URL Security / Password Protection (optional extra)

URL Security provides a method of password protecting sections of a website. When the user attempts to visit a secure area they will be prompted for a username and password which they must enter in order to be granted access to that part of the website. For example, you can create a members only section on your website or an area just private to yourself.

URL Security comes in two flavours: Basic and Advanced. Basic URL Security validates users from a text file only whereas advanced can validate users through the use of a text file or an ODBC data source.  Both provide an unlimited number of secure folders.Your Web Control Panel will allow you to set-up password protected folders.

Setting Up Basic Security

Secured URL is the complete URL you wish to add password protection for. In this example, we have a folder called Members underneath the domain which we only want registered members to access.

URL Master Password allows you to set an override password which lets you log in as any valid user with that password.

Text file path is the complete path to a standard text file which contain all usernames and their passwords which are permitted access. Note that the text file takes the form of: 

username=password. One pair of these per line in the text file with no limit.
 
Example:
 
Steve=test1234
JSmith=apple
SDEN1221PO9=secret

When you have entered all these settings, click Continue to apply the security.

Setting Up Advanced Security

Advanced security differs from Basic in that you have the option of validating your usernames/passwords through the use of an ODBC data source.

Secured URL is the complete URL you wish to add password protection for. In this example, we have a folder called Members underneath the domain which we only want registered members to access.

Validation data storage can be used to determine the method in which usernames and passwords will be validated. To use an ODBC data source, ensure database is selected, otherwise select text file.

URL Master Password allows you to set an override password which lets you log in as any valid user with that password.

If you chose to validate users through a text file, enter the Text file path as the complete path to a standard text file which contain all usernames and their passwords which are permitted access. Note that the text file takes the form of: 

username=password. One pair of these per line in the text file with no limit.
 
Example:
 
Steve=test1234
JSmith=apple
SDEN1221PO9=secret

If you chose to validate users though an ODBC data source, select the data source from the ones previously set up in drop down list. If the database is password protected, enter the username and password in the Login/Password fields. Validation table name is the table in the database which contain the usernames and passwords. User Field Name is the field in the table which contains the usernames and Password Field Name contain the passwords associated with each user.

When you have entered all these settings, click Continue to apply the security.

More details can be found in our knowledge base.