Custom Error 404 pages and Google

[webgator]

At the Search Engine strategies conference in Boston, which I just returned from (great event for all those who missed it) the Google tech representative mentioned that Google has had some problems with sites that are using Custom Error 404 pages and that the server needs to be configured a certain way to make sure there aren't any problems. I am not totally sure how this was supposed to be done and I wanted to get more detailed information to provide to the guy who handles our servers.

Thanks

[brotherhood of LAN]

Googleguy made a thread about this, or posted in a thread on this subject, I'll try find the URL.

It's something to do with the HTTP status code that google receives with a custom 404 page. The bot gets confused and thinks the 404 page is a legitimate page.

If anyone can find the thread before me, or be more detailed, mucho appreciated ;)

//added
I think the original is 404, here's the related discussion

[webmasterworld.com...]

[Total Paranoia]

Its here

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