It could be something that your host has changed outside of WordPress, or an unusual stuck process, or maybe a script that is stuck but not completely failing — it is certainly strange.
You can try turning on the “Disable config caching” option — this option works differently from the others, so even if the other options can’t be saved, this one may still help. (The only reason I can think of for this, is if the cache file is locked, and stuck that way. This might also prevent you from removing and reinstalling Wordfence until the lock is freed, so I am not suggesting reinstalling!)
If your host has ModSecurity installed, there might be a new rule that is blocking the call to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php, which normally saves the options. Usually that would return a response instead of hanging.
You mentioned checking the browser’s console already — can you also check the “Network” tab in the same area, and try saving options while it’s open, to see if the connection is attempted?
-Matt R
It just loops endlessly on a Post – no errors indicated…
Screenshot:
http://strongproudready.ca/missionready/wp-content/uploads/wordfence_options-save.png
Host is a Cirrus VPS and as far as I know, there have been no changes to the server since yesterday when it worked fine!
Where can I check if this ModSecurity setting has been changed or enabled?
Thanks for the help thus far!
I’ll continue wrestling with this issue on Monday….
(End of day here, now)
Hmm, ok. All the lines that are 0.16 KB look normal — those are typical when a Wordfence page is open. The one that is 0.05 KB may be your attempt to save, or a check from WordPress — can you see what those say if you click on them? (Check the “Response” tab in the section it will open.)
The one with the blank type, size, and duration is unusual, too, and may have been the first attempt to save — if there’s no response at all, usually there is something in the site’s error log, or something higher up (outside of WordPress) may have caused it.
Did you also try the “Disable config caching” option yet? Since this is an unusual symptom, that may still help.
Another possibility is a problem with your MySQL database. It’s generally rare, but if there was a problem writing a record, or the mysql process crashed, sometimes a table can be unusable. You or the host may be able to repair the table using phpMyAdmin, or another tool, if that is the case.
-Matt R
Edit: For your question about ModSecurity — if your host uses cPanel, it should be listed among the icons, if they have it enabled for individual users to change their own settings. If it’s not there, or if you use a different control panel, I think you would have to ask the host. Hope this helps!
I checked ModSecurity – no new rules in place.
The response tab for that section is empty in the Network Inspector. Shall I post the other tab contents? (headers, cookies, params) The Timings tab is also empty.
Just for fun, I logged in from my iPad via cellphone and I was able to set and save settings from there. So there is something up on my particular workstation that changed in two days. Can it be a cookie or something that is misconfigured? I did completely clear the cache each time I tried….
So… further digging revealed that something has changed on the DND network and that particular communication path has been blocked for some reason.
That means it’s something entirely at the network end over here…
Sorry to have troubled you, but I do appreciate your very helpful input that was instrumental in helping me track down the cause!
Ok, no problem. Glad we could help!
-Matt R
