Basic Group Password Protection
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This article describes how to password protect your Web site based on your own group of users. Like Basic Password Protection, you create a .htaccess file to turn on password protection and use the htpasswd command to define the names and passwords used to log in to your Web site. Here you also create a separate .htgroup file to define your group's name and its members.
To control access to your Web site using basic group password protection
- StepsActions
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Log into your web development server using a terminal emulator. If you're not sure how to do this, click here for instructions.
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At the prompt, enter the following command to change directories to your Web directory:
cd public_html
If you want to password protect a subdirectory rather than your whole Web site, change directories to the subdirectory you want to protect. For example:
cd private
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At the prompt, enter the following command to create a .htaccess file in the current working directory:
pico .htaccess
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Add the following text to this file:
AuthType Basic
AuthUserFile .htpasswd
AuthGroupFile .htgroup
AuthName "Town of Bedrock"
require group flintstones -
Replace "Town of Bedrock" with your choice of text. This text is displayed when users are prompted for a name and password. Use something short that describes your password protected Web site.
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Now replace "flintstones" with the name of your group (all lowercase). For example:
require group peanuts
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Save and close the file using Pico. (Click for instructions on how to use pico).
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At the prompt, enter the following command to create a .htgroup file in the current working directory:
pico .htgroup
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Enter the name of your group, followed by a colon. Then list the members of the group, separating the names with spaces. For example:
peanuts: charlie lucy linus sally snoopy pigpen
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Save and close the file using Pico. (Click for instructions on how to use pico).
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Now you need to enter names and passwords into your .htpasswd file. At the prompt, enter the following command to create a password file:
htpasswd -c .htpasswd charlie
Change "charlie" as needed. This command prompts you to enter and confirm "charlie's" password.
Tip: If you get a "command not found" error message, you probably skipped step 2.
To create passwords for additional names and add them to the password file you just created, enter the following command:
htpasswd .htpasswd lucy
Substitute "lucy" as needed and repeat for each name you defined earlier (step 10). For example:
htpasswd .htpasswd linus
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You're done! Confirm that password protection is working by opening your Web site with a Web browser.
