Password protecting areas of a site

[Q-Ball]

Hi guys,

i have created a personal website using frontpage (nothing fancy) and have also created a family tree which i have added to that site. I would like my site to be seen by everyone, however i want to limit access to the family tree to everybody who has the password. Is there an easy way to do this?

Thanks
Q

[big man]

you might be able to do this using an htaccess file if you have a linux host (i think, i don't know much about linux)

other than that you'll have to use a scripting language and a database.

if you're hosting the site on a windows server i'll be able to help you out if you want

[Q-Ball]

how do i check what type of sever im running it on? someone else set up the account for me, and all i have is the ftp logon details.

and how do i use htaacess? i googled it and have created a access and password file, but not sure where to put them?

[big man]

easiest way to find out what what type of server is to ask whoever set it up

as for the htaccess file, google will be able to help you more than i can as i've never used one

[TwoPlAnKs]

get a 404 error from the server and it might tell you on that page, totally botched way of finding out but also the easiest. .htaccess is for apache, not linux. it could be running windows and apache and .htaccess will work

whatever you use, dont use a javascript password checker thing. these store the password in the webpage and anybody could read it.

[/dev/null]

To detect the server type, run the "SYST" command in the FTP login - here is an example from my login on 2 servers:

220 xxxxxx FTP server ready.
user xxxxx
331 Password required for xxxxxxx.
pass xxxxxxxxx
230 User xxxxxx logged in.
syst
215 UNIX Type: L8 Version: SUNOS

220 ProFTPD 1.2.9 Server (UUNET DialSpace FTP Server) [xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
user xxxxxxxxx
331 Password required for xxxxxxxx.
pass xxxxxxxxx
230 User xxxxxxxxx logged in.
syst
215 UNIX Type: L8

(personal details hidden for obvious reasons! )

[/dev/null]

The above is on telnet (using port 21) by the way:

telnet ftp.myserver.com 21

[big man]

it could be running windows and apache and .htaccess will work

yeah - i was assuming most people run apache on a linux box. i always equate php - linux

[Q-Ball]

thanks for that - i have done as you have suggested and the response is

"215 UNIX Type: L8"

[/dev/null]

Hi,
Although the response can be fixed, it is very likely that it is in fact a unix server, and therefore very likely that it is running apache.

[big man]

thanks for that - i have done as you have suggested and the response is
"215 UNIX Type: L8"

right - in that case i'm afraid i'm going to be of no use mate

[shadowdancer]

if its apache and you are allowed to use htaccess to override some things then this url may help

http://www.javascriptkit.com/howto/htaccess3.shtml

or more on google
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=hta...ord+protection

[Q-Ball]

ok, i think im just stupid. i have tried htaccess a few times now, and i can't get it to work. i have followed the instructions above with no luck.

Put the access file in the directory i want to protect. (mytree - name of directory)
put the password in a secure folder (/private)
put in the full path where the password is stored into the access file (/private/.htapasswd)
go to my website and click on a link to the mytree folder - and its goes straight to it.

any ideas?

also, how do i log onto the site using telnet? i do telnet mysite 21 username password but it doesnt work, it says

220-Matrix FTP server ready.
220-This is a private system - No anonymous login
220 Please note: files for your website must be stored under the htdocs director

[/dev/null]

Hi, log in using just

telnet mysite 21

Then when prompted, type in:

USER yourUserName

and then

PASS yourPassword

[Q-Ball]

thanks for that, but it doesnt prompt me for a login. i type "telnet ftp.xxx.co.uk 21" and get the message above. The only commands it accepts from there are chmod and idle.

if i do not type ftp.xxx and use xxx.co.uk, i do not get anything back aftetr i press enter.

I am using ms-dos on xp to kick off telnet

[tam9]

It is unix/linux unless the server response has been changed. Very robust and 99.9% running apache. To make a .htaccess file all you have to do is follow this ( http://www.javascriptkit.com/howto/htaccess3.shtml ) and you should be up and running.

If it then doesn't work I will write a small and very concise way of doing it the way you like.

Tam

[partyman]

Q-Ball do you have cpanel with your host? If so there's a "Password Protect Directories" function in there which would be a much easier way.