
Those of us who have been at SilkRoad since the begining are so firewalled entrenched that any mention of stats are irrelevant.
I've been posting my signature stats since joining this forum in July 2011 just to show members a gauge of growth in this business. Many members post their stats, no big whoop.
Keep in mind Silkroad and this forum are only a little over a year and a half old. Thanks for your concern, but not necessary.

Bikerbum
[/quote]
Atill, if they were to go after buyers, you could be seen as a bulk importer
[/quote]

If they want to waste their time and treasure to locate one measley buyer, they can have at it. I wish them luck bouncing through the  web proxies and all the fowarded mail drops to locate my country of origin.
Unlike some newbie buyers on SR, I don't have this shit shipped to my estate. I would have thought you would have gathered that from my last responce BC. See if you can find me for shits and giggles.
I would venture to say that Silkie would be the prime target in this deal. Except he has better security than my extensive process. But again, thank you for your concern and don't forget to fully cover your tracks.

Bikerbum
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: bigdaddy5150 on November 08, 2012, 03:14 am
just wanted to state that today was yet ANOTHER day of spending hours attempting to access SR in order to check messages and fill orders.  it was down for me all day until this afternoon.  :(

I've been able to connect all day, even faster than normal. I hate it for you, but I don't think it's the site.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: thelorax on November 08, 2012, 03:16 am
just wanted to state that today was yet ANOTHER day of spending hours attempting to access SR in order to check messages and fill orders.  it was down for me all day until this afternoon.  :(


me too man.. its every day i cant get on around the afternoon.. after 4 or 5 pm i can get in no problem

i cant get into the forms either.. it sucks.. i have to switch my ip like every time 5 times.. it sucks

but hey thats just how it works.. i guesss..

i think we should all just be happy we have this service ... enough with this thread .. im out
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 08, 2012, 04:36 am

Source:       http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/08/06/black-market-drug-site-silk-road-booming-22-million-in-annual-mostly-illegal-sales/


I would love to see the projections for next years earnings but i doubt it could be predicted that accurately.


By your forum registration anniversary date next June, SilkRoad's  profits will  have quadrupled.


 By the way dude with buying stats like that i wouldnt exactly be advertising them.


There are thousands of buyers with better stats than mine. This site is by far  not a nickle & dime operation.
Those of us who have been at SilkRoad since the begining are so firewalled entrenched that any mention of stats are irrelevant.
I've been posting my signature stats since joining this forum in July 2011 just to show members a gauge of growth in this business. Many members post their stats, no big whoop.
Keep in mind Silkroad and this forum are only a little over a year and a half old. Thanks for your concern, but not necessary.

Bikerbum
Atill, if they were to go after buyers, you could be seen as a bulk importer
[/quote]

If they want to waste their time and treasure to locate one measley buyer, they can have at it. I wish them luck bouncing through the  web proxies and all the fowarded mail drops to locate my country of origin.
Unlike some newbie buyers on SR, I don't have this shit shipped to my estate. I would have thought you would have gathered that from my last responce BC. See if you can find me for shits and giggles.
I would venture to say that Silkie would be the prime target in this deal. Except he has better security than my extensive process. But again, thank you for your concern and don't forget to fully cover your tracks.

Bikerbum
[/quote]

I actually beleive plausible deniability and shipping to your house is the best option one has not this handballing the responsibility off to a mate or someone else bullshit or some overly complicated plan to ship your gram of weed to your neighbours house run out and grab it before they see you hopefully.

what is your source for those projections of SR becoming a $100+ Million a year enterprise. Not that i dont believe it will this place has infinite potential would just like to see a Source
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: mushitup on November 08, 2012, 05:00 am
Been smooth as silk the last couple days...was a rough time the few days before that though.  As for buyers...I wouldn't worry about LE knocking on your door anytime soon :)

Nobody gives a shit about someone redistributing for big time buyers, that's a fact.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Bikerbum on November 08, 2012, 01:55 pm
Been smooth as silk the last couple days...was a rough time the few days before that though.  As for buyers...I wouldn't worry about LE knocking on your door anytime soon :)

Nobody gives a shit about someone redistributing for big time buyers, that's a fact.

+1 on that

Exactly what I'm talking about Mush, people tend to over analyze shit.

Bikerbum
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: medicineman684 on November 08, 2012, 04:35 pm
Southsquare: many sellers put up their tormail addresses in case SR is down...maybe jot down some of those for situations like this.

-mm
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: onefishtwofishredfishblue on November 08, 2012, 07:07 pm
:sadpanda
can get on the forums but continued failure to market.  been +2hours of failure
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 09, 2012, 01:17 am
Been smooth as silk the last couple days...was a rough time the few days before that though.  As for buyers...I wouldn't worry about LE knocking on your door anytime soon :)

Nobody gives a shit about someone redistributing for big time buyers, that's a fact.

+1 on that

Exactly what I'm talking about Mush, people tend to over analyze shit.

Bikerbum

I think that was said with a great deal of sarcasm....
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Twelve_Pickles on November 09, 2012, 01:58 am
things seem much better. i have made many orders in the past 24 hours.

happy pickles
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: mushitup on November 09, 2012, 02:45 am
I think that was said with a great deal of sarcasm....

No but let me clarify a bit I suppose...buyers have nothing to worry about other than possession charges or whatever their local municipality decides the charge to be depending on the amount confiscated.  I would think LE is actively looking for the seller of said goods though, the buyers of said product are useless to LE since they have no info to turn on the vendor with (in most cases).
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: stinkystink on November 09, 2012, 03:18 am
Quote
No but let me clarify a bit I suppose...buyers have nothing to worry about other than possession charges or whatever their local municipality decides the charge to be depending on the amount confiscated.  I would think LE is actively looking for the seller of said goods though, the buyers of said product are useless to LE since they have no info to turn on the vendor with (in most cases).

I can verify this. I know of someone who recently got stopped by LE who came knocking at their door one day. They showed them the package(s) they had intercepted and had asked them many questions. Most of the questions had to deal with where the packages where coming from, who they came from, and specifically how they were packaged. Then LE seized their SR account and warned said person not to do it again or the consequences would be much worse. And that's ALL that happened, they took the contraband gave him a slap on the wrist and left. I do have the SR account name and I could even get a copy of the business card of the agent(s) that came to the door if anyone would like.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: OzFreelancer on November 09, 2012, 03:22 am

I can verify this. I know of someone who recently got stopped by LE who came knocking at their door one day. They showed them the package(s) they had intercepted and had asked them many questions. Most of the questions had to deal with where the packages where coming from, who they came from, and specifically how they were packaged.

If they had intercepted the packages wouldn't they know specifically how they were packaged?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: stinkystink on November 09, 2012, 03:33 am

I can verify this. I know of someone who recently got stopped by LE who came knocking at their door one day. They showed them the package(s) they had intercepted and had asked them many questions. Most of the questions had to deal with where the packages where coming from, who they came from, and specifically how they were packaged.

If they had intercepted the packages wouldn't they know specifically how they were packaged?

sorry about that, i forgot to add that said person has received packages in the past and THOSE were what they were asking about.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 09, 2012, 03:34 am
lol so many things wrong with that story. "seized" the SR account. wtf how could you seize an account on here, havent they heard of plausible deniability?

and mush most LE wouoldnt assume SR as the source of the product as its not what they are use to and would just assume your making it up to wiggle out of giving up any info.

BC
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: stinkystink on November 09, 2012, 03:53 am
lol so many things wrong with that story. "seized" the SR account. wtf how could you seize an account on here, havent they heard of plausible deniability?

and mush most LE wouoldnt assume SR as the source of the product as its not what they are use to and would just assume your making it up to wiggle out of giving up any info.

BC

i can tell you right now the person in question used no security whatsoever while accessing SR, they simply used tor and SR on their everyday computer and connected to a wifi in which you must enter your personal credentials to acess. They had spent thousands on SR within weeks and had ordered everything to a dorm room. how they didn't get caught sooner is beyond me. The person was too scared and intimidated by LE that they complied with everything LE said and had told them everything he/she knew. I am not associated with this person personally and i never want to be seeing as how careless they are with their actions. I know of the person through a network of people but they do not know of me. If you chose to believe me great, if not then thats fine im not asking you to, im simply contributing what i know and it may not be much but the info may or may not help others. This goes to show that you should not be careless when buying or even selling on SR.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 09, 2012, 06:15 am
lol so many things wrong with that story. "seized" the SR account. wtf how could you seize an account on here, havent they heard of plausible deniability?

and mush most LE wouoldnt assume SR as the source of the product as its not what they are use to and would just assume your making it up to wiggle out of giving up any info.

BC

i can tell you right now the person in question used no security whatsoever while accessing SR, they simply used tor and SR on their everyday computer and connected to a wifi in which you must enter your personal credentials to acess. They had spent thousands on SR within weeks and had ordered everything to a dorm room. how they didn't get caught sooner is beyond me. The person was too scared and intimidated by LE that they complied with everything LE said and had told them everything he/she knew. I am not associated with this person personally and i never want to be seeing as how careless they are with their actions. I know of the person through a network of people but they do not know of me. If you chose to believe me great, if not then thats fine im not asking you to, im simply contributing what i know and it may not be much but the info may or may not help others. This goes to show that you should not be careless when buying or even selling on SR.

I guarentee thats 95% of the poeple on here. TOR was designed so that anyone can use it, and we know it cant be cracked even if they really want to get you. Its his IRL security that was flawed, but SR account seized, really? what are they gonna do with that?

I know of the person through a network of people

Your Cousins girlfriends best friends next door neighbours siter in laws friend heard the gossip at a beauty salon?

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: stinkystink on November 09, 2012, 06:32 am
Quote
I know of the person through a network of people

Your Cousins girlfriends best friends next door neighbours siter in laws friend heard the gossip at a beauty salon?

yup thats exactly it, you nailed it, nice job +1
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 09, 2012, 06:36 am
Quote
I know of the person through a network of people

Your Cousins girlfriends best friends next door neighbours siter in laws friend heard the gossip at a beauty salon?

yup thats exactly it, you nailed it, nice job +1

Thanks!. Its always nice to get a pat on the back from my superior officers
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SelfSovereignty on November 09, 2012, 10:14 am
The main SR site and the Forums here were almost unusable for me unless it was 3am.  If anyone wants to go to the trouble, after installing version 0.2.3.24-rc of the "tor" program they both work the first try every time.  I downloaded the source for 0.2.3.24-rc from the torproject.org site, compiled it and installed it, then deleted the version of "tor" in the browser-bundle's directory and linked the newer one I just installed to the same location (so that when the tor browser starts, it executes the updated one instead of the broken 0.2.2.39 it came with).

Warning: I had to go d/l, compile, and install one of the required libraries & fuck with it a bit to compile tor v0.2.3.24-rc, so if you've never compiled and installed a program from source in Linux, you probably want to just wait for them to update the browser bundle. Thought it would be helpful for some people that are fed up with SR not working though.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 09, 2012, 10:27 am
Quote
I know of the person through a network of people

Your Cousins girlfriends best friends next door neighbours siter in laws friend heard the gossip at a beauty salon?

yup thats exactly it, you nailed it, nice job +1

Thanks!. Its always nice to get a pat on the back from my superior officers

I thought i had been permabanned for this before. IS the main site not connecting for anyone else?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: TheJolllyRoger on November 09, 2012, 11:15 am
I cant get on the main site for hours and was banned from the forum before that! Hope its back up soon, got shit to post!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Limetless on November 09, 2012, 11:24 am
I just want to get back on the road and make some motha' fuckin money.  :(
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: pbody88 on November 09, 2012, 11:41 am
yeah site no good for me, i got in about half hr ago but didnt last very long.

"Thats what she said"
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: lesseroftwoweevils on November 09, 2012, 11:43 am
Yeah something must be up again. It's been a frustrating experience on here for the past week..
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: thecrackhead on November 09, 2012, 11:54 am
Same here, surprisingly the forum it's extremely quick...
I really hope it will get sorted soon...there has to be a way of sorting it...
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Bungee54 on November 09, 2012, 12:03 pm
First time ever we dont get in :(

at least not farther than the login page..

at least please put the site offline with a message ..the rejected traffic probably is a big glaring torch within the darknet :)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: 20247245 on November 09, 2012, 12:18 pm
Im SO glad its not just me... Cus i just bought a shitload of BC and transferred them to my SR wallet... (also provided a backupwallet at the same time) GO ORGANIZATIONAL SKILSS!!

Im stockpiling for New Years you see!!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: dingowombat on November 09, 2012, 12:29 pm
I just want to get back on the road and make some motha' fuckin money.  :(

I just want to get back on the road and spend some motha' fuckin money on Limetless. :-(
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: GOTMILKTEAM on November 09, 2012, 01:00 pm
well its great news the site is booming, I noticed sales have gone way up over the past few months.

Its not easy to get in at all today, lets hope this is resolved in a timely manner I need to click ship on my packages sent today.

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Limetless on November 09, 2012, 01:04 pm
I just want to get back on the road and make some motha' fuckin money.  :(

I just want to get back on the road and spend some motha' fuckin money on Limetless. :-(

Man, now you've just made me sad.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: danknugsdun on November 09, 2012, 01:08 pm
All I want to do is get my orders processed, move my funds and respond to messages  :'(

You can leave me out until tomorrow then! :( :( :( Real frustrating.

Dank
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Bungee54 on November 09, 2012, 01:09 pm
Online :)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Limetless on November 09, 2012, 01:19 pm
Yeah just. :)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: danknugsdun on November 09, 2012, 01:25 pm
Got on and died within 5 minutes lol
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Limetless on November 09, 2012, 01:35 pm
Yeah I'm trying to blast all my messages while I can.  ::)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: UltimateSolution on November 09, 2012, 01:51 pm
Didn't work for hours, now its working fine though!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 09, 2012, 03:46 pm
Is it really  that unnecessary for DPR to sig n a friggin post, just one considering the goings on of the last week or so
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Limetless on November 09, 2012, 03:49 pm
Just did all my mail and processed all my orders. OOSSSSH and SHAAAATIIIIING!

Keith Lemon is the one.  8)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Shroomeister on November 09, 2012, 08:33 pm
So it is now concrete. Any attempt to connect to SR during any daylight hours is now futile for me.

Late night there is no issues at all. Matter a fact the site is rather snappy (as DPR) has intended it to be.


To all my customers. I am not ignoring you! I am processing orders and emails as fast as I can.

I can only connect at night though, so this is slowing me down to an almost 24 hour reaction time.

.....and the forums here..... I barely even bother any more.

Its a sad time SR. Could there be a fork ahead?  :(
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: iaskquestion on November 09, 2012, 09:00 pm
So it is now concrete. Any attempt to connect to SR during any daylight hours is now futile for me.

Late night there is no issues at all. Matter a fact the site is rather snappy (as DPR) has intended it to be.


To all my customers. I am not ignoring you! I am processing orders and emails as fast as I can.

I can only connect at night though, so this is slowing me down to an almost 24 hour reaction time.

.....and the forums here..... I barely even bother any more.

Its a sad time SR. Could there be a fork ahead?  :(
there is already a fork being made. No details until its done
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: danknugsdun on November 09, 2012, 09:07 pm
Someone explain to me what is meant by a fork (besides a kitchen utensil).

Also, I find peak time to be 7pm-10pm UK time where I cannot connect at all.

Dank
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Shroomeister on November 09, 2012, 09:12 pm
So it is now concrete. Any attempt to connect to SR during any daylight hours is now futile for me.

Late night there is no issues at all. Matter a fact the site is rather snappy (as DPR) has intended it to be.


To all my customers. I am not ignoring you! I am processing orders and emails as fast as I can.

I can only connect at night though, so this is slowing me down to an almost 24 hour reaction time.

.....and the forums here..... I barely even bother any more.

Its a sad time SR. Could there be a fork ahead?  :(
there is already a fork being made. No details until its done

Care to name the source of your info?

Hearsay doesnt count on the darknet.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Shroomeister on November 09, 2012, 09:13 pm
Someone explain to me what is meant by a fork (besides a kitchen utensil).

Also, I find peak time to be 7pm-10pm UK time where I cannot connect at all.

Dank

Think of it more as a fork in the road.

 A split.

Go left or go right, but can not continue straight any longer.

PS - whatever time it is now (for you) The sun is still out here in the US. I have not connected once yet. in over 2 hours of non stop trying. :\
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: thelorax on November 09, 2012, 09:24 pm
Someone explain to me what is meant by a fork (besides a kitchen utensil).

Also, I find peak time to be 7pm-10pm UK time where I cannot connect at all.

Dank

Think of it more as a fork in the road.

 A split.

Go left or go right, but can not continue straight any longer.

PS - whatever time it is now (for you) The sun is still out here in the US. I have not connected once yet. in over 2 hours of non stop trying. :\

do u try to change ur ip?

like turn off tor or something?

then recconect?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: danknugsdun on November 09, 2012, 09:45 pm
Someone explain to me what is meant by a fork (besides a kitchen utensil).

Also, I find peak time to be 7pm-10pm UK time where I cannot connect at all.

Dank

Think of it more as a fork in the road.

 A split.

Go left or go right, but can not continue straight any longer.

PS - whatever time it is now (for you) The sun is still out here in the US. I have not connected once yet. in over 2 hours of non stop trying. :\

I mean peak time from what I can tell is 7-10pm GMT ie. 11am-1pm PST

Dank
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: mendo on November 09, 2012, 09:51 pm
The address is still the same right? just with the index.php added... I have been having problems all day long connecting. Changing ip's, restarting tor, using different versions of tor, different routers, nothing fixes it. Just sometimes it is up and sometimes it is not. Tor works if you can connect here on the forums so ... it is the main site that is either too busy or down. But like I said on another post, nothing we can do about it. It's either up and good for a few hours or down for most of the time these days. Changing identities (tor) does not do anything either, at least for me.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: chronicpain on November 09, 2012, 10:01 pm
It was fine a few hours ago then boom, cant get in for the life of me. I have tried every trick in the book and just connect. I can connect to other tor sites, so it seems like its a bigger issue.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: frank-butcher24 on November 09, 2012, 10:06 pm
What URL should we be using?

Yesterday I got on using (I believe) http://silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/index.php/silkroad/home when others were saying they couldn't get on.

No luck now though.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SelfSovereignty on November 09, 2012, 10:20 pm
What URL should we be using?

Yesterday I got on using (I believe) http://silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/index.php/silkroad/home when others were saying they couldn't get on.

No luck now though.
That should work fine.  As long as you have the "index.php" part, I think you're good.

Most of these problems went away for me when I upgraded my installed version of tor.  If it's the Tor network, there's absolutely nothing anyone from SR can do to make the site more reachable, not even DPR himself.

BTW, v0.2.2.39 (the current version from the tor browser bundle) has a vulnerability that allows someone to crash the entire DirServer network. And a couple of other bugs that I didn't really understand, to be honest.  I don't know precisely what the dir mirrors are used for, but they sound like they're what direct you to the guards that end up connecting you to the SR site. It may be that somebody is DoS'ing the Tor network.  The website itself seems fine -- I mean even after not being able to connect for 10-15 mins, when I finally could, I was still logged in. I don't know how that could be unless the server was up the entire time and Tor was the problem.

I guess it could still be the webserver... I don't know. I don't make websites or anything, so I could be wrong.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: mendo on November 09, 2012, 10:22 pm
It was fine a few hours ago then boom, cant get in for the life of me. I have tried every trick in the book and just connect. I can connect to other tor sites, so it seems like its a bigger issue.

Yep that seems to be the way it is. Other tor sites work no problem, including the forum here but the main site... the one we really want to access ;) is a no go at the moment. Everyone should just chill out, stop trying to connect, and if heeded people will be able to connect most likely since traffic will be down...
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: thelorax on November 09, 2012, 10:54 pm
WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHYYYY WHY BITINSTANT!!!!!!!!!!

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY WHY SILK ROAD!!!
WHYYYY

guess it doesnt matter as much for me as it does venders...

i have a order or 2 i need to finalize but shit .. i got time...

sucks but jeez

EVEN IF I COULD GET ON IT WOULDNT MATTER CANT GET ANY FUCKING BITCOINS CUZ OF BITINSTANT.. FML

HANG IN THERE GUYS!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Limetless on November 09, 2012, 11:03 pm
So it is now concrete. Any attempt to connect to SR during any daylight hours is now futile for me.

Late night there is no issues at all. Matter a fact the site is rather snappy (as DPR) has intended it to be.


To all my customers. I am not ignoring you! I am processing orders and emails as fast as I can.

I can only connect at night though, so this is slowing me down to an almost 24 hour reaction time.

.....and the forums here..... I barely even bother any more.

Its a sad time SR. Could there be a fork ahead?  :(
there is already a fork being made. No details until its done

Lol and whom might you be to know this may I ask? Like Shroom said, it's not real unless there is proof.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Theophilus on November 09, 2012, 11:34 pm
My fellow Aussies can share in this wonderful moment where we actually have something going for us here on the road.

We can access it at a reasonable hour!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: tor12345 on November 09, 2012, 11:57 pm
DPR,

Thank you for providing this wonderful resource.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: StrangeHands on November 10, 2012, 12:43 am
"3) make it easier for LE to infiltrate the site. "

How would this make it easier than a main page where anyone can create an account at any time??

-mm

If you can only get invites from members then law enforcement that already have accounts could sell/negotiate the giving of invites in a manner that reveals the identity of the buyer.

Then after collecting many names they do a huge bust all at once and declare a blow against the silk road.

I think what would make more sense would be to charge 1BTC to create a buyer account. The $150 fee to become a seller certainly prevents spamming on SR, a $10 charge to become a buyer may keep away the browsers and only leave only real buyers.

I wonder how many people who flock to the silk road after reading about it in a magazine actually get bitcoins and buy something. In fact the fee could be .0001 bitcoins, just enough to prove that you know how to use bitcoin and are not just here to look around.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 10, 2012, 01:11 am
My fellow Aussies can share in this wonderful moment where we actually have something going for us here on the road.

We can access it at a reasonable hour!

we're drug users. we're asleep at a reasonable hour!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: thernabulax on November 10, 2012, 01:22 am
In fact the fee could be .0001 bitcoins, just enough to prove that you know how to use bitcoin and are not just here to look around.

I like this. With open registration, once a noob makes it to the forum and reads up they can figure it out fairly easily. But if they need bitcoin knowledge before hand or the motivation to learn about it, that would help with new user server strain and still let smart people in.
Title: Re: explosive growth - To DPR
Post by: EntityCreature on November 10, 2012, 01:35 am
Hello,

I can only say thank you very much for the good work DPR, it is truly a success.

Sincerely,

Entity
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: dingowombat on November 10, 2012, 01:51 am
For a reasonably easy way to scale I'd say SR should split up into smaller sites. Eg. a site for weed, a site for psychedelics, a site for E, etc. Then every now and again synchronize data and stats across sites (and different physical servers). This would not be a permanent solution because at some point they would outgrow their capacity too. But scaling sideways is usually easier than scaling vertically. And the main SR page would just be a static page with links to the relevant sub-sites. Kind of how MMORPGs do it with different shards or worlds.

Just an idea.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Limetless on November 10, 2012, 01:53 am
I just want to get back to work. :(
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: TheGoodSon on November 10, 2012, 02:06 am
I just want to get back to work. :(

Heard that!
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: whythehell on November 10, 2012, 02:08 am
Got paid today, was going to make my first purchase even...such luck.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: InternetDealer on November 10, 2012, 02:24 am
It's obvious that we need to start weeding some people out. Here are some ideas i've had.

Charge a fee for both buyers and sellers. The sellers fee should always be higher, of course.
Limit the amount of registrations possible per month.
Make it an invite only site.


Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: uhoho on November 10, 2012, 02:30 am
“For the first few weeks, they were finding up to eight packages a week and are now able to spot the signs of a Silk Road parcel straight away.”


http://www.theherald.com.au/story/734298/detectives-follow-the-silk-road/?cs=12


Scare tactics?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: DocOck on November 10, 2012, 02:33 am

I think what would make more sense would be to charge 1BTC to create a buyer account. The $150 fee to become a seller certainly prevents spamming on SR, a $10 charge to become a buyer may keep away the browsers and only leave only real buyers.

I wonder how many people who flock to the silk road after reading about it in a magazine actually get bitcoins and buy something. In fact the fee could be .0001 bitcoins, just enough to prove that you know how to use bitcoin and are not just here to look around.

This sounds like a good idea to me..... but i'm sure others can see cons to the pros, would be interested in hearing.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: DocOck on November 10, 2012, 02:37 am
Could this could be some sort of extortion like bitinstant is dealing with?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: OzFreelancer on November 10, 2012, 02:46 am
“For the first few weeks, they were finding up to eight packages a week and are now able to spot the signs of a Silk Road parcel straight away.”


http://www.theherald.com.au/story/734298/detectives-follow-the-silk-road/?cs=12


Scare tactics?

In a town as remote as, and the size of, Esperance, which is also home to a large remote drug rehab facility, it is very possible that the post office would notice an unusual pattern of overseas mail arriving.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: uhoho on November 10, 2012, 02:51 am
Local shipments seem to be best. Ha.... I dunnno. I'm paranoid. lol
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: hashmat on November 10, 2012, 02:56 am
My fellow Aussies can share in this wonderful moment where we actually have something going for us here on the road.

We can access it at a reasonable hour!
G'day Theophilus,
At which times have you had most success at accessing mate? Might give it a go?
im sick of trying to log on at 20 different random times a day. lol
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: dingowombat on November 10, 2012, 03:26 am
My fellow Aussies can share in this wonderful moment where we actually have something going for us here on the road.

We can access it at a reasonable hour!
G'day Theophilus,
At which times have you had most success at accessing mate? Might give it a go?
im sick of trying to log on at 20 different random times a day. lol

Mid morning to just after lunch time Aussie time usually worked okay for me. Today it's totally fucked though. Might be that peak times are different on weekends.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Limetless on November 10, 2012, 04:47 am
“For the first few weeks, they were finding up to eight packages a week and are now able to spot the signs of a Silk Road parcel straight away.”


http://www.theherald.com.au/story/734298/detectives-follow-the-silk-road/?cs=12


Scare tactics?

In a town as remote as, and the size of, Esperance, which is also home to a large remote drug rehab facility, it is very possible that the post office would notice an unusual pattern of overseas mail arriving.

Yeah I can buy that but they can suck my dick if they are actually saying they can "recognize the packaging", the only thing giving it away is the location of where the packages are actually coming from.

Basically it's a half truth designed by Australian authorities to scare when what they need to do is go suck a wallaby lol.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 10, 2012, 04:56 am
“For the first few weeks, they were finding up to eight packages a week and are now able to spot the signs of a Silk Road parcel straight away.”


http://www.theherald.com.au/story/734298/detectives-follow-the-silk-road/?cs=12


Scare tactics?

In a town as remote as, and the size of, Esperance, which is also home to a large remote drug rehab facility, it is very possible that the post office would notice an unusual pattern of overseas mail arriving.

Yeah I can buy that but they can suck my dick if they are actually saying they can "recognize the packaging", the only thing giving it away is the location of where the packages are actually coming from.

Basically it's a half truth designed by Australian authorities to scare when what they need to do is go suck a wallaby lol.
Law and Order in this country seems to be based on scare tactics
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Theophilus on November 10, 2012, 05:12 am
My fellow Aussies can share in this wonderful moment where we actually have something going for us here on the road.

We can access it at a reasonable hour!
G'day Theophilus,
At which times have you had most success at accessing mate? Might give it a go?
im sick of trying to log on at 20 different random times a day. lol

I've been finding 6pm to 11pm-ish is most responsive.

Which makes sense when you look at this conversion:

Alice Springs (Australia - Northern Territory) Saturday, 10 November 2012 at 6:00:00 PM  CST UTC+9:30 hours
Berlin (Germany - Berlin)                                 Saturday, 10 November 2012 at 9:30:00 AM  CET UTC+1 hour     
Los Angeles (U.S.A. - California)                     Saturday, 10 November 2012 at 12:30:00 AM PST UTC-8 hours   
New York (U.S.A. - New York)                        Saturday, 10 November 2012 at 3:30:00 AM  EST UTC-5 hours   
Corresponding UTC (GMT)                            Saturday, 10 November 2012 at 08:30:00     
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: rem0ved on November 10, 2012, 05:39 am
Yeah I can buy that but they can suck my dick if they are actually saying they can "recognize the packaging", the only thing giving it away is the location of where the packages are actually coming from.

Basically it's a half truth designed by Australian authorities to scare when what they need to do is go suck a wallaby lol.

how can they recognize "silk road" packaging when every vendor uses different packaging methods? 

the best option that any LE have of even remotely slowing down Silk Road is by scarjung people into avoiding sendubg to theirt country.  of course..its much easier to cointrol the mail into an islanmd than a landlocked couintruy
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: fingertothefbi on November 10, 2012, 05:54 am
yea i like the idea of splitting the site up into different worlds like mmorpg games do, like just have a universal account but you pick wat world you wanna go into each one having separate severs? not the most educated on how this stuff works but just splitting the traffic up might help like me personally i only look at pychdelics weed and molly other people probably only look at speed and coke so splitting it up could help unless like there just not enough sever power to split them up anyway

if im wrong about this just tell me :) just trying to help thou
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: maxhavelaar on November 10, 2012, 06:01 am
“For the first few weeks, they were finding up to eight packages a week and are now able to spot the signs of a Silk Road parcel straight away.”


http://www.theherald.com.au/story/734298/detectives-follow-the-silk-road/?cs=12


Scare tactics?

In a town as remote as, and the size of, Esperance, which is also home to a large remote drug rehab facility, it is very possible that the post office would notice an unusual pattern of overseas mail arriving.

Yeah I can buy that but they can suck my dick if they are actually saying they can "recognize the packaging", the only thing giving it away is the location of where the packages are actually coming from.

Basically it's a half truth designed by Australian authorities to scare when what they need to do is go suck a wallaby lol.

Totally a PR stunt from a sherrif that wants to spread a message in a country where the laws are so stiff and drugs so epensive that SR is a deal even if you have a good connection in AUS, It takes a dumb copper to argue that scaring people out of drug use has proven effective. The less intellectually challenged of our LE friends down under have come to other conclusions...

Quote
Aussie coppers bedeviled by online contraband networks (http://www.scmagazine.com.au/News/314984,aussie-coppers-bedeviled-by-online-contraband-networks.aspx)
A confidential report has revealed Australian law enforcement agencies are struggling to deal with booming online illicit drug markets which promise users high levels of security and anonymity.

The report, "Hidden in Plain Sight" issued by the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission and obtained by SC, paints a bleak picture for narcotics enforcement.

It shows that police are struggling to cope as traditional drug distribution networks give way to burgeoning online drug stores.

The May 2012 report focuses on the notorious Silk Road drug marketplace, a veritable eBay of illicit drugs that protects buyers and sellers with encryption via the Tor network.

The popularity of the website is quickly expanding. Accurate numbers are difficult to acquire, however the report notes that the number of registrations for the Silk Road forum rose by 7762 on February 12 to almost 20,000 by the beginning of May. The number of forum posts rose 97 per cent to 199,538 over the same time.

The number of legitimate users of the Silk Road marketplace could be much higher.

Each element of Silk Road transactions is wrapped in security. The site operates as a hidden service that hides its server IP address, while users connect through the Tor network which is constantly tested for security holes by thousands of users. Users buy drugs, weapons and other contraband through the untraceable BitCoin online currency.

Silk Road users further boost security by discussing techniques to hide drugs from customs and postal services, and by vetting the integrity of sellers and their products.

This information sharing was so effective that the report notes existing "forensic examination of posted items and packaging yields no information", pointing to the sophistication of postage techniques.

The report said the impact of the open discussion on the security of the marketplace "cannot be underrated" and suggests law enforcement agencies should heed the lessons and use "power to the crowd" to combat the Silk Road.

This would involve an audit of police skills across Australia to map strengths and weaknesses within police cyber units and improve training. It would compliment the previously stated priority given by Australian police for "reducing cross-border barriers to law enforcement and prosecution".

They simply don't know what to do anymore, this is not what they are trained for. When the PR people are basically saying to the public 'we need to audit our skills', AKA we don't think we are up for the job, sorry, but that whole drug illegality thing you had going on, it's not workable anymore. It's game over for them. And wow what busts, 1 g of cocaine, i mean it becomses so fragmented that... well read their report...


Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: OzFreelancer on November 10, 2012, 06:04 am
Yeah I can buy that but they can suck my dick if they are actually saying they can "recognize the packaging", the only thing giving it away is the location of where the packages are actually coming from.

Basically it's a half truth designed by Australian authorities to scare when what they need to do is go suck a wallaby lol.

how can they recognize "silk road" packaging when every vendor uses different packaging methods? 

I hate to go all journo on you, but that is NOT what they said.  They said the are "able to spot the signs of a Silk Road parcel straight away.”

I believe them.  Small, remote town (its about 700km from the closest major city, Perth, which itself is a billion miles away from anywhere else in Australia).  Big rehab facility.  Town doesn't get much mail.  Previously town gets very very few overseas letters or parcels.  Suddenly a bunch of people, some who may be in rehab, are getting a window envelope (unusual in itself) from overseas (what tha...?), maybe even the Netherlands (WHOA).  Add to this nosy small-town people who really DO get way too interested in what's going on in everyone's lives (it wouldn't surprise me if the post office workers went all detective, just for the excitement factor), well... I believe in THIS situation it is perfectly plausible they can recognise the signs of a SR delivery.

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: fingertothefbi on November 10, 2012, 06:24 am
sounds like Australia just needs some more re-shippers
get people who live in the denser parts of cities maybe even a business owner how gets lots of mail anyway then they just buy and resell at a premium, sucks but not a big deal and definitely not game over for silkroad in Australia lol
Title: explosive growth? where is the communication? 8 hours unreachable, what's up?
Post by: maxhavelaar on November 10, 2012, 06:34 am
What's going on here? that's what i thought when I was looking for some kind of official crisismanagement going on, but this looks like George W. on a bad day! There is some serious shit going on, and why is that just not communicated on the website.

That's all I gotta say, I hope the guys behind the scenes, DPR and the others that shall intelligently remain nameless, know _exactly_ what's going on. This server must be state of the art and high end and equipped with all the monitoring facilities and climate control cryptocurrency can buy. And i've done some shopping, there is large areas of this Earth that are more or less without law. Take a look at some rumanian providers, and the sites they host.

I just hope I don't have to get used to BMR, cause i kind a liked the green camel. But it's time to get busy on it, or at least pretend your doing something about it...

At least have some kind of messaging going on, have somebody do that, to keep updates about reachability. You cannot measure the number of requests your server gets and where the bottlenecks are? The whole tor network seems very repsonsive to me, i have VPN servers in 8 different countries, so it can't be country related / or tor related).

all right, that's my two cents on the matter.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: maxhavelaar on November 10, 2012, 06:53 am
 
Yeah I can buy that but they can suck my dick if they are actually saying they can "recognize the packaging", the only thing giving it away is the location of where the packages are actually coming from.

Basically it's a half truth designed by Australian authorities to scare when what they need to do is go suck a wallaby lol.

how can they recognize "silk road" packaging when every vendor uses different packaging methods? 

I hate to go all journo on you, but that is NOT what they said.  They said the are "able to spot the signs of a Silk Road parcel straight away.”



You believe them?, this is an issue of faith? You know the volume of what goes on in the mail, I've been getting parcels with valiums for years from asia to europe before the silkroad came along, it's just the combination of the bitcoin transactions, that level of security and anonymity (quoting the policereport here), that even if they could spot every parcel... how are they going to do that... Remote towns, yeah, i had problems in remote towns... but even then. Cops don't normally spend all their waking hours chasing parcels of mail. It just doesn't add up, but that's just my opinion. I'm not worried that LE can do anything but employ scare tactics. The real core of the story is that it's like the music industry, you can make a good argument for the downsides of copyright infringement, but that's not going to do them any good, it's out of their hands. Large numbers of people in society seem to be willing to break the law, and at a certain point they can only draw he conclusion that government/police for that matter, has not much to say in this new p2p matrix-thing we're living in...
I think they realize this now too, or so they seem to report themselves.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: techguy on November 10, 2012, 07:04 am
Hah.  No.


Silkroad does ~20million in annual transactions, and according to that article $2million in commisions  Now, this would be fine to support a normal website with millions of hits a day, with much room to spare.   

I built a comparable marketplaceish type platform that was load tested at 500 hits a second on an average transaction page(similar for search and messaging).   This costs roughly $1800 a month on a cloud host.  Thats 21k a year.   Not bad.

Unfortunately, when one adds in the complexity of doing encryption, making sure no traces are left, etc... The computational complexity goes up exponentially.   



Multiply that 21k figure by 15(maybe even more, and we have a shockingly high figure of $315k a year.  Now take into consideration that servers purchasable via bitcoin may be twice as expensive as commonly used cloud type hosting companies.   Its not cheap.   
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: maxhavelaar on November 10, 2012, 07:25 am
what kind of encryption are you doing? They rely on Tor completely to keep them anonymous and that's pretty much free... at the endpoint, at the hidden service they are not going to do shit. So basically now the cost of encrypting the OS becomes cost prohibitive, every xbox360 is encrypted on the level of the system bus, it is impossible to know what's going on inside that machine (well almost). Besides, when the cops actually reach the server, who is going to care about encryption... They need to get their act toegether and get some mirroring going on, something... No i don't think anything that can be bought for hald cold cryptocurrency can be standing in the way of this site operating fine... But who knows what;s going on behind the scenes...
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: HardHustle on November 10, 2012, 07:40 am
Would love an update from DPR. Site is completely inaccessible.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: techguy on November 10, 2012, 07:45 am
You're funny.

There is a difference between encryption, and having a locked down platform that only allows you to run programs that have been signed with a special signature(stored on die with the CPU).  The xbox 360 game executables are encrypted, but are de-cryped in order to be executed.  This is a simple one time operation.   Once the game binaries are decrypted, it is loaded in an un-encrypted state into RAM, and executed as normal.  The de-cryption on the xbox happens once per game.   With a webserver it happens once per PAGE LOAD.   See the difference?

A hack exists for the xbox 360 to load fully unmodified powerPC linux(xbox360 uses the power architecture).

The tor SOFTWARE is free, but doing the encryption/decryption uses many cpu cycles.  A server that might be able to handle 10000 requests per second of plain un-encrypted http, may be able to only handle 100 or 1000 requests if those requests have to be encrypted.  And what?   If the cops reach the servers and they are encrypted with transparent disk encryption, it is very unlikely that they will be able to access the data. (unless the webhosting provider somehow has your root password)

Also again, maintaining a coherent transactional environment is not just about the internet/TOR facing webservers, its about having a reliable datastore as well.   I would be willing to bet that in addition to having issues with webserver load, the amount of available database transactions per second probably isn't enough either.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SelfSovereignty on November 10, 2012, 08:26 am
A quick check on a relay node's stats (I asked somebody): currently 133 active connections/clients/onion-routey-thingies, constant 500KB/s up, constant 500KB/s down, constant 7% CPU usage (recent performance-geared consumer level processor).  No noticeable memory usage, so that's negligible for Tor I guess and won't impact a server beyond the usual RAM-intensive requirements involved with serving up web pages.

Even if the simultaneous requests to the server exceed a couple hundred a second, if 1MB/s combined up/down results in a consumer CPU sitting at 7%, I'm sure a server with a dozen or more cores can handle dozens of megabytes per second and still have spare resources for the usual web server load (since the data coming in & going out is what needs to be encrypted/decrypted, it stands to reason it scales with the bandwidth, yes?)

The forum here says the most users online ever was 169 (bottom of the page).  Apparently this guy's (consumer-level) computer is handling 133 active Tor streams at the moment and still has resources to burn. Despite the no doubt much higher load on SR than the forums here (2x, maybe even 3x the users -- honestly I really have little or no idea though, in truth), I doubt it's anything that would bring the server to its knees.

BTW, if the Xbox360 is like the PS3, the entire hard drive is encrypted and keyed to the specific hardware in its specific PS3. The drive cannot be accessed as anything but random garbage with any other hardware, even a same-model PS3.  The decryption has to be done for every read/write, I would think, otherwise you could just rip the contents of the drive out of RAM with a little tinkering as soon as the PS3 loaded the decrypted data for execution.  Not really related, but I tend to ramble when I get going, heh.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: techguy on November 10, 2012, 08:41 am
Right, the data stored on the hard drive, and game data on the disks are encrypted.   The actual code being executed is de-crypted by specialized hardware designed to do so.  The front side bus is most certainly not transparently encrypting and decrypting data to pass off to the cpu.  hah.  Simply doing on the fly decompression of data that is being read in a linear manner is a relatively efficient operation which the hardware was speced out to do.   What I said was the binaries are de-crypted once and loaded into ram, where they are executed normally.  Things like textures and maps and whatnot have to be de-crypted as the game is moving along, but then again they are probably also compressed, and decompression/decryption can happen in the same pipeline.

On the other hand, trying to do the same thing on an active database server doesn't work out to well for the hardware involved, because of many random read and writes to the data.   If the dataset fits in ram its not that big of a deal for reads, but writes will still suffer heavy performance degradation.

What is that particular reley node doing?  That load seems offly low for something that is serving anything other than static content.



500kb a second doesn't seem like a lot for 133 active connections.  Also even if that is correct, which it way well be, that points to the fact that SRs database is probably what is suffering from too high load. 

Also you have to keep in mind that this forum is has very simple data structures associated with it(at the database server level).   It's going to be able to handle many, many more hits a second on comparable hardware than a complicated ecomerce site.

I do have suspicions that the heavy load is coming from database load, and lack of efficient caching techniques.


Edit:

The xbox360 uses a specialized hypervisor to do I/O with specialized transparent encryption.   If you could theoretically get access to the hypervizors address space, you could access the data.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: pbody88 on November 10, 2012, 08:45 am
This much I can say:  we will overcome this obstacle and any other set before us.

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SelfSovereignty on November 10, 2012, 08:57 am
What is that particular reley node doing?  That load seems offly low for something that is serving anything other than static content.

500kb a second doesn't seem like a lot for 133 active connections.  Also even if that is correct, which it way well be, that points to the fact that SRs database is probably what is suffering from too high load. 
No clue what the node is doing, just asked for the current system load and got the numbers.  I trust that they're accurate.  Details of what's going on I'm clueless about, so I can't say anything more about it.

I'm not following you with the database transaction thing though. The hops on the way to the server are encrypted, but at the other end, once the data emerges from the Tor network and reaches the application layer, it's not encrypted. So what does it have to do with database transaction encryption/decryption?  Isn't the entire point to purging things like buyer addresses from the system, that the database doesn't have to be encrypted -- because it contains very little data that would be dangerous to have seized?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 10, 2012, 09:10 am
Yeah I can buy that but they can suck my dick if they are actually saying they can "recognize the packaging", the only thing giving it away is the location of where the packages are actually coming from.

Basically it's a half truth designed by Australian authorities to scare when what they need to do is go suck a wallaby lol.

how can they recognize "silk road" packaging when every vendor uses different packaging methods? 

the best option that any LE have of even remotely slowing down Silk Road is by scarjung people into avoiding sendubg to theirt country.  of course..its much easier to cointrol the mail into an islanmd than a landlocked couintruy

Esperance only received 100 peices of mail a day and half the town was on SR aparently so im guessing it wasnt overly hard
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 10, 2012, 09:12 am
“For the first few weeks, they were finding up to eight packages a week and are now able to spot the signs of a Silk Road parcel straight away.”


http://www.theherald.com.au/story/734298/detectives-follow-the-silk-road/?cs=12


Scare tactics?

In a town as remote as, and the size of, Esperance, which is also home to a large remote drug rehab facility, it is very possible that the post office would notice an unusual pattern of overseas mail arriving.

Yeah I can buy that but they can suck my dick if they are actually saying they can "recognize the packaging", the only thing giving it away is the location of where the packages are actually coming from.

Basically it's a half truth designed by Australian authorities to scare when what they need to do is go suck a wallaby lol.

Totally a PR stunt from a sherrif that wants to spread a message in a country where the laws are so stiff and drugs so epensive that SR is a deal even if you have a good connection in AUS, It takes a dumb copper to argue that scaring people out of drug use has proven effective. The less intellectually challenged of our LE friends down under have come to other conclusions...

Quote
Aussie coppers bedeviled by online contraband networks (http://www.scmagazine.com.au/News/314984,aussie-coppers-bedeviled-by-online-contraband-networks.aspx)
A confidential report has revealed Australian law enforcement agencies are struggling to deal with booming online illicit drug markets which promise users high levels of security and anonymity.

The report, "Hidden in Plain Sight" issued by the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission and obtained by SC, paints a bleak picture for narcotics enforcement.

It shows that police are struggling to cope as traditional drug distribution networks give way to burgeoning online drug stores.

The May 2012 report focuses on the notorious Silk Road drug marketplace, a veritable eBay of illicit drugs that protects buyers and sellers with encryption via the Tor network.

The popularity of the website is quickly expanding. Accurate numbers are difficult to acquire, however the report notes that the number of registrations for the Silk Road forum rose by 7762 on February 12 to almost 20,000 by the beginning of May. The number of forum posts rose 97 per cent to 199,538 over the same time.

The number of legitimate users of the Silk Road marketplace could be much higher.

Each element of Silk Road transactions is wrapped in security. The site operates as a hidden service that hides its server IP address, while users connect through the Tor network which is constantly tested for security holes by thousands of users. Users buy drugs, weapons and other contraband through the untraceable BitCoin online currency.

Silk Road users further boost security by discussing techniques to hide drugs from customs and postal services, and by vetting the integrity of sellers and their products.

This information sharing was so effective that the report notes existing "forensic examination of posted items and packaging yields no information", pointing to the sophistication of postage techniques.

The report said the impact of the open discussion on the security of the marketplace "cannot be underrated" and suggests law enforcement agencies should heed the lessons and use "power to the crowd" to combat the Silk Road.

This would involve an audit of police skills across Australia to map strengths and weaknesses within police cyber units and improve training. It would compliment the previously stated priority given by Australian police for "reducing cross-border barriers to law enforcement and prosecution".

They simply don't know what to do anymore, this is not what they are trained for. When the PR people are basically saying to the public 'we need to audit our skills', AKA we don't think we are up for the job, sorry, but that whole drug illegality thing you had going on, it's not workable anymore. It's game over for them. And wow what busts, 1 g of cocaine, i mean it becomses so fragmented that... well read their report...

Our drugs laws are actuslly fairly liberal
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: techguy on November 10, 2012, 09:13 am
I guess it depends on how the servers where purchased.   If someone at SR wanted to put a bunch of hardware in a colocation facility, it would definitely be necessary to have all the filesystems on the servers encrypted, because in the event that one of those members happened to be traced back to SR, they would clearly not want the fed to have access to all the silkroad data. 

Also I have a strong suspicion that any legitimate company that is accepting payment in bitcoin is under heavy scrutiny by the fed, and other law enforcement agencies.   That being the case, the list of companies is not very large, and it would not be out of the question if the FED somehow managed to require said companies to do packet inspection on people paying with bitcoin.   Once that is done, a list of people running tor hidden services could be assembled.

If SR was smart they would have the database filesystem  If not the filesystem, then some sort of custom written compression/decompression system based on some secret data that is not readily accessible on the filesystem. 

That way if some of the servers were seized,  nothing would really happen from it.   

Are you saying that 133 connections and 500kb/s is the load on the silkroad entry node?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SelfSovereignty on November 10, 2012, 09:28 am
Are you saying that 133 connections and 500kb/s is the load on the silkroad entry node?
No, not at all.  It was just a random example to get some hard data about the kind of load Tor will impose on a server; you're reading too much into it :)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: mushitup on November 10, 2012, 09:34 am
I like the cut of your jib techguy.

The fact is that remotely monitoring any service causes delays...add TOR and the delays are even greater (and what if the team accesses these services via satellite?  ADD A LOT MORE TIME LOL).  So say a service on a box somewhere freaks out and stops responding, in a perfect world you receive a text or an email the instant it stops responding.  I really, really doubt this is the case for SR unless they have a homemade app to check the site every 5-10 seconds and relay a message, even then why the fuck would it go to anything but TOR?

Sooooo...SR being a hidden service that only exists within TOR (and clearnet forwarding sites :() I doubt there is truly real time monitoring going on for a lot of reasons.  Maybe the guys running the site are out for drinks right now, who the fuck knows...we don't get that kind of info here nor should we.  Patience is a virtue.

And of course maybe LE finally hacked the planet, nobody knows until the article runs.  I enjoy the downtime right now because checking SR gets fucking addicting.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SelfSovereignty on November 10, 2012, 09:51 am
It occurs to me: I don't think it's possible to determine from packet inspection at the server machine a given client is connecting via Tor.  Honestly even if it is, I don't see how it would be the least bit useful, since the server has as much access to the network streams it's handling as it pleases without deep packet inspection or having to look at IP and/or TCP headers.

By monitoring the packet stream in the middle while it's still in the Tor network (e.g. what all our ISPs probably do these days), sure you could tell it's Tor traffic.  Pretty simple.  But the entire point of Tor is transparent proxying: shouldn't the only indication that someone's using it be the fact that the IP of the exit node their traffic is coming out of has an entry in the Tor directory mirrors?  If it's obvious even after the stream is routed out of the exit node, then Tor would be trivial to squash altogether.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 10, 2012, 09:57 am


The forum here says the most users online ever was 169 (bottom of the page).  Apparently this guy's (consumer-level) computer is handling 133 active Tor streams at the moment and still has resources to burn. Despite the no doubt much higher load on SR than the forums here (2x, maybe even 3x the users -- honestly I really have little or no idea though, in truth), I doubt it's anything that would bring the server to its knees.


Gotta remember most memebers set there status to "offline now due to spamming"
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SelfSovereignty on November 10, 2012, 10:19 am
Gotta remember most memebers set there status to "offline now due to spamming"
That's a good thought, but I don't think it actually changes the number. And for some reason, most people actually don't hide their status... right now I'm seeing 1 guest, 65 visible users, and 7 hidden users.

Edit: oh cool, lots of info available actually... Wow, Limetless has 3x more posts than anyone else. And the meth thread is only the 5th most posted-to, and 8th most viewed...?  Heroine boards are #1?  Hmph.  And here I thought they'd all be taking naps while the tweakers never stopped talking...
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: BenCousins on November 10, 2012, 10:59 am
Gotta remember most memebers set there status to "offline now due to spamming"
That's a good thought, but I don't think it actually changes the number. And for some reason, most people actually don't hide their status... right now I'm seeing 1 guest, 65 visible users, and 7 hidden users.

Edit: oh cool, lots of info available actually... Wow, Limetless has 3x more posts than anyone else. And the meth thread is only the 5th most posted-to, and 8th most viewed...?  Heroine boards are #1?  Hmph.  And here I thought they'd all be taking naps while the tweakers never stopped talking...
tweakers threads been surprisingly quiet lately. normally they go through 4-5 pages a day. it barelyeven pops up in my nptifications anymore
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: kitkat82 on November 10, 2012, 11:03 am
Gotta remember most memebers set there status to "offline now due to spamming"
That's a good thought, but I don't think it actually changes the number. And for some reason, most people actually don't hide their status... right now I'm seeing 1 guest, 65 visible users, and 7 hidden users.

Edit: oh cool, lots of info available actually... Wow, Limetless has 3x more posts than anyone else. And the meth thread is only the 5th most posted-to, and 8th most viewed...?  Heroine boards are #1?  Hmph.  And here I thought they'd all be taking naps while the tweakers never stopped talking...

Opiates tend to make people more sociable and boost the mood.  Amphetamines make them more focused and active, but not always social.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SelfSovereignty on November 10, 2012, 11:09 am
tweakers threads been surprisingly quiet lately. normally they go through 4-5 pages a day. it barelyeven pops up in my nptifications anymore
I'll be happy to start treating it like my personal blog again if you like  ::)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: kalymist on November 10, 2012, 11:17 am
Whaou
I should have come here before sending my bitcoins on my SR account ^^

I'm screw now.

Can't forward the machine.

I don't get how it can be overloaded. Isn't people on the tor who share there broadband (by turning on the relay option) , who actually host everything ? 
The data is splitted in piece everywhere ?

The more people get on the tor, the more it's flow full ?
Once megaupload will be on the tor (hope they will share with us ^^ ) the hidden web is going to be fluid ?

I'm stuck, sorry, needed something for party, screw, hope for the best everyone.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Joy on November 10, 2012, 11:28 am
I cant fucking login for the whole day today. :-\
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SelfSovereignty on November 10, 2012, 11:29 am
Alright, something is seriously fucked. I think someone figured out how to manipulate the way Tor chooses its circuits/nodes on the way to the destination, because the entire list is exactly the same almost.  See http://dkn255hz262ypmii.onion/index.php?topic=70342.0

No platforms, all up for 42 years, and somehow I keep retrying the same ones again and again...?  wtf?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: kalymist on November 10, 2012, 11:42 am
With is my tor running on a debian live OS , asking me for "contact info" ? the tor software is asking for setting the "contact info".

WTF ?

He wants to edit torrc.orig.1


Whate the hell is going on.



Selsoverignty, how is that possible for these IP to stay online for 42 years ?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SelfSovereignty on November 10, 2012, 12:19 pm
With is my tor running on a debian live OS , asking me for "contact info" ? the tor software is asking for setting the "contact info".

WTF ?

He wants to edit torrc.orig.1


Whate the hell is going on.



Selsoverignty, how is that possible for these IP to stay online for 42 years ?
It's not, that was my confusion... now I'm even more confused though.  Forget I mentioned it -- I'm totally puzzled by what's going on, but it wouldn't be responsible of me to let it sit there freaking people out w/o knowing more.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Twelve_Pickles on November 10, 2012, 01:07 pm
Is there anyone else here slightly concerned that all this business with connectivity has something somewhere to do with LE???
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: UltimateSolution on November 10, 2012, 01:20 pm
Is there anyone else here slightly concerned that all this business with connectivity has something somewhere to do with LE???
No
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SelfSovereignty on November 10, 2012, 01:24 pm
Is there anyone else here slightly concerned that all this business with connectivity has something somewhere to do with LE???
Yeah, I'm kind of thinking it.  Not gonna worry about it until they proudly display an FBI seal on the SR login page though.  Still, in a period of a couple of weeks, the most often used method for getting BTC -- or I think it was, BitInstant to bitcoin address -- vanished so abruptly there wasn't even a notice about it, cash deposits at banks were no longer available, BitInstant first said two days, then a week, then 2 weeks or something; then SR started having major connectivity issues the past several days, and now it's just up & vanished.

I almost feel like they only left the forums up so they could monitor countermeasures and backup URLs and stuff :)   (I don't think that's really the case, but I can't help kinda thinking it).  Disclaimer: I have no evidence for this beyond BitInstant apparently now disclosing they're working with the FBI and all the troubles lately.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: h1n1z2 on November 10, 2012, 01:52 pm
This is fucking bullshit, i've two orders sitting there that CANNOT auto-finalise yet. Goddamn it.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Mangazi on November 10, 2012, 01:54 pm
If you're in Europe I suggest using BitStamp, they're based in Slovenia so a bank transfer only takes one or two days, and the EU so far doesn't seem to give a fuck about SR. Although I'm not a 100% sure about that.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: gazwel on November 10, 2012, 02:32 pm
I got an order this morning and want to release the funds :( Gore more that I don't know have been sent or not, feel bad for the vendors to be honest.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: anonymous3100 on November 10, 2012, 02:39 pm
Hey gang,

Just want to keep everyone in the loop. 

cool WTF? is goin on now then, It looks like the site is 100% down another update would be appropriate.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Twelve_Pickles on November 10, 2012, 02:44 pm
im sad at the lack of access to my fave site =[
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: UltimateSolution on November 10, 2012, 02:58 pm
Hey gang,

Just want to keep everyone in the loop. 

cool WTF? is goin on now then, It looks like the site is 100% down another update would be appropriate.
Just let him do his thing. Isn't it better he tries to fix the problem instead of posting updates here every day?
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: highonthehill on November 10, 2012, 03:56 pm
can you tell us when the off peak times are?

yes when are the peak times? 

thanks guys,

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: dempills on November 10, 2012, 04:00 pm
Presumably peak times are during the evening in either Europe or North America; Australians will probably luck out time wise.

Saying that, it's 2:30 am +10 GMT (Australian East Coast) and not a connection is to be seen :(
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: princeblack49 on November 10, 2012, 04:03 pm
Is there anyone else here slightly concerned that all this business with connectivity has something somewhere to do with LE???
Yeah, I'm kind of thinking it.  Not gonna worry about it until they proudly display an FBI seal on the SR login page though.  Still, in a period of a couple of weeks, the most often used method for getting BTC -- or I think it was, BitInstant to bitcoin address -- vanished so abruptly there wasn't even a notice about it, cash deposits at banks were no longer available, BitInstant first said two days, then a week, then 2 weeks or something; then SR started having major connectivity issues the past several days, and now it's just up & vanished.

I almost feel like they only left the forums up so they could monitor countermeasures and backup URLs and stuff :)   (I don't think that's really the case, but I can't help kinda thinking it).  Disclaimer: I have no evidence for this beyond BitInstant apparently now disclosing they're working with the FBI and all the troubles lately.

Whats is the deal with bitinstant and the FBI? Please post links. I am checking now.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Schrady on November 10, 2012, 04:04 pm
Bitinstant to address is back. I just used it Wednesday and sent a moneygram from Walmart. Big banks are not on right now as they change their API. I got my BTC in 60 minutes, made my order, and SR went down after that day.

Hmpf

Now I have $500 worth of BTC sitting I can't access. I made some orders, but who knows if they vendors got them???

This sucks.


Is there anyone else here slightly concerned that all this business with connectivity has something somewhere to do with LE???
Yeah, I'm kind of thinking it.  Not gonna worry about it until they proudly display an FBI seal on the SR login page though.  Still, in a period of a couple of weeks, the most often used method for getting BTC -- or I think it was, BitInstant to bitcoin address -- vanished so abruptly there wasn't even a notice about it, cash deposits at banks were no longer available, BitInstant first said two days, then a week, then 2 weeks or something; then SR started having major connectivity issues the past several days, and now it's just up & vanished.

I almost feel like they only left the forums up so they could monitor countermeasures and backup URLs and stuff :)   (I don't think that's really the case, but I can't help kinda thinking it).  Disclaimer: I have no evidence for this beyond BitInstant apparently now disclosing they're working with the FBI and all the troubles lately.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Schrady on November 10, 2012, 04:06 pm
Paranoia. BitInstant worked fine 3 days ago. Funds were in my account immediately.e it easy

No FBI. No bullshit. Take it easy


Is there anyone else here slightly concerned that all this business with connectivity has something somewhere to do with LE???
Yeah, I'm kind of thinking it.  Not gonna worry about it until they proudly display an FBI seal on the SR login page though.  Still, in a period of a couple of weeks, the most often used method for getting BTC -- or I think it was, BitInstant to bitcoin address -- vanished so abruptly there wasn't even a notice about it, cash deposits at banks were no longer available, BitInstant first said two days, then a week, then 2 weeks or something; then SR started having major connectivity issues the past several days, and now it's just up & vanished.

I almost feel like they only left the forums up so they could monitor countermeasures and backup URLs and stuff :)   (I don't think that's really the case, but I can't help kinda thinking it).  Disclaimer: I have no evidence for this beyond BitInstant apparently now disclosing they're working with the FBI and all the troubles lately.

Whats is the deal with bitinstant and the FBI? Please post links. I am checking now.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: princeblack49 on November 10, 2012, 04:24 pm
http://dkn255hz262ypmii.onion/index.php?topic=69563.0

This link has good info. Feel better now. The FBI thing is more about large foreign transactions, money laundering and terrorism funding. Bitinstant does have some responsibility to comply at this level just to operate. That said with SR being pretty large it may be an issue they are in the middle of.

In the meantime it may be best to keep a mtgox acct. and withdraw when you are ready to buy. It also keeps your funds stable. BTC will surely devalue if SR goes down. It is a factor in stabilizing that economy.

Fingers crossed.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SelfSovereignty on November 10, 2012, 04:26 pm
Paranoia. BitInstant worked fine 3 days ago. Funds were in my account immediately.e it easy

No FBI. No bullshit. Take it easy

Hmm... yeah, I can't for the life of me find this warning I saw somebody mention in the past couple of days either. Not a single mention of it on their site as far as I can see.

Sorry, apparently I was just spreading FUD.  That's what I get for not checking it myself, I guess.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: LainOfTheWired1984 on November 10, 2012, 10:45 pm
Thank you DPR for everything you do, and to the entire SR team.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: jameslink2 on November 10, 2012, 11:14 pm
I thought I would chime in here. I do not know the configuration of SR or what they have configured behind the scenes. However, I do know about server loads and balancing the loads.

Due to the way Tor works it would make load balancing a web service difficult. In most cases a load balancer would use the address of the requesting party to track a session, something needed for sites like SR.

They would have to use a load balancer that follows the session information and balances the load across multiple servers. The servers would have to then communicate to the database or database cluster depending on the size.

This in and of itself causes a list of security issues on TOR. The load balancer would have to communicate via TOR but the back-end systems could not be on TOR. If they were the lag would multiply. If you configure the back-end web server and databases without TOR then you open a can of worms with security concerns and you would have to work extra hard to make sure there are no security/information leaks. A single leak could compromise your anonymity!

So, I can see how a load spike could cripple the site and it would take a lot of work and testing before a properly balanced design could be implemented.

 
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: Purple_Hue000 on November 10, 2012, 11:26 pm
Honestly, the peak time for me is around (give or take) Noon; or 12pm.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: technofarm on November 10, 2012, 11:34 pm
official update from inigo (an admin):

http://dkn255hz262ypmii.onion/index.php?topic=70572.0

:)  probably back up by Monday.
wow!! such a relief! 
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: flicky42 on November 10, 2012, 11:40 pm
DPR,


Most people with this ability would just see it as a website that makes him money, but you are seriously a man with principles that I admire. I have no doubt that you will pull through every challenge without compromising your values of keeping the road open to all.

I think its awesome  8)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: pbody88 on November 10, 2012, 11:42 pm
Now I can chill all day, smoke cones, wait for my parcels to arrive tomorrow, and hopefully be making new orders tomorrow also. ;D
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: TheGoodSon on November 11, 2012, 04:35 am
I thought I would chime in here. I do not know the configuration of SR or what they have configured behind the scenes. However, I do know about server loads and balancing the loads.

Due to the way Tor works it would make load balancing a web service difficult. In most cases a load balancer would use the address of the requesting party to track a session, something needed for sites like SR.

They would have to use a load balancer that follows the session information and balances the load across multiple servers. The servers would have to then communicate to the database or database cluster depending on the size.

This in and of itself causes a list of security issues on TOR. The load balancer would have to communicate via TOR but the back-end systems could not be on TOR. If they were the lag would multiply. If you configure the back-end web server and databases without TOR then you open a can of worms with security concerns and you would have to work extra hard to make sure there are no security/information leaks. A single leak could compromise your anonymity!

So, I can see how a load spike could cripple the site and it would take a lot of work and testing before a properly balanced design could be implemented.

They'd have to have the database transactions through a highly encrypted channel on the clearnet if using multiple failover locations. Fortunately, they should be making enough money that this becomes not so terribly bad since the equipment isn't cheap.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: onefishtwofishredfishblue on November 11, 2012, 09:54 am
I cant fucking login for the whole day today. :-\

same :( at least things are not compromised
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: drdoof on November 11, 2012, 11:14 am
I am tryig out the BMR http://5onwnspjvuk7cwvk.onion/index.php an it all works fine, slighly different here and there but I just fulfilled my first order and sure hope to do more. Competition is good voor de market, but when the market gets competitioon herself they start lockiing topic ans removing posts… Check out tde BMR, do’t bet everything on the ranch, these guys need to come of their high horses and come clean with the peole that made them a success… I’m focusing on setting up shop at the BMR, and you can just ask for a sellers account if oyu want… fees are 4% fixed rate… so what’s stopping you?
(I excppect this to be erased by one of them, they sure got time for that)
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: gazwel on November 11, 2012, 11:50 am
I am tryig out the BMR http://5onwnspjvuk7cwvk.onion/index.php an it all works fine, slighly different here and there but I just fulfilled my first order and sure hope to do more. Competition is good voor de market, but when the market gets competitioon herself they start lockiing topic ans removing posts… Check out tde BMR, do’t bet everything on the ranch, these guys need to come of their high horses and come clean with the peole that made them a success… I’m focusing on setting up shop at the BMR, and you can just ask for a sellers account if oyu want… fees are 4% fixed rate… so what’s stopping you?
(I excppect this to be erased by one of them, they sure got time for that)

It is well known that some cannabis vendors were putting shit like glass in the weed, you only have to read the feedback and forums there to see. Fuck that man unless I know who the seller actually is and I have bought from them on SR already.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: HeadacheHealer on November 11, 2012, 01:00 pm
You guys are all saying you haven't been able to access the site in 24 hours, or all day, yada yada yada... I've been trying many different ways since Thursday night and been unable to reach even ONCE.  Like many of you, I'm a vendor and bad things could be a'happenin' feedback wise :/

Earlier last week when SR wouldn't load for me, onion.to addresses for SR DID load.  Is using .to safe if you're accessing them from TOR?  (if it happens to start to work again--right now, no dice, or a 502 bad gateway) -- or would it be a bad idea and the .to proxy could be harvesting usernames/passwords?

Question though for all the buyer accounts, will auto-finalized transactions stick? or will they be removed from stats history if they AF'd during this "down period"?

Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: UltimateSolution on November 11, 2012, 08:39 pm
Simple solution is to make sure you always have several days left before auto finalzie, it's not hard to go into resolution center and ask for a long extension.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: SelfSovereignty on November 12, 2012, 09:34 pm
Question though for all the buyer accounts, will auto-finalized transactions stick? or will they be removed from stats history if they AF'd during this "down period"?
DPR (or Inigo, or somebody with red anyway) said in another thread they'll fix stats once things are back up if you provide them with the relevant information.  Just have to contact support apparently.
Title: Re: explosive growth
Post by: highonthehill on November 12, 2012, 10:25 pm
still unable to get SR to load....saying now that "404 Not Found" for the site.  I read on the forums from one of the amin that he  would be shocked if SR was not up by monday-im sure you all read the same....im not sure of my emotions of this...i still cannot get onto SR-i have an order that is finalized.....i want to know what is going on but cant.  but on the other hand I LOVE SR and i soooo support it in every way....I suppose in the end I want SR to take its time.....".CAN U BELIEVE WE CAN HAVE A MARKET PLACE FOR THIS STUFF?  WE CAN BUY  A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G WE WANT AND HAVE REVIEWS OF ITS QUALITY-" ....

I am so grateful for this...if not just for me but for the health of society that gets bad drugs and suffers the consequences.

SR take your time- make sure we are safe ...I believe we all support you- I know I do-even tho my nerves are in binds because i have $$$B$ wrapped up in it.-----

-M