WWW Access Authorization

Access control can be directory tree-level or file level. To try to access a file or a directory tree the browser should demand a username and a password, and not give you access to the file unless you qualify. In case you are using a browser unable to handle authentication, you will not get access to the document at all.

Step by step instructions:

1. Create a Protection Setup file (for example .htaccess) in your directory with the following structure:

           AuthName          "MinuServer"          - server's name (free text)
           AuthType            Basic
           AuthUserFile      /home/XXXXXX     - full file's name
            require                 valid-user

2. Create the password file (for example .htpasswd).

The easiest way to do this is to use the htpasswd program. Do this:

          /opt/apache/bin/htpasswd -c <passwordfile>

3. To add a user to the password file (fails if there already is a user by that name).

          /opt/apache/bin/htpasswd <passwordfile> <username> <password>
or

          /opt/apache/bin/htpasswd <passwordfile>

4. To change a user's password (fails if there is no such user).

          /opt/apache/bin/htpasswd <passwordfile>

5. After that you need to ask the system administrator to finish the protection installation and inform him what you want to protect and where the protection setup file is located.