Setting up a 301 redirect
with redirect script software

You can use a software redirect script to set up redirects the easy way.
I use Master 404-Terminator ™ on this website and others.

You can read more about 404 Errors in :
turn 404 pages into 301 search engine and visitor friendly redirects

The software detects and records all 404 error 's before they're allowed
to present a page not found to a visitors browser or a search engine.

By logging in to the control panel you can view all captured 404 error 's and see exactly what URL was being requested and not found.

You then simply type in the new URL you want any future request to go to. Any new 404 error for which you have not yet specified a redirect is sent to a default page you specify. This could be a custom 404 page or to your home page.

Make redirects permanent with a 301 redirect (moved permanently) , temporary with a 307 redirect or send a 302 code ( Found ), a 403 ( Forbidden ) or a 410 ( File Gone ).

The redirect script accepts "wild card statements" which means
you can redirect entire directories with one entry.

For example if you decided to use server side includes on your web site you would have to change the file extension on every webpage to .shtml.

You can use this redirect script simply to redirect every request for the former *.html page to the same page name but now as .shtml, it's that quick and easy and it's search engine friendly.

The redirect script is search engine friendly which means you'll not
be penalized for using a 301 redirect. It's the one search engines prefer.

If you redirect using other forms of redirect like the meta tag redirect or java script redirect, search engines become suspicious that you're using cloaking techniques and those can get your website banned.

This redirect script can also replace a file instead of redirecting to a new one.

This is ideal when you want to replace missing images or other files. How often have you been to a website to find that images are missing, leaving that tell tale hole with X marks the spot.

With this redirect script you can see at a glance all the requests that have been made for images which are not found.

It means you can monitor and correct problems on your site
that could otherwise go unnoticed for months.

Don't wait for your visitors to tell you an image is missing or worse still an entire page, with this redirect script you can keep your website 404 error free.

Take charge of broken links from other people's web sites by automatically redirecting them to the correct pages and site visitors will never know you did it.

No temporary pages presented to visitors like you see on most websites.

They say something like " please wait while we redirect you to the new page " or
" if this page does not redirect in 10 seconds please click here. "

With this redirect script the transfer is instant, no temporary flash pages, the visitor gets presented exactly with the page you intended.

You have complete control over every 404 error and can see at a glance
how many times the same missing file was requested. The redirect script also records every individual IP address that tried to access each missing file.

A fringe benefit of this redirect script is that it also enables you to
easily monitor potential hacker activity on your website.

Hackers or people up to no good will type URL requests for particular files, script names or directories to see if they exist on your site. They'll also try to issue commands to your scripts to hijack site functions for their own use, or test weaknesses in your site security.

On one of my sites this redirect script detected over 27 attempts in one month to access a commonly used free mailing script used by many websites. The particular mailing script has security vulnerabilities that enable it to be hijacked and used by a hacker to send bulk mailings.

This means a hacker could be using your mailing script to send SPAM mail in bulk and that can get you banned by your host. In my case it was not a problem because I don't use the free mailing script all the hackers were looking for.

If a hacker is probing your site every request they make, with what they typed as well as how often they tried is logged against their IP address. All this hacker activity is recorded and shows up when you log in to your redirect script control panel.

If someone using the same IP address becomes a problem it is possible by using other means to block that IP address from accessing your site.

The redirect script also maintains a non MySQL database of all the redirects you setup which is stored and available for editing or viewing at anytime from your control panel.

To sum up here's a list of the benefits of using the Master 404 redirect script :

• Stops visitors leaving your site because of 404 error pages

• Visitors are unaware of a redirect, no transition pages and no delays

• Search Engine friendly with the use of a 301 redirect

• Maintain your Search Engine Ranking on pages you need to rename

• Control a redirect or command to a visitor's browser or search engine

• Discover and correct missing file problems on your entire website

• Replace and rename files without causing broken links

• Reduce security breaches on your website by detecting hacker activity

• Use IP address records to ban trouble makers from your website

• Maintain records of your website redirects in one central location

• Redirect script guaranteed to work, problems fixed or you get a refund

• Pre-install tester checks host can run the redirect script before you buy

• Simple to install with your own easy to use Control Panel

Server Requirements: Unix or Linux

Making Your Website Work for You