Robozilla/1.0

[proxyHunter]

when robozilla hits your site, is it because you have submitted to be added to the directory and its finally come around to check your site, or if you already have a site in the directory does it check your site is functioning?

[operafan]

I believe it's when after your site is listed & it comes out on a monthly basis to check all links to see which are working & which aren't.
So when he comes your site better be working :)

[korkus2000]

It also checks sites in the queue. You may be visited by robozilla without an actual listing. Like said above it is just checking for 404s and does not include your site. DMOZ inclusion is completely done by human hands.

[windharp]

> It also checks sites in the queue.

Well, that is an idea for a nice bonus feature. Until now, it only checks listed sites.

FYI - Some additional information about RoboZilla can be found at [en.wikipedia.org...]

[joeblakesley]

He even has his own profile :)

[dmoz.org...]

(OK...I was bored...had to mention that...I'll go now.)

Joe

P.S. More serious info here:
[inelegant.org...]
[dmoz.org...]
[dmoz.org...]
[dmoz.org...]

[totalXSive]

As windharp says, Robozilla only visits listed sites (so a hit from Robozilla could be seen as a positive signed that you're listed). He may visit sites that are waiting for review in future but at present he does not.

Another ODP-related bot to look out for is 'TulipChain', a Java application run by individual editors for checking listings. This can optionally check submitted sites too.

[korkus2000]

>>He may visit sites that are waiting for review in future but at present he does not.

He has in the past. Must have taken that feature away. There was confirmation from metas and webmasters who were not listed but did spot robozilla, including me.

[kctipton]

I've edited a really long time (about 4 years) and robozilla has NEVER visited unlisted sites in that time. They have to be listed to be visited.

[korkus2000]

Here is a moldy oldy

[webmasterworld.com...]

After that thread I did some research and found a lot more webmasters getting robozilla while not being listed.

[totalXSive]

Very odd. All I can guess is that it was perhaps a test feature. Either way, at the moment, Robozilla only visits listed sites - if he did visit unlisted ones then he doesn't anymore.

[kctipton]

I guess I should clarify that I don't know that Robozilla ever marked any sites as nonworking if they were sitting in unreviewed. Visit maybe, but mark broken, no.

[theseeker]

I don't think Robozilla checks sites in unreviewed, but I suppose there might be some test going on I don't know about. One thing to think about though, I could create my own linkchecker and have it send Robozilla/1.0 as the user agent. Other than through the IP address, there's no way to know if it is the ODP's Robozilla.

[tschild]

A robozilla visit to an URL could also be the result of

- your site being listed in some editor's bookmarks (the ODP search function does not cover the bookmarks)

- your site being listed in a category you don't expect it to be listed in.