local HTTP auth looping? HELP!!!

I recently built a simple irule to do a local HTTP authentication from a datagroup which would block the public from seeing a beta website.

 

I have watched the logs and it says "User XXX has been authorized to access virtual server /Common/TEST_SERVER

 

so it seems the irule is working correctly but the website never comes up, the userid and password screen keep coming up as if in a loop. any suggestions?

 

here is the irule:

 

 

when HTTP_REQUEST {

 

binary scan [ md5 [HTTP::password]] H* password

 

 

if { [class lookup "[HTTP::username]" datagroup_xxx] equals $password } {

 

log local0. "User [HTTP::username] has been authorized to access virtual server [virtual name]"

 

Insert iRule-based application code here if necessary

 

 

} else {

 

 

if { [string length [HTTP::password]] != 0 } {

 

log local0. "User [HTTP::username] has been denied access to virtual server "

 

}

 

 

HTTP::respond 401 WWW-Authenticate "Basic realm=\"local.loc\""

 

 

}

 

}