Posted by Toby Inkster on 01/06/07 11:54

ronthemon wrote:

> basically I would like to be able to setup multiple usernames and
> passwords that when entered would display a directory tree in the
> browser window and allow files to be downloaded.

If you want to do it really simply and easily, probably the best thing to
do would be to create a directory for your protected files, password
protect it using HTTP Basic authentication, and turn on directory
listings, then put all your files into that directory (and you can create
subdirectories too).

Using Apache, that's pretty simple -- just create your directory, and put
a file called ".htaccess" into it, containing the following lines:

Options +Indexes
AuthType Basic
AuthName example.net
AuthUserFile /path/to/password/file.txt
Require valid-user

Then create the password file, which consists of lines like this:

someuser:tR40ZxFCZTntl
anotheruser:EyUsGr3L4VF.M

Note here that the passwords for 'someuser' and 'anotheruser' are actually
'password' and 'foo', but they are stored in the file encrypted for extra
security. To encrypt a password, use either the "htpasswd" program, or an
online tool like this <http://www.rekka.net/cgi-bin/htpasswd.cgi>.

As you appear to be using IIS instead of Apache, the exact procedure will
differ, but IIS certainly has a directory listing facility, and supports
HTTP Basic authentication, which is what's important.

--
Toby A Inkster BSc (Hons) ARCS
Contact Me ~ http://tobyinkster.co.uk/contact

[Back to original message]