You cannot download or install new packages ...

[Nerd3D]

"You cannot download or install new packages because the Packages directory or one of the files in it are not writable!" Except all the files and the folder are 755 or better. What did I do now? I saw a thread earlier spelling out the exact CHMOD needs. That was no help.

I've tried manually adding a temp folder inside Packages and setting it to 777 That made something happen but the mod did not install and it went right back to saying "You cannot download ... blah blah ... not writable" The directory IS writable. Every time I attempt to install the mod it puts another copy of it in there.

[Fiery]

Hello,

If none of those worked have you looked into safe mode related issues? 

Do you have any errors in the error log?  What version of SMF do you have?  Were you able to install any mods (before this problem, or by change one mod installed..during the problem?)

Also, have you looked through http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=28393.0?

[Nerd3D]

Not running safe mode so that's probably not it.

Error log:

Apply Filter: Only show the errors with the same message
2: fopen(/home/virtual/site12/fst/var/www/html/yabbse/index.php): failed to open stream: Permission denied
File: /home/virtual/site12/fst/var/www/html/yabbse/Sources/Subs-Package.php

Followed by

2: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource
File: /home/virtual/site12/fst/var/www/html/yabbse/Sources/Subs-Package.php
Line: 1908

Version 1.1.3 was causing the problems. I have manually uploaded the new files. Now 1.1.4 and the problem persists.

Other mods, not really. I have to delete every thing in the packaged dir and then create the temp folder. It pretends to work once. Then returns to being grouchy. No files are ever installed.

I should mention that when when I deleted every thing from the packages directory then created a "temp" folder and CHMODed it to 777 the update would try to install. First it would show the FTP screen. Then report that all the files tested successfully. It then pretended to install the patch. It would come back the the patch was successfully installed ... but it wasn't, no files were changed.

[Nerd3D]

P.S. I get the feeling that there is something set wrong in PHP config. It's like it can't create files or folders.

[redone]

Did you try to chmod the files and folders while attempting to install your modification?

[Nerd3D]

Yes, I CHMODed

[Sarge]

Are you sure the path is correct? Have you moved from another server previously? Maybe the should be like this: /home/virtual/site12/fst/yabbse/Sources/Subs-Package.php -- ask your host about the correct full path to this file. Also compare the path to the one in Admin > Server Settings > Core Configuration tab > "SMF Directory".

Also, go to Admin > Packages > Options tab. Enter your FTP server name and username in the Installation Options section and click the Save button.

After that, select "Only the standard files are writable." in the Cleanup Permissions section and click the button named "Change file permissions".

If you get a page asking for server name, username, password and path, make sure you enter the correct info. Note that local paths start from the root of your site, not of the server.

[Nerd3D]

Sources path is: "/home/virtual/site12/fst/var/www/html/yabbse/Sources" and that IS the absolute path to the sources folder on the server. Double, triple and quadruple checked.

The FTP thing acts like it works but it doesn't seem to actually be changing anything. It does not ask for a path. I manually set the packages dir to 744. Then told it to "make all files writable" the packages dir remains set to 744.

[Sarge]

When you logon to FTP with your account and go to your forum directory, the FTP program should tell you the local path of the forum. What is it?

Open phpMyAdmin, select your forum database and browse the smf_settings table. What is the value for the package_path field?

[Nerd3D]

Both are "/var/www/html/yabbse/"

[Sarge]

Try this mod: No Temp Directory Removal.

[Fiery]

Nerd3D,

Did any of the above suggestions work for you?

[Nerd3D]

Nope, nothing has worked. I'm guessing there is some php setting that prevents it from creating directories. If anybody knows where that setting is I sure would like to change it.

[redone]

Send me your ftp, temp admin account etc and I will take a look.

Via PM only please.

[Nerd3D]

Sent a PM with the necessary details. Thanks for helping.

[metallica48423]

redone/Nerd3D, were you guys ever able to resolve this?

[Nerd3D]

No, not redone is still messing with it. If you want to have a go at it BlackMage just send me a PM and I'll get you setup with access.

[metallica48423]

try making a directory called 'temp' inside Packages and chmod it to 777, then try.

[Nerd3D]

We're waaaaaaay past that. The folder IS, I repeat IS writable. The temp folder mod changes the mode of failure but does not fix the problem. Mods do NOT make any changes. When a package installs it claims to have been successfully installed. It's not. No files are ever modified.

This is baffling. If a script can read, write, create and edit files on the server why can't it modify it's own files?

This forum has been upgraded all the way from YaBB. It's possible there is some setting lingering that is wrong but I really think it's some PHP restriction. I have root access to the server via SSH. If I knew what to change in PHP this would probably be a one liner to fix.

[metallica48423]

it may still not be being allowed to write the files -- Some systems have an issue with file and folder ownership.  The basic issue is this:

When you installed the forum, it was installed by one user or another -- the user that created the files is the 'owner'.  When php creates a file or folder (ie the 'temp' folder), server creates these temp files, it is created under the 'owner' user which is running the webserver.  without proper setup, the script would be able to read -- but not write -- these files, which are owned by a different user.  This would cause the package manager to report it as successfully installed but nothing be done.

The solution is not one you can likely do anything about on your own.  This is the problem with file editing with php.

Conversely, you can also have this problem if you use an auto installer that installs as the cPanel user *even if* your server is configured with this properly. 

You might try first changing the file owner on all the files (your host can help with this)

You'd need to ask your host to use a phpsuexec system which would run the php environment as your user. 

Some hosts may not be willing to do this, however, so you may have to switch hosts to get it to work.  There was a method to me checking the temp file first . 

Hosts and Hosting is a good resource for looking for smf-friendly hosts