beginner10-15 minutes

Connection Issues Troubleshooting

Step-by-step guide to resolve connection problems with the Tenders-SA platform

Connection Issues Troubleshooting

This guide helps you resolve common connection problems with the Tenders-SA platform, including login issues, API connectivity problems, and network-related errors.

Most connection issues can be resolved quickly with the solutions provided below. Follow the steps in order for best results.

Common Connection Issues

1. Login Problems

Symptoms:
- Cannot log in to the platform
- "Invalid credentials" error
- Login page keeps refreshing
- Session timeout errors

Solutions:

1. Check your credentials
- Verify your email address is correct
- Ensure Caps Lock is off when entering password
- Try the "Forgot Password" option

2. Clear browser data
- Clear cache and cookies for tenders-sa.org
- Chrome: Ctrl+Shift+Delete → Select "Cached images and files"
- Firefox: Ctrl+Shift+Delete → Select "Cache"

3. Check browser compatibility
- Use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge
- Disable browser extensions temporarily
- Try incognito/private browsing mode

4. Verify account status
- Check if your account is active
- Confirm email verification is complete
- Contact support if account is locked

2. API Connection Issues

Symptoms:
- API calls returning 401 Unauthorized
- Connection timeout errors
- SSL certificate errors
- "Cannot connect to server" messages

Solutions:

1. Verify API credentials

javascript

// Check your API key format
const headers = {
  'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
  'Content-Type': 'application/json'
};

2. Test API connectivity

bash

# Test basic connectivity
curl -I https://api.tenders-sa.org/health

# Test with your API key
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
     https://api.tenders-sa.org/v1/tenders

3. Check rate limiting
- Verify you're not exceeding API rate limits
- Check response headers for rate limit information
- Implement exponential backoff for retries

3. Network Connectivity Issues

Symptoms:
- "Site cannot be reached" errors
- DNS resolution failures
- Intermittent connection drops
- Slow loading times

Solutions:

1. Check DNS settings

bash

# Test DNS resolution
nslookup tenders-sa.org

# Test with different DNS servers
nslookup tenders-sa.org 8.8.8.8  # Google DNS
nslookup tenders-sa.org 1.1.1.1  # Cloudflare DNS

2. Test network connectivity

bash

# Basic connectivity test
ping tenders-sa.org

# Trace route to identify connection issues
tracert tenders-sa.org  # Windows
traceroute tenders-sa.org  # Linux/Mac

3. Check firewall settings
- Ensure port 443 (HTTPS) is open
- Verify antivirus software isn't blocking the site
- Check corporate firewall restrictions

Advanced Troubleshooting

SSL Certificate Issues

Symptoms:
- "Your connection is not private" warnings
- Certificate expired errors
- Mixed content warnings

Solutions:

1. Check system date/time
- Ensure your computer's date and time are correct
- Check timezone settings

2. Update browser and OS
- Install latest browser updates
- Update operating system certificates
- Clear SSL state in browser settings

WebSocket Connection Issues

Symptoms:
- Real-time features not working
- Chat functionality unavailable
- Live updates not appearing

Solutions:

1. Check WebSocket support

javascript

// Test WebSocket connection
const ws = new WebSocket('wss://api.tenders-sa.org/ws');
ws.onopen = () => console.log('Connected');
ws.onerror = (error) => console.log('Connection failed:', error);

2. Proxy configuration
- Configure proxy settings for WebSocket connections
- Check corporate proxy restrictions
- Ensure WebSocket protocol is allowed

Performance Issues

Slow Loading Times

Symptoms:
- Pages take long time to load
- Images and assets loading slowly
- Timeouts during peak hours

Solutions:

1. Check internet speed
- Test connection speed at speedtest.net
- Ensure minimum 5 Mbps for optimal performance
- Consider using wired connection instead of WiFi

2. Optimize browser performance
- Clear browser cache
- Disable unnecessary browser extensions
- Close unused browser tabs

3. Use CDN resources
- Check if CDN is accessible from your location
- Try accessing from different network
- Contact support for regional access issues

Best Practices

💡Best Practices for Preventing Connection Issues

- Keep your browser and operating system updated
- Use a stable internet connection (avoid mobile hotspots for critical work)
- Clear browser cache regularly
- Use password managers to avoid login errors
- Test API connections before implementing in production
- Monitor system status page for known issues

Quick Diagnostic Checklist

Before contacting support, run through this checklist:

- [ ] Internet connection is working (test with other websites)
- [ ] Tenders-SA status page shows no incidents
- [ ] Browser is updated to latest version
- [ ] Cache and cookies are cleared
- [ ] Different browser/device has same issue
- [ ] API credentials are correct and not expired
- [ ] No firewall/antivirus blocking the site
- [ ] DNS resolution is working correctly

Error Code Reference

| Error Code | Description | Solution |
|------------|-------------|----------|
| 401 | Unauthorized | Check API key or re-login |
| 403 | Forbidden | Verify account permissions |
| 404 | Not Found | Check URL or API endpoint |
| 429 | Rate Limited | Wait and retry with backoff |
| 500 | Server Error | Try again later, contact support if persists |
| 502 | Bad Gateway | Check system status page |
| 503 | Service Unavailable | Service maintenance, try again later |
| 504 | Gateway Timeout | Check network connectivity |

Help and Support

If you're still experiencing connection issues after following this guide:

- Check our system status page for ongoing incidents
- Contact support with specific error messages and steps you've tried
- Include your browser version, operating system, and network details
- Provide screenshots of error messages if possible

← Common Issues Document Issues →

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Connection Issues Troubleshooting