FAQ
Questions, answered
The things people most often ask when a site will not load.
How do I know whether a site is down or it is just me?
Run a check. Farping asks from our server and from your browser. If our server reaches the site but your browser cannot, the issue is on your side: your network, DNS, a VPN or a blocker. If neither of us gets an answer, the site itself is in trouble.
Does “Up” mean everything on the site works?
No. It means the address you checked answered normally. Big services can fail in parts, such as sign-in or payments, while the homepage still loads. Check the exact link that is failing for a closer answer.
Why did a site I can open show “Problem” with code 403?
Many sites refuse automated requests to protect themselves from bots. Our checker introduces itself honestly, so some sites turn it away. If your browser can still reach the site, Farping will tell you it is probably fine for people.
Where are checks run from?
When Farping is hosted on Cloudflare, each check runs in the Cloudflare data centre nearest to you, and the result names it. We do not pretend to test from many countries at once.
What do the numbers like 404 or 503 mean?
They are HTTP status codes, the short answer a server gives with every response. 2xx means success, 3xx a redirect, 4xx a problem with the request and 5xx a problem on the server. Our status code explainer covers the common ones in plain English.
How accurate is the response time?
It is the time our server waited for the response headers, including any redirects. It reflects the distance between the site and our server, so it will differ from what you see at home. Treat it as “quick, normal or slow”, not a benchmark.
Can I share a result?
Yes. Every check has its own link, such as /s/example.com. Anyone who opens it gets a fresh check rather than an old snapshot.
Can Farping monitor my site and alert me?
No. Farping only checks when someone asks. For alerts, use a dedicated uptime monitoring service.
Why are some addresses refused?
For safety we never request private networks, local machines, cloud metadata addresses, unusual ports, .onion sites or links that contain passwords. Those checks would be either meaningless from the internet or a way to misuse the tool.
Why can I only run a few checks a minute?
Limits keep Farping free and stop it from being used to flood other people’s servers. A site that was checked in the last half-minute gets that recent answer instead of a new request.
Do you keep a list of what I check?
Your recent checks are stored only in your own browser and you can clear them at any time. Our server does not keep a history of who checked what. See the privacy policy for details.