HTTP 100 Continue vs 521 Web Server Is Down
HTTP 100 (Continue) is a 1xx Informational response, while 521 (Web Server Is Down) is a 5xx Server Error response. 100 indicates that the server has received the request headers and the client should proceed to send the request body. This lets the client know it can continue with the request or abort if the headers were rejected. In contrast, 521 means that cloudflare-specific. The origin server refused the connection.
Description
The server has received the request headers and the client should proceed to send the request body. This lets the client know it can continue with the request or abort if the headers were rejected.
When You See It
When a client sends an Expect: 100-continue header, the server responds with 100 before the client sends the body.
How to Fix
This is an interim response — no fix needed. The client should continue sending the request body.
Description
Cloudflare-specific. The origin server refused the connection.
When You See It
When Cloudflare can't establish a TCP connection to the origin server.
How to Fix
Check that the origin server is running and the firewall allows Cloudflare IPs.
Key Differences
100 is a 1xx Informational response, while 521 is a 5xx Server Error response.
HTTP 100: The server has received the request headers and the client should proceed to send the request body. This lets the client know it can continue with the request or abort if the headers were rejected.
HTTP 521: Cloudflare-specific. The origin server refused the connection.
You encounter 100 when when a client sends an Expect: 100-continue header, the server responds with 100 before the client sends the body.
You encounter 521 when when Cloudflare can't establish a TCP connection to the origin server.
When to Use Which
For 100 (Continue): This is an interim response — no fix needed. The client should continue sending the request body. For 521 (Web Server Is Down): Check that the origin server is running and the firewall allows Cloudflare IPs.