Apache Module mod_authn_dbm

Summary

This module provides authentication front-ends such asmod_auth_digest andmod_auth_basic to authenticate users by looking up users indbm password files. Similar functionality is provided bymod_authn_file.

When usingmod_auth_basic ormod_auth_digest, this module is invoked via theAuthBasicProvider orAuthDigestProvider with thedbm value.

Directives

• AuthDBMType
• AuthDBMUserFile

Bugfix checklist

• httpd changelog
• Known issues
• Report a bug

See also

• AuthName
• AuthType
• AuthBasicProvider
• AuthDigestProvider
• htpasswd
• htdbm
• Password Formats
• Comments

AuthDBMTypeDirective

Sets the type of database file that is used to store the passwords. The default database type is determined at compile time. The availability of other types of database files also depends oncompile-time settings.

For example, in order to enable the support for Berkeley DB (correspondent to thedb type) the--with-berkeley-db option needs to be added to httpd's configure to generate the necessary DSO.

It is crucial that whatever program you use to create your password files is configured to use the same type of database.

AuthDBMUserFileDirective

TheAuthDBMUserFile directive sets the name of a DBM file containing the list of users and passwords for user authentication.File-path is the absolute path to the user file.

The user file is keyed on the username. The value for a user is the encrypted password, optionally followed by a colon and arbitrary data. The colon and the data following it will be ignored by the server.

The encrypted password format depends on which authentication frontend (e.g.mod_auth_basic ormod_auth_digest) is being used. SeePassword Formats for more information.

Important compatibility note: The implementation ofdbmopen in the Apache modules reads the string length of the hashed values from the DBM data structures, rather than relying upon the string being NULL-appended. Some applications, such as the Netscape web server, rely upon the string being NULL-appended, so if you are having trouble using DBM files interchangeably between applications this may be a part of the problem.

A perl script calleddbmmanage is included with Apache. This program can be used to create and update DBM format password files for use with this module. Another tool for maintaining the DBM files is the included programhtdbm.