How to check if mod_rewrite is enabled on your server

[leolam]

Many problems with SEO arise from the fact that a host has not enabled mod_rewrite (Apache setting) on the servers. They often tell they have (while they don't have) and you can verify if this is correct or not and if this is causing you Error 500 etc.

Here is how to check if mod-rewrite is realy enabled!

..Enable SEO in your administrator! (administrator> SEO > enable > save)

..Rename your htaccess.txt to .htaccess !!

Next place ONLY the following lines in your .htaccess:

Code: Select all

Options +FollowSymLinks
Redirect /joomla.html http://www.joomla.org

Now point your browser to: http://www.mysite.com/joomla.html

If it redirects you to joomla.org - mod_rewrite is working.
If it gives you an error - mod_rewrite is not working.

note: if your site is located in subdomain example "test" you need to insert in .htaccess as:

Code: Select all

Options +FollowSymLinks
Redirect /test/joomla.html http://www.joomla.org

note: replace the http://www.mysite.com with your own domain in your browser!

cheers
Leo

note: originally posted by Kenmcd on open-sef forum and modified/enhanced for general use

[renegadeandy]

hey! well - good news it forwards me to joomla.org

so what next!?

[cooterrules]

Thanks

[dingo1234]

In the .htaccess

I have to opt out this: Otherwise my site goes blanc
## Can be commented out if causes errors, see notes above.
#Options +FollowSymLinks

I did put in your suggestion:
Options +FollowSymLinks
Redirect /joomla.html http://www.joomla.org
This gives me a 500 message

does this mean I can't use mod_rewrite
I can't use SEF ??

(I strugled for a long time with SEF joomla core but always it makes the wrong URLs)

[snadowitz]

This is an easier way - add this to the end of your .htaccess file:-

Code: Select all

RewriteRule (.*) http://google.com

Save it to your server and then try and navigate to your site - any page - they should all be redirected to google....IF mod_rewrite is working....

[dingo1234]

I did put in as you said: RewriteRule (.*) http://google.com

This gave me: Error: Host Not Accessible

I think I have to go over to an other hosting firm in order to make SEF work ?

[leolam]

you did not do what i mentioned in the first post......check if your mod_rewrite is enabled which you can do by only inserting that little piece of code and nothing else...follow instructions maybe?

Leo

[dingo1234]

Sorry leolam, but I did put in earlier your first tip,ONLY put in
Options +FollowSymLinks
Redirect /joomla.html http://www.joomla.org
This gives a 500 message

when i use Option "FollowSymLinks" it gives me always blanco pages

BTW is there a SEF solution without using mod_rewrite

I have in a subdomain (same server) phpfox with full SEF running
In this sub domain i have .htaccess with RewriteEngine On
I don't know why this is all happening to me

[leolam]

BTW is there a SEF solution without using mod_rewrite

SH404SEF