http://www.edwardbeckett.com/Blog/index.cfm Search Engine Optimization - Florida SEO Specialist - SEM Expert - Consultant en-us Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:52:17 -0400 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:53:00 -0400 BlogCFC http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss edward@edwardbeckett.com edward@edwardbeckett.com http://www.edwardbeckett.com/Blog/index.cfm/2009/1/11/Florida-Search-Engine-Optimization-raquo-Apache-MultiViews-raquo-ModRewrite Apache apparently has a server module call mod_negotiation which contains an option called MultiViews. MultiViews is a setting that gives the server the ability to decide the best representation for a requested file that doesn't exist. Furthermore, If MultiViews is enabled on the server, it will take operational precedence before any mod_rewrite directives that you provide in your .htaccess files. Had I been aware of this setting being turned on by default with my host, I would have requested for them to turn if off. However, I was completely oblivious that the setting even existed. The Apache documentation states ... <div align="center"> <img src="http://www.edwardbeckett.com/Blog/images/apache_mv_descr.jpg"> </div> <strong>MultiViews &#187; I should have known</strong> My issue with MultiViews was discovered after a WordPress installation went south. I had installed WP 2.7 with a theme that I created and a group of plug-ins which I typically use. After creating a page for the HTML sitemap, I browsed the URL to make sure everything was working correctly. The destination URL was www.website.com/sitemap/, yet when I browsed to the page, the server was re-writing the URL as www.website.com/sitemap.xml/ which incidentally did not exist. Now, I also had Arne Brachold's Google Sitemap Generator for WordPress installed and I figured that there must be something wrong with either my .htaccess files or his sitemap plug-in on WP 2.7. After uninstalling his plug-in and several others in an attempt to solve the mysterious problem, checking and re-checking my .htaccess files, re-installing WordPress several times and arguing with my host that I have exhausted practically all efforts ... I became quite irritated. It was only when one of the tech support guys that had some experience with Apache realized the issue and sent me an e-mail informing me that the issue was due to MultiViews being enabled on the server. He suggested that I should have had requested to have it turned off ... I should have known. <strong>Woe to you ... on shared hosting</strong> If you are on shared hosting, you may not even know that some shared hosting accounts come equipped with the mod_negotiation module activated by default. If you are using the Apache2handler and want to find out yourself, just create a .php file with phpinfo(); in it and run that ... you should be able see if the mod_negotiation module is loaded ... If you are using the CGI/FastCGI such as I am, I don't know how you can tell ... phpinfo(); doesn't reveal those settings ... for the record contact your host. <strong>SEO Side Effects &#187; Duplicate Content with MutiViews</strong> After doing some research and about MutiViews, I found a thread on WebMasterWorld stating that there may be <a href='http://www.webmasterworld.com/apache/3595094.htm' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>duplicate content issues from using the MultiViews</a> as well. Apparently MutiViews will allow for multiple URL's to point to the same content ... If you are having issues with duplicate content ... or if you can't seem to get your mod_rewrite directives to work as expected, you may want to take a look at the fantastic article in WebMasterWorld by: JDMorgan <a href='http://www.webmasterworld.com/apache/3208525.htm' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>"A guide to fixing duplicate content & URL issues on Apache"</a> ... That's it. LAMP ColdFusion Programming Search Engine Optimization Code Web Development Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:53:00 -0400 http://www.edwardbeckett.com/Blog/index.cfm/2009/1/11/Florida-Search-Engine-Optimization-raquo-Apache-MultiViews-raquo-ModRewrite