client denied by server configuration - error message in logs

[stuartmcdonald]

I'm seeing a "client denied by server configuration" message regularly in my error files requesting a variety of files off my site - sometimes image files, sometimes php files -- in the latter case mostly with the querystring data missing. Generally the requests look suspicious (200 requests for a single file from a single IP in a couple of minutes kind of thing) but I don't understand how the system is deciding to block them.

I can access the files in question no problems, and I haven't blocked the IPs that do appear to be being blocked.

Any suggestions?

[jdMorgan]

The accesses are likely being blocked by Apache mod_access, as configured either by you, or by your default server config in httpd.conf.

If you're on shared hosting, the host may have set this up. If you're on a corporate host, the admin may have set this up. SInce I don't know your environment, I can't guess further.

Jim