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Not always online capsules

Chris McGowan cmcgowan9990 at gmail.com

Tue Sep 21 19:50:52 BST 2021

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My assumption, when I follow a link and I just get an error message, is that the capsule is dead, and the project abandoned. I assume an always-on internet. I'm wondering how we can change this assumption, and make it ok for capsules not to always be online.

That, I believe, is the point of the DNS txt record. In theory, a client, when getting a cannot connect error from the capsule could query for a DNS txt record for the domain (presumably at a standard or conventional place/name) which it could then display to the user attempting to connect. This message could say something like:

"Hey looks like you tried to reach me during my capsule's off hours. Here's when this capsule is online <schedule>. If it is currently within that schedule and you still can't reach the site, please let me know here: <contact details>"

Or some other appropriate message.

This would have the benefit of being relatively simple to implement for clients and for capsule hosts to use, although your registrar would have to allow txt records.