FIRST Server Issues

[bcampbell]

Was anyone able to register?

[Bluman56]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

It came back up for a second, then went down again.

I called FIRST, and someone actually answered. They said they are working on the issue and hope to have it resolved soon. I asked if I needed to stay glued to a computer, or if they would re-launch at a future date and time. The representative I spoke with said she didn't have any information about that.

They really just need to call it off and do a re-launch, with it working.

Agreed. As much as I'd love to sit at the computer for an hour or more, I have work to do as I'm sure is the case for many others.

This is my third year registering a team for a regional, and the first two times were far more smoother than this...

[Jim Wilks]

FIRST and IT -- A losing combination again.

[kdavidson]

I feel like I'm trying to win something on a radio call-in contest. Dial, busy, dial, busy...

[jgerstein]

These crashes on timed submissions need to be addressed. I'm sure I'm not the only mentor who's arranged the day to be able to handle registration. Both of 1257's mentors with access to register teach classes that start at noon today, and while I was able to plan a lesson that would leave the first few minutes of class free to register, I've got to get back to teaching and risk missing an event if I don't catch the return of the registration system.

Perhaps a system more like the updated First Choice system could be an option.

[topgun]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

They really just need to call it off and do a re-launch, with it working.

Agree.

[cpapplefamily]

I'm a first year mentor registering. Glad to see its everyone

[ghesla]

This was so expected, this new fancy dashboard...

I need to work, HQ!

[Trying to Help]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I called FIRST, and someone actually answered. They said they are working on the issue and hope to have it resolved soon. I asked if I needed to stay glued to a computer, or if they would re-launch at a future date and time. The representative I spoke with said she didn't have any information about that.

They really just need to call it off and do a re-launch, with it working.

I'm glad someone answered and you posted this! This is not a problem that should happened. It's either a capacity problem (server, bandwidth), a failure to load test the a database or a failure to test the event registration process sufficiently. These are not problems without solutions. FIRST set the date. They knew this was going to happen unlike the reddit "hug of death".

I'm sure that there are plenty of mentors, donors, etc. that would be only too happy to lend their expertise to prevent this.

Why are we stuck with this?

[Larry Lewis]

I just got off the phone with FIRST. Their server are down and they are working on it. She mentioned that they may possibly postpone registration and that there would probably be an announcement going out soon.

[cpapplefamily]

Why not present registration

[marshall]

Why is this a free for all instead of a lottery system?

Either way, my hat is off to the FIRST IT staff handling the fire right now. I hope Frank and Dean sponsor a party for you after this is resolved.

[Tsom467]

Ah yes, FIRST's web sites, doing what they do best... not work! I recall many years at this time trying to register and just seeing error pages. Refresh after refresh. As someone above mentioned, this is a solvable problem, I can't understand why they have an issue with this.

[mathking]

Originally Posted by marshall

Why is this a free for all instead of a lottery system?

Either way, my hat is off to the FIRST IT staff handling the fire right now. I hope Frank and Dean sponsor a party for you after this is resolved.

Agreed. A lottery would make much more sense, be less stressful and be more fair to teams who may not have a mentor free at noon EST.

[devitrify]

I completely agree.

The rush to register is unbecoming to FIRST's ideal of Gracious Professionalism.

Andy Mark worked hard to fix a similar grab-fest for FIRST Choice parts. A similar system would be a big improvement for the FIRST event registration system.