The "Slurp Search"

404 means...its really gone

[Visi]

....404 error....means it is gone. Would think that after 5 months of checking the database, they might actually figure this out? Wouldn't be so bad but also has to come back 3 or 4 times a month to recheck. Update the data people. Was bad enough that Google took 3 months to update their databases, now this. This is starting to stand out like a sore thumb on our reports as they are only ones generating 404 errors. Nothing wrong with the error pages, just poor updating.

[jdMorgan]

Visi,

Well, technically, no... 404 means the resource is not found. It could be a server error or a script error. If you want to mark a resource as gone, you should set up your server to return 410-Gone status, not 404-Not Found.

I understand what you mean about Slurp being slow, but actually, they are being "forgiving" in case there is a problem with the site. 410 clears up the problem much faster.

Jim

[Visi]

a 410....well learn't something today....thanks JD. Going looking at how to serve that up to the slurp bot:)

Thanks