Apache Module mod_authn_anon

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Description:	Allows "anonymous" user access to authenticated areas
Status:	Extension
Module Identifier:	authn_anon_module
Source File:	mod_authn_anon.c
Compatibility:	Available in Apache 2.1 and later

Summary

This module provides authentication front-ends such as mod_auth_basic to authenticate users similar to anonymous-ftp sites, i.e. have a 'magic' user id 'anonymous' and the email address as a password. These email addresses can be logged.

Combined with other (database) access control methods, this allows for effective user tracking and customization according to a user profile while still keeping the site open for 'unregistered' users. One advantage of using Auth-based user tracking is that, unlike magic-cookies and funny URL pre/postfixes, it is completely browser independent and it allows users to share URLs.

When using mod_auth_basic, this module is invoked via the AuthBasicProvider directive with the anon value.

Topics

Example

Bugfix checklist

Example

The example below is combined with "normal" htpasswd-file based authentication and allows users in additionally as 'guests' with the following properties:

It insists that the user enters a userID. (Anonymous_NoUserID)
It insists that the user enters a password. (Anonymous_MustGiveEmail)
The password entered must be a valid email address, i.e. contain at least one '@' and a '.'. (Anonymous_VerifyEmail)
The userID must be one of anonymous guest www test welcome and comparison is not case sensitive. (Anonymous)
And the Email addresses entered in the passwd field are logged to the error log file. (Anonymous_LogEmail)

Example

<Directory "/var/www/html/private">
    AuthName "Use 'anonymous' & Email address for guest entry"
    AuthType Basic
    AuthBasicProvider file anon
    AuthUserFile "/path/to/your/.htpasswd"
    
    Anonymous_NoUserID off
    Anonymous_MustGiveEmail on
    Anonymous_VerifyEmail on
    Anonymous_LogEmail on
    Anonymous anonymous guest www test welcome
    
    Require valid-user
</Directory>

Apache Module mod_authn_anon

Summary

Topics

Directives

Bugfix checklist

See also

Example

Example

Anonymous