Apache 2.2 and mod_auth_mysql fails with server error 500

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Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10

Situation

When attempting to authenticate using mod_auth_mysql and apache 2.2, a visitor is prompted for authentication credentials, but on entering those credentials, receives the error :

Server error!

The server encountered an internal error and was unable to complete your request. Either the server is overloaded or there was an error in a CGI script.

If you think this is a server error, please contact the webmaster.

Error 500

In the /var/log/apache2/error_log file, the error message exists :

[Fri Sep 22 11:04:56 2006] [error] Internal error: pcfg_openfile() called with NULL filename
[Fri Sep 22 11:04:56 2006] [error] [client 137.65.62.53] (9)Bad file descriptor: Could not open password file: (null)

Resolution

In Apache 2.2, the mod_auth_basic module is now set to authoritative, and must be disabled. This is done in the authentication section of the configuration file (where the"AuthMySQLEnabled on" line exists) by adding the line :

AuthBasicAuthoritative Off

Additional Information

An example configuration file for authentication with MySQL database services :

LoadModule mysql_auth_module /usr/lib/apache2/mod_auth_mysql.so

AuthName "SYSSUP Internal Site"
AuthType Basic
AuthBasicAuthoritative Off
AuthMySQLEnable On
AuthMySQLUser test
AuthMySQLPassword test
AuthMySQLDB test
AuthMySQLUserTable user_info
AuthMySQLNameField user_name
AuthMySQLPasswordField user_passwd
AuthMySQLAuthoritative On
AuthMySQLHost localhost
AuthMySQLPwEncryption none
require valid-user

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