Apache HTTP Server Version 2.4

Apache > HTTP Server > Documentation > Version 2.4 > Modules

# Apache Module mod_cern_meta

Description: | CERN httpd metafile semantics
Status: | Extension
Module Identifier: | cern_meta_module
Source File: | mod_cern_meta.c

### Summary

Emulate the CERN HTTPD Meta file semantics. Meta files are HTTP headers that can be output in addition to the normal range of headers for each file accessed. They appear rather like the Apache .asis files, and are able to provide a crude way of influencing the Expires: header, as well as providing other curiosities. There are many ways to manage meta information, this one was chosen because there is already a large number of CERN users who can exploit this module.

More information on the CERN metafile semantics is available.

### Directives

### Bugfix checklist

- httpd changelog
- Known issues
- Report a bug

### See also

- `mod_headers`
- `mod_asis`

## MetaDir Directive

Description: | Name of the directory to find CERN-style meta information files
Syntax: | `MetaDir directory`
Default: | `MetaDir .web`
Context: | server config, virtual host, directory, .htaccess
Override: | Indexes
Status: | Extension
Module: | mod_cern_meta

Specifies the name of the directory in which Apache can find meta information files. The directory is usually a 'hidden' subdirectory of the directory that contains the file being accessed. Set to "`.`" to look in the same directory as the file:

    MetaDir .

Or, to set it to a subdirectory of the directory containing the files:

    MetaDir .meta

## MetaFiles Directive

Description: | Activates CERN meta-file processing
Syntax: | `MetaFiles on|off`
Default: | `MetaFiles off`
Context: | server config, virtual host, directory, .htaccess
Override: | Indexes
Status: | Extension
Module: | mod_cern_meta

Turns on/off Meta file processing on a per-directory basis.

## MetaSuffix Directive

Description: | File name suffix for the file containing CERN-style meta information
Syntax: | `MetaSuffix suffix`
Default: | `MetaSuffix .meta`
Context: | server config, virtual host, directory, .htaccess
Override: | Indexes
Status: | Extension
Module: | mod_cern_meta

Specifies the file name suffix for the file containing the meta information. For example, the default values for the two directives will cause a request to `DOCUMENT_ROOT/somedir/index.html` to look in `DOCUMENT_ROOT/somedir/.web/index.html.meta` and will use its contents to generate additional MIME header information.

### Example:

    MetaSuffix .meta