+<div>
+ <ul>
+ <li><a href="#TWiki Access Control"> TWiki Access Control</a><ul>
+ <li><a href="#Overview"> Overview</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#An Important Control Considerati"> An Important Control Consideration</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#Users and Groups"> Users and Groups</a><ul>
+ <li><a href="#Managing Users"> Managing Users</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#Managing Groups"> Managing Groups</a></li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li><a href="#Restricting Write Access"> Restricting Write Access</a><ul>
+ <li><a href="#Deny Editing by Topic"> Deny Editing by Topic</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#Deny Editing by Web"> Deny Editing by Web</a></li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li><a href="#Restricting Rename Access"> Restricting Rename Access</a><ul>
+ <li><a href="#Deny Renaming by Topic"> Deny Renaming by Topic</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#Deny Renaming by Web"> Deny Renaming by Web</a></li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li><a href="#Restricting Read Access"> Restricting Read Access</a><ul>
+ <li><a href="#Known Issues"> Known Issues</a><ul>
+ <li><a href="#Selective Unrestricted Web Acces"> Selective Unrestricted Web Access</a></li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li><a href="#The _SuperAdminGroup"> The SuperAdminGroup</a></li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+</div>
+
## <a name="TWiki Access Control"></a> TWiki Access Control
-%WIKITOOLNAME% allows you to define restrictions of who is allowed to view a %WIKITOOLNAME% web, make changes to topics or attach files.
+_Restricting read and write access to topics and webs, by users and groups_
+
+### <a name="Overview"></a> Overview
+
+[[TWikiAccessControl]] allows you restrict access to single topics and entire webs, by individual user and by user groups, in three main areas: view; edit & attach; and rename/move/delete. These controls, combined with [[TWikiUserAuthentication|Main/TWikiDocumentation#TWiki_User_Authentication]], let you easily create and manage an extremely flexible, fine-grained privilege system.
+
+### <a name="An Important Control Considerati"></a> An Important Control Consideration
+
+Open, freeform editing is the essence of the [[WikiCulture]] - it's what makes TWiki different and often more effective than other collaboration tools. So, it is strongly recommended that decisions to restrict read or write access to a web or a topic are made with care. Experience shows that _unrestricted write access_ works very well because:
+
+- Peer influence is enough to ensure that only relevant content is posted.
+
+- Peer editing - the ability to rearrange anything on a page - keeps topics focussed.
-**IMPORTANT NOTE:** Think twice before restricting read or write access to a web or a topic, because an open system where everybody can contribute is the essence of the [[WikiCulture]]. Experience shows that unrestricted write access works very well because:
+- All content is preserved under revision control.
+ - Edits can be undone by the [[TWikiAdminGroup]] (the default administrators group; see [[Managing Groups|Main/WebHome#ManagingGroups]]).
+ - Users are encouraged to edit and refactor (condense a long topic), since there's a safety net.
-- There is enough peer pressure to post only conform content.
-- Content does not get lost because topics are under revision control.
-- A topic revision can be undone by a member of the [[TWikiAdminGroup]] in case needed.
+As a collaboration guideline:
+
+- Create broad groups (more and varied input), and...
+- Avoid creating view-only users (if you can read it, you can contribute to it).
### <a name="Users and Groups"></a> Users and Groups
-Access control is based on users and groups.
+Access control is based on users and groups. Users are defined by their [[WikiNames]], an then organized into unlimited combinations under different user groups.
+
+#### <a name="Managing Users"></a> Managing Users
+
+A user is created by with the [TWikiRegistration](%SCRIPTULRPATH%/view/TWiki/TWikiRegistration) form. The process generates a topic in the Main web in the new user's [[WikiName]]. The default visitor name is [[TWikiGuest]].
-**_Users_** are defined by the user topics in the Main web, i.e. [[TWikiGuest]]
+- Users can be authenticated using Basic Authentication or SSL. [[Authentication|Main/TWikiDocumentation#TWikiAuthentication]] is required in order to track user identities.
-- Users can be authenticated using basic authentication or SSL. [Installation Notes](TWikiDocumentation#installation) has more.
+<a name="ManagingGroups"></a>
-**_Groups_** are defined by group topics in the Main web, i.e. [[TWikiAdminGroup]]
+#### <a name="Managing Groups"></a> Managing Groups
-- A group topic name must end in **...Group**
-- The group topic should define these two variables:
+Groups are defined by group topics in the <code>**Main**</code> web, like the [[TWikiAdminGroup]]. To start a new group:
+
+1. **Create** a new topic with A name that ends in **Group**, `SomeGroup`
+2. **Define** two variables:
- Set GROUP = < list of users and groups >
- Set ALLOWTOPICCHANGE = < list of users and groups >
-- GROUP defines the members of the group; it is a comma delimited list of users and other groups. Example: <br />` * Set GROUP = Main.SomeUser, Main.OtherUser, Main.SomeOtherGroup`
-- ALLOWTOPICCHANGE defines who is allowed to change the group topic; it is a comma delimited list of users and groups. You typically want to restrict that to the members of the group itself, so it should contain the name of the topic, i.e. <br />` * Set ALLOWTOPICCHANGE = Main.TWikiAdminGroup`<br /> for the TWikiAdminGroup topic. (This is to prevent users not in the group from editing the topic and gaining unauthorized membership to the group.)
-### <a name="Write Access Restriction for Ind"></a> Write Access Restriction for Individual Topics
+- - GROUP is a comma-separated list of users and of other groups:<br /><code>** \* Set GROUP = Main.SomeUser, Main.OtherUser, Main.SomeOtherGroup**</code>
+
+- - ALLOWTOPICCHANGE defines who is allowed to change the group topic; it is a comma delimited list of users and groups. You typically want to restrict that to the members of the group itself, so it should contain the name of the topic,<br />` * Set ALLOWTOPICCHANGE = Main.TWikiAdminGroup`<br /> for the TWikiAdminGroup topic. (This prevents users not in the group from editing the topic and from gaining unauthorized membership to the group.)
+
+### <a name="Restricting Write Access"></a> Restricting Write Access
-You can define restrictions of who is allowed to make changes to a topic or attach files to it.
+You can define who is allowed to make changes to a web or a topic.
-Define one or both of these variables in a topic, preferably at the end of the topic:
+#### <a name="Deny Editing by Topic"></a> Deny Editing by Topic
-- Set DENYTOPICCHANGE = < list of users and groups >
-- Set ALLOWTOPICCHANGE = < list of users and groups >
+Denying editing of a topic also restricts attaching files to it; both privileges are assigned together.
-DENYTOPICCHANGE defines users or groups that **are not** allowed to make changes to the topic. It is a comma delimited list of users and groups. Example: <br />` * Set DENYTOPICCHANGE = Main.SomeBadBoy, Main.SomeBadGirl, Main.SomeHackerGroup`
+- Define one or both of these variables in a topic, preferably at the end of the page:
+ - Set DENYTOPICCHANGE = < list of users and groups >
+ - Set ALLOWTOPICCHANGE = < list of users and groups >
-ALLOWTOPICCHANGE defines users or groups that **are** allowed to make changes to the topic. It is a comma delimited list of users and groups. Example: <br />` * Set ALLOWTOPICCHANGE = Main.SomeGoodGuy, Main.SomeGoodGirl, Main.TWikiAdminGroup`
+- DENYTOPICCHANGE defines users or groups that **are not** allowed to make changes to the topic. It is a comma delimited list of users and groups. Example: <br />` * Set DENYTOPICCHANGE = Main.SomeBadBoy, Main.SomeBadGirl, Main.SomeHackerGroup`
-DENYTOPICCHANGE is evaluated before ALLOWTOPICCHANGE. Access is denied if the authenticated person is in the DENYTOPICCHANGE list, or not in the ALLOWTOPICCHANGE list. Access is granted in case DENYTOPICCHANGE and ALLOWTOPICCHANGE is not defined.
+- ALLOWTOPICCHANGE defines users or groups that **are** allowed to make changes to the topic. It is a comma delimited list of users and groups. Example: <br />` * Set ALLOWTOPICCHANGE = Main.SomeGoodGuy, Main.SomeGoodGirl, Main.TWikiAdminGroup`
-### <a name="Write Access Restriction for a W"></a> Write Access Restriction for a Whole %WIKITOOLNAME% Web
+- DENYTOPICCHANGE is evaluated before ALLOWTOPICCHANGE. Access is denied if the authenticated person is in the DENYTOPICCHANGE list, or not in the ALLOWTOPICCHANGE list. Access is granted in case DENYTOPICCHANGE and ALLOWTOPICCHANGE is not defined.
-You can define restrictions of who is allowed to make changes to a %WIKITOOLNAME% web. This includes creating new topics, changing topics or attaching files.
+#### <a name="Deny Editing by Web"></a> Deny Editing by Web
-Define one or both of these variable in the [[WebPreferences]] topic:
+Restricting web-level editing blocks creating new topics, changing topics or attaching files.
-- Set DENYWEBCHANGE = < list of users and groups >
-- Set ALLOWWEBCHANGE = < list of users and groups >
+- Define one or both of these variable in the [[WebPreferences]] topic:
+ - Set DENYWEBCHANGE = < list of users and groups >
+ - Set ALLOWWEBCHANGE = < list of users and groups >
-The same rules apply like the one for Access Control for Individual Topics; with these additions:
+The same rules apply as for restricting topics, with these additions:
- DENYTOPICCHANGE (in topic) overrides DENYWEBCHANGE (in WebPreferences)
- ALLOWTOPICCHANGE (in topic) overrides ALLOWWEBCHANGE (in WebPreferences)
-### <a name="Rename Access Restriction for In"></a> Rename Access Restriction for Individual Topics
+### <a name="Restricting Rename Access"></a> Restricting Rename Access
-You can define restrictions of who is allowed to rename a topic. Note that users need this permission in addition to the CHANGE permission in order to rename a topic. They also need CHANGE access to change references in referring topics.
+You can define who is allowed to rename, move or delete a topic, or rename a web.
-Define one or both of these variables in a topic, preferably at the end of the topic:
+#### <a name="Deny Renaming by Topic"></a> Deny Renaming by Topic
-- Set DENYTOPICRENAME = < list of users and groups >
-- Set ALLOWTOPICRENAME = < list of users and groups >
+To allow a user to rename, move or delete a topic, they also need write (editing) permission. They also need write access to change references in referring topics.
-DENYTOPICCRENAME defines users or groups that **are not** allowed to rename the topic. It is a comma delimited list of users and groups. Example: <br />` * Set DENYTOPICRENAME = Main.SomeBadBoy, Main.SomeBadGirl, Main.SomeHackerGroup`
+- Define one or both of these variables in a topic, preferably at the end of the topic:
+ - Set DENYTOPICRENAME = < list of users and groups >
+ - Set ALLOWTOPICRENAME = < list of users and groups >
-ALLOWTOPICRENAME defines users or groups that **are** allowed to rename the topic. It is a comma delimited list of users and groups. Example: <br />` * Set ALLOWTOPICRENAME = Main.SomeGoodGuy, Main.SomeGoodGirl, Main.TWikiAdminGroup`
+- DENYTOPICCRENAME defines users or groups that **are not** allowed to rename the topic. It is a comma delimited list of users and groups. Example: <br />` * Set DENYTOPICRENAME = Main.SomeBadBoy, Main.SomeBadGirl, Main.SomeHackerGroup`
-DENYTOPICRENAME is evaluated before ALLOWTOPICRENAME. Access is denied if the authenticated person is in the DENYTOPICRENAME list, or not in the ALLOWTOPICRENAME list. Access is granted in case DENYTOPICRENAME and ALLOWTOPICRENAME is not defined.
+- ALLOWTOPICRENAME defines users or groups that **are** allowed to rename the topic. It is a comma delimited list of users and groups. Example: <br />` * Set ALLOWTOPICRENAME = Main.SomeGoodGuy, Main.SomeGoodGirl, Main.TWikiAdminGroup`
-### <a name="Rename Access Restriction for a"></a><a name="Rename Access Restriction for a "></a> Rename Access Restriction for a Whole %WIKITOOLNAME% Web
+- DENYTOPICRENAME is evaluated before ALLOWTOPICRENAME. Access is denied if the authenticated person is in the DENYTOPICRENAME list, or not in the ALLOWTOPICRENAME list. Access is granted in case DENYTOPICRENAME and ALLOWTOPICRENAME is not defined.
-You can define restrictions of who is allowed to do renames for a %WIKITOOLNAME% web.
+#### <a name="Deny Renaming by Web"></a> Deny Renaming by Web
-Define one or both of these variable in the [[WebPreferences]] topic:
+You can define restrictions of who is allowed to rename a %WIKITOOLNAME% web.
-- Set DENYWEBRENAME = < list of users and groups >
-- Set ALLOWWEBRENAME = < list of users and groups >
+- Define one or both of these variable in the [[WebPreferences]] topic:
+ - Set DENYWEBRENAME = < list of users and groups >
+ - Set ALLOWWEBRENAME = < list of users and groups >
-The same rules apply like the one for Access Control for Individual Topics; with these additions:
+The same rules apply as for topics, with these additions:
- DENYTOPICRENAME (in topic) overrides DENYWEBRENAME (in WebPreferences)
- ALLOWTOPICRENAME (in topic) overrides ALLOWWEBRENAME (in WebPreferences)
-### <a name="Read Access Restriction for a Wh"></a> Read Access Restriction for a Whole %WIKITOOLNAME% Web
+### <a name="Restricting Read Access"></a> Restricting Read Access
You can define restrictions of who is allowed to view a %WIKITOOLNAME% web.
-Define one or both of these variable in the [[WebPreferences]] topic:
-
-- Set DENYWEBVIEW = < list of users and groups >
-- Set ALLOWWEBVIEW = < list of users and groups >
+- Define one or both of these variable in the [[WebPreferences]] topic:
+ - Set DENYWEBVIEW = < list of users and groups >
+ - Set ALLOWWEBVIEW = < list of users and groups >
-_Notes for read access restriction:_
+#### <a name="Known Issues"></a> Known Issues
- The view restriction is not suitable for very sensitive content since there is a way to circumvent the read access restriction.
-- Read access restriction only works if the view script is authenticated, that means that users need to log on also just to read topics. [TWiki Installation](TWikiDocumentation#installation) has more on basic authentication based on the `.htaccess` file.
-- There is a workaround if you prefer to to have unrestricted access to view topics located in normal webs, and to authenticate users only for webs where view restriction is enabled:
- - Leave the `view` script non authenticated in the `.htaccess` file.
- - Enable the `$doRememberRemoteUser` flag in `wikicfg.pm` as described in [TWiki Authentication](TWikiDocumentation#authentication). %WIKITOOLNAME% will now remember the IP address of an authenticated user.
- - Copy the `view` script to `viewauth` (or better, create a symbolic link)
- - Add `viewauth` to the list of authenticated scripts in the .htaccess file.
- - When a user accesses a web where you enabled view restriction, %WIKITOOLNAME% will redirect from the `view` script to the `viewauth` script once (this hapens only if the user has never edited a topic). Doing so will ask for authentication. The `viewauth` script shows the requested topic if the user could log on and if the user is authorized to see that web.
-- If you enable view restriction for a web, it is recommended to restrict search "all webs" from searching this web. Enable this restriction with the `NOSEARCHALL` variable in its [[WebPreferences]], like:
- - Set NOSEARCHALL = on
-- It is not recommended to restrict view access to individual topics since all content is searchable **_within_** a web.
-- The view restriction is not suitable for very sensitive content since there is a way to circumvent the read access restriction.
+- Read access restriction only works if the view script is authenticated, that means that users need to log on also just to read topics. [[TWiki Installation Guide|Main/TWikiDocumentation#TWikiInstallationGuide]] has more on Basic Authentication based on the <code>**.htaccess**</code> file.
-**_Related topics:_** [[TWikiPreferences]], [[WebPreferences]] (in every web), [[TWikiAdminGroup]], [[TWikiGroups]]
+##### <a name="Selective Unrestricted Web Acces"></a> Selective Unrestricted Web Access
+
+- There is a workaround if you prefer to have unrestricted access to view topics located in normal webs, and to authenticate users only for webs where view restriction is enabled:
+ 1. **Omit** the <code>**view**</code> script from the `.htaccess` file.
+ 2. **Enable** the <code>**$doRememberRemoteUser**</code> flag in <code>**lib/wikicfg.pm**</code> as described in [[User Authentication|Main/TWikiDocumentation#TWikiUserAuthentication]]. %WIKITOOLNAME% will now remember the IP address of an authenticated user.
+ 3. **Copy** the <code>**view**</code> script to <code>**viewauth**</code> (or better, create a symbolic link)
+ 4. **Add** <code>**viewauth**</code> to the list of authenticated scripts in the .htaccess file.
+ - When a user accesses a web where you enabled view restriction, %WIKITOOLNAME% will redirect from the `view` script to the `viewauth` script once (this happens only if the user has never edited a topic). Doing so will ask for authentication. The `viewauth` script shows the requested topic if the user could log on and if the user is authorized to see that web.
+ - If you enable view restriction for a web, it is recommended to restrict search "all webs" from searching this web. Enable this restriction with the <code>**NOSEARCHALL**</code> variable in its [[WebPreferences]], like:
+ - Set NOSEARCHALL = on
+ - It is not recommended to restrict view access to individual topics since all content is searchable _within_ a web.
+
+<a name="SuperAdminGroup"></a>
+
+### <a name="The _SuperAdminGroup"></a> The SuperAdminGroup
--- [[PeterThoeny]] - 16 Mar 2001 <br />
+By mistyping a user or group name in the ALLOWTOPICCHANGE setting, it's possible to lock a topic so that it no-one can edit it from a browser. To avoid this:
+
+- Set the `$superAdminGroup` variable in `lib/TWiki.cfg` to the name of a group of users that are always allowed to edit/view topics.
+
+> $superAdminGroup = "TWikiAdminGroup";
+
+- The default setting is not to have superusers.
+
+-- [[PeterThoeny]] - 16 Mar 2001 <br /> -- [[AndreaSterbini]] - 11 Apr 2001 <br />
+
+**_Related topics:_** [[TWikiPreferences]], [[WebPreferences]] (in every web), [[TWikiAdminGroup]], [[TWikiGroups]]
git://git.openafs.org / openafs-wiki.git / blobdiff