[Menard]

I've installed SMF on websites before without any problem; but this time, with FileZilla and SmartFTP, and with trying to upload directly to the directory through my webhost, there are 3 failed transfers every time.  It says '.htaccess' is an invalid file name, presumably because it starts with a '.'  Any ideas on how to remedy this?  I've never run into this before.

I noticed in another thread with this problem that the guy installing just renamed the file to exclude the '.'; but what I want to know is if this will effect anything down the line that needs to access .htaccess?  Will having it renamed without the '.' mess anything up?

[JimM]

Once you get it uploaded, you should be able to change the name back to include the ".".

[narqelion]

Yahoo Small Business, as of last December anyway when I installed phpBB there, does not support .htaccess files on their servers.  They should not be necessary for SMF to run, they are usually included as a convenience adding a layer of security to protect the default folder structure of a package for *nix based hosts.   They are also not supported natively on Windows servers although you can create a similar setup in Apache running on Windows by using a .txt extension and editing the conf file. The bottom line is don't worry about it. 

[JimM]

If your host does not support the .htaccess file then you probably won't be able to rename it.  If things don't work quite right, then you will need to look for a new host.  If you are on Yahoo hosting, then you need to look for a new host anyway.

[narqelion]

If your host does not support the .htaccess file then you probably won't be able to rename it.  If things don't work quite right, then you will need to look for a new host.  If you are on Yahoo hosting, then you need to look for a new host anyway.

Isn't that rather harsh?  What is wrong with SMF that it cannot run on Yahoo hosting?  Is it somehow less capable than all the other php/mysql based bbs apps out there that do run there ok?  The only issues I've ever run across personally are the .htaccess issue which is a non-issue for phpBB and a specific php mail requirement that the hosted domain is required to be the sending address if using PHP to send mail instead of an SMTP address.    Please elaborate on these other issues that make Yahoo unacceptable for SMF as that is where one of the three phpBB boards I am responsible for converting resides.   

[Arantor]

Oh, it can run on Yahoo hosting, but it is by definition less secure since certain protections that are put in place by htaccess files are not available.

Plus Yahoo is rather oversold, meaning that as time goes on and the forum gets busier, it will quickly exceed the limitations Yahoo! provides, much like plenty of other overselling hosts.

[JimM]

No, it wasn't harsh at all.  I didn't specify any issues over the .htaccess issue.  That speaks to security levels as Arantor mentioned and that is important.  For some reason Yahoo doesn't think so.  The gyrations required to get the email working is ridiculous.  There are good hosts and there are other than good hosts.  IMO, Yahoo falls into the other than good group.

[narqelion]

If you are on Yahoo hosting, then you need to look for a new host anyway.

I thought that was harsh, but then I define vague generalizations without any supporting data as harsh.    Fwiw I just installed your latest and greatest in a test domain on Yahoo Small Business hosting, no issues so as with phpBB it should work fine if you know the technical requirements of the host you are installing on which is where the breakdown usually occurs. 

The gyrations required to get the email working is ridiculous.

Requiring the sending domain address to match the hosted domain address when using PHP to send mail is hardly a gyration or ridiculous.   

As for your .htaccess and security argument, well I had this discussion with other developers actually last spring and when Apache's market share is now <46% and shrinking yearly, the relevance of those included files diminishes tremendously. 

[JimM]

@Menard - Were you able to get things installed to your satisfaction?