PassDir 1.7.0

PassDir, PassDir, Magenta Password Directory IIS Filter, is a powerful utility for protecting specified directories from unauthorised access using the Microsoft Windows IIS Web Server. It supports IIS/4 in NT4, IIS/5.0 in W2K, IIS/5.1 in XP Pro and IIS/6 in in Windows 2003 Server. It is designed to provide protection by simply FTPing or copying text files onto the server without needing access to any IIS Administration functions, similarly to the way the UNIX Apache web server is protected by .htaccess/.htpasswd files.

PassDir uses the same Apache .htpasswd format files for the lists of authorised users, although the information from multiple .htaccess files is contained in a single INI file. PassDir also has the ability to redirect expired users to a special renewal page.

Note that PassDir is a Windows DLL that needs to be installed as an ISAPI Filter in IIS at either master, default or virtual site level through IIS Administration. But once installed, all configuration is through text files. If you dont have access to your own web server, please check first that your web hosting company will install an ISAPI Filter on your site.

PassDir includes the Encode UNIX Password 32-bit Windows application that allows user names and passwords to be encoded into .htpasswd format files. This may be automated by command line arguments. Alternatively an OCX is available that allow password management to be added to windows applications.

Please note that PassDir is incompatible with FrontPage publishing which requires windows authentication to be enabled to work properly. But FTP has always been the best way to update web sites.