Dreamweaver - Restrict access to a folder

Author

Restrict access to a folder

EL speedy

2006-02-24, 10:15 am

Hello,

I am far from an expert at website design so perhaps this is really basic but
how do you go about limiting access to a folder? For example if you go to some
sites and you try to type in the address bar to see the directory of the folder
it says Forbidden, you do not have permission to access this folder.

The reason I ask is I have a private folder set up that is not linked to the
pages that I would like to limit access to. It is not critical really
considering they are just pictures and stuff but it would be nice to keep
access limited.

If you are bored stiff and want to make any additional suggestions or if you
see something really stupid on the site that should be fixed please let me
know. http://www.ericlarsonrc.com The helicopter side is pretty much complete
but the plane side is under construction. Like I say I am far from a website
designer so suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,
Evan

TGuthrie

2006-02-24, 10:15 am

First my question is if you don't want people to see the folder why is it
there? I guess I will go from there, but to fix this problem its not a
programming thing, its more with the rights to the folder and if you don't own
the server your site is on then I would suggest calling or e-mailing the people
who host your site. Just let them know that you don't want to have you folder
be available for everybody.

Robert E Boughner

2006-02-24, 10:15 am

EL speedy wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am far from an expert at website design so perhaps this is really basic but
> how do you go about limiting access to a folder? For example if you go to some
> sites and you try to type in the address bar to see the directory of the folder
> it says Forbidden, you do not have permission to access this folder.
>
> The reason I ask is I have a private folder set up that is not linked to the
> pages that I would like to limit access to. It is not critical really
> considering they are just pictures and stuff but it would be nice to keep
> access limited.
>
If your pages are on a Unix based server then you can use .htaccess to
restrict access to a folder unless a user has a valid user name and
password. My ISP allows me to do that through its Control Panel so
check with your ISP to see what they offer.

EL speedy

2006-02-24, 10:15 am

Thanks for the replies, I will check with my host and see if they can set it
up.

It seems like there are a lot of sites out there that limit access to folders
for one reason or another so I figured it was pretty easy.

Thanks,
Evan

Alan

2006-02-24, 10:15 pm

what you want is to block the default display of a directory's contents?

like if someone backed up the tree from
http://example.com/images/gif.gif to
http://example.com/images/
they would see the Forbidden server message?

If your site hosting has a control panel, go in there and look for some tool
to turn off the default directory listing.

If on a unix/linux host, you can use an .htaccess file to disable directory
listing.

Simplest/quickest of all- simply place a file in the folder with a default
filename. If index.html is a default, stick one in that folder. Then when
somebody tries to view /images/ they'll see /images/index.html instead of
the folder's directory listing.

> For example if you go to some
> sites and you try to type in the address bar to see the directory of the
> folder
> it says Forbidden, you do not have permission to access this folder.

EL speedy

2006-02-24, 10:16 pm

Alan,

Yes, that is what I am looking to do. Was not sure how to describe it. Thanks for the additional information.

Evan