Gateway timeout

HTTP Error 504 - Gateway timeout

Introduction

A server (not necessarily a Web server) is acting as a gateway or proxy to fulfil the request by the client (e.g. your Web browser or our CheckUpDown robot) to access the requested URL. This server did not receive a timely response from an upstream server it accessed to deal with your HTTP request.

This usually means that the upstream server is down (no response to the gateway/proxy), rather than that the upstream server and the gateway/proxy do not agree on the protocol for exchanging data.

504 errors in the HTTP cycle

Any client (e.g. your Web browser or our CheckUpDown robot) goes through the following cycle when it communicates with your Web server:

1. Obtain an IP address from the IP name of your site (your site URL without the leading 'http://'). This lookup (conversion of IP name to IP address) is provided by domain name servers (DNSs).
2. Open an IP socket connection to that IP address.
3. Write an HTTP data stream through that socket.
4. Receive an HTTP data stream back from your Web server in response. This data stream contains status codes whose values are determined by the HTTP protocol.
5. Parse this data stream for status codes and other useful information. This error occurs in the final step above when the client receives an HTTP status code that it recognises as '504'.

Resolving 504 errors

General

This problem is entirely due to slow IP communication between back-end computers, possibly including your Web server. Only the people who set up the network at the site which hosts the Web server can fix this problem.

Steps to RESOLVE the 504 Gateway Timeout Error

Error Message

The "504 Gateway Timeout" error message can be customized by each website. While this isn't very common, keep in mind that this error may present itself in more ways than the common ones listed below:

• "504: Gateway Timeout"
• "HTTP Error 504 - Gateway Timeout"

The 504 Gateway Timeout error displays inside the Internet browser window, just as web pages do.

Cause

The 504 Gateway Timeout error is an HTTP status code that means that one server did not receive a timely response from another server that it was accessing while attempting to load the web page or fill another request by The Browser. This usually means that the other server is down or not working properly.

Resolution

The 504 Gateway Timeout error is usually a network error between servers on the Internet or an issue with an actual server, meaning the problem is not with your PC or Internet connection. Even though the issue is not yours to troubleshoot or resolve, there are a few things you can do: Retry the web page by clicking the refresh/reload button or trying the URL from the address bar again. Even though the 504 Gateway Timeout error is reporting an error outside of your control, the error may only be temporary. Trying the page again will often be successful.

Come back later. Since the 504 Gateway Timeout error message is an issue with the web site's network or a server that it communicates with, everyone visiting this site is probably experiencing the same problem as you. Chances are an issue like that has already been brought to the attention of an administrator at the web site and someone is working to resolve it.

If you can't wait any longer for the problem to be resolved or if you'd like to help out, you may want to attempt to contact the webmaster or another website contact yourself and advise them of the 504 Gateway Timeout error you are receiving. The webmaster of most Internet sites can be reached via email at webmaster@website.com, replacing website.com with the actual website name.