Apache Reference: mod_auth_dbm, AuthDBMAuthoritative

AuthDBMAuthoritative

Specify Whether mod_auth_dbm Is the Authority
Syntax: AuthDBMAuthoritative on|off
Example: AuthDBMAuthoritative off
Since: Apache 1.2

Setting this directive explicitly to ``off'' permits for both authentication and authorization to be passed to lower-level modules (as defined in the Configuration and modules.c files) if no user ID or rule matches the supplied user ID. If a user ID or rule is specified, the usual password and access checks are applied and a failure gives an ``Authorization Required'' reply. Thus, if a user ID appears in the database of more than one module, or if a valid Require directive applies to more than one module, then the first module will verify the credentials and no access will be passed on, regardless of the AuthAuthori==tative setting.