Can't install packages

[dripac]

I can't install packages for some reason.

I get this message "Some of the files the package manager needs to modify are not writable. This needs to be changed by logging into FTP and using it to chmod or create the files and folders. Your FTP information may be temporarily cached for proper operation of the package manager."

I went to my FTP agent and changes all the files in package folder, including folder itself, to 777 and still nothing. What is the problem?

[shadow82x]

Try pressing F5 at the package manager. Also try the no temp removal mod found at the mod database. Also make sure admin > packages > options - and file permissions should be set too: all files are writable

[dripac]

I tried F5 nothing happened and I can't change file permissions, I get the same above message. about this "Also try the no temp removal mod found at the mod database." I don't know what you man by it. Please elaborate.

[jerm]

Create a folder inside the package folder called temp, and chmod that to 777

[greyknight17]

So you can't change the permissions? Check the Packages folder again and see if it's still CHMOD at 777.

[dripac]

Ok created temp folder, changed to 777 and nothing. Checked all the packages again and nothing. What in the worl is the problem. Should I just switch to default theme, install all the packages and then switch back? You think that would work?

[greyknight17]

Can you verify if the Packages folder is still has 777 file permission when you go into FTP?

I don't think this is a theme issue, but you can give the default theme a try.

Try the following to see if any of them will work:

- Go to your forum->Admin->Packages->Options tab and click on Only the standard files are writable. and hit the Change file permissions button.
- Try using the fix_ownership.php file to see if it fixes the problem.

See if you can install any of your mods now.

[GrayFox]

Ugh... I'm having this same problem! I had to install SMF 1.1.4 manually without the package manager because of this issue. And unfortunately, the update didn't fix it.

It won't let anyone upload avatars either for the same reason....

The attachments upload directory is not writable. Your attachment or avatar cannot be saved.

I check the packages and attachments directories, but they ARE both chmod-ed to 777. I tried the temp folder chmod-ed to 777 in each one, but that doesn't work either! Also, I only have the default theme, so it's not a theme issue.

Try the following to see if any of them will work:

- Go to your forum->Admin->Packages->Options tab and click on Only the standard files are writable. and hit the Change file permissions button.
- Try using the fix_ownership.php file to see if it fixes the problem.

First thing doesn't work. It just resets back to what it was before. I'm about to try that second idea, but I'm not sure if that will work... worth a try though.

UPDATE: Yeah... that didn't work. Also, I fixed the avatar problem, but I don't think I fixed the packages problem.   

When I don't get the message...

Some of the files the package manager needs to modify are not writable.

... and it supposedly lets me install the package, the package doesn't truly install. It just says it's installed... but it really isn't. That's why I had to manually install 1.1.4. It's a good thing I didn't install any mods beforehand, though I wouldn't have been able to do so anyway... cause of this very same problem.

[青山 素子]

This error is almost always related to some weird hosting setup. What type of server are you on?

[GrayFox]

What type of info about the server do you need?

[青山 素子]

Windows or Linux/BSD host? Version of PHP? Who is the host?

[GrayFox]

Version Information:
Forum version: SMF 1.1.4
Current SMF version: SMF 1.1.4
PHP version: 5.2.4
MySQL version: 5.0.45-community
Server version: Apache (Linux, I believe)
GD version: bundled (2.0.34 compatible)

Host:
http://www.abnormal-skillz.info/

[GrayFox]

I'm sorry if this isn't allowed, but no one is responding and I don't have an answer... so I'm bumping this topic. 
Plus I'm not alone with this problem.

[青山 素子]

Some hosts have odd permission requirements. Try asking your host what permissions are needed to allow a PHP script to edit a file.

[GrayFox]

What type of permissions do you mean though? Where would these permissions be set? I already have the necessary files chmod-ed to 777. You mean something else?

[青山 素子]

I mean that 777 might not be accepted by your host and it is ignored. In these types of cases, it is often best to ask them what the proper permissions should be to allow changes by the server itself. Heck, depending on the setup, it might require an ownership change, which usually only they can do.

[GrayFox]

Hmm.... could it have anything to do with the fact that the forum was originally installed into a public_html/temp/ folder, then moved to public_html/forums/? I still keep wondering if there's some little setting in the admin cp that I'm not noticing which is somehow related to the folder the forum was installed in...

And what is the ownership change you mentioned? 

[青山 素子]

It shouldn't affect mods, although it might affect attachments and avatars. You could double-check those settings in the admin area, or use the repair_settings script from the download area here (in the tools section).


Sorry for the long stuff below, but permissions and the whole user/group thing are usually misunderstood and this can cause issues when dealing with web scripts in general. Knowing the below will help when having to deal with webservers, even non-SMF stuff.


On Linux (and Windows), every file has an owner user and group, usually the user account that created the file and that user's primary group. The most powerful account on the system is root/administrator. Generally, to improve security, the web server runs as a special user that is used only by it. This prevents an attack against it from affecting other parts of the server.

The "777" is a magic number in Unix-style systems that grants the ability to do things to different types of users. The format is user/group/world. The numbers represent permission levels (1 = execute, 2 = write, 4 = read). Add the permission numbers together and use that sum to grant those abilities. In this case, 777 gives the file's owner, group, and everyone else read, write, and execute permissions (execute is needed on folders so you can go into them). Normally, 777 will work just fine.

On some servers, the administrators have things set up to be a bit more secure. In these cases, even with 777 permissions, the webserver (which runs under its own user) is prevented from doing anything to the file. Basically, part of the permissions are ignored, so 777 behaves like 770. In these cases, the server admins can set things up so the forum files are owned by the web server's user or group, which allows it to edit files.

Basically, only the host can tell you how they set up your server. It could be something very simple that is being overlooked, or something more complex. If 777 or 775 isn't working for you, they can tell you if there is a reason for it not to.

[GrayFox]

Hmmm... I'll find out... but I'm not sure about that. 777 worked just fine when I was installing the forum. Could it be that I'm using a secondary ftp account and not the main?

New, related problem...

The package you are trying to download or install is either corrupt or not compatible with this version of SMF.

It tells me that when I try to download a package from "Simple Machines Third-party Mod Site"... I'm on SMF 1.1.4, but aren't old mods supposed to work in it? I was testing to see if I could install a mod now, but I can't even download it. (Tried both youtube mods and I tried a post prefix mod)

[GrayFox]

I hate to do this again, but.... bump.... especially since I now realize that 2nd part of the problem.

It shouldn't affect mods, although it might affect attachments and avatars. You could double-check those settings in the admin area

Yeah, I was having that problem before, and that was how I fixed it.