Incomplete encrypted downloads

[pBarrelas]

Hello,

I’m having some issues regarding incomplete downloads from encrypted links.

I’ve tested all my downloads and they are working fine but it looks like a small percentage of my clients are getting problems stating that the download gets interrupted.

I asked them to try at different times of day, as some internet connections vary along the day, but even though they can’t finish the downloads. So I had to give them links from Dropbox and 4Shared which worked perfectly fine.

I even contacted my host provider (Go Dady)and they tested the server. No problems detected.

Any ideas about why is this happening only to some of my clients?

Thanks,

[wzp]

It’s a combination of server and network performance issues. The best solution is to use the Amazon S3 integration feature, and hand off the downloading to Amazon.

https://support.tipsandtricks-hq.com/forums/topic/i-want-free-members-to-listen-paid-members-to-downloadon-the-same-page

The first year is free.

[pBarrelas]

Thanks for your reply! I’m paying more for my hosting service in order to get unlimited bandwidth and a lot of storage room, because I’m producing video tutorials to be provided for the 3D community for free as well as payed ones and now I’d have to pay extra fees? Not fair! Could limiting the file size, resolve the issue?

[pBarrelas]

I just made the test of asking one of my costumers whose downloads never get completed to download the same file directly from my server. It worked. This means that WP eStore is producing the problem. Can the encryption mess it? If so how can I solve this, because I really need those links to be encrypted!

[wzp]

The problem is that PHP is acting as a middleman between the file and the user. As such, if there are any server limitations on PHP memory, or script timeouts, the download will not complete. If you were to enable debug logs, and look at the download_manager_debug.log file, It will most likely show a download starting, but no compleation message. That is indicative of the server terminating the download script before it can finish.

By using the Amazon S3 option, you hand off the download process to the AWS network, and remove your host from the download process.

[wzp]

Using Amazon S3 integration still uses the encrypted links; but the server is no longer burdened with acting as the middleman.

Amazon Web Services Simple Storage Service (AWS S3) Integration

http://www.tipsandtricks-hq.com/a-bucket-full-of-objects-amazon-s3-3052

[pBarrelas]

So other that AWS I don’t have any other solution for those clients with slower internet connections that cuts the downloads?

Is there any possibility to change the script timeouts?

[wzp]

The timeouts are being enforced by the hosting provider. They exist, as a fail safe against scripts that run out of control. You need to ask the provider if they will remove (unlikely) the limits, since larger files will take longer. BTW, the first year of Amazon S3 is free.

[pBarrelas]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I know that the AWS first year is free (partially) but I don’t want to move my files there and then after 1 year, move them back.

Upgrading to a Static IP would improve my situation?

[wzp]

not really. your provider has configured PHP a particular way. Also, if you are on a shared server the performance will also be affected, depending upon the load of other sites that share your “box.”

[wzp]

Downloads from your server will also be affected by where the user is located.

[pBarrelas]

Thanks for the explanation.

I thought that by having a dedicated IP adress, I would get better response on periods of high traffic load as is advertised at GoDady, my host.

[wzp]

Sure you weren’t thinking of “dedicated SERVER?”

[pBarrelas]

I have to admit that dedicated SERVER would be good but too expensive for me.

Just for you to have one idea why I can’t use the amazon S3, the free 1st year only gives you 5GB of storage and up to 15GB of traffic per month. I’ll a lot more storage space than that (my host gives me 150GB) and in 5 days I had 325GB of traffic way above of what amazon free account can give me.

[amin007]

The hard disk storage and the RAM memory is not the same thing. Your server needs to have enough RAM memory so PHP can serve the file securely to the customer. The hard disk storage only lets you store big files on your server (it doesn’t guarantee that PHP will have enough RAM memory to serve a file securely). Please read this document which will explain more on this:

http://www.tipsandtricks-hq.com/ecommerce/selling-large-files-with-wp-estore-796

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