How does SFX manage “dead” links?
A “dead” link can result from a number of situations, including server downtime, but typically occurs when an information provider has moved a Web resource to a new address or has changed protocols for linking to their service. A message that says “HTTP 404- File not found” is usually evidence of a dead link. In a dynamic linking environment such as SFX, links are created on the fly when requested by a user, and powerful algorithms determine the probability of the link resource’s availability. In such an environment, links are not preprocessed or verified. For each service provider participating in the SFX framework, a single global template is modified in SFX to reflect changes at an information provider’s site. Thus, when a change in address occurs and is identified, the distribution of global linking templates updates the entire SFX community.
