[UX] Detect whether mod_rewrite is enabled (in Apache installs) and throw a warning in the clean URLs page.

[klonos]

Here's the deal...

• I see that clean URLs are not enabled,
• I head over to ?q=admin/config/search/urls to run the test. Test says "no go".
• I know that there's a known issue about this (https://www.drupal.org/node/1134934), so I just give it a go nevertheless by removing the ?q= part of the URL. ...404
• I enable AllowOverride All etc. in my apache settings and restart the service.
• I try the clean URL admin/config/search/urls and it works!!
• Great, but then going back to the ?q=admin/config/search/urls page shows that "Clean URLs cannot be enabled." and running the test throws a "The clean URL test failed." message.
• Fine, try the clean URL again admin/config/search/urls ...it works and gives me the option to enable clean URLs. WTF#1
• Perhaps I need to click the "Enable clean URLs" checkbox to make it stick... so I tick, I hit save aaand... WTF#2: the checkbox is unchecked after the page is reloaded?!?

I repeat the tick and save a couple of times... still the checkbox comes as unchecked ...but the clean URLs work?!? ...well only if I manually type them in the address bar. If I visit the website still all menu links (in primary navigation for example) are using the non-clean form.

Something I'm doing wrong or bug?

[serundeputy]

There can be quite a few reasons that this does not work. I've had a few of my own battles with this in drupal land in different environments.

• Make sure you have Apache mod_rewrite module enabled, if you are using nginx there must be some equivalent.

[klonos]

Rookie mistake. Thanx @serundeputy

[klonos]

...can we have it so that we detect this and have a warning in the clean URLs page so to give pointers to forgetful people like myself?

[klonos]

Perhaps also have an entry with class="info" in the site status page (same as we have for Upload progress).

[klonos]

...the messages could be along the lines of:

• "mod_rewrite is not enabled. If you enable it (link to documentation), you will be able to use Clean URLs (link to ?q=admin/config/search/urls)."
• "mod_rewrite is enabled. You can use Clean URLs (link to admin/config/search/urls) to improve your site's SEO."
• "mod_rewrite and Clean URLs enabled."

[klonos]

I managed to put together this piece of code that works in detecting if mod_rewrite is present/enabled:

<?php
  $modules[] = apache_get_modules();
  foreach ($modules[0] as $module) {
    if ($module == 'mod_rewrite') {
      echo 'enabled';
    }
  }
?>

Hope it helps

[serundeputy]

I've filed a PR at backdrop/backdrop#1230 , but there are some concerns.

There is not a very reliable way to tell what web server an environment is using; http://serverfault.com/questions/164130/how-to-detect-in-php-if-it-is-running-on-apache-nginx-or-some-other-webserver

There is no corresponding nginx_get_modules() function and apache_get_modules() apparently does not work for php as cgi users.

Not sure if this is insurmountable or it is a better message for >80% of users or what. @quicksketch you have ideas, opinions or concerns on these issues?

[ghost]

Ping @quicksketch

[indigoxela]

This branch has conflicts that must be resolved. And there also seem to be some concerns regarding the approach (two messages with different types about the same thing).