Preserved Topic: HTTP Error 406

what could be the reason for a http error 406 ressource not accepted.

a client is reporting this when accessing one of my pages that include a flash animation.

Did a quick look around with Google, and from what I can see a 406 error happens when your documents don't match the language preferences of the browser. For example, if the browser is set to accept only English documents, and you have only Italian documents, the user will get a 406. At least that appears to be the case. If that doesn't make sense, check out the following links:

Here's one page from the Virtual Private Server Handbook that talks about this.

Here's another page from somewhere else that includes a basic definition of 406.

I don't know what this has to do with Flash, or how exactly to fix it, but maybe the links will help.

[Edited for readability]

[This message has been edited by Suho1004 (edited 06-17-2002).]

that is exactly what i too suspected first.

because i am using a language set for this in my apache configuration. (german/english and the client is from belgium)

thank you very much, suho!

Well, glad I could be of help. I didn't know what a 406 was until I saw your post, but I'm glad my fishing around brought some results!

does anyone know a workaround for this?

in normal cases the apache server lists the available files like
index.html.en
index.html.de

but sometimes when you use IE you get the internal IE 406 error message.
(i have a screenshot to prove this! )

so how would i go to configure apache that if a 406 occurs it automatically redirects to the *.html.en file?


and for the statistics, does anyone know how many people dont have english language installed at all?

quote:

---

One workaround for this situation is to trap 406 errors with a custom ErrorDocument page or script.

---

That's the last sentence from the first link up there... hopefully you know what they're talking about. Also, I'm not sure if that's actually a solution or just a workaround (as it says).

OK, I got the ball rolling, now someone who knows what they're doing help Grumble out!

yes, in general that would be a fine solution.
but as i said in my previous post, IE sometimes behaves strange and shows his internal error message, so this solution is not workin out for me.

You could use a .htaccess option to do this:

ErrorDocument 406 /page.php

This will send 406 errors to /page.php. Change accordingly.

ah, that's what i searched for!
i'll try it tomorrow.
thanks, pugzly!

just a page or the entire server?


Harmonizing new illusions...
ICQ: 67751342

what?

Um, maybe it's just that I don't know what I'm talking about (pretty good chance), but isn't what Pugzly said the same thing that I quoted above? Anyway, as long as you're able to find a solution. Let us know how it works out.

no suho.
well im no expert at this myself, but as i uderstand it pugzlys version is an entry into the apache config itself and has nothing to do with the error document itself. it just configures apache this that if aa 406 error occurs: before the error document is shown, the user is redirected to the new page!

~scribbling it down~

Yes this could be helpfull...

Did it work out ?

Powered by Curiousity

couldnt test it yet, since im not at work. and i also have to coordinate things with the system admin.
but i'll let you know about any news.

The .htaccess thing doesn't require any configuration changes by the SysAdmin. Just create the .htaccess file with the one line in it, and drop it into the folder you want it to apply to. The root folder would be best, as it would then apply to all downlevel folders.

!!!
very clever!
hihi

thanks, pugzly!

Hmmm... I thought that's what it was talking about. Oh well. As long as you get a fix.

hehe, i thought you were talking about custom error pages. and afaik that's not the same! but i could be wrong too.

The .htaccess method gives you the custom error page capability as well. Plus, you can use more than one error code in .htaccess....

ErrorDocument 404 /not_found.php
ErrorDocument 406 /page.php
ErrorDocument 500 /500.php

They can redirect to ANY page on your site - a custom error page, a redirect, whatever.

pugzly, sorry it took so long...

i tried it now, but without success. i made a .htaccess file with the line

ErrorDocument 406 /index.html.en

but no change.

Now you probably need to talk the SysAdmin.....

hehe.
i did so. but he only said, that with the errordocument is not a good solution at all.