Hi,

I have a web hosting account and the host has a server status script that notifies customers whether http, ssl, pop3, etc is up or down. I've noticed a few times my site has been unavailable, at times pingable and other times not pingable. However, HTTP port 80 appears to be up when I check the hosts status script page.

I've used Alerta's SpotCheck tool and AlertSite's similar tool and both reported the site down. What can cause these differences and how can I explain the problem to my host? They always tell me the server has been up for x number of days.

- Heidi

Perhaps the hosts status page isn't dynamic; thus services would always show as online. Also if the web server has crashed, the server may still be pingable but you will not be able to view your site.

If you can't get answers from your host, there's a myriad of others out there. I would suggest that you start looking for a new host who can keep your site and their server online.

Originally posted by serial
Perhaps the hosts status page isn't dynamic; thus services would always show as online. Also if the web server has crashed, the server may still be pingable but you will not be able to view your site.


If the web server crashed can it still show HTTP port available? When might a status page like the one below be incorrect? That probably doesn't detect network problems right?

I'm using a free monitoring service that also checks HTTP port 80 and many times I'm not alerted when the site is unavailable on my end. However, like I said earlier, Alertra's and AlertSite's status check will even show the server down but my monitoring service and the hosts status page shows HTTP OK? Why the differences?

How reliable is this type of status page?

http://status.httpme.com/

The server could have locked up, leaving the port open. However, it may not be responding to requests.

Next time you can't view your web site, try sending a traceroute to your host. Another issue is that perhaps your hosts monitoring system is local, so outside network issues will not affect the system status page.

A few times when I couldn't access my site, I did a ping and traceroute and both showed no problems. However, I couldn't access my site through a browser, Alertra spotcheck, and AlertSite status showed "cannot connect". Maybe the server crashes but the port is still open like Mathew said?

This site is doing the same thing that mine does sometimes.

Can you access this site? Try to ping and traceroute and everything seems fine right but I cannot connect?

http://www.b2bnow.com

does the site use asp?

:confused:

Originally posted by cptkoi
does the site use asp?

:confused:

No, I don't think so. Isn't that for Windows?

its the server thats going down and not serving the pages on your site.

I am in the uk and the server is up but it has locked up, which is y its not serving our pages....

as above does your site use asp - this can be a common problem..... if you can tell me more about the site i may be able to help.

well yeah it is generally viewed as a windows option but it isnt just available on windows.

the system that your host uses seems to be checking ports and not page views - the latter is a better option for the customer but not the host in most cases unless they are charging you lots of money for the privelage.