Psyberware Communications | A Note About the Web

The World-Wide Web (WWW or 'the Web') is comprised of many different machines around the world. When you are "surfing" or "browsing" the Web, you are calling out to a machine (or "server") far away and asking it to send you a copy of a page it has.

Each and every server out there and every web page you look at is available only through the goodwill and care of people across the world. There are no guarantees that web pages contain accurate information or that they will be there next time you look... It's all a part of the cooperative society of the Internet. Everybody provides what they can and contributes, and everybody agrees to accept what is there "as is".

When it Happens to You

Don't be shocked if someday you try to look at a page and something unexpected happens. Maybe you get a message saying the server is busy and can't show you the page. Maybe you get a message saying the page doesn't exist -- even though you looked at it just last week. These things happen.

Sometimes a far-off server is down for maintenance or busy answering other calls and it sends an error message when you try to look at a page. You can often try again later and find the page once the far-off server is available.

Sometimes the page you're looking for doesn't even exist on that server anymore. Maybe the person who created the page moved away, or decided to get rid of it. You may get an error that says "404 Not Found: The requested URL such-and-such-page was not found on this server." Usually if someone simply moves the page to a different address (or "URL"), then they will leave a message telling you where the new URL is.

In Conclusion

Remember you are looking at pages and files that exist on servers far away, linked by networks of computers linked to other networks... all working as cooperatively as Murphy's Law allows. This involves the cooperation and availability of servers beyond the control of Psyberware and its support staff.

The Internet and the Web are constantly changing, lively, interactive places. Enjoy what they have to offer and don't be afraid to try again later if the first attempt to do something doesn't work. If you get stuck or have questions, you can always feel free to email us!