The error handler with you can specify in the web.xml an error page when it happens an exception don't work with internet explorer 6. The client browser is not able to show the error page defined. I built a simple servlet that make nothing, it throw only an exception. Then I catch the exception in the web.xml with a very simple jsp page. If I use internet explorer, this client browser answers that it is not able to show the page. But if I try with another browser as mozilla or netscape it works Luca Chiesa
Make sure you disable "Show friendly HTTP error pages" in the Advanced Settings of your IE. This works perfectly for me and has been discussed a couple of times on tomcat-user.