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diff --git a/modules/cache/cache_util.h b/modules/cache/cache_util.h
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index eec38f3..1a2d5ee 100644
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--- a/modules/cache/cache_util.h
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+++ b/modules/cache/cache_util.h
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@@ -194,6 +194,9 @@ typedef struct {
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     unsigned int store_nostore_set:1;
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     unsigned int enable_set:1;
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     unsigned int disable_set:1;
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+    /* treat maxex as hard limit */
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+    unsigned int hardmaxex:1;
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+    unsigned int hardmaxex_set:1;
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 } cache_dir_conf;
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 /* A linked-list of authn providers. */
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diff --git a/modules/cache/mod_cache.c b/modules/cache/mod_cache.c
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index 4f2d3e0..30c88f4 100644
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--- a/modules/cache/mod_cache.c
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+++ b/modules/cache/mod_cache.c
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@@ -1299,6 +1299,11 @@ static apr_status_t cache_save_filter(ap_filter_t *f, apr_bucket_brigade *in)
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             exp = date + dconf->defex;
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         }
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     }
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+    /* else, forcibly cap the expiry date if required */
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+    else if (dconf->hardmaxex && (date + dconf->maxex) < exp) {
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+        exp = date + dconf->maxex;
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+    }        
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+
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     info->expire = exp;
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     /* We found a stale entry which wasn't really stale. */
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@@ -1717,7 +1722,9 @@ static void *create_dir_config(apr_pool_t *p, char *dummy)
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     /* array of providers for this URL space */
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     dconf->cacheenable = apr_array_make(p, 10, sizeof(struct cache_enable));
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-
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+    /* flag; treat maxex as hard limit */
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+    dconf->hardmaxex = 0;
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+    dconf->hardmaxex_set = 0;
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     return dconf;
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 }
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@@ -1767,7 +1774,10 @@ static void *merge_dir_config(apr_pool_t *p, void *basev, void *addv) {
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     new->enable_set = add->enable_set || base->enable_set;
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     new->disable = (add->disable_set == 0) ? base->disable : add->disable;
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     new->disable_set = add->disable_set || base->disable_set;
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-
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+    new->hardmaxex = 
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+        (add->hardmaxex_set == 0)
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+        ? base->hardmaxex
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+        : add->hardmaxex;
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     return new;
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 }
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@@ -2096,12 +2106,18 @@ static const char *add_cache_disable(cmd_parms *parms, void *dummy,
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 }
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 static const char *set_cache_maxex(cmd_parms *parms, void *dummy,
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-                                   const char *arg)
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+                                   const char *arg, const char *hard)
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 {
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     cache_dir_conf *dconf = (cache_dir_conf *)dummy;
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     dconf->maxex = (apr_time_t) (atol(arg) * MSEC_ONE_SEC);
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     dconf->maxex_set = 1;
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+    
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+    if (hard && strcasecmp(hard, "hard") == 0) {
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+        dconf->hardmaxex = 1;
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+        dconf->hardmaxex_set = 1;
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+    }
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+
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     return NULL;
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 }
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@@ -2309,7 +2325,7 @@ static const command_rec cache_cmds[] =
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                    "caching is enabled"),
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     AP_INIT_TAKE1("CacheDisable", add_cache_disable, NULL, RSRC_CONF|ACCESS_CONF,
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                   "A partial URL prefix below which caching is disabled"),
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-    AP_INIT_TAKE1("CacheMaxExpire", set_cache_maxex, NULL, RSRC_CONF|ACCESS_CONF,
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+    AP_INIT_TAKE12("CacheMaxExpire", set_cache_maxex, NULL, RSRC_CONF|ACCESS_CONF,
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                   "The maximum time in seconds to cache a document"),
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     AP_INIT_TAKE1("CacheMinExpire", set_cache_minex, NULL, RSRC_CONF|ACCESS_CONF,
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                   "The minimum time in seconds to cache a document"),