Re: [squid-users] HTML Codes?

It can be discussed if 503 is the correct error code for this case, but
it is a close match. Squid has to return a 5xx class of error in this
case, and there is not that many to select from..

410 is not allowed, as Squid has no means of knowing that the domain is
permanently gone, or just temporarily not published.

404 may be applicable, but it is a thin line as the request is correctly
composed and the error only occurs because Squid as a proxy could not
find any knowledge on where to forward the request. Also risk returning
false negatives in case of temporary DNS failures etc.

So to be on the safe site Squid uses 503 when the request could be
correctly processed but no server where to forward the request could be
found for whatever reason this is, and 504 when forwarding of the
request times out. A more detailed description of the actual error is
contained in the returned message.

Regards
Henrik

Lee Bailey wrote:

> I understand why the error was generated. The DNS entry for this site
> no longer exists, as stated. But it appears that the HTML error code
> generated by the proxy server could be incorrect. It is recorded by my
> link-checking software as error 503.
>
> According to my list of HTML error codes, 503 means 'Out of Resources
> - The server cannot process the request due to a system overload. This
> should be a temporary condition.'
>
> Since the lack of a DNS registration is neither 'out of resources'
> and probably not 'temporary', shouldn't the error code be different
> (e.g. 410 which is 'Gone - The requested resource is no longer
> available at the server and no forwarding address is known')?"
>
> I've got 3 Squid-based proxy servers and all return a tcp_miss/503 for
> any URLs that don't exist/typos. I don't regard this as a problem but a
> query as to whether this is the correct response for this situation or
> whether the 503 definition has changed?.
>
> Can anyone please comment, so I can give an informed respsponse?
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Lee.
>
>
>
Received on Wed Mar 26 2003 - 17:20:25 MST