Check AllowOverride value using PHP?

Question

Is there anyway to use PHP to check the value of AllowOverride too see if .htaccess will have any effect?

Answer 1

In complement to @Pekka response:

AllowOverride can be set to None or All, but as well to a specific list of terms: AuthConfig, FileInfo, Indexes, Limit, Options. So you could be allowed to use a Header instruction but not Deny, for example.

So a way to test the real value of AllowOverride is to add this to your .htaccess:

#AuthConfig
AuthName "Secret"
#FileInfo
ErrorDocument 404 index.php
#Indexes
DefaultIcon /icon/unknown.xbm 
#Limit
Allow From All
#Options
Options FollowSymLinks

Then if you have an 500 error comment lines to detect which words (sections) are forbidden. You'll get an error 500 until you remove every forbidden instruction. When you'll know the allowed sections you'll have to check the documentation for the complete list of allowed instructions.

If you do not have any error you have AllowOverride None or All. Then alter the Deny/Allow to:

Deny From All

If you have the 403 result it's a AllowOverride All.