.htaccess file

[chuleto1]

Ok Monks here is the skinny:
I installed apache on a linux box. I want to set a directory that only permits access via password. This is what my .htaccess files looks like:

AuthName "this is neat" 
AuthUserFile /the_path_to_to_the_file/.htaccess
require valid-user

I created my .htpasswd file with an initial password. When I go to the location of the .htaccess file via http://localhost/passpwordprotecteddir/page.html, nothing happens! I can still get to that directory and view the html page , NO PASSWORD PROTECTION TAKES PLACE. Is anyone familar with .htaccess files? Does apache server need to be configured for this?
-thanks

[jlongino]

As AM stated, find the httpd.conf section that controls the htdocs section:

<Directory "/usr/local/apache/htdocs">
        .
        .
    AllowOverride None
        .
        .
</Directory>

and change "None" to the combination you want. Minimally:

    AllowOverride AuthConfig

Be sure you get the htdocs section, you probably don't want to mess with the section:

<Directory />
    Options FollowSymLinks
    AllowOverride None
</Directory>

--Jim

[tstock]

I think you are missing some things in your .htaccess. Here's how it's supposed to look like:

AuthName        "this is neat"
AuthType        Basic
AuthUserFile    /usr/www/users/tstock/.htpasswd

<Limit GET POST>
require valid-user
</Limit>

Note the AuthUserFile points to a .htpasswd, not .htaccess, and that the path is a file path, not a URL.

To create your .htpasswd file, use the command `htpasswd -c .htpasswd username_here` from the shell. The -c flag is only needed for the first user.

tstock

[schmoe]

Actually the AuthUserFile can be any name you give it (by substituting ".htpasswd" with ".whatever_you_wanna_call_it" in the shell command when you create the file) just be sure to include that dot at the beginning of the name as a security measure:)

[Anonymous Monk]

yes and yes.
You have to mess with the http.conf file thingy.
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful but this site mainly a Perl site.

[chuleto1]

That was I neede to know. Thank you, you geve me enough information to get it to work.