VMware ESXi and vSphere Cluster Management

Page Not Found

Learn what a 404 Not Found error means, why it happens, and how to find the page you were looking for.

The page you requested cannot be located at the supplied web address. This is commonly called a 404 Not Found error.

What “404 Not Found” means

404 Not Found is an HTTP response indicating that the server could not find a resource matching the requested URL. A URL is the web address used to request a page or other resource.

A 404 usually affects one requested page, not the entire website. It is different from a general site outage, where the server or website may be unavailable altogether. It is also different from an access-denied response, such as a permission or authentication error, where the resource may exist but you are not allowed to view it.

Why this happens

  • The URL was mistyped, misspelled, or copied incompletely.
  • An old bookmark or external link points to a previous address.
  • The page was moved, renamed, or removed.
  • A link within the website is broken and leads to a missing destination.

A website may use a redirect to send visitors from an old URL to a new one. If no redirect exists, the old address may produce a 404 response.

How to find the page

  1. Check the URL carefully for spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and accidental characters. Make sure the address is complete.
  2. Return to the homepage, the primary entry page of the website.
  3. Use the site's main navigation or search feature to look for the page title, subject, or keywords.
  4. Open a known category, course, or section page and browse for the intended content.
  5. If you followed a link from another page, report the suspected broken link to the site owner or administrator.

Examples

A mistyped address

You enter a page name with a spelling error and receive a 404 response. Correct the URL if you know the intended spelling, or start from the homepage and use navigation or search.

An outdated saved link

An old bookmark opens a missing lesson because the lesson was renamed. Search for the lesson by its title or topic, save the current address, and remove the old bookmark if it is no longer useful.

A broken link

You follow a link from another page and reach a missing destination. Note the page containing the link, the address that failed, and the content you expected to find. Send those details to the site administrator so the link can be corrected.

If a page-not-found message appears after following a link

  1. Confirm that the address is complete and has no accidental characters.
  2. Try reaching the content from the homepage or a relevant section.
  3. Search for the page title, topic, or course name.
  4. If the page still cannot be found, report the broken link.

Helpful page-not-found design

A useful error page should explain the problem in clear, nontechnical language. It should not leave visitors at a dead end.

  • State that the requested page could not be found.
  • Provide a prominent link to the homepage.
  • Show the main navigation or links to important sections.
  • Include a search option when the website has site search.
  • Suggest known categories, courses, or section pages when relevant.
  • Offer a way to report a suspected broken link.