Random intermittent 404 error pages

[DesignFlaw06]

Any progress on this?

Well, I've tried the .htaccess file you've provided. So far so good, but we have had some hosting issues lately. They claim we are exceeding our memory limit for our shared hosting plan. They won't say what that limit is. We're searching for a new host. I'm not sure if the two are related, but it is odd that it still shows the Wordpress 404 page if memory limit is really the problem.

I put in the .htaccess file you put here. Thank you for that. I've not seen the issue, but like I said, it is intermittent. I know that it isn't an incorrect URL because when it happens to me, I can reload the exact same URL and it works the next time. All that being said, I have not seen the issue since first posting about it.

[kaspir]

Awesome. Progress is always good. Problem solving isn't always fun.

Talk to your host again, ask them to peek at their server logs and investigate 404 errors on your domain. They will be able to tell you if the 404 was produced server-side if it's in their logs and why.

As for phpBB throwing Wordpress 404 page, I'm going to guess that maybe your file structure has Wordpress installed on a your main domain, and phpBB within or under that. As I said, it's an educated guess.. if phpBB is installed within your Wordpress file structure. For example, here is my file structure, with Wordpress on my main domain, phpBB installed within the file structure setup on a subdomain: http://prntscr.com/j6xgot

There you see my /forums/ folder, that's my live phpBB sudomain, installed under my root, which is my Wordpress install. Near the bottom you see the /wp-content/ folder providing you the proof that this is exactly how I have mine. (However I never had this problem)

Now, I'm not saying change your file structure at all, as long as it's organized for you. But I'm saying, I think that's why it may be throwing the WP 404 on your forum.

Regardless, I'm willing to bet now with the new info you provided, it's because your being throttled, and that's why it's so random and can't be reproduced on demand.

I highly recommend SiteGround hosting, I've been using them for years and it's incredible support with always less than 5min wait time! You can get 60% off the first year, with or without my affiliate link if you decide to switch. If you do decide to switch, help a brother out and use my link, then become an affiliate yourself for free!

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[DesignFlaw06]

Awesome. Progress is always good. Problem solving isn't always fun.

Talk to your host again, ask them to peek at their server logs and investigate 404 errors on your domain. They will be able to tell you if the 404 was produced server-side if it's in their logs and why.

As for phpBB throwing Wordpress 404 page, I'm going to guess that maybe your file structure has Wordpress installed on a your main domain, and phpBB within or under that. As I said, it's an educated guess.. if phpBB is installed within your Wordpress file structure. For example, here is my file structure, with Wordpress on my main domain, phpBB installed within the file structure setup on a subdomain: http://prntscr.com/j6xgot

There you see my /forums/ folder, that's my live phpBB sudomain, installed under my root, which is my Wordpress install. Near the bottom you see the /wp-content/ folder providing you the proof that this is exactly how I have mine. (However I never had this problem)

Now, I'm not saying change your file structure at all, as long as it's organized for you. But I'm saying, I think that's why it may be throwing the WP 404 on your forum.

Regardless, I'm willing to bet now with the new info you provided, it's because your being throttled, and that's why it's so random and can't be reproduced on demand.

I highly recommend SiteGround hosting, I've been using them for years and it's incredible support with always less than 5min wait time! You can get 60% off the first year, with or without my affiliate link if you decide to switch. If you do decide to switch, help a brother out and use my link, then become an affiliate yourself for free!

https://thetopfew.com/go/siteground

Thanks again for your help.

To answer your question, yes, phpBB is installed underneath the Wordpress now. Originally it was just phpBB, but we wanted to use a Wordpress front end. Instead of fjriders.com being the forums, it is now fjriders.com/forums same as yours. I modified the Wordpress 404 page to check for old forum links and then redirect automatically. That way links referencing old posts would still work. But as I said before, I know the links were correct when the 404's happened to me. And it would only check for the redirect if the 404 already happened, so I'm fairly certain that change has no effect on this.

Can I ask what kind of plan you're on with SiteGround? Is it shared hosting? Our forum has about 1,000 members but it rarely has more than 5 on at a time. Usually it is only one or two. It would seem to me that a shared hosting would be enough, but Dreamhost isn't being forthcoming about what's really going on. Instead, they keep trying to push the VPS bit. We may go to a VPS if we have to, but it won't be with them. The customer support has been more of a sales pitch instead of actual help.

If we do decide to go with SiteGround, I'll definitely use your link. Thanks again for the help.

[axew3]

My friends in Italy
https://www.aruba.it/en/about-us.aspx
Hosting Linux

[kaspir]

Thanks again for your help.

To answer your question, yes, phpBB is installed underneath the Wordpress now. Originally it was just phpBB, but we wanted to use a Wordpress front end. Instead of fjriders.com being the forums, it is now fjriders.com/forums same as yours. I modified the Wordpress 404 page to check for old forum links and then redirect automatically. That way links referencing old posts would still work. But as I said before, I know the links were correct when the 404's happened to me. And it would only check for the redirect if the 404 already happened, so I'm fairly certain that change has no effect on this.

Right.

Can I ask what kind of plan you're on with SiteGround? Is it shared hosting? Our forum has about 1,000 members but it rarely has more than 5 on at a time. Usually it is only one or two. It would seem to me that a shared hosting would be enough, but Dreamhost isn't being forthcoming about what's really going on. Instead, they keep trying to push the VPS bit. We may go to a VPS if we have to, but it won't be with them. The customer support has been more of a sales pitch instead of actual help.

If we do decide to go with SiteGround, I'll definitely use your link. Thanks again for the help.

Yes I still am on shared hosting with them. I have the GrowBig account (multi-sites), and do run several at the same time with ease. The support team will talk to you even before you buy anything if you have any questions, they will also help you move everything over. They are truly the most helpful support I ever had! I'm sure there are other good ones, but I stick with what works!