How do I use Apache .htaccess files to password-protect directories?

Background Information

How do you enable .htaccess files for Apache? When you create the files in directories, they do not work.

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Answer

You will need to modify the vhost configuration files found in /etc/httpd/rightscale.d

If the server is a load balancer and has HAProxy installed on it, you will need to modify: http-8000-www.yoursite.com.vhost.

If it is a standalone server (such as part of an auto-scaling array) you will need to modify: http-80-www.yoursite.com.vhost.

Change the line from AllowOverride None to AllowOveride All in order to password protect a directory that you can put the following into: /home/webabbs/yourappdir/current/dirtoprotect/.htaccess.

AuthType Basic
AuthName "Password Required"
AuthUserFile /www/passwords/password.file
AuthGroupFile /www/passwords/group.file
Require Group admins

You can automate this in a RightScript as follows. This script password protects the www root (you will need to modify the path if you need to protect a different directory):

#!/bin/bash

if [-f /etc/httpd/rightscale.d/http-8000-$WEBSITE_DNS.vhost]; then
  sed -i "s/AllowOverride None/AllowOverride All/g" /etc/httpd/rightscale.d/http-8000-$WEBSITE_DNS.vhost
fi
if [-f /etc/httpd/rightscale.d/http-80-$WEBSITE_DNS.vhost]; then
  sed -i "s/AllowOverride None/AllowOverride All/g" /etc/httpd/rightscale.d/http-80-$WEBSITE_DNS.vhost
fi
cat > /home/webapps/$APPLICATION/current/.htaccess << EOF
AuthType Basic
AuthName "Password Required"
AuthUserFile /www/passwords/password.file
AuthGroupFile /www/passwords/group.file
Require Group admins
EOF

service httpd restart