Block request by user agent in Apache

Answer:

If you want to block request to your web site, by user agent string, you can change by editing the Apache's configuration.

Add the following lines to the Apache configuration (httpd.conf)

RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} googlebot
RewriteRule . - [F,L]

The above config block all requests from Google's Bot. (Make sure mod_rewrite is installed and enabled)

Also, remember to restart Apache to take effect

# apachectl -k graceful

Change the access file name (i.e. .htaccess) in Apache

Answer:

If you have not set the AllowOverride to None in your Apache's configuration, Apache will read the file .htaccess on every request. If you want to use a file name other than .htaccess, you can set using the AccessFileName directive

AccessFileName .acl

Then Apache will read the file .acl instead, remember to restart your Apache to take effect.