RE: Handling 404 errors (Apache Users)

From: Andrew Hole [mailto:andremailinglist@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: 26 August 2009 12:24
To: users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Handling 404 errors

Hi guys!

Actually our web application has a retry mechanism based on http status code returned to client. Just an example:
- An http request is made to http://web/software_A_folder/file.swf
- if the file doesn't exist (http 404) on software_A_folder, the request is made in core folder: http://web/core/file.swf

This mechanism is used on entire application: when a file doesn't exist on software_x_folder, a retry is made on core folder.

In terms of Apache, this mechanism make always 2 requests (in case of file not found).

What I want to know is if there are any option on Apache to handle 404 status code without retry the request. When file not found, some logic will handle the 404 and return the file located on other folder.

I appreciate your help.

Best Regards,
A.

I am not sure if this would work or be what you’re after as I can’t test this right now but you could point the 404 error to a PHP page which grabs the requested URI/L and creates a re-direct to the alternative page. Edit httpd.conf to have the line:-

ErrorDocument 404 /errordocs/404error.php

The php page would be something like:-

Thinking about it, I really don’t know if that would work – I’ve a feeling that it would simply try to load /core/404error.php (which won’t be found, thus producing another 404 error lol!). I also think that two, perhaps three, requests would ultimately be made (page_a à error.php à page_b). Darn, sorry, this might not be much of a solution afterall! But it might help so will submit it none-the-less.

Good luck! It would sure be interesting to know if you find a solution and what it is!

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