TECH TIP: FUN WITH .htaccess

The Apache web server has a number of configuration options that are available to the server administrator. In a shared hosting environment like ours, end users don't have access to the main Apache configuration so you're stuck with the default configuration. However, it is possible to override many of the default settings by creating (or editing) a file named .htaccess -- a simple ASCII text file placed in your www directory or in a subdirectory of your www directory.

Customizations that you can achieve with a custom .htaccess file include:

• Customized Error Messages
• Override SSI (server-side-include) Restrictions
• Change Your Default Home Page
• Enable Directory Browsing
• Block Users from Accessing Your Web Site
• Redirect Visitors to a New Page or Directory
• Prevent Hot Linking and Bandwidth Leeching
• Prevent viewing of .htaccess or other files
• Eliminate Code Red and NIMDA Virus Attacks from your Access Log

For a detailed tutorial on customizing your own .htaccess file, visit the Hosting Manual's Fun with .htaccess section.