Troubleshooting DISCO Bulk Uploads

It’s possible that you’ll run into bumps in the road while running large uploads. This could be due to Internet connectivity issues, hard drive connection issues, computers going into sleep mode, etc. Use the tips below to smooth out the process and successfully import your files into DISCO using the Bulk Uploader.

CONTENTS

Identifying a Stalled Upload

Many upload issues stem from finicky Internet connection between your computer and DISCO’s servers.

Sometimes uploads stop running for different reasons, and it isn’t always obvious.

Watch Upload Activity

The Activity Monitor (on Mac) or Task Manager (on PC) are apps that show how much data is currently being sent and received through your network connection.

On Mac, the Activity Monitor can be found in your Applications > Utilities folder
On PC, open the Task Manager pressing and holding the CTRL, Shift, and ESC keys simultaneously

Find the activity monitor on your computer

Monitor the upload activity in the Network tab.
Ideally, the outgoing data rate will consistently remain above the resting rate when the upload isn't running.
While using DISCO Uploader, you will see consistent upload (data sending) activity that ranges solidly above 1mb/s and up - but it depends entirely on your Internet connection bandwidth.
On an average connection, Data sent/sec usually ranges between 5 and 20 mb/s.
In the screenshot below, Data sent/sec is 14.9 MB and Packets out/sec is 10,741:

Highlight of data sent in activity monitor

The moving graphic shows how the data packets sent/received change over time.
The solid blocks of activity [where the arrows are pointing] indicate that the upload is progressing.
The DISCO Uploader appears in the Process Name list, and the Sent Bytes column shows how much data has been uploaded.

Stalled Upload Indicators

Usually when an upload has stalled, the data sent/sec varies dramatically and drops into the low 100s of KB/s or below - signaling that there isn’t a consistent upload running.

In this example I paused the upload, which caused the rate to drastically drop; 22.1 KB is much much lower than what it was while the upload was running normally.

The resting rate was Packets out/sec = 37, whereas it was 10,000+ while the upload was running.

The blue and red spikes indicate that the upload is running smoothly.

examploe of stalled upload in the activity monitor

Now that you have a basic understanding of what data transmission activity should look like when an upload is running smoothly (vs stalled), let’s check out some actions you can take to get back on track when things go wrong.

Troubleshooting Stalled Uploads

If you notice that the upload is going very slowly or has stalled, there are a few important things to be aware of while troubleshooting to avoid restarting the entire process from the beginning:

DO NOT click the X to remove the uploading folder unless we advise you to do so.
DO NOT disconnect your hard drive while the Uploader is running.
ALWAYS PAUSE the upload before disconnecting your hard drive or shutting down your computer.
ALWAYS ask our Support Team for advice before doing anything drastic!

Examples of what not to do during the upload

Fixing a Stalled Upload

Pause the Uploader, wait 30 seconds, then continue by clicking Start.
If that doesn’t work, pause and then log out of the Uploader. Next, close the app, reopen it, log back in, and click Start - the uploading folder will continue from where it left off.
The final method is to log out, close the app, and then restart your computer. Next, log back in and click Start.

Run an internet speed test to check your connection. If it seems unstable, unplug the power to the modem/router for 30 seconds. This often solves general Internet connectivity issues.

Please write to our Support Team if you are still experiencing uploading issues after trying these troubleshooting tips.