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Causes of
Error 522
Gettechinfo.com
Error 522, commonly known as a "Connection Timed Out" error,
occurs when Cloudflare is unable to establish a connection with the
origin server. This means Cloudflare sent a request to the web server
but did not receive a timely response. As a result, visitors attempting
to access the website will encounter this error message.
There are several reasons why this issue may arise. Identifying the
root cause is crucial for troubleshooting and resolving it effectively.
Below are the most common causes of Error 522 and how they
impact website connectivity.
Gettechinfo.com
One of the primary reasons for a 522 error is when the origin server (the server hosting the website) is
unresponsive or down. Cloudflare acts as a reverse proxy, directing traffic through its global network before
reaching the website's hosting server. If the origin server fails to respond, Cloudflare cannot complete the
request, resulting in an error.
Common causes of origin server issues:
• Server Overload: If the hosting server is experiencing high traffic or excessive resource consumption, it may become
overwhelmed. This can slow down or completely stop responses to incoming requests, causing timeouts.
• Server Configuration Issues: Improper server settings, missing files, or misconfigurations can cause the
server to fail to respond to Cloudflare’s requests. This can include issues with Apache, Nginx, or other web
server configurations.
• Firewall Restrictions: If the origin server’s firewall is misconfigured, it may block Cloudflare’s IP addresses.
Since Cloudflare acts as an intermediary between the visitor and the web server, its IPs must be allowed
through the firewall for proper communication.
1. Origin Server Issues
Firewalls and security tools are essential for protecting websites
from unauthorized access, attacks, and malicious traffic. However, if
they are too strict, they may mistakenly block legitimate requests
from Cloudflare.
Since Cloudflare routes traffic through its own IP addresses before it
reaches the origin server, some security systems may flag this traffic
as unusual or suspicious. This can lead to a 522 error if Cloudflare’s
requests are rejected.
Ways to resolve firewall blocking issues:
• Ensure that Cloudflare’s IP ranges are whitelisted in the server’s
firewall settings.
• Check security plugins, such as those in WordPress or other CMS
platforms, to ensure they are not blocking Cloudflare’s requests.
• Review the server’s security policies to identify and adjust overly
aggressive rules that might be preventing Cloudflare from
connecting.
2. Firewall or Security Software Blocking Cloudflare’s IPs
Gettechinfo.com
The Domain Name System (DNS) acts as an address book
for the internet, translating domain names into IP
addresses. If DNS settings are incorrect or outdated,
Cloudflare may not be able to locate the correct origin
server, leading to an Error 522.
Common DNS-related issues that cause 522 errors:
• Incorrect IP Address: If the DNS records in Cloudflare
point to the wrong IP address, Cloudflare will attempt
to connect to a non-existent or incorrect server.
• Propagation Delays: If DNS records were recently
updated, changes might take time to propagate across
the internet, temporarily causing connection failures.
• Expired or Misconfigured DNS Records: If A records or
CNAME records are missing or misconfigured,
Cloudflare will be unable to direct traffic properly.
3. DNS Configuration Problems
Gettechinfo.com
A web server needs to respond to requests quickly. If the origin server takes too long to reply, Cloudflare
may time out the connection, leading to a 522 error. Several factors can contribute to slow response
times:
• High Server Load: If multiple users are accessing the website simultaneously, and the server lacks
sufficient resources, response times may slow down significantly.
• Poor Server Performance: An underpowered hosting plan or limited resources (CPU, RAM, or
bandwidth) can cause slow response times.
• Geographical Location: If the origin server is located far from Cloudflare’s nearest data center, latency
issues can lead to timeouts, especially if the internet infrastructure in that region is unreliable.
4. Server Response Time Delays
Gettechinfo.com
Sometimes, connectivity problems occur due to network
routing issues between Cloudflare’s data centers and the
origin server. These issues are often outside of the
website owner’s control and can stem from:
• Internet Service Provider (ISP) Problems: If there is an
outage or technical issue with the ISP hosting the
origin server, Cloudflare’s connection attempts may
fail.
• Network Congestion: If there is high traffic or
congestion on the internet backbone between
Cloudflare and the origin server, data packets may be
delayed or dropped.
• Routing Changes: If internet routes are changed or
rerouted due to maintenance or outages, Cloudflare
may temporarily struggle to reach the origin server.
5. Network or Routing Issues
Gettechinfo.com
Although rare, some instances of Error 522 can be caused by misconfigurations within Cloudflare itself.
Cloudflare acts as an intermediary between visitors and the origin server, and incorrect settings can disrupt
the connection.
Possible Cloudflare-related issues:
• Incorrect SSL/TLS Settings: If Cloudflare’s SSL mode does not match the server’s SSL configuration, a
timeout or connection error may occur.
• Traffic Filtering Issues: Some Cloudflare security features, such as Rate Limiting or Web Application
Firewall (WAF), may inadvertently block valid traffic.
• Temporary Cloudflare Glitches: Although Cloudflare has a highly reliable network, occasional technical
issues or downtime in specific data centers could impact website accessibility.
6. Cloudflare Configuration Issues
Gettechinfo.com
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Causes of Error 522 and "How to Fix It".

  • 2. Error 522, commonly known as a "Connection Timed Out" error, occurs when Cloudflare is unable to establish a connection with the origin server. This means Cloudflare sent a request to the web server but did not receive a timely response. As a result, visitors attempting to access the website will encounter this error message. There are several reasons why this issue may arise. Identifying the root cause is crucial for troubleshooting and resolving it effectively. Below are the most common causes of Error 522 and how they impact website connectivity. Gettechinfo.com
  • 3. One of the primary reasons for a 522 error is when the origin server (the server hosting the website) is unresponsive or down. Cloudflare acts as a reverse proxy, directing traffic through its global network before reaching the website's hosting server. If the origin server fails to respond, Cloudflare cannot complete the request, resulting in an error. Common causes of origin server issues: • Server Overload: If the hosting server is experiencing high traffic or excessive resource consumption, it may become overwhelmed. This can slow down or completely stop responses to incoming requests, causing timeouts. • Server Configuration Issues: Improper server settings, missing files, or misconfigurations can cause the server to fail to respond to Cloudflare’s requests. This can include issues with Apache, Nginx, or other web server configurations. • Firewall Restrictions: If the origin server’s firewall is misconfigured, it may block Cloudflare’s IP addresses. Since Cloudflare acts as an intermediary between the visitor and the web server, its IPs must be allowed through the firewall for proper communication. 1. Origin Server Issues
  • 4. Firewalls and security tools are essential for protecting websites from unauthorized access, attacks, and malicious traffic. However, if they are too strict, they may mistakenly block legitimate requests from Cloudflare. Since Cloudflare routes traffic through its own IP addresses before it reaches the origin server, some security systems may flag this traffic as unusual or suspicious. This can lead to a 522 error if Cloudflare’s requests are rejected. Ways to resolve firewall blocking issues: • Ensure that Cloudflare’s IP ranges are whitelisted in the server’s firewall settings. • Check security plugins, such as those in WordPress or other CMS platforms, to ensure they are not blocking Cloudflare’s requests. • Review the server’s security policies to identify and adjust overly aggressive rules that might be preventing Cloudflare from connecting. 2. Firewall or Security Software Blocking Cloudflare’s IPs Gettechinfo.com
  • 5. The Domain Name System (DNS) acts as an address book for the internet, translating domain names into IP addresses. If DNS settings are incorrect or outdated, Cloudflare may not be able to locate the correct origin server, leading to an Error 522. Common DNS-related issues that cause 522 errors: • Incorrect IP Address: If the DNS records in Cloudflare point to the wrong IP address, Cloudflare will attempt to connect to a non-existent or incorrect server. • Propagation Delays: If DNS records were recently updated, changes might take time to propagate across the internet, temporarily causing connection failures. • Expired or Misconfigured DNS Records: If A records or CNAME records are missing or misconfigured, Cloudflare will be unable to direct traffic properly. 3. DNS Configuration Problems Gettechinfo.com
  • 6. A web server needs to respond to requests quickly. If the origin server takes too long to reply, Cloudflare may time out the connection, leading to a 522 error. Several factors can contribute to slow response times: • High Server Load: If multiple users are accessing the website simultaneously, and the server lacks sufficient resources, response times may slow down significantly. • Poor Server Performance: An underpowered hosting plan or limited resources (CPU, RAM, or bandwidth) can cause slow response times. • Geographical Location: If the origin server is located far from Cloudflare’s nearest data center, latency issues can lead to timeouts, especially if the internet infrastructure in that region is unreliable. 4. Server Response Time Delays Gettechinfo.com
  • 7. Sometimes, connectivity problems occur due to network routing issues between Cloudflare’s data centers and the origin server. These issues are often outside of the website owner’s control and can stem from: • Internet Service Provider (ISP) Problems: If there is an outage or technical issue with the ISP hosting the origin server, Cloudflare’s connection attempts may fail. • Network Congestion: If there is high traffic or congestion on the internet backbone between Cloudflare and the origin server, data packets may be delayed or dropped. • Routing Changes: If internet routes are changed or rerouted due to maintenance or outages, Cloudflare may temporarily struggle to reach the origin server. 5. Network or Routing Issues Gettechinfo.com
  • 8. Although rare, some instances of Error 522 can be caused by misconfigurations within Cloudflare itself. Cloudflare acts as an intermediary between visitors and the origin server, and incorrect settings can disrupt the connection. Possible Cloudflare-related issues: • Incorrect SSL/TLS Settings: If Cloudflare’s SSL mode does not match the server’s SSL configuration, a timeout or connection error may occur. • Traffic Filtering Issues: Some Cloudflare security features, such as Rate Limiting or Web Application Firewall (WAF), may inadvertently block valid traffic. • Temporary Cloudflare Glitches: Although Cloudflare has a highly reliable network, occasional technical issues or downtime in specific data centers could impact website accessibility. 6. Cloudflare Configuration Issues Gettechinfo.com