Scheduler request failed: HTTP internal server error

Make note: First and foremost, this is not a problem with your PC or your internet connection, but always a problem with the server at the project. Even if you have multiple computers, where others can reach the project perfectly, just one or two cannot, it's not a problem with those computers.

PCSupport's page on HTTP 500 Server Error teaches us:

Cause
The 500 Internal Server Error is a very general HTTP status code that means something has gone wrong on the web site's server but the server could not be more specific on what the exact problem is.

Resolution
The 500 Internal Server Error is a "server-side" error, meaning the problem is not with your PC or Internet connection but instead is a problem with the web site's server.

You have to know that on a lot of projects you're not dealing with just one server, but a whole range of them. Think of the entrance to a station, people going in will go left, right and center, depending on their destination.

It's the same with how your computers contact a project, some go left and make normal contact with the servers behind the main server. Others go right, but find that something is amiss down there. They will show the returned error messages.

What you can do?

First check on the project's front page in the News what it says there, check in the forums, and server status pages of the project if there are problems. If there are, just wait them out. You can post about your problem in one of the threads that have probably sprung up already, if only to voice your concern.

Second, check back at intervals if the problem has been fixed. Your BOINC client does the same thing, it will retry to do its thing every so many minutes to hours. It really doesn't help if you keep clicking Update, the problem at the servers won't be fixed earlier if you do that!

Third, be patient. Remember that most of these projects run on a shoestring budget, they really do not have crews of people slaving over the servers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These people have their own hobbies and family as well, just like you do. And in some cases they are right across on the other side of the world, so even if you're experiencing the middle of the day, they could be having the middle of their night, still.

In the end these problems usually fix themselves.

Original writer	Original FAQ	Date
Jorden	504	25-11-2009