Error messages

  1. 400 Bad File Request
  2. 401 Unauthorised
  3. 403 Forbidden/Access Denied
  4. 404 File Not Found
  5. 408 Request Timeout
  6. 500 Internal Error
  7. 501 Not Implemented
  8. 502 Service Temporarily Overloaded
  9. 503 Service Unavailable
  10. 504 Gateway Timeout

This page describes some common error messages you might receive when using the RMIT web site, or external web sites.

400 Bad File Request

There’s either something wrong with the URL address you entered (uppercase or lowercase letters, punctuation marks, forward or backward slashes), or you may not be authorised to view that file, or it doesn’t exist.

Check the address carefully. Look for spelling mistakes, commas used instead of dots, slashes in the wrong direction – they should be all forward ‘/’ slashes, and check capitalisation of words and filenames.

401 Unauthorised

You can’t access this file because you aren’t authorised.

Login to the web site. Check you have entered the correct password. Remember that passwords are case sensitive.

403 Forbidden/Access Denied

Similar to 401 above. You can’t access this file because you aren’t authorised.

Login to the web site. Check you have entered the correct password. Remember that passwords are case sensitive.

404 File Not Found

The server cannot find the file you requested – it has been moved, renamed or deleted, or you used an incorrect URL or document name. Look at the URL. If a word looks misspelled, correct it and try it again. If that doesn't work, backtrack through the address by deleting information between each backslash until you come to a page on that site that isn't a 404. From there you may be able to find the page you're looking for, or search for particular keywords.

408 Request Timeout

You stopped the request for the document before the server finished retrieving it: using the browser's ‘stop’ button, closing the browser or selecting another link before the previous file loaded.

500 Internal Error

Could not retrieve the file because of server configuration problems.

501 Not Implemented

The web server doesn't support a requested feature.

502 Service Temporarily Overloaded

The web server is congested with too many requests.

Try again later.

503 Service Unavailable

The server is busy, or the file you requested has moved, or your Internet connection was lost.

Try again later.

504 Gateway Timeout

A server (not necessarily a web server) is acting as a gateway or proxy to fulfil your request. This server did not receive a timely response from another server it accessed.

Check your proxy settings and try again.