Apache 403 error

igor92128 · Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:45 pm Post subject: Apache 403 error

I have configured Apache and everything works fine. When I first installed it, I got the Apache default page. Then I changed the DocumentRoot to the directory that I want to use, but after that I get 403 errors when trying to access it. If I change the DocumentRoot back to the default directory it works. I've even copied my page to /var/www/localhost and messed around with the permissions, but I still get 403 error and I can't access the page.

moocha · Watchman Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 5722

Look at your access_log. Search for the file (or directory) name on which you get the 403. The log line will tell you whether access is prohibited by configuration directives (Allow / Deny from lines) or by file system access permissions.
_________________
Military Commissions Act of 2006: http://tinyurl.com/jrcto

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- attributed to Benjamin Franklin

igor92128 · Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:31 pm Post subject:

Ok, I did that but I don't think it's telling me much. Here's a line from access_log:

igor92128 · Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:34 pm Post subject:

Maybe its error_log that you wanted me to post?

moocha · Watchman Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 5722

Oops, error_log of course. Sorry about that.
The most common cause for this error is placing stuff in /var/www/localhost instead of /var/www/localhost/htdocs and forgetting that by default Gentoo's access configuration via the Directory directive only cover stuff under htdocs, not peers of htdocs. So either move the mysite under htdocs (where it would actually make sense), or add a Directory directive covering /var/www/localhost/mysite (look at the /var/www/localhost/htdocs one for an example).
_________________
Military Commissions Act of 2006: http://tinyurl.com/jrcto

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- attributed to Benjamin Franklin

igor92128 · Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 1:26 am Post subject:

So, what is exactly the Directory directive? /var/www/localhost/htdocs only contains a bunch of index files in different languages. Is this directive supposed to be some kind of config file?
Also, can I add the site under an htdocs subfolder or does it have to be under the root? So would this work: /var/www/localhost/htdocs/mysite ?

Igor

moocha · Watchman Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 5722

igor92128 · Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 6:10 am Post subject:

Ok now I realize what you were talking about. In Windows I think commonapache2.conf is called httpd.conf and I always modified the directory directive. I got it working fine now.

Thanks,
Igor

moocha · Watchman Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 5722

The configuration file can be called anything - httpd.conf is just a default name.
Under Gentoo the configuration is split among a few files: apache2.conf (which one shouldn't modify), commonapache2.conf (where global directives go), the Apache extra modules configurations, and the virtual host configurations. They all get included directly or indirectly by apache2.conf. You'll find all of them under /etc/apache2/conf.
_________________
Military Commissions Act of 2006: http://tinyurl.com/jrcto

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- attributed to Benjamin Franklin