Plugin Author
AITpro
(@aitpro)
Do you have Windows IIS7 Hosting? This is a common Windows IIS7 error.
If you have Apache Linux Hosting then this error is typically related to mod_security or the Server has a configuration problem or something needs to be updated on the Server.
Hmmm… unsure, as I’m not hosting this site myself – is there any way to check easily?
Thanks for the quick response by the way 🙂
Plugin Author
AITpro
(@aitpro)
You can check the BPS System Info tab page for that info.
Server Type:
Operating System:
Server API:
Here are those details;
Server Type: Apache (FreeBSD) mod_perl/2.0.3 Perl/v5.8.8
Operating System: FreeBSD
Server API: cgi-fcgi – Your Host Server is using CGI.
Any suggestions?
Plugin Author
AITpro
(@aitpro)
This is a very rare type of error and the recommended way to troubleshoot this error is to check your Server logs and PHP error log for more specific information on the exact cause since the error message displayed in your Browser is very vague and generic. You are the first person who has ever asked about this particular error so I don’t have any past references to go by. I found several posts regarding this error and a lot of them had to do with mod_security. The log files will tell you exactly what is causing the error, but try this and see what happens.
comment out Options -Indexes in your root .htaccess file by putting a # sign in front of it.
#Options -Indexes
And also try commenting this out as well.
#DirectoryIndex index.php index.html /index.php
Also are you using a caching plugin that uses .htaccess code?
I found a couple of references to mod_deflate causing this error so it could have something to do with caching or compression.
Most likely there is something in the Server’s httpd.conf file that is not happy with the directives in the root .htaccess file. ie conflicting or non-allowed directive configured in the httpd.conf file that is conflicting with a directive in the root .htaccess file.
Hmm just came across this possibility – are you using HTTPS?
Plugin Author
AITpro
(@aitpro)
Following up. Have you checked your log files yet? If so, please post those log entries here. Please post a status update regarding this issue. Thanks.
Plugin Author
AITpro
(@aitpro)
Resolving due to lack of response.
Hi there,
My apologies – been a hectic few days. I did manage to resolve the issue using;
#Options -Indexes
Many thanks,
Jas
Plugin Author
AITpro
(@aitpro)
Good to know that my first lucky guess (and logical of course) was a good one. LOL Usually you will see a 500 error and not a 501 error (these are very rare) and logically it made sense because what is happening is that in your Web Host’s httpd.conf file they have explicitly not allowed the usage of the Options directive in any .htaccess files. The Server’s httpd.conf file is basically like a Master .htaccess file and any individual .htaccess files that you add to your website have to follow whatever rules are in the httpd.conf file. Thanks for confirming that this worked.
