I need to build a couple of websites and I need them to be closed to Google and the general public. However for compliance reasons I need a way for an person to be able to log on and proofread the website. Proofread for compliance not spelling.

What type of server and software does the host need?

If not a login if I build the site and not publicise it at all and have no links pointing to it how long would it take google to find it? I would have thought it would be hidden forever?

Alternatively I do not publish it and have to print out every page and get them to proofread it the oldfashioned way, and then release it to the world.

I would use htaccess for something like that. That's if you are using Apache (http://www.elated.com/articles/password-protecting-your-pages-with-htaccess/)
Whenever you are ready to publish just remove the htaccess protection and you're set.

Your other option is a server-side scripting language like PHP or ASP.
Most hosts support PHP, ASP is not always supported.

If your host has Cpanel you can set the .htaccess up easy in it.

Simon

This post has been edited by Simon: Feb 15 2008, 06:09 AM

.htaccess and .htpasswd is what you need for this. Google is your friend

htaccess is the quickest way to do it.

You can also create a php solution which takes a little more time but allows you to apply different levels of security quickly and effectively. Furthermore once you have built it once it can be applied to all websites.

As said, you need PHP & MySQL.

Check this out - my recommended tutorial: http://www.evolt.org/article/comment/17/60265/index.html

Something else to bear in mind. Google will only log a web page if it is linked to. Google finds websites by jumping from link to link, if there are no links leading to your website Google will never find it.

Its the same with users, if you give the folder a cryptic name like 'root/tgh46ejd'. No one will find that folder because no one is looking for it.

By all means, if you have sensitive information then create a login system. If you just need a client to look at their website while developing it, as long as you do not link to it, I see no reason why you need to hide it behind a 'members area'.

Unless of course the domain has had another site on it before this one and has already been crawled.

Here is what I do, I have a domain that I use for testing. I robots.txt everything and create directories for my clients.

So, www.testdomain.com/client

Another problem solved!

-Jasontor