Google and last modified headers

Getting the server to say the right thing

[DerekH]

This is a really easy question, but I don't know the answer!
Googleguy said that getting one's webserver to issue a "not modified since" in response to Googlebot can help reduce data transfer.

I have a website that I put onto a virtual host 2 months ago, and the logs show me 15% of hits generate a 304. However, Google seems to take about 75% of my site every day, and I get fresh dates every day for all of those, even though many aren't changing.

I've done a header server check and can see that it returns a 200 with the date last modified.

My question is this - what tool do I need to see whether my server is generating a 304 when it should be - it's doing some, I'm not sure it's doing enough!
Or is Google fetching differently without a "modified since" nowadays?

DerekH

[tantalus]

DerekH

Its not unusual for gbot to get a 304 and less than a second later fetch the page.

If you think about it there is a good reason why G would want to check this.

[DerekH]

If I think about it, I can see what you're saying, but it's annoying being white hat, and paying bandwidth charges on behalf of those who are playing a different game!
<smile>
DerekH

[tantalus]

"and paying bandwidth charges on behalf of those who are playing a different game!"

Boy do I know what you mean.

off topic...Nobody has seemed to mention Googles new logo. Not much goodwill going about.

Happy valentines day :)