Understanding and Troubleshooting 523 Origin Unreachable Errors

Description:
A step-by-step guide for HostPresto shared hosting customers to diagnose and potentially resolve 523 Origin Unreachable errors. This guide is tailored for users with basic technical knowledge and focuses on solutions you can implement through tools like cPanel and File Manager, without requiring server admin access.

What is a 523 Origin Unreachable Error?

A 523 Origin Unreachable error happens when a service (often a CDN such as Cloudflare) is unable to connect to your hosting server (the "origin") to fetch your website content. This issue typically stems from a connectivity problem between the CDN and your web hosting environment, rather than your site’s code.

Common Causes

Incorrect DNS settings
Blocked IP addresses or firewall rules
Server downtime or maintenance
Expired hosting or suspended account
Incorrect SSL/TLS settings

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

1. Check Your Domain's DNS Settings

Make sure your domain’s DNS records—especially the A record—are pointed to the correct server IP provided by HostPresto.

How to check:

Log in to your domain registrar’s control panel or the DNS section in your cPanel.
Confirm your domain’s A record matches the IP address listed in your HostPresto hosting account.

Example:

A   yourdomain.com   185.123.456.78

Replace 185.123.456.78 with your actual server IP.

2. Verify Hosting Status

Check that your hosting account is active and not suspended due to billing or policy issues.

Log in to your HostPresto client area.
Look for any notifications regarding account suspension or overdue invoices.

3. Review Firewall and IP Blocking Settings

If you use any security plugins, or have set up firewall rules, ensure you’re not blocking Cloudflare or other CDN IP addresses.

How to check in the Client Area:

Log in to your HostPresto Client Area.
Go to Services > Firewall.
Review the list of blocked IP addresses. Remove any entries that belong to your CDN provider.

Example:

192.0.2.0/24   # Remove or comment out if this belongs to your CDN

4. Check .htaccess Rules

Improper or restrictive rules in your .htaccess file may prevent external services from connecting.

How to check:

Access cPanel > File Manager
Navigate to your website’s root directory and find the .htaccess file.
Download a backup for safety, then review the file for any Deny from or RewriteCond rules that might block external IPs.

Example:

# Example of a restrictive .htaccess rule
Deny from all
Allow from 127.0.0.1
# Ensure you’re not blocking legitimate services!

5. Test Website Accessibility

Try visiting your website directly using its server IP (if possible), or use online tools like https://downforeveryoneorjustme.com to verify whether your site is accessible from the internet.

6. Check SSL/TLS Settings

If your site uses HTTPS, make sure your SSL certificate is valid and hasn’t expired.

How to check in cPanel:

Go to cPanel > SSL/TLS > Manage SSL Sites
Confirm your certificate is listed and valid for your domain

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

Flush DNS cache: Sometimes, your local DNS cache may be outdated.
- On Windows, open Command Prompt and run:
```
ipconfig /flushdns
```
Contact your CDN provider: If you’re using a CDN, check their dashboard for any error logs or reported incidents.
Disable maintenance mode: If your website is in maintenance mode, the origin server may not be accessible to outside services.

When to Contact Support

If you’ve followed these steps and are still seeing the 523 error, please submit a support ticket with the following details:

Affected domain(s)
Screenshot or full error message
Any recent changes to your DNS or hosting settings

Our team will be happy to investigate further.

Need more help?
Visit the HostPresto Support Portal or submit a support ticket for further assistance.