[apache documentation]

Apache HTTP Server Version 1.3

Module mod_babble

This module is contained in the mod_babble.c file, and is not compiled into the server by default. It provides a means of generating responses of any desired size, primarily for testing purposes. The response constists of specific pattern replicated sufficient times to make up the specified number of bytes, with the last byte being a newline. The response content-type is text/plain, and the Content-length response header field is set to make the response cacheable.

Specifying Parameters in the URL

The mod_babble directives allow you to specify the default size and pattern of the babble response, but individual responses can be tailored using arguments specified in the URL itself. Two keywords are recognised:

size=numbytes
The response body will be numbytes bytes long, with the last byte being a newline character. If numbytes is greater than the maximum setting for the scope of the URI (set by the BabbleMaxSize directive), the maximum number of bytes will be sent instead. If numbytes is negative and a BabbleStreaming On directive is in effect, the module will omit the Content-length response header field and emit up to 4GB of content.
pattern=string
Unless ignored due to the setting of the BabblePatternLock directive in the URI scope, the specified string will be the response's replication pattern instead of the default set by the BabbleDefaultPattern directive.

Keywords may be combined in the URL, separated by any legal non-alphanumeric character, with the first occurrences of any duplicate keywords taking precedence. E.g., "?size=100;pattern=foo;size=200" will result in a response size of 100 bytes.

Directives

BabbleDefaultPattern directive

Syntax: BabbleDefaultPattern "string"
Default: BabbleDefaultPattern "deadbeef"
Context: server config, virtual host, directory, .htaccess
Override: Options
Status: Third-party
Module: mod_babble

This directive allows you to specify the default replication pattern used to compose the response body.

Example: 

    BabbleDefaultPattern "Boo!"

See the section on specifying parameters in the URL for details of how this default may be overridden.

BabbleDefaultSize directive

Syntax: BabbleDefaultSize "numbytes"
Default: BabbleDefaultSize 8192
Context: server config, virtual host, directory, .htaccess
Override: Options
Status: Third-party
Module: mod_babble

The BabbleDefaultSize directive sets the default size of any response in the absence of a size keyword setting in the request URL. The response size is always less than or equal to the maximum size (set by BabbleMaxSize), regardless of the setting of this directive or a URL keyword.

Example: 

    BabbleDefaultSize 4096

See the section on specifying parameters in the URL for details of how this default may be overridden.

BabbleMaxSize directive

Syntax: BabbleMaxSize "numbytes"
Default: BabbleMaxSize 8192
Context: server config, virtual host, directory
Override: Not allowed in .htaccess files
Status: Third-party
Module: mod_babble

This directive sets the absolute maximum size of of any babble response within its scope.

Example: 

    BabbleMaxSize 102400

This directive can only appear in the server-wide configuration files, and exists primarily to impose a limit on resource consumption by the module.

BabblePatternLock directive

Syntax: BabblePatternLock On | Off
Default: BabblePatternLock Off
Context: server config, virtual host, directory, .htaccess
Override: Options
Status: Third-party
Module: mod_babble

This directive prevents the use of the pattern URL keyword within its scope. Any occurrence of the keyword on URLs to which this directive applies with an On setting will be ignored.

Example: 

    BabblePatternLock On

This directive is intended to restrict the use of patterns that may cause problems for browsers or clients when replicated in the response body.

BabbleStreaming directive

Syntax: BabbleStreaming On | Off
Default: BabbleStreaming Off
Context: server config, virtual host, directory
Override: Not allowed in .htaccess files
Status: Third-party
Module: mod_babble

This directive controls whether the module can be put into 'streaming' mode. If enabled, and a request is made with a negative size URL keyword, the module will omit the Content-length response header field and emit up to 4GB of content. Typically the server timeout will trigger before the total content is delivered.

Example: 

    BabbleStreaming On

This directive is intended to allow stress testing when desired, while ordinarily limiting the network and CPU performance impact. It is a server-wide setting and cannot be overridden in .htaccess files.

Apache HTTP Server Version 1.3

Index Home