FWIW, I currently get an error loading Simbrief dispatch (in a web browser), both directly as well as via a VPN connecting through Canada (currently Montreal).
Based on previous experience, it will most like resolve itself soon.
However, this happens regularly (for myself, I would say I have temporary difficulties reaching Simbrief about once a month, although most of the time – unlike today – a VPN workaround does the trick).
This is arguably getting a bit ridiculous – someone is reporting difficulties reaching Simbrief perhaps at least about every other week on this very forum; it’s like the Simbrief server is in the Bermuda triangle or something.
I realize these routing issues are transient and, in a way, outside of your control, but by comparison, I’ve almost never had any issue using Charts Desktop, and I’ve never ever (that I recall) been unable to access the Navigraph website or the forum.
Is the Simbrief server perhaps located on residential premises, or is it in a data center somewhere instead? In the latter case, perhaps you should consider moving it to a different datacenter?
This current issue you are having is likely not related to the server, but a configuration change that seemed to affect some devices. I’ve rolled it back, please let me know if it’s fixed for you.
The data center is located in eastern Canada. Without getting into the technical details, it’s extremely complicated to move SimBrief to the same infrastructure as the Charts app and APIs. It isn’t an easy fix and it will take much more time unfortunately. But know that it is on our radar and is a long term goal.
Please let me know if the issue you had earlier is solved now, I suspect it should be.
Sure, but that just moves the problem elsewhere. Solving it for some users, creating it for others potentially.
The issue isn’t so much the specific data center, it’s the lack of a global private network and stuff like multiple edge locations that cloud-based services can use to improve connectivity.
To be honest, I’m not the best at understanding or explaining how that all works. But we have other team members who are much more knowledgeable and are investigating what the options are.
