Does auth_basic changes require a service reload?

Server NGINX
1

Hi,

I’m wondering if I need to perform a “service nginx restart”, if I do
any changes to htpasswd file:
location / {
auth_basic “closed site”;
auth_basic_user_file htpasswd;
}

I noticed that sometimes it works without reloading the service.

Posted at Nginx Forum:

2

Hello!

On Wed, Apr 25, 2012 at 12:59:50PM -0400, TECK wrote:

Hi,

I’m wondering if I need to perform a “service nginx restart”, if I do
any changes to htpasswd file:
location / {
auth_basic “closed site”;
auth_basic_user_file htpasswd;
}

I noticed that sometimes it works without reloading the service.

The htpasswd file is looked up at runtime, no reload/restart
needed after it’s change.

Maxim D.

3

Sorry to repeat myself Maxim. The file is looked at startup so if I add
a new user or edit an existing password, it will not require a service
restart?

Posted at Nginx Forum:

4

Hello!

On Thu, Apr 26, 2012 at 10:10:16AM -0400, TECK wrote:

Sorry to repeat myself Maxim. The file is looked at startup so if I add
a new user or edit an existing password, it will not require a service
restart?

The file is looked at runtime, i.e. when request comes and nginx
checks authentication/authorization for a particular request.
There is no need to reload/restart nginx if you add users or
change passwords of existing users.

Maxim D.