Index: .
===================================================================
--- .	(revision 696611)
+++ .	(working copy)
@@ -22,6 +22,18 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 
 public abstract class AbstractURLHandler implements URLHandler {
+
+    /**
+     * Using the slower REQUEST method for getting the basic URL infos. Use this when getting errors
+     * behind a problematic/special proxy or firewall chain.
+     */
+    public static final int REQUEST_METHOD_GET = 1;
+
+    /**
+     * Using the faster HEAD method for getting the basic URL infos. Works for most common networks.
+     */
+    public static final int REQUEST_METHOD_HEAD = 2;
+
     public boolean isReachable(URL url) {
         return getURLInfo(url).isReachable();
     }
@@ -60,10 +72,10 @@
             case HttpURLConnection.HTTP_UNAUTHORIZED:
                 /* intentional fallthrough */
             case HttpURLConnection.HTTP_FORBIDDEN:
-                throw new IOException("Access to URL " + dest + " was refused by the server" 
+                throw new IOException("Access to URL " + dest + " was refused by the server"
                     + (statusMessage == null ? "" : ": " + statusMessage));
             default:
-                throw new IOException("PUT operation to URL " + dest + " failed with status code " 
+                throw new IOException("PUT operation to URL " + dest + " failed with status code "
                     + statusCode + (statusMessage == null ? "" : ": " + statusMessage));
         }
     }