5xx Server Errors: What They Are and How to Find Them

5xx server errors are frustrating roadblocks for both users and website owners. These errors impede user flow, hurt search engine rankings, and, if left unchecked, can result in significant revenue loss and damage to your brand reputation. Identifying what causes them—software bugs, hardware problems, unexpected traffic surges—is the key to a fast fix. Let’s take a look at some of the 5xx errors, why they occur, and how to identify and rectify them so that your website remains safe and user-friendly.

What are 5xx errors

5xx errors are server-side HTTP status codes indicating issues preventing the server from fulfilling a request. Common examples include 500 (Internal Server Error), 502 (Bad Gateway), 503 (Service Unavailable), and 504 (Gateway Timeout). These errors are typically caused by server misconfigurations, overloads, or communication failures between servers.

What causes 5xx errors

Webmasters aim for seamless website performance, but 5xx errors are sometimes unavoidable. These server-side status codes signal critical issues that require prompt resolution to maintain functionality. Here are the common causes:

1. Software bugs and code flaws

Server-side code bugs can cause unexpected behavior or crashes, disrupting normal operations. Conducting regular technical audits helps identify and resolve these issues effectively.

2. Hardware and configuration issues

Hardware failures or incorrect system configurations can trigger 5xx errors. Routine system audits and configuration reviews, often paired with SEO analysis tools, are essential to prevent such problems.

3. Resource limitations

Limited server memory or processing power can impede its ability to handle requests efficiently. Regularly monitoring resource usage and proactively addressing bottlenecks are crucial steps to prevent such issues.

4. Third-party service failures

Reliance on third-party services, such as APIs, can result in problems when those services experience outages. Regular testing of these connections and implementing contingency plans, like backups, can help minimize disruptions.

5. Maintenance and system upgrades

Scheduled maintenance or system updates can temporarily trigger 503 errors, indicating the server’s unavailability. Performing these tasks during low-traffic periods helps reduce user impact.

6. Unexpected traffic surges

A sudden influx of visitors can overload the server, causing connection failures or slowdowns. Proper server configuration and scalable infrastructure are essential for handling high-traffic loads effectively.

Why do 5xx errors matter?

5xx errors are more than just technical issues. They disrupt user experiences and negatively impact search engine rankings. Ignoring these errors can lead to significant consequences for businesses. Here’s why they matter:

1. User experience and brand image

Frequent 5xx errors frustrate users and drive them to competitor websites. This not only harms the brand’s reputation but also reduces customer retention, ultimately damaging trust and loyalty.

2. SEO and search visibility

Search engines may penalize websites plagued by recurring server errors, reducing crawl efficiency, rankings, and overall visibility. Prioritizing technical SEO can help mitigate this risk and maintain organic traffic.

3. Lower sales and revenue

Long-term server downtime can seriously damage a brand’s credibility, which in turn dramatically reduces potential sales and revenue. On-page SEO measures can handle these issues.

4. Inability to meet growing demand

Businesses struggle with missed opportunities if their websites’ servers fail to meet growing user demand. By addressing the root cause and streamlining the configuration, the servers free up more capacity to meet the increased workload.

The most common 5xx errors

5xx status codes represent various server-related issues. Understanding these codes is essential for diagnosing and preventing server problems. Below is an overview of the most common HTTP 5xx codes and their implications:

1. 500 internal server error

This error means there are unintended server circumstances causing a failure to process the request. Misconfigurations or unexpected server failures are the most common culprits. Simple, regular technical audits can point out hidden problems causing these incidents.

2. 501 not implemented

This code signifies that the server cannot fulfill the request due to unsupported functionality or an unrecognized HTTP method. Updating server configurations to align with current web protocols addresses this issue.

3. 502 bad gateway

This error occurs when a gateway or proxy server receives an invalid response from an upstream server. Regularly monitoring connection pathways helps prevent these errors.

4. 503 service unavailable

Typically caused by a temporary server overload or maintenance, this error often includes a ‘Retry-After’ header indicating when the service will resume. Scheduling maintenance during off-peak hours and upgrading hardware can reduce these disruptions.

5. 504 gateway timeout

This is a similar error to the 502 error, which happens when one server, as a gateway, fails to get a response from another server in time. Network latency and connection speed are commonly involved with this problem.

6. 505 HTTP version not supported

This status code informs that the server doesn’t match the requested HTTP version and advises for software updates needed for web demand tuning.

7. 506 variant also negotiates

This rare issue comes from poorly configured servers negotiating content incorrectly. There should be modifications to cater to differing request processing algorithms by the server.

8. 507 insufficient storage

This error message indicates that an action could not be performed because the server does not have enough available storage to successfully complete the request. It acts as a recommendation for frequent data cleaning and to increase storage capacity.

9. 508 loop detected

Mostly found in a WebDAV infrastructure, this warning hints at a processing loop in requests that must be debugged to unplug any recursive behavior that will hamper performance.

10. 509 bandwidth limit exceeded

This is a non-standard error message indicating an overriding bandwidth quota that happens during high-traffic shared hosting. More bandwidth and continuous monitoring are the best solutions.

11. 510 not extended

This code shows other request information limitations and communication issues that require protocol standards to resolve.

12. 511 network authentication required

This error occurs because it requires network access authentication. It can happen in scenarios that require user sign-ins.

13. 524 a timeout occurred

This code, specific to domains using Cloudflare as the DNS provider, indicates that the web server took too long to respond to a client request even though the connection hasn’t dropped. Monitoring and ensuring fast query processing is critical for smooth server communication and eliminating this issue.

How to fix 5xx errors

When users encounter a 5xx error, it interrupts the browsing experience. Website owners need to resolve these issues immediately to keep their sites up and running and maintain user confidence.

Analyze server logs

Server logs contain important information about many of these functions and determine what caused the error. Constant inspection of these logs allows website administrators to discover unauthorized access attempts, investigate crashes, and develop strategies for preventing future disruptions.

Talk to your hosting provider

Your hosting company can be a key ally in diagnosing server-side issues. With their specialized tools and processes, they can pinpoint the root causes of problems and provide necessary updates.

Revisit recent changes

Changes in or updates to the server configuration can lead to failures. If you get a 5xx error, retrace recent changes and updates to find the issue. Testing on a staging system before deploying to production can help prevent these errors.

Optimize server load

High traffic can overwhelm servers. Load balancers help split the load across several servers to minimize performance overhead. Temporarily scaling to accommodate large numbers of visitors can also help understand resource-hungry behavior and loading.

Maintain regular checks

Simple routines, such as software updates and infrastructure checks, will keep the system stable. These audits are essential in the technical SEO infrastructure to avoid downtime and exploits.

Utilize debugging tools

Debugging tools are vital in identifying server problems. They uncover underlying issues that you can target for resolution. Effective debugging should be part of any SEO strategy so that your website works at its best and remains search engine-friendly.

How to find 5xx errors

It is extremely important to detect 5xx errors quickly to keep your website healthy and performing well. Although it might seem hard to discern such problems among other HTTP codes, advanced tools can make the task easy to encourage quick fix-ups.

Google Search Console

This is not just a simple SEO tool. Through its Index Coverage and Crawl Stats functionalities, you will be able to learn where the server errors are and what effects they have on SEO, which allows you to optimize for matching on-page actions.

Similarweb audit tool

The Similarweb Site Audit tool is useful for more detailed insights and detecting difficult technical problems like 5xx. These errors can be identified in the Site Audit tool through Home > Project > SEO > Availability > 5xx Errors.

Monitoring tool

You can use monitoring tools to get an external view of your server’s health. These tools notify admins of response code issues so that proactive steps can be taken to keep the site up and running and consistent with SEO practices.

Server log files

Checking server logs frequently is like an entire technical audit. Logs reveal information about server activity and alert you when anything seems amiss. Monitoring these logs will help resolve problems faster and protect server performance and SEO.

Addressing these server errors is a must

Any of these server problems need to be fixed ASAP if you plan on maintaining your users’ trust and security. Similarweb is an excellent tool for ensuring your site runs smoothly, efficiently, and 5xx error-free. Take advantage of our audits to prevent these errors from damaging your business operations.

FAQs

What are the long-term measures to stop 5xx errors?

Regular server monitoring and maintenance will keep your servers up and running. Update your server software and anticipate peak traffic to reduce the chances of error.

How can comprehensive audits help to prevent errors?

Comprehensive audits help to spot bugs and configuration issues before they lead to errors. Managing these findings allows you to optimize the server and site performance.

Would increasing the resources of my site reduce 5xx errors?

Yes, optimizing resources, like effective cache management and content delivery networks, can reduce server workload and decrease the likelihood of 5xx errors.

What is the use of feedback to address server failures?

User feedback is helpful for uncovering issues not apparent in a technical audit and for providing better insights into what needs immediate attention.

How frequently should server logs be checked?

Ideally, you should check server logs at least once a week. This practice allows you to find and fix bugs quickly and keeps the server running efficiently.