beginner10-15 minutes

Connection Issues Troubleshooting

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

Connection Issues Troubleshooting

This guide helps you resolve common connection problems with the Tendersa 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)
- [ ] Tendersa 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