Hughes Network and 404 errors

I've been banging my head against the wall for the last couple of weeks trying to figure out why I have all these 404 errors in my log files. A 404 is page not found, these are logged by the server when a request is made for page or file that doesn't exist. I can then look them over and try to correct any errors there might be. After some further investigating the vast majority of them are nearly all from IP's belonging to Hughes Network.

There is apparently a bug in the way they have it set up for Satellite service. The biggest issue seems to be relative URL's. For example the Google ads look for certain files on Googles server through the JS script. All the requests that should be going to Google's server are coming to my server. I'll stress this is not normal and it's the ISP's fault and It's not just the google ads but since they are on nearly every page it's the most prevalent.

If you are using this service I'm just giving you heads up to let you know what the issue is if you are experiencing any trouble viewing this site. I'll also note it appears they do a lot IP switching like AOL however in their case it appears the first two octets change which will cause you to get logged out.

If you're experiencing any problems here or on other sites I'd strongly suggest you contact them and tell them to get their act together.

Edit: I know some of you are using this service because I looked. Let me know if you have any trouble. Full size Images posted in the forum look like they might be another problem

Dear Mr. Mayor,

Although I am not a Web expert I believe I may know what you are talking about. I have been running a webserver for experimental purposes on and off for almost a year now. When I run the webserver almost every day in my HTTP Error log I will find a web address and a 404 error and maybe a 201 error. I cant remember at the moment, because I do not have it running so I cannot access the file. Anyway from what I found out someone was trying to use my server as a proxy to surf to another server. So when they would try to utilize my server in this way the 404 error was generated. If Proxy were enabled in Apache then they may be able to use my server as a proxy server, however since it was not the error message was generated.

Simply put....an attempt was made to use my server as a proxy, since proxy was not enable an error was generated and then logged into the HTTP error log file.

Hope this helps...and if I am wrong then I apologize...I am still learning.

Neal

You're close there ntp71, Hughes Network as I understand it does mostly satellite and cell so they use a proxy server in between their clients and my server to speed things up especially with the satellite. I believe it's misconfigured though and is sending requests for some relative URL's to the wrong location.

404 errors in log file are common, matter of fact you'll get stings of them where someone is looking for exploitable files. The ones I'm referring to are for files referenced in pages here or in the case of the adsense ads being served here but should go to Goolges servers.

In any event I'm redirecting them to the proper location.

Over the last 25 years I've had every kind of computer connection possible at my home, from acoustic modem to my current DSL. Each change was a improvement in speed over the old. I had the Hughes Direct PC service for a few years. It works like this. Up load communication is via analog modem, usually 56K with compression. Download is via satellite broadcast. There is a special interface in your computer to the satellite dish electronics. It has a unique identifier. When a URL or any other transmission request is made the identifier is added as well as information to return the data to the Hughes data center in Germantown, MD. There your re-directed download data resulting from your URL request along with your unique identifier is combined with other similar customer's data is relayed to the satellite. The satellite broadcasts it all to it's geographic coverage area. Your dish receives it and the hardware/software in your computer filters out what's unique to you. Since it does involve another proxy server in the path I'm not surprised some error messages show up. The modern day details my be slightly different but that's the essence of how it works.

The PC Direct system was an improvement over pure full duplex analog modems. My next improvement was ISDN.

I am using Hughes Network for my internet. This web site usually functions without any noticeable problems. Once in a while it will act as if it is still trying to load some elements of the web page even though the page appears to be all there. If the Google adds are not loading all of the time I would not even know or care. Hughes tech support is in India last time I called them and is 90% useless. There are a couple of sites I go to that always come back with “The website is unable to display the webpage” HTTP 501/HTTP 505 when I hit refresh it loads. This happens on the same sites every time, it is annoying but I can live with it.

For anyone wondering; Hughes satellite internet is only for people who can not get high speed internet any other way. If you are tired of complaining about dial up and have no other options get Hughes and then you can complain about Hughes instead of your dial up provider. With satellite I loose service during heavy cloud cover like thunderstorms and heavy snow. You also have to live with their Fair Access Policy.

Yanche, you must have had one of the first generations of satellite internet. What I have is a dish, a little larger than a TV dish, which transmits and receives. Two coaxial cables go between the dish and a self hosting modem. The modem is powered with a DC power supply. An Ethernet cable connects the modem to a computer, router, or hub depending on how many computers use the connection and your setup. I have no idea how the thing works, it could be similar to what Yanche described, minus the phone line. I know they have web acceleration and TCP acceleration and I have no idea how that works either.

Hughes just sent me a new modem this week and I’ll be installing it this weekend. I have no idea if I will see any difference. They sent me notice that the old modem is outdated and I could get the new one free!! (as long as I keep their service for another 12 months)

gaw wrote:If the Google adds are not loading all of the time I would not even know or care.

I care though. It's not just the ads though but they are also going to image files that do not exist. Here's the errors from when you posted that image (ip removed ). Do you see the image on the page? Images should be viewable in the page:

Code: Select all

[Sat May 16 07:03:21 2009] [error] [client xx.xx.xx.xx] File does not exist: /var/www/vhosts/nepacrossroads.com/httpdocs/HughesNet.JPG, referer: http://nepacrossroads.com/posting.php?mode=reply&f=7&sid=779fc798ec4934855ced996de4106096&t=11258
[Sat May 16 07:03:41 2009] [error] [client xx.xx.xx.xx] File does not exist: /var/www/vhosts/nepacrossroads.com/httpdocs/HughesNet.JPG, referer: http://nepacrossroads.com/posting.php?mode=reply&f=7&sid=779fc798ec4934855ced996de4106096&t=11258
[Sat May 16 07:04:06 2009] [error] [client xx.xx.xx.xx] File does not exist: /var/www/vhosts/nepacrossroads.com/httpdocs/HughesNet.JPG, referer: http://nepacrossroads.com/about11258.html
[Sat May 16 07:05:16 2009] [error] [client xx.xx.xx.xx] File does not exist: /var/www/vhosts/nepacrossroads.com/httpdocs/pagead, referer: http://nepacrossroads.com/forum-57.html
[Sat May 16 07:05:16 2009] [error] [client xx.xx.xx.xx] File does not exist: /var/www/vhosts/nepacrossroads.com/httpdocs/pagead, referer: http://nepacrossroads.com/forum-57.html
[Sat May 16 07:05:26 2009] [error] [client xx.xx.xx.xx] File does not exist: /var/www/vhosts/nepacrossroads.com/httpdocs/pagead, referer: http://nepacrossroads.com/about11264.html
[Sat May 16 07:05:26 2009] [error] [client xx.xx.xx.xx] File does not exist: /var/www/vhosts/nepacrossroads.com/httpdocs/pagead, referer: http://nepacrossroads.com/about11264.html
[Sat May 16 07:06:35 2009] [error] [client xx.xx.xx.xx] File does not exist: /var/www/vhosts/nepacrossroads.com/httpdocs/pagead, referer: http://nepacrossroads.com/forum-19.html
[Sat May 16 07:06:35 2009] [error] [client xx.xx.xx.xx] File does not exist: /var/www/vhosts/nepacrossroads.com/httpdocs/pagead, referer: http://nepacrossroads.com/forum-19.html
[Sat May 16 07:17:45 2009] [error] [client xx.xx.xx.xx] File does not exist: /var/www/vhosts/nepacrossroads.com/httpdocs/HughesNet.JPG, referer: http://nepacrossroads.com/about11258.html
[Sat May 16 07:29:21 2009] [error] [client xx.xx.xx.xx] File does not exist: /var/www/vhosts/nepacrossroads.com/httpdocs/HughesNet.JPG, referer: http://nepacrossroads.com/about11258.html


I know there is nothing you can do about it but it's problem for me. Firstly I have no clue if you or anyone else using this service is not getting served what I intended to be served. e.g. If the image is missing that makes me look bad and it's not my fault. Secondly they are using extra resources albeit its minimal however if every ISP did this it would be a problem.

Lastly and most importantly it makes a mess of the log files making it really hard to find real errors.

Below are two captured screens showing what I see on the web site. I am using the new “upgraded modem” from Hughes Net. I have no idea if that makes a difference but you can check your files to see. The new modem installation was a typical Hughes PITA. What sounded so simple was not exactly but that is a different story.

If you think they have issues with their system you could e-mail them or send me a PM or e-mail explaining the problem and I could forward it to their technical support dept. I do not know if it will do any good. If they are generating a lot of error messages on web sites I would think it would have been brought to their attention.

Do these errors show up all the time, only when logged in, or only when posting? I think that I am seeing the web site the way you want and I would guess Hughes would say that’s all that matters to them. If these errors are also slowing down the service on their end that could be an angle they would more likely be interested in responding to.


On a completely different note, the old Direcway modem was made in Mexico and the new Hughes modem is made in the USA. I found that interesting. (the Direcway modems were also made by/for Hughes)

Let me know how the new HughesNet modem works. I have the Direcway DW7000 system. I won't turn this into a rant about HughesNet because other options are dial up, Verizon "unlimited" cellular internet which only allows 5gb a month before they start charging $$$$, or pay Time Warner cable $25,000 to string a wire up to my house. For those that are considering satellite internet; if you can get cable, DSL, or even link up to a Dunkin Donuts WiFi spot then go with that. The only real drawback besides weather related outages and slow speeds is the 250-500mb per day (PER 24 HOUR ROLLING PERIOD) download limit depending on your plan. Compared to dial up it is great.

I do not see any difference in the way the new modem works versus the old one. It does not seem to be any faster or better. I am beginning to believe that it was just a ploy to make sure I will remain a subscriber for the next twelve months. Hughes is not great but when the only alternative is dial up, well…

You might have another choice, a wireless carrier's internet service. American Tower (http://www.americantower.com/SiteLocator/Default.aspx) owns many of the towers cellar carriers use for their antenna mounting. By locating one near your home, ideally within line of sight, you can then choose a wireless carrier that's on that tower. At one time Sprint offered direct wireless microwave links to customers. The antenna on the tower was omni-directional but equipment on your home was pointed to the tower. The equipment installation in your home required a FCC licensed technician because a high power transmitter was necessary. Today some carriers provide similar service using transmitters below the power level that requires a FCC technician's license for installation. Public pricing for these service plans is difficult to find.