Most likely the primary web server (which I imagine is the IP address one, as well) is failing. FlyerTalk has two web servers which load-balance page requests between them. When one goes down, usually we get intermittent service - requests sent to the good server work, and requests sent to the bad server 404. So you can be working and then crash as your requests are bounced between the two boxes.

The IP address usually works because it bypasses the DNS (which is where the load-balancing is done, I believe) and goes directly to the server itself. But since whatever server the IP address I have is not responding, that must be the bum sever.

I am assuming web2 is now inundated with page requests, so that might explain why it is just sending text and omitting most of the graphics - lower bandwith needs. There might also be some bandwith throttling at the server-side to help.

And yes, there are FT staff, but sometimes they are offline during the weekend or they are busy trying to identify, isolate, and correct the problem and therefore do not have time to come on here and give us an update.

But rest assured they will fix it and provide a post-mortem of what caused the problem.

As users, the best thing we can do is try and be as specific as possible in reporting what we are seeing/experiencing to help the staff focus their efforts.

And to that end, I am on web2 right now and it downloaded all the graphics and speed remains fine, as it has all weekend.