Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Apache 2.2 mod-authnz-external UNIX user auth howto with pwauth


This howto is for Debian linux, and for Apache version 2.2. Directories and installation types may differ on other distributions.

1. Install apache module (it will also install pwauth as a dependency)

apt-get install libapache2-mod-authnz-external

2.Enable apache2 module

a2enmod authnz_external

3.Check if module is loaded:

apache2ctl -M | grep  authnz_external

should see:

 authnz_external_module (shared)

4. Set up vhost:

4.1: In the selected directory:
 
AuthType Basic
AuthName Your-Site-Name
AuthBasicProvider externalAuthExternal pwauthrequire valid-user


4.2: In the beginning of the vhost file:

AddExternalAuth pwauth /usr/sbin/pwauth
SetExternalAuthMethod pwauth pipe


Possible problems:

Invalid AuthExternal keyword (pwauth)

You have no pwauth installation or you pwauth is not in the /usr/sbin directory, search it!


 Action 'configtest' failed.
The Apache error log may have more information.
 failed!


You have misspelled some command in the configuration file, check it!