Password Protected Directories

You would use this feature if you want to password protect a directory on your site. This is a feature which requires some experience with using telnet.

Attention FrontPage Users: If you are a FrontPage user you can password protect directories from within the program. Please consult your user manual or online user guides for more information. Please do not attempt to alter your .htaccess file while FrontPage extensions are installed for your server. This may cause your account to become inoperable.

Installation Instructions

• SSH/Telnet in, and login
• Navigate to the directory you want to password protect.
• Create the .htaccessfile (with the dot), it should contain the followinglines:
  
  # .htaccess file
  order allow,deny
  allow from all
  require valid-user
  Authname DirectoryName
  Authtype Basic
  AuthUserFile /users/web/yourlogin/web/directorytoprotect/.htpasswd
  
  
• Replace yourlogin and directorytoprotect as appropriate.
• Now you must create the .htpasswd file using the htpasswd tool.
  Using SSH/ telnet, move to the folder that you specified within the .htaccess file as "AuthUserFile" (/users/web/yourlogin/web/directorytoprotect/)
  
    a. Type the following command to create the file and add a user:
  /usr/bin/htpasswd -c .htpasswd username
  
    b. You will be prompted for the users' password twice.
  
  
• If you need to add additional users to the file, use the command above without the " -c".

Note: If you are not familiar with this process, our support staff can install Password Protected Directories on your account for a one time fee of $25. If you would like this, please use our support form to make your request., otherwise, please see our instructions above.