I created a sitemap and tried to submit it. I get the error message "Timed out waiting for DNS server to respond. Please verify that your DNS entries are correct and resubmit your Sitemap." I checked my DNS timing over at dnsstuff.com and it looks very good, A or A- speed rating according to them. What else should I check on?
Look here: http://www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/docs/en/submit.html#troubleshoot Googles messages stink. I was getting an 'HTTP Error' and the problems was I was missing the <?xml ?> line. It even validated without the xml line at: http://www.smart-it-consulting.com/internet/google/submit-validate-sitemap/
Thanks. I checked out that troubleshooting page. Yep, it says that if I get that error my DNS server timed out and I should check my settings. Which I did, of course, and tested the timing at dnsdtuff.com, and it's fine. I guess I'll have to email G and ask them why they are getting a timeout when others are not.
@exam, thanks, that's a good resource. I just tried it. No fails, all passes except for 5 warnings about stuff that is advice to prevent spam but they say are not worth pursuing. So it all looks good with all the tests I have tried.
Take a look at your logs. When I was getting the HTTP error, I could see that google was doing a HEAD, and two GETs with a 200 OK on both. If you see that, validate the XML. Incidently, the bot comes by immediately after you ping the server google, but it takes an hour or so to refresh on the UI.
I validated the XML before I submitted so its not that. And today I tried again...no error this time. G sucks more and more these days. If its not some unstable gyration in PR and rank, its getting 302 hijacked (only in G's SERPs), or junk like these error messages telling me I have a DNS problem when it is they who have the problem. OK, so now I was able to submit my sitemap. Now I try to verify it. Guess what? I keep getting the error message that their system is busy and I should try again in a few minutes. Man they suck.