Finding dead links -- checkers and spiders

Most recent HTML editors (e.g. CHP 3.0, PageMill, FrontPage, Cyberstudio, etc.) have individual-page link checkers. Others check only links within a site (e.g. Dreamweaver)

Some link checkers require a site to be live on the Internet. Some run on a server, others on your local PC

Net Mechanic, http://www.netmechanic.com/link_check.htm

Scans a set of web pages starting from the URL you specify.

verify_links, http://www.uoregon.edu/cgi-bin/admin/webtest/verify_links

available at many sites on the net; this instance is on www.uoregon.edu, and should be used with caution since it can place a very heavy load on the server.

Big Brother, http://pauillac.inria.fr/~fpottier/brother.html.en

Very easy to use shareware ($10) link checker/robot. Mac based.

InfoLink Link Checker, http://www.biggbyte.com/

Freeware and shareware ($30) link checker for PC. Freeware version checks one page at a time.

CyberSpider, http://infoweb.magi.com/~thaman/cslnkts1.html

Similar shareware ($25) link checker for PC.

Exercise: check the links on your home page using Net Mechanic or verify_links.

Next: More Link Checking