From time to time it is desirable to control access to a particular directory containing WWW documents through the use of a password. When a browser attempts to access documents in this directory the user will be forced to enter a user name and a password before the document will be provided.

Note that the use of the password is not to same as implementing a secure WWW page. The data sent over the Internet is still in an unencrypted form. The password merely prevents users from merely accessing the document whether they were intended to or not.

Many servers on the Internet allow for the protection of directories using user names and password via a special file called ".htaccess". Vaxxine's Internet server allows you to one step farther, however, and use a feature known as a VXN to simplify the creation and manipulation of the files you need to protect part of your WWW site.

The VXN File Layout

A common VXN file (we'll call it "example.vxn") contains the following information:

VXNClass = WWWUser
VXNSub   = Vaxxine
ContentHost = Vaxxine Computer Systems

Dir = protected

VXN File Lines

VXNClass = WWWUser

This line is necessary and must always be present in the VXN file. It tells the server that this VXN file will deal with users.

VXNSub = Vaxxine

This line is necessary and must always be present in the VXN file. It tells the server that you want the basic functionality offered by Vaxxine.

ContentHost = Vaxxine Computer Systems

This line is necessary and must always be present in the VXN file. It's just an identification line for the server.

Dir = protected

This line specifies the name of the directory below the current one which you wish to protect. That is, if you put this file in -

/userweb/yourpagename/protect/

- and you wished to protect -

/userweb/yourpagename/protect/exampleprotecteddirectory/

- then you would specify -

Dir = exampleprotecteddirectory

In order to use a VXN of this type just create a file with appropriate entries on your computer and publish the VXN file along with the rest of your WWW site using FTP. After publishing, load the VXN and create your users. You load the VXN through your WWW browser by entering its address. In the aforementioned case you would load:

http://www.vaxxine.com/yourpagename/protect/example.vxn

After setting the security you would then require a password to visit:

http://www.vaxxine.com/yourpagename/protect/exampleprotecteddirectory/

Example

The following is an example of a VXN file used to protect a given directory. Please note that you cannot make changes to the user names and/or passwords in the example but will be able to in your own directory.

http://www.vaxxine.com/vaxxweb/protect/example.vxn

The following is the directory protected by the above. You can enter a user name of "protect" and a password of "protect" to access it.

http://www.vaxxine.com/vaxxweb/protect/example

More Information

For more information please see the Vaxxine WWW Development List as a resource for various questions about WWW services at Vaxxine. Also visit the VXN Home Page for more information about VXNs.