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Email, phone, text support
We offer friendly, fanatical customer service when you need it (Unless we're asleep... but we'll get to you when we aren't!)!
Imagine opening your inbox one morning and hearing that “a mail server is down.” You might worry: “Is my email broken? Am I going to miss something important?”
The good news? Probably not. Here’s why.
What Is a Proxy Server?
When you send or receive email, your message doesn’t just fly directly from your device to its destination. It travels through a series of specialized computers called proxy servers. These servers help route, protect, and deliver your email safely and efficiently.
Think of a proxy server like a toll booth on a highway. It checks and directs traffic to make sure everything gets where it needs to go.
Why Email Providers Use Many Servers
Reliable email providers don’t just use one proxy server. They use dozens (or even hundreds!)... all working together. This setup is called a distributed system.
Each server helps carry part of the load. If one gets busy, another steps in. If one needs maintenance or crashes temporarily, the others keep working without missing a beat.
One Server Down Doesn’t Mean Email Is Broken
When you hear “a server is down,” it simply means one of many toll booths is temporarily closed. But there are still plenty of open lanes.
Your email provider has already planned for this. Just like a well-run store opens more checkout lanes during rush hour, email systems can shift traffic to other servers when one goes offline.
A Simple Analogy: The Call Centre
Imagine calling customer service. You’re one of many callers. The company has a team of agents answering phones. If one agent takes a break, the rest of the team keeps helping callers. You might wait a second longer, but the system still works.
That’s how proxy servers work in email. Each server is part of a bigger team. Losing one doesn’t mean the whole system is down.
The Takeaway
Email systems are built with redundancy... a fancy word for backup plans. One proxy server going offline is no cause for alarm. The rest of the system carries on, keeping your emails moving smoothly.
So next time you hear about a “server issue,” take a breath. Your inbox isn’t broken. It’s just part of a complex, reliable system doing exactly what it’s designed to do.
Take Action!
There are several things you can to do circumvent this issue.
- First... Check the email server status. We use "Rackspace" to provide email, and you can check if there are server issues by clicking here.
- First... email tech support and notify them of the issue. A simple email to "support@gaslampvillage.com" will garner almost instant response (depending on when you sent it). We care about our clients and pride ourselves on fanatical support.
- Second... try accessing your webmail portal. You will need your email password in order to do this (You DO know your email password, right?)
- Go to "https://webmail.[your-web-domain.com/.ca]"
- Enter your email address and email password
- Access your email and try to send it from there
- Third... Just have a coffee and wait a few minutes. Things will be working again shortly.
Our email service boasts over 99% uptime, and issues are VERY rare. We're here for you!
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priority service
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