Using keep-alive feature in .htaccess

Question

I want to use the keep-alive feature in Apache. How can I do this with my host (.htaccess file), and what are the best values for the parameters like KeepAliveTimeout?

Answer 1

If Keep-alive is turned on in the Apache configuration, all you need is just set an HTTP header Connection: keep-alive. E.g. add following lines to your .htaccess file:

<ifModule mod_headers.c>
    Header set Connection keep-alive
</ifModule>

Answer 2

You can't control keepalive behaviour in an .htaccess. Keepalives are a host-level feature, not one where different directories can behave differently depending on the per-directory htaccess info.

If you are on the kind of basic shared hosting that only gives you .htaccess to configure your sites, you can't change the keepalive settings. Presumably the hosting company will have set them appropriately, or just left them on the default settings, which are usually fine.

Answer 3

Yes Keep-alive behavior can be controlled in .htaccess file. First check the server setting by printing $_SERVER and if

[HTTP_CONNECTION] => keep-alive

is there then you just have to include the setting in your .htaccess file. Add the following line at the end of .htaccess file in your project's root directory.

<ifModule mod_headers.c>
    Header set Connection keep-alive
</ifModule>

Answer 4

If you have SSH access to your server you should edit the Apache config file. Use these settings as a starter:

• KeepAlive: on
• KeepAliveTimeout: 3 seconds
• MaxKeepAliveRequests: 60

This should work for most basic server setups with average traffic. You can always tweak the settings to suit your own needs. See here for more detailed info about this: http://www.giftofspeed.com/enable-keep-alive/

If you don't have access to your server you should contact your host. Changing the keepalive settings on your own by editing the .htaccess file will probably don't work.