Need assistance diagnosing web problem

[C Eric Tull]

We have the same problem, but at the other end.  We subscribe to
two databases from Research Library Group (Anthropological
Literature and Avery Index).  We recently switched at the
University of Calgary Library to Netscape 3.  When we try to
access these databases, we get into the database and then there
is a long pause.  Finally the message below appears on our
screens. 
"Your browser sent a message that this server could not understand"

We talked with RLG and they said that their system had trouble
with a certain version of Netscape 3.  We have had the same
problem with other versions of Netscape 3, but Netscape 2.01
works fine.  RLG did not indicate that they were correcting the
problem.  Since their system does not provide access if you use
Internet Explorer or lynx, they are really limiting access to
their subscribers.  As we need to provide access to these
databases, we are advising our users to use the telnet gateway.

Are others having this problem with RLG databases?

Does anyone have any insight as to what causes the problem?

Two other housekeeping queries:
1. Does anyone have an easy method of responding to a particular
   Web4Lib message when you receive your messages in digest form?
   We use elm on AIX for e-mail.
2. Recently I have often received 2 or 3 copies of the digested
   messages.  Are others experiencing this or is the problem
   local to my system.  It's hard enough staying awake throgh 
   one reading of the filtering messages, let alone 2 or 3. :)

Eric Tull
University of Calgary Library
 
> Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997 12:59:59 -0500
> From: mack at janus.swem.wm.edu (Mack Lundy)
> To: <web4lib at library.berkeley.edu>
> Subject: Need assistance diagnosing web problem
> Message-ID: <01bce626$ce121ad0$2a09ef80 at macksdesk>
> 
> Our library automation vedor is Sirsi.  We are using Netscape's Enterprise
> Server on a Sun 2000 server (Solaris 2.04) to access WebCat, sirsi's
> front-end to the catalog.
> 
> We are getting a significant number of calls from patrons having a problem
> searching on WebCat.  On the browser side, the user gets this message:
> 
>     "Your browser sent a message that this server could not understand"
> 
> Here is the corresponding message from the error log that seems relevant:
> 
>  [28/Oct/1997:14:46:02] warning: for host 128.239.207.191,
> http-parse-request
>  reports: while scanning HTTP headers, name without value: got line "post
>  /uhtbin/cgisirsi/61/5 http/1.0"
> 
> The latest to complain is using the Netscape Gold v.3.03 browser.
> 
> We can't reproduce the problem in the office.  Monday, we will make an
> office call to see the problem occur first-hand.  In the meantime, I would
> appreciate help on the cause and the solution to this problem.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Mack
> -----
> Mack A. Lundy III, Library Systems Manager
> College of William and Mary, Swem Library
> voice:  757.221.3114     fax:  757.221.2635
> email:  mack at janus.swem.wm.edu
> 
>