[users@httpd] {Spam?} Re: [users@httpd] Qs: server maintenance, URL redirection, etc

[Götz Lohmann <go...@mrblackrose.de>]

Matthew England schrieb:

> Hi,
>
> I will periodically want to "take down" my Apache server, or 
> applications being served on said server (like phpBB), for 
> maintenance.  I want my users to be advised appropriately when this 
> Apache server is in such a mode.
>
> To this end, a few questions:
>
> 1) When I take down only a certain application (again, like phpBB), I 
> want all phpbb-specific URLs to go to a phpbb-specific "under 
> construction" area, rather then having all the invalid/404 URLs 
> directed to an "invalid" page.  More specifically, I want ever URL 
> with https://<servername>/forums/* (because phpbb dir maps to 
> "/forums") to temporarily go to an alternative web page...but only the 
> /forums/* links (and not any of the others).  How do I do this?  I see 
> no mention of finding out what URL the client is attempting to access 
> at http://httpd.apache.org/docs/mod/core.html#errordocument .
>
> Further, to this end, I want the forums area to be available 
> specifically to *me* at a special address (that presumably only I know 
> and/or is accessible only via my own secure access) during this time.  
> I think I know to do this last part...but I thought I would mention 
> this as a requirement for the above purpose.
>
> 2) I am hoping theres a general FAQ/RTFM site/page that points out 
> strategies for gracefully managing Apache server/app downtime in 
> general.  eg, can I redirect my main server that I'm working on and 
> testing to another port (eg, 8080 for normal port, 444 for altnerative 
> SSL port, etc) to do this?  If so, this does not always jive with 
> server apps (eg, many of them assume a root URL in their underlying 
> config/database).  I'm sure this a common FAQ that's answered somewhere.
>
> Thanks for any help!
> -Matt

why not using .htaccess redirect like:

  
Redirect  permanent  /thisfile.html  http://www.domain.de/somewhere/this.html
  Redirect  temp  /thatfile.html  http://www.domain.de/somewhere/that.html

which you drop in the phpBB directory .. that way you haven't make an 
apache reload
look for more info about that in mod_alias

or try mod_rewrite with a ruleset depending on the timestamp to redirect 
like

   RewriteCond %{TIME_HOUR} >06
   RewriteCond %{TIME_HOUR} <09
   RewriteRule ^.*$ http://www.domain.com/morning.htm
   RewriteCond %{TIME_HOUR} >17
   RewriteCond %{TIME_HOUR} <20
   RewriteRule ^.*$ http://www.domain.com/evening.htm

take look at: http://modrewrite.com/

regards, G. Lohmann