How to Fix Elastic Beanstalk Not Respected .htaccess Files in Amazon Linux 2

Описание: Discover how to ensure your Elastic Beanstalk environment on Amazon Linux 2 properly uses `.htaccess` files by configuring the server settings effectively.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/62332941/ asked by the user 'Chuck Le Butt' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/199700/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/69095137/ provided by the user 'Ben Gooding' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/9398785/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Resolving .htaccess Issues in Elastic Beanstalk for Amazon Linux 2

If you've recently created a new environment in Amazon Elastic Beanstalk (EB) and noticed that your application isn't respecting the .htaccess files like it used to in earlier setups, you're not alone. Many developers face this challenge when working with newer versions of Amazon Linux. This guide aims to explain the problem in detail and provide a clear, step-by-step guide to resolve it.

Understanding the Issue

When deployed to AWS Elastic Beanstalk, your application may use Apache as its web server. The .htaccess file allows for additional configuration to be set on a directory-by-directory basis. These configurations often include URL rewrites, security settings, and other essential directives. However, when using Amazon Linux 2, many users have reported that .htaccess files appear to be ignored.

Common Symptoms

Your website may not behave as expected (e.g., redirects not functioning).

Apache error logs may indicate that .htaccess files are not being processed.

Lack of HTTP directives from .htaccess being applied.

The Shift with Amazon Linux 2

In prior setups, Elastic Beanstalk environments easily recognized and applied configurations from .htaccess files. However, with Amazon Linux 2, things might look a bit different owing to an updated server structure that distinguishes between global and local configurations. Consequently, you won't find the traditional /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf that older versions might have showcased.

Key Points to Note:

Elastic Beanstalk uses a proxy server configuration in newer setups.

You won't find an /etc/apache2 directory, as the configurations now reside elsewhere.

Direct changes to specific .conf files can be overridden when new instances are created, leading to concerns about persistence and consistency.

Solution: Configuring the Server to Recognize .htaccess Files

If you're keen on getting your .htaccess files recognized in your new environment on Amazon Linux 2, follow these steps:

Step 1: Update Your Proxy Settings

Starting from versions 3+ , you can modify your Elastic Beanstalk configuration to use Apache as your web server. This adjustment is necessary to ensure that your .htaccess functionality is reinstated.

Follow these steps to update your proxy server:

Navigate to the Elastic Beanstalk Console.

Sign in to your AWS Management Console and open the Elastic Beanstalk console.

Select Your Application Environment.

Choose the environment you want to modify.

Configuration Page.

Go to the Configuration section for your application.

Modify the Environment Properties.

Look for an option that allows you to specify the proxy server. Change it to Apache if it's currently set to a different backend.

Save Changes and Redeploy.

After saving, redeploy your application to ensure the changes take effect.

Step 2: Verify .htaccess File Location

Make sure that your .htaccess file is located in the appropriate directory within your application files. It should be within the public directory of your application so that Apache can read it upon requests.

Step 3: Test Your Configuration

Once you have made the necessary changes, check to ensure that your .htaccess rules are now working as expected:

Test various URLs to see if rewrites are performed correctly.

Check Apache's error logs for any issues concerning your .htaccess configurations.

Conclusion

In summary, while the changes with Amazon Linux 2 may initially be frustrating for developers who are accustomed to the earlier setups, adjusting your Elastic Beanstalk environment to properly use .htaccess files is quite manageable. By switching to Apache and ensuring configurations are correct, y